Rakta Karabi (“The Red Oleanders”)

Snippets of a dialogue between Nandini and Raja from Rabindranath Tagore’s play written in 1925, translated by Kaushik Chatterjee.

[A note from the blog owner:

I was amazed by the beauty of Kaushik’s translation. I consider it a privilege to share his work with my readers. Thanks, Kaushik, for letting me do so.

Nandini characterizes all that is simple and spontaneous, joyous and free. She is an antithesis to the Raja of Yakshapuri who has shut himself up in his chamber, sitting on piles of gold and obsessed with wealth and power. 

Rakta karabi was immortalised on stage through Bohurupee’s eponymous trailblazer, first staged in 1954. The two inimitable Mitras, Sambhu and Tripti, were the main protagonists.]

In the following tête-à-tête, between the two, Raja remains invisible as his resonant voice can only be heard, at times haltingly, from his locked chamber. 

Nandini: (banging on the netted door) Can you hear me?

Raja: Yes, I can. But don’t pester me, I don’t have time.

Nandini: I’m so happy today. I would like to share it with you. Let me enter your room, Raja.

Raja: No, don’t . Tell me from there, whatever you want to.

Nandini: I’ve brought a garland of jasmine, covered with lotus leaves.

Raja: Wear it yourself.

Nandini: It doesn’t suit me. Mine is the red oleander.

Raja: I’m like the crest of a cliff; loneliness is my decor.

Nandini: Even a stream bursts forth from a rocky crevice; you too shall wear the garland. Come on, cast off the net and let me in. 

Raja: I can’t. I have no time. Tell me quickly, whatever you want to say.

Nandini: Can you hear that distant song?

Raja: What song?

Nandini: the autumnal song- the song of harvest.

“Come and join the autumnal invite,
O everyone of you,
Laden with ripened fruits, her branches bow down to you”

Nandini: Can’t you see the ripened corn glazing in the beautiful autumn sun? 

“The flowing breeze has driven the village women crazy 
As they come out in the open fields,
The golden hues of the sun cascade onto the auburn earth…” 

Nandini: Raja, come out of your closet. I’ll take you to the open fields.

“The sky exults as it tunes in to the sounds of flute wafting across the distant plains,
Don’t stay indoors, open the door and join us…” 

Raja: To the fields ? What would I do there?

Nandini: Don’t you know, Raja? It’s much simpler working there than in your closet.

Raja: Ah! I find the easier task a real botheration. Can a placid lake dance to the cadences of a gurgling frothy stream? Now, go away. It’s enough. I’ve run out of time.

Nandini: Sublime is your power. The day you allowed me into your treasury, I wasn’t much impressed seeing the mounds of gold. But I was beyond words to see how effortlessly you were arranging those into a mighty, orderly heap! But tell me, do these crusts respond to your gait, your rhythm just like the golden cornfields out there? Aren’t you afraid always trying to caress with these lifeless lumps buried within the earth’s crypts?

Raja: Why should I be?

Nandini: The earth happily gifts everything she holds dear to herself. But when you rip her apart, plundering her buried entrails as your most cherished wealth, you simply can’t afford to ignore the wails that come out of that darkness like a huge demonic curse. Can’t you see everyone here is fretting, fuming and in a state of perpetual doubt and worry?

Raja: Did I hear you saying ‘curse’?

Nandini: Yes, it’s the very bane of loot and murder!

Raja: I’m not sure about any curse! I can tell you that we wield power. Aren’t you happy with that?

Nandini: Yes, very much. That’s why I implore you to come out in the open, tread your feet on the soft earth, she will be infinitely happy too!

“With the glistening dew drops, the cornstalks are aflame
The nature’s joy knows no bounds as it overflows in myriad profusion…” 

Raja: Nandini, do you know that you extol an unearthly beauty that’s beyond the bewitching charm that you exude? I would like to snatch it away, hold you firmly in my grip. But I can’t. I would like to roll and turn you again and again to get at your core and if I fail, I’ll simply destroy you!

Nandini: What is it that you are saying?

Raja: Why can’t I sieve the glow out of your red oleander and make it the salve for my eyes? The soft, sodden petals are standing in my way! I feel the same resistance in you; it’s too supple to be prised open. Tell me Nandin, what do you make out of me.

Nandini: I’ll tell you some other day! You’ve no time, you’ve just told me! 

Raja: No, don’t go away. Tell me.

