The Mystic Masseur Part 21

Leela didn't approve. 'Is easy for you, just sitting down and reciting prayers and thing to the people. But they don't come to Bhagwat Bhagwat just for prayers, I can tell you. They come for the free food.' just for prayers, I can tell you. They come for the free food.'

However, The Great Belcher and Suruj Mooma and Ramlogan rallied round and helped Leela with the great week-long task of cooking. The Bhagwat Bhagwat was held in the ground floor of the house; people were fed in the bamboo restaurant at the side; and there was a special kitchen at the back. Logs burned in huge holes in the ground and in great black iron pots over the holes simmered rice, was held in the ground floor of the house; people were fed in the bamboo restaurant at the side; and there was a special kitchen at the back. Logs burned in huge holes in the ground and in great black iron pots over the holes simmered rice, dal dal, potatoes, pumpkins, spinach of many sorts, karhee karhee, and many other Hindu vegetarian things. People came to the Bhagwat Bhagwat from many miles around and even Swami, who had organized so many from many miles around and even Swami, who had organized so many Bhagwats Bhagwats, said, 'Is the biggest and best thing I ever organize.'

Leela complained more than ever of being tired; The Great Belcher had unusual trouble with the wind; Suruj Mooma moaned all the time about her hands.

But Ramlogan told Ganesh, 'Is like that with women and them, sahib. They complaining, but it have nothing they like better than a big fete like this. Was the same with Leela mother. Always going off to sing at somebody wedding, coming back hoa.r.s.e hoa.r.s.e next morning and complaining. But the next time a wedding come round and you turn to look for Leela mother she ain't there.'

As a supreme gesture Ganesh invited Indarsingh to the last night of the Bhagwat, Bhagwat, on the eve of polling day. on the eve of polling day.

Leela told Suruj Mooma and The Great Belcher, 'Is just what I are expecting from that husband of mine. Sometimes these man and them does behave as if they lose their senses.'

Suruj Mooma stirred the cauldron of dal dal with a ladle a yard long. 'Ah, my dear. But with a ladle a yard long. 'Ah, my dear. But what what we go do without them?' we go do without them?'

Indarsingh came in an Oxford blazer and Swami, as organizer of the Bhagwat, Bhagwat, introduced him to the audience. 'I got to talk English to introduce this man to you, because I don't think he could talk any Hindi. But I think all of all you go agree with me that he does talk English like a pukka Englishman. That is because he have a foreign education and he only introduced him to the audience. 'I got to talk English to introduce this man to you, because I don't think he could talk any Hindi. But I think all of all you go agree with me that he does talk English like a pukka Englishman. That is because he have a foreign education and he only just just come back to try and help out the poor Trinidad people. Ladies and gentlemen Mr Indarsingh, Bachelor of Arts of Oxford University, London, England.' come back to try and help out the poor Trinidad people. Ladies and gentlemen Mr Indarsingh, Bachelor of Arts of Oxford University, London, England.'

Indarsingh gave a little hop, fingered his tie, and, stupidly, talked about politics.

Indarsingh lost his deposit and had a big argument with the secretary of the PPU PPU who had also lost his. Indarsingh said that the who had also lost his. Indarsingh said that the PPU PPU had promised to compensate members who lost their deposits. He found he was talking to n.o.body; for after the election results the Party for Progress and Unity just disappeared. had promised to compensate members who lost their deposits. He found he was talking to n.o.body; for after the election results the Party for Progress and Unity just disappeared.

It was Beharry's idea that the people of Fuente Grove should refer to Ganesh as the Hon'ble Ganesh Ramsumair, M.L.C. M.L.C.

'Who you want?' he asked visitors. 'The Onble Ganesh Ramsumair, Member of the Legislative Council?'

