The War Council met again the next day at Haridas house, Nalini was there as charming as he remembered. They did not call it the War Council, and they did not know that such a Phrase exists. Gopal was well prepared, and he made a brilliant presentation. Gopal was still in khaki Uniform and continued to wear the Army Cap, and it gave him confidence to mould his thoughts into the Army way of thinking. Gopal was precise and frugal with words, his analysis of the threat was masterful, and his logic infallible. Gopal spent hours at the Town Library to understand the Art of War. Gopal laid out the Aim of the present war.
Adolf Hitler propounded the concept of the Aryan Superiority. The Nazi Germany that would rule the world for a thousand years. The total subjugation of Mankind to serve Nazi Germany. The superior race would be the masters. The rest of mankind would be slaves and the old, infirm and the sick have no right to exist. They would be killed or exterminated. They are developing new technology for mass killing. Young girls would serve the new Masters.
Benito Mussolini their partners in the new world order. Japan the Far East Partner was advancing towards India, they have landed in Andaman and Nicobar group of Islands. Soon they would reach India, they were advancing from Burma. The British Army, mostly Indians were engaged in a fierce battle in Africa. Krishnan Kutty the Army man engaged to Nalini, was declared as ‘Missing in Action’.
Gopal had declared that the threat to Kerala was not from the north, the Japanese would come from the sea. Gopal was emphatic, the battle for Tellicherry would be fought on the beaches. ‘We must make preparation on a war footings’.
… xxx …
Parvathy knew something was brewing at Haridas house, she also knew that Nalini was an attractive girl, it was also known that she was not interested in marrying the Army man. This was potentially dangerous, this was an immediate threat to her plans, Parvathy took serious view of such developments. War was not important, Parvathy had laid the Red line, no one to cross that line Gopal was hers’.
Parvathy sent agents to the meeting. They were to report everything that was happening at Haridas house. The report came. Gopal was only person who spoke of the developments of the War, the rest of the audience had no clue of what was happening. Yes there were discussion and they all dispersed. The Agent saw that Nalini offered Tea to Gopal. They talked for a long time. Nalini was smiling and looked pretty. The reports burned a hole in her heart.
Parvathy shouted to herself ‘No wonder! No wonder, Gopal did not take her Tea and the Banana fry, she had made it with such sincerity. You will regret it Gopal, yes regret it.’ Parvathy waited, she saw Gopal coming back late in the night. Gopal parked his Raleigh Cycle and walked phlegmatically and his gait listless.
Parvathy placed black Tea on the table and withdrew. There was no Banana fry. Gopal did not touch the Tea. Parvathy hissed in silence, ‘So you like Nalini’s Tea, I will show you how Nalini’s Tea tastes.’
… xxx …
Parvathy could not sleep, the threat from Nalini was real, something should be done about it, and the Idea of something came to her early in the morning. “Deny access to Nalini”. The idea was brilliant and original. Parvathy gathered the young men of her neighbourhood and gave them the secret.’ The British Government had made Gopal, the Captain of the Resistance Force to fight the Burmese. If the Burmese succeed, then all you men will be slaves and work like donkeys till death. All the girls will be taken to Japan. The British had given some secret plan to Gopal, he cannot reveal the entire plan, but the young men are to assist Gopal to defeat the Enemy. Phase one of the plan was an enormous success.
Parvathi decided, it was time now to execute Phase 2. Parvathi directed her men to declare that the entire community gather in the Stadium as that place was an ideal place for the general Public to hear Gopal, after all the war effects all of them. Gopal could explain the plan to fight the battle of Tellicherry to all the citizens
It was proposed and unanimously accepted. The Meeting venue to be shifted to the Sports Stadium.
‘Will they all get the Guns to fight?’
Everyone agreed that the Stadium was the best place to gather.
… xxx …
Posters appeared all over the Town,
CAPTAIN GOPAL WILL SPEAK ABOUT THE WAR
THE JAPANESE THREAT TO TELLICHERRY
ALL ARE WELCOME”
VENUE .. SPORTS STADIUM, TELLICHERRY.
Time: 5PM.
The fear about the Japanese, the stories of torture and rape, the news spread like wild fire. Where to hide, what to eat and how to fight. Men gathered to listen. Who is this Captain Gopal? “I don’t know ‘was the common answer, some said it was Postman Gopal. Then who made him Captain?’ Answers were in plenty, speculations were also in plenty. Everyman claimed their version was the True source. The crowd gathered in large numbers.