Nandini: I’ve told you many a time, I’m enchanted looking at you. A great strength, a mighty power swells and heaves, just like the stormy clouds near the seas! My mind dances to look at you!

Raja: But Ranjan also makes your mind leap in joy!

Nandini: Let’s leave it for another day. I’ll not waste your time. 

Raja: I’ve time. Please tell me.

Nandini: That’s a different rhythm altogether. You’ll not understand.

Raja: I will. I want to.

Nandini: I can’t explain everything to you. Let me go.

Raja: No, don’t. Tell me, do you like me?

Nandini: Yes.

Raja: Like Ranjan?

Nandini: Aah, you’re rambling now. I told you, you’ll not be able to make out all this.

Raja: I can vaguely make out, though. I know our differences. I’ve might, Ranjan has the magic.

Nandini: Magic? What’s that?

Raja: Would I need to explain more? There are mounds of gold and stones and iron, stashed away in the bowels of this earth. That personifies power. On the surface, the moist earth makes the grass grow, the flowers blossom and that's the play of the magic. I extract the diamonds and gems from the deepest crevices of the earth but I can’t steal the magic that embodies life in all its rugged simplicity!

Nandini: You are rich! Why do you have to be so ravenous?

Raja: Whatever I have, it has become an awful burden for me. I cannot make a touchstone out of gold. Even with so much wealth and power, youth still eludes me. That’s why I’d like to lay a siege and get you. If I had the exuberance of Ranjan, I could have easily entranced you. I’ve been trying to tighten the noose of the rope all day long! Everything gets ensnared here but for joy. It can’t be fettered!

Nandini: You have trapped yourself! Now it’s strange to see you fidgeting in desperation!

Raja: You won't understand. I’m like an arid desert, turning to the little tuft of grass in you, telling you, ‘I’m burning within, empty and tired’. The parched desert has extended itself, lapping up so many of those fertile plains in the process and yet it so desperately fails to draw close to the little bit of life that clings to the soft, green reed!

Nandini: I didn’t know you are so fatigued! I’ve always marvelled at the mighty power that you command!

Raja: Nandini, once I saw a mountain at a faraway place, weary and desolate. I didn’t realize from its outward appearance that its stones were in terrible, silent pain! At the dead of night I heard a rumbling noise as if it were a nightmare of some distant demon, suffering and suppressed for ages, suddenly blowing itself up in pieces! In the morning I was amazed to see that an earthquake has reduced the mighty mountain to dust, lost in the indistinguishable granules of this earth. I took a lesson from this incident. Of power unknowingly getting crushed under its own deadweight! And I’ve seen just the opposite in you!

Nandini: And what’s that ?

Raja: The same rhythm that plays out in the cosmic flute of Nature!

Nandini: I can’t make out.

Raja: The unique rhythm that lightens up a heavy burden! The same quiver that makes the galaxies of stars and planets dance in unison like some children of the lesser Gods, playing out a well-rehearsed drama! That inner poise has made you so simple and radiant! You are absolutely insignificant to me and yet I envy you!

Nandini: You have withdrawn yourself from everyone! Why don’t you simply let others know you?

Raja: Invisibly, I’ve laid my hands on some of the crudest finds of the world’s large storehouses! Your soft petal-like fingers can easily reach the offerings that nature clasps in her delicate grasp but I, with my whole bodily force, can’t. I have to anyhow unclasp that grip!

Nandini: I don’t quite get you always, let me go now!

Raja: Okay, but before that, please hold my hand. I’m stretching it from this window!

Nandini: Oh no! I can’t see you; I’ll be just too scared finding only an outstretched arm!

Raja: When I try to get hold of you with my bare hands, you all flee away! But tell me, if I try to get you with my entire being, will you let me, Nandin?

Nandini: You didn’t let me enter your room! Now it’s pointless to say all that!

Raja: I don’t dare to ride against the inopportune tide to draw you close. When you’ll freely set your sails to touch my shores, it would be the most auspicious moment! Even I’ll not care if it’s a storm that casts you ashore! No, this is not the time!

Nandini: I’m assuring you Raja, Ranjan would surely set the sail for me! He always comes with a whiff of fresh air, of a happy break.

Raja: Now, I know for sure who charmingly drips the freedom that Ranjan brings with dollops of nectar from the Red Oleander! I’ve mine, left high and dry; Who’ll dip it with honey?