Here it might be well to pause awhile and consider the circ.u.mstances of Ganesh's rise, from teacher to ma.s.seur, from ma.s.seur to mystic, from mystic to M.L.C. M.L.C. In his autobiography, In his autobiography, The Years of Guilt, The Years of Guilt, which he began writing at this time, Ganesh attributes his success (he asks to be pardoned for using the word) to G.o.d. The autobiography shows that he believed strongly in predestination; and the circ.u.mstances which conspired to elevate him seem indeed to be providential. If he had been born ten years earlier it is unlikely, if you take into account the Trinidad Indian's att.i.tude to education at that time, that his father would have sent him to the Queen's Royal College. He might have become a pundit, and a mediocre pundit. If he had been born ten years later his father would have sent him to America or Canada or England to get a profession the Indian att.i.tude to education had changed so completely and Ganesh might have become an unsuccessful lawyer or a dangerous doctor. If, when the Americans descended on Trinidad in 1941, Ganesh had taken Leela's advice and got a job with the Americans or become a taxi-driver, like so many ma.s.seurs, the mystic path would have been closed to him for ever and he would have been ruined. Today these ma.s.seurs, despite their glorious American interlude, are finding it hard to make a living. n.o.body wants the quack dentist or the unqualified ma.s.seur in Trinidad now; and Ganesh's former colleagues of the world of ma.s.sage have had to keep on driving taxis, but at three cents a mile now, so great is the compet.i.tion. which he began writing at this time, Ganesh attributes his success (he asks to be pardoned for using the word) to G.o.d. The autobiography shows that he believed strongly in predestination; and the circ.u.mstances which conspired to elevate him seem indeed to be providential. If he had been born ten years earlier it is unlikely, if you take into account the Trinidad Indian's att.i.tude to education at that time, that his father would have sent him to the Queen's Royal College. He might have become a pundit, and a mediocre pundit. If he had been born ten years later his father would have sent him to America or Canada or England to get a profession the Indian att.i.tude to education had changed so completely and Ganesh might have become an unsuccessful lawyer or a dangerous doctor. If, when the Americans descended on Trinidad in 1941, Ganesh had taken Leela's advice and got a job with the Americans or become a taxi-driver, like so many ma.s.seurs, the mystic path would have been closed to him for ever and he would have been ruined. Today these ma.s.seurs, despite their glorious American interlude, are finding it hard to make a living. n.o.body wants the quack dentist or the unqualified ma.s.seur in Trinidad now; and Ganesh's former colleagues of the world of ma.s.sage have had to keep on driving taxis, but at three cents a mile now, so great is the compet.i.tion.

'It is clear,' Ganesh wrote, 'that my Maker meant me to be a mystic.'

He was served even by his enemies. Without Narayan's attacks Ganesh would never have taken up politics and he might have remained a mystic. With unfortunate results. Ganesh found himself a mystic when Trinidad was crying out for one. That time is now past. But some people haven't realized it and today in odd corners of Trinidad there is still a backwash of penurious mystics. Providence indeed seemed to have guided Ganesh. Just as it told him when to take up mysticism, so it told him when to give it up.

His first experience as an M.L.C. M.L.C. was a mortifying one. The members of the new Legislative Council and their wives were invited to dinner at Government House and although a newly-founded scurrilous weekly saw the invitation as an imperialist trick all the members turned up. But not all the wives. was a mortifying one. The members of the new Legislative Council and their wives were invited to dinner at Government House and although a newly-founded scurrilous weekly saw the invitation as an imperialist trick all the members turned up. But not all the wives.

Leela was shy but she made out that she couldn't bear the thought of eating off other people's plates. 'It are like going to a restaurant. You don't know what the food are and you don't know who cook it.'

Ganesh was secretly relieved. 'I have to go. But none of this nonsense about knife and fork for me, you hear. Going to eat with my fingers, as always, and I don't care what the Governor or anybody else say.'

But the morning before the dinner he consulted Swami.

'The first idea to knock out of your head, sahib, is that you going to like what you eat. This eating with a knife and fork and spoon is like a drill, man.' And he outlined the technique.

Ganesh said, 'Nah, nah. Fish knife, soup spoon, fruit spoon, tea spoon who sit down and make up all that?'

Swami laughed. 'Do what I use to do, sahib. Just watch everybody else. And eat a lot of good rice and dal dal before you go.' before you go.'

The dinner was a treat for the photographers. Ganesh came in dhoti and koortah koortah and turban; the member for one of the Port of Spain wards wore a khaki suit and a sun helmet; a third came in jodhpurs; a fourth, adhering for the moment to his pre-election principles, came in short trousers and an open s.h.i.+rt; the blackest and turban; the member for one of the Port of Spain wards wore a khaki suit and a sun helmet; a third came in jodhpurs; a fourth, adhering for the moment to his pre-election principles, came in short trousers and an open s.h.i.+rt; the blackest M.L.C. M.L.C. wore a three-piece blue suit, yellow woollen gloves, and a monocle. Everybody else, among the men, looked like penguins, sometimes even down to the black faces. wore a three-piece blue suit, yellow woollen gloves, and a monocle. Everybody else, among the men, looked like penguins, sometimes even down to the black faces.

