system dry and sucked the blood out
of the poorest of the poor in society.
Being in the administrative services
for years, Mr. Panda enjoys an unprecedented
level of access to the system, helping
him in compiling the material for this
book. Hence, every word written in bare,
unadulterated prose, rings true.
The first eponymous story in this collection
begins in pre-independence India when
the rich natural resources of the country
like iron ore were tapped and exported
by the British with the promise to set
up steel plants for the employment and
economic benefit of the natives. Proceeding
into the post-independent period, the
author unravels how the industry set
up and run by the government machinery
is slowly and surely heading towards
closure not because of lack of funds,
infrastructure or resources, but rather
of the greed, dishonesty and corrupt
practices prevalent at all levels.
And ironically enough when an honest
administrator does come into the picture
in the form of S. Pragyan and revives
the sick industry, not only are his
efforts thwarted, but those same corrupt
people swoop down upon him as vultures
to claim their share. And finally instead
of being rewarded for his efforts, legal
proceedings are drawn up against him
for abusing a local hooligan who has
risen to be a political representative
thereby securing immunity for himself.
Mr. Panda, in his story has two parables:
the first, in which a king, acting according
to the norms of ‘Dharma’, restores peace
and prosperity in his country and the
second, where a rape-victim, an untouchable,
and her father are punished for having
the audacity to protest. In a democratic
system it is but natural that the honest
and the upright will be victimized,
concludes Panda with bitter irony.
The second story deals with the problem
of fraud and corruption. Innocent villagers
in Southern Orissa are duped into selling
their productive farmlands at much lower
prices thus paving the way for plantation
of cash crops like cashew. Landowners
are forced to flee to the southern state
of Andhra Pradesh. Here again we find
the greedy and the dishonest escaping
the clutches of law by rising through
money and muscle power to become a part
of political system and hence both taking
advantage of and securing immunity from
the law.
The last part of the story occurs in
the Western part of Orissa in Titilagarh,
when the narrator in his capacity as
the commissioner, investigates into
the causes behind the death from starvation
of a woman named Premasilla. The news,
making headlines for several days, causes
a lot of embarrassment for the government.
Thorough investigation by the commissioner
reveals that this forest-rich area,
attracted hooligans from a neighbouring
state. Without any hindrance, they smuggle
timber from the forest, causing massive
deforestation, impoverishing the natives
and trapping them by handing out loans
at high interest rates and finally forcing
them into becoming bonded labourers
in Andhra Pradesh, to work for meager
wages, culminating in starvation death
as in the case of Premasilla.
The story of Premasilla looks at the
causes behind such starvation deaths
– illegal deforestation and exploitation
of the poor. The exploiters go scot-free
by being elected as politicians: politics
still being a haven for criminals for
India.
The question that Mr. Panda raises
is are we, the public, by electing criminals
to power, not responsible for these
deaths.
If the purpose of literature is to
stir up emotions so far unrecognized,
then Mr. Panda has certainly succeeded.
Written in a simple, racy style, the
stories turn the stomach and raise pertinent
questions that gnaw at the consciousness.
Why do we, as conscientious citizens,
let ourselves be driven by a handful
of corrupt politicians?
The only flaw one finds in this book
is that Mr. Panda’s narrations appear
to be more of an autobiographical documentary.
The effects perhaps would have been
greater had the author been a little
more subtle in presentation. One suspects
a little comic relief, a little less
despair, dejection and attitude of laissez-faire
would have vastly improved the writings.