Nandini: Let me go now.

Raja: Yes, but not before you have cared to reply me!

Nandini: You’ll get yours if you see Ranjan! He’s so beautiful!

Raja: Only a beautiful person can feel his resonance! If a brute tries to strike a chord forcefully, the harp doesn't play, the strings only get ripped off! Yes, now it’s time you take leave. Otherwise you’ll be in danger!

Nandini: Yes, I’m going away but don't forget that Ranjan would certainly be coming! You can’t stop him in any way! No, never!

Striptease in heaven

[What Dr. Samuel Johnson did to English, chemist Rajsekhar Basu (1880-1960) did to Bangla. His Chalantika, published in 1924, was the first “authentic Bangla dictionary” and was every educated person’s companion for a long time. Rajsekhar Basu will also be remembered for his translation of the Mahabharata into Bangla and his satirical stories written under the penname Parashuram. Here is a translation of one of his stories by yours truly.]

The king of the Gods, Indra said to his leading court dancer: ‘What are you up to, Urvashi? You are taken care of exceedingly well. You live in a prime bungalow with a manicured pleasure garden, get to wear the finest clothes and jewellery, not to mention the fat pay packet, what more could you ask for? And in spite all this, why on heaven do you want to emigrate to the earth? King Pururaba is no longer there to roll out a red carpet for you. In heaven, you enjoy eternal, unblemished youth. You’re adored by the finest of gods. If you go to the earth, you’ll turn into a dowdy old woman before you can blink your eyes, no one will even turn around to look at you, however much you might put on make-up.’

Urvashi looked at her toes and said, ‘Oh! King of Gods! I’ve lost my palate for the heaven. Here, I have conquered all the males and I am tired of their tedious words of flattery. When I arrive on the earth, I will find countless new admirers, and I’ll get to earn a lot more too. And after all, as soon as I notice the first signs of aging, I can hop back to the heaven, can’t I?’

‘Success seems to have gone to your head. Aren’t you fawned over enough here?’

‘I’d be adored much more by men. A human poet has written:
“The hermit gives up meditation to lay at your feet,
The fruits of his life’s discovery,
And when you look askance,
The three worlds tremble, youthful, n’ merry.”
Which poet of Amaravati can write such lines?’

‘Oh! Poets write a lot of trash! I’d let you go if you can prove that you have won over all the males here. Can you vanquish the sage gods or the great sages?’

‘They have been vanquished long ago.’

‘Okay, I will test you. Have you heard of God-men? Those who travel freely between the heaven and the earth? For example, Sanat Kumar, Sanatan, Sanak, Sadananda … Lord Brahma is their godfather. But I don’t wish to fool around with them. They are terribly short tempered. Three others have recently come here on vacation – the sages Kutuk, Parvat and Kardam. They are even-tempered and quite unflappable. Will you be able to conquer them?

‘Sure, if they are men. Why not?’

‘Good! They are friends of Devarshi Narada. I’ll ask him to invite them to my court to watch you dance.’

*

The three wise men were pleased to get the invitation through Narada. Said they, ‘We have watched peacocks and other birds dance. We have also seen dancing monkeys and bears, but we are yet to see a woman performing the act. We are indeed inquisitive, but … Urvashi is a heavenly court dancer, is she a woman too?’

Narada said, ‘Of course, she is. She is such a woman that for her a man’s “soul suddenly stands aside, / his blood dances in a tide.” You’ll be delighted to see her dance. Now get ready to visit Indra’s court.’

Parvat’s beard ran down to his neck, Kardam’s up to his chest and the sage Kutuk had beard down to his knees. To the extent possible, these august beings put on appropriate clothes and prepared for the occasion. Parvat put on the bark of a tree. As another bark could not be found readily, Kardam had to be satisfied with just a loincloth. The great sage Kutuk had renounced everything; he had neither a bark, nor a loincloth. He remained unclothed, perforce. Narada said, ‘Kutuk, wouldn’t you like to cover yourself at least with some leaves and grass?’

Kutuk said, ‘I don’t have to, I am pretty well-dressed in my long beard.’