An elderly Christian Indian member didn't bring a wife because he said he never had one; instead he brought along a daughter, a bright little thing of about four.

The Governor's lady moved with a.s.surance and determination among the members and their wives. The more disconcerting the man or woman, the more she was interested, the more she was charming.

'Why, Mrs Primrose,' she said brightly to the wife of the blackest M.L.C. M.L.C. 'You look so 'You look so different different today.' today.'

Mrs Primrose, all of her squeezed into floriferous print frock, adjusted her hat with the floral design. 'Ah, ma'am. It ain't the same same me. The other one, the one you did see at the Mothers' Union in Granadina, she at home. Making baby.' me. The other one, the one you did see at the Mothers' Union in Granadina, she at home. Making baby.'

Sherry, opportunely, pa.s.sed.

Mrs Primrose gave a little giggle and asked the waiter, 'Is a strong drink?'

The waiter nodded and looked down his nose.

'Well, thanks. But I doesn't uses it.'

'Something else, perhaps?' the Governor's lady urged.

'A little coffee tea, if you if you has it.' has it.'

'Coffee. I am afraid coffee wouldn't be ready for some time yet.'

'Well, thanks. I doesn't really want it. I was only being social.' Mrs Primrose giggled again.

Presently they sat down to dinner. The Governor's lady sat on the left of Mr Primrose. Ganesh found himself between the man in jodhpurs and the Christian Indian and his daughter; and he saw with alarm that the people from whom he had hoped to learn the eating drill were too far away.

The members looked at the waiters who looked away quickly. Then the members looked at each other.

The man in jodhpurs muttered, 'Is why black people can't get on. You see how these waiters behaving? And they black like h.e.l.l too, you know.'

n.o.body took up the remark.

Soup came.

'Meat?' Ganesh asked.

The waiter nodded.

'Take it away,' Ganesh said with quick disgust.

The man in jodhpurs said, 'You was wrong there. You shoulda toy with the soup.'

'Toy with it?'

'Is what the book say.'

No one near Ganesh seemed willing to taste the soup.

The man in jodhpurs looked about him. 'Is a nice room here.'

'Nice pictures,' said the man with the open s.h.i.+rt who sat opposite.

The man in jodhpurs sighed wearily. 'Is a funny thing, but I ain't so hungry today.'

'Is the heat,' the man with the open s.h.i.+rt said.

The Christian Indian placed his daughter on his left knee, and, ignoring the others, dipped a spoon in his soup. He tested it with his tongue for warmth and said, 'Aah.' The girl opened her mouth to receive the soup. 'One for you,' the Christian said. He took a spoonful himself. 'And one for me.'

The other members saw. They became reckless and ate.

Unoriginal disaster befell Mr Primrose. His monocle fell into his soup.

The Governor's lady quickly looked away.

But Mr Primrose drew her attention to the monocle. 'Eh, eh,' he chuckled, 'but see how it fall down!'

The M.L.C. M.L.C.s looked on with sympathy.

Mr Primrose turned on them. 'What all you staring at? All you ain't see n.i.g.g.e.r before?'

The man in jodhpurs whispered to Ganesh, 'But we wasn't saying anything.'

'Eh!' Mr Primrose snapped. 'Black people don't wear monocle?'

He fished out the monocle, wiped it, and put it in his coat pocket.

The man with the open s.h.i.+rt tried to change the subject. 'I wonder how much car expenses they go pay we for coming here. I ain't ask to dine with the Governor, you know.' He jerked his head in the Governor's direction and quickly jerked it back.

The man with jodhpurs said, 'But they got to pay we, man.'

The meal was torture to Ganesh. He felt alien and uncomfortable. He grew sulkier and sulkier and refused all the courses. He felt as if he were a boy again, going to the Queen's Royal College for the first time.

He was in a temper when he returned late that night to Fuente Grove. 'Just wanted to make a fool of me,' he muttered, 'fool of me.'

'Leela!' he shouted. 'Come, girl, and give me something to eat.'

She came out, smiling sardonically. 'But, man, I thought you was dining dining with the Governor.' with the Governor.'