King Indra received the three new sages with suitable offerings and due honour. He said, ‘Oh! Three of the most powerful sages who have achieved the ultimate through meditation! Tonight, my principal court dancer will present an extraordinary dance to entertain you three. It will be the dance of uncovering, the kind of dance that is called “strip-tease” by the ungodly people who live on the western hemisphere of the earth. The Gods such as Fire, Wind and Rain are present in this court, so are heavenly sages like Narada, and other court dancers such as Menoka. We are all honoured by your august presence. If you permit, Urvashi shall begin.’

The spokesperson for the three sages, Kutuk said, ‘Yes of course, of course, there is no reason to delay. We are eager to see the dance. Let her begin.’

 On top of a dress appropriate for a lascivious dance, Urvashi put on an overall and entered the court. After bowing down to all, she said with folded hands, ‘Oh, the Great Gods! Oh, the Sages who are like fire! The dance that I propose to present today requires that my body be gradually uncovered. I do hope none of you would object to that.’

Kutuk shook his head and his great beard, ‘Why should anyone object? Like all animals, your body too is made of the five elements. We want to discover where amongst them is your womanhood.’

Once again, Urvashi said humbly, ‘If you consider anything about my dance repulsive or uncivilized, please do tell me. I will stop immediately.’

*

Casting aside her overall, Urvashi appeared in her dazzling costume studded with rare gems and golden sequins. After dancing for a while, she cast her veil away.

The sage Parvat raised his hand and said, ‘Urvashi, stop! Your dance is grossly indecent. We won’t watch this corrupting exhibition any longer.’

The great sage Kutuk snubbed him, ‘We couldn’t care less if the exhibition corrupted you. You close your eyes, let her continue.’

Urvashi whispered to Indra, ‘King of Gods! The sage Parvat is vanquished.’

The dance went on. The sage Parvat covered his eyes with his hands, but unable to overcome curiosity, peeped through the fingers from time to time.

Gradually, Urvashi bared her top. At that point, the sage Kardam closed his eyes and said, ‘Urvashi, we won’t be able to meditate again if we see this despicable dance any longer. Stop it!’

Kutuk chided him, ‘Why should she stop? If you cannot stand it, you had better leave.’

Urvashi smiled with her eyes to tell Indra that Kardam too was vanquished. Then Urvashi shed her clothes and ornaments one after another and at the very end, stood still like a stone sculpture with her uncovered body, fair and glistening like the moon.

The sages and gods present in the court exclaimed in unison, ‘Wonderful!’

But Kutuk said, ‘Why did you stop, Urvashi? Shed more.’

The sage of the gods, Narada said, ‘What more is there to be shed? She has cast away everything.’

Kutuk said, ‘Are you blind? Can’t you see a fine, smooth, reddish white covering like the petal of a lotus all around her?

‘Can’t you see it is only her skin?’

‘Let her shed that too.’

‘Are you mad, Kutuk? The skin is a part of her body! It’s not another layer of clothing.’

‘It may not be clothing, but it is a covering all the same. Let her peel it off, I want to see what is beneath.’

Narada explained, ‘Let me tell you what is beneath. Underneath her skin is fat, under that, flesh, and then, a skeleton.’

‘And what is beneath that?’

‘Nothing!’

‘Then where is her womanhood, that that makes “a man’s soul stand aside, his blood dance in a tide”?’

‘Her womanhood is in her clothes, ornaments, limbs, gestures, movements and in the minds of admiring men. You are beyond sensuality, you have burnt your mind, how can you see it?’

The response infuriated the great sage. Said he, ‘Did you invite me here to be cheated? This Urvashi is an animal without any substance, what is the difference between her body and that of a goat? Listen, Parvat and Kardam, let’s leave this place. There is nothing to see here.’

The humiliation of Urvashi was hugely enjoyed by the other court dancers like Menoka, Ghritachi, Mishrakeshi etc. They clapped in joy.

After the three great sages left, Urvashi cried silently, her head bowed.

Indra said, ‘Urvashi, calm down. No one is destined for unending conquests. I too was defeated by Vritasura once.’

Urvashi said, ‘Should you call it defeat, my Lord? That sage Kutuk is a useless lunatic unman, his sensuality is burnt to ashes. What did you gain by humiliating me in an open court with the help of such a creature? I’ll not live in heaven any more; I won’t go to the earth either. I will meditate.’

Thereafter, Urvashi shaved off her head, put on a garland of basil leaves, smeared her forehead with sandalwood paste and went to Golakdham, the abode of Narayana (which is at a level above the heaven) to seek shelter at His lotus feet.

1496 words / Translated on 31 October 2008