'Don't make joke, girl. Done dine. Want to eat now. Going to show them,' he mumbled, as his fingers ploughed through the rice and dal dal and curry, 'going to show them.' and curry, 'going to show them.'

12. M.L.C. to M.B.E.

SOON G GANESH decided to move to Port of Spain. He found it fatiguing to travel nearly every day between Port of Spain and Fuente Grove. The Government paid expenses that made it worth while but he knew that even if he lived in Port of Spain he could still claim travelling expenses, like the other country members. decided to move to Port of Spain. He found it fatiguing to travel nearly every day between Port of Spain and Fuente Grove. The Government paid expenses that made it worth while but he knew that even if he lived in Port of Spain he could still claim travelling expenses, like the other country members.

Swami and the boy came to say good-bye. Ganesh had grown to like the boy: he saw so much of himself in him.

'But don't worry, sahib,' Swami said. 'The Hindu a.s.sociation fixing up a little something for him. A little cultural scholars.h.i.+p to travel about, learning.'

Beharry, Suruj Mooma, and their second son Dipraj helped with the packing. Later, Ramlogan and The Great Belcher came.

Suruj Mooma and Leela embraced and cried; and Leela gave Suruj Mooma the ferns from the top verandah.

'I go always always keep them, my dear.'

The Great Belcher said, 'The two of you girls behaving as though somebody getting married.'

Beharry put his hand under his vest and nibbled. 'Is go Ganesh have to go. He do his duty here and G.o.d call him somewhere else.'

'I wish the whole thing did never happen,' Ganesh said with sudden bitterness. 'I wish I did never become a mystic!'

Beharry put his hand on Ganesh's shoulder. 'Is only talk you talking, Ganesh. Is hard, I know, to leave a place after eleven years, but look at Fuente Grove now. New road. My new shop. Stand-pipe. We getting electricity next year. All through you.'

They took bags and cases into the yard.

Ganesh went to the mango tree. 'Is something we did forget.' He wrenched out the GANESH GANESH, Mystic Mystic sign. sign.

'Don't throw it away,' Beharry said. 'We go keep it in the shop.'

Ganesh and Leela got into the taxi.

Ramlogan said. 'I always did say, sahib, you was the radical in the family.'

'Ah, Leela, my dear, look after yourself,' Suruj Mooma sobbed. 'You looking so so tired.' tired.'

The taxi started and the waving began.

The Great Belcher belched.

'Dipraj, carry this signboard home and come back and help your mother with the ferns.'

Leela waved and looked back. The verandah was naked; the doors and windows open; on the bal.u.s.trade the two stone elephants stared in opposite directions.

It would be hard to say just when Ganesh stopped being a mystic. Even before he moved to Port of Spain he had become more and more absorbed in politics. He still dispelled one or two spirits; but he had already given up his practice when he sold the house in Fuente Grove to a jeweller from Bombay and bought a new one in the fas.h.i.+onable Port of Spain district of St Clair. By that time he had stopped wearing dhoti and turban altogether.

Leela didn't take to Port of Spain. She travelled about a good deal with The Great Belcher. She visited Soomintra often and regularly went to Ramlogan's.

But Ganesh found that for an M.L.C. M.L.C. Port of Spain was a pleasant place. He got used to it and even liked it. There were two good libraries, and so many bookshops! He dropped Indology, religion, and psychology and bought large books on political theory. He had long discussions with Indarsingh. Port of Spain was a pleasant place. He got used to it and even liked it. There were two good libraries, and so many bookshops! He dropped Indology, religion, and psychology and bought large books on political theory. He had long discussions with Indarsingh.

At first Indarsingh was bitter. 'Funny people in Trinidad, old boy. No respect for ideas, only personalities.'

But he softened as time went on and he and Ganesh worked on a new political theory.

'Came to me in a flash, old boy. Reading Louis Fischer's book about Gandhi. Socialinduism. Socialism-c.u.m-Hinduism. Hot stuff, old boy. Outlines settled. Details demn tricky, though.'

So far the autobiography, and the private man.

But by this time Ganesh was a public figure of great importance. He was always in the papers. His speeeches inside and outside the Legislative Council were reported in detail; he was constantly photographed leading delegations of aggrieved taxi-drivers or scavengers or fish-vendors to the Red House; and he was always ready with a press conference or a letter to the editor. Everything he did or said was News.

He was a terror in the Legislative Council.