… xxx …
Nalini wanted to go to the Football ground to listen to Gopal. Shobha, Nalini’s mother made an emphatic ‘NO’. Nalini ‘But I am part of Tellicherry, I want to take part in the defence of our Tellicherry.’ Shobha ‘Girls don’t have any role to fight. This is a Man’s job. Only men came here to listen to Gopal, did any girl come here to listen to Gopal?’ ‘Nalini Keep quiet, remember! You are engaged to marry Krishnan Kutty.’ Nalini prayed to Muthappa ‘Muthappa! Let Krishnan kutty never come back.’ On second thought Nalini clarified to Lord Muthappa ‘Muthappa! Let Krishnan Kutty not die, let a Burmese girl help him escape.’ In gratitude let him marry the Burmese Girl, yes the yellow girl with a flat nose, and have plenty of kids and let Krishnan Kutty never come back’. Nalini felt happy at the correction to her request to Lord Muthappa. Nalini tried again ‘Mama I just want to find out as to the direction from where the Japanese would come? We can then make our escape plan.’ Shobha ‘I am giving you my final warning! You will not go. Engaged girls are the property of the In Law’s. Shobha ‘The Japanese may come, you may become what they call ‘Missing in Action! Understand Missing in Action.’ As it is we have a problem with one missing in Action! Understand? After marriage, you can take your Husband’s permission and go to Burma or fight the Germans in Africa or climb Mount Everest or be MISSING IN ACTION’.
… xxx …
Parvathi was delighted, the separation so meticulously planned came true. The meeting at the Sports Stadium was a grand success. When Gopal spoke, the Public listened with rapt attention. Tellicherry never witnessed a war, this was going to be terrible. The British were fighting desperately in many sectors. They had no Army to fight in Tellicherry.
It was unanimously decided to elect Gopal as their Military Leader. There were thunderous cheers. The stadium burst out CAPT. GOPAL … CAPT. GOPAL…Gopal humbly accepted the great responsibility to lead the fight against the Burmese Army. Gopal formally announced the formation of the TELLICHERRY RESISTANCE ARMY. (TRA). Gopal the Captain of TRA.
… xxx …
Parvathi was clearing the old shelf, she discovered a small box, and in that box was an old British Medal. The ribbon was in tatters. An idea flashed through Parvathi’s mind. Yes a Medal for Gopal. Parvathi polished the Medal, it shone brightly, it was pure silver, must have been an important medal. Parvathi bought a striped Ribbon to match the original.
Parvathi also bought a Brown shoe, somewhere she heard that the Army Officers wear Brown shoes and the soldiers wear Black shoes. The accoutrement now complete. Parvathi specifically requested Gopal to come home before going to the Stadium. Gopal’s mind was burdened with plans to defend Tellicherry, make Trenches on the Beach, there were no guns, make Bow and Arrow, yes a Silent Weapon, yes they need to be trained, yes secondary defence lines. It was in such burdened mind he reached his home. Parvathi laid out her plan. The Army Captains Uniform. The old Cap washed, the old belt now polished brown, the new Brown Leather Shoe. The Shirt and Pant starched and stiff. The Medal with a new ribbon.
Gopal ‘This Medal I cannot wear! How can I? It does not belong to me.’
Parvathi ‘Gopal Chetta! This is war, to win war you have to anything to make victory possible. If by wearing this Medal, you can get the people to fight for our Motherland, you are doing a great service to the Nation, if you are defeated, the Medal will get buried with you, if you win you will get a real Medal, you will become a Hero! We never had a Tellicherry hero. You will become a Hero, I say wear it, may be the spirits of our ancestors will bless you, you job is to defend the girls of Tellicherry! Imagine what will happen to the girls? Just imagine?’ Gopal ‘OK! I will wear it, and when the war is ended, I will make a Public confession, that this Medal is not mine, I wore to raise the morale of the fighters.’
There were tears in Parvathi’s eyes. She just murmured ‘What an honest Man! My God Protect Gopal’. Gopal ‘So you put the Posters?’ Parvathi ‘Yes! It was my idea, then only people will rally behind you’.
Gopal thought ’Parvathi was indeed smart, she could think even beyond him, she wanted him to win’. The crowd was waiting, they had gathered in large numbers. Gopal climbed the Stage wearing the the magnificent Military Uniform, the Medal shining in the setting sun. The crowd burst out’ Captain! Captain! They would not stop’ Gopal addressed the gathering, the uniform gave him confidence! We will win the battle!
Gopal gave a rousing speech, ‘The need to get every man and women in the battle effort. We don’t have guns! But we have the will. We will fight with Bows and Arrows, we will stay buried in the sand, behind sand dunes, the guns will make noise, but our arrows will kill them silently. We have the skill, we have the Blessings of our Great Warrior Muthappa! We have to make thousands of Arrows. We will make an awareness march. All of us will march from the Stadium to Saidar Palli Junction, turn to Ckirakkera and return via the Bus Stand.
The crowd cheered. When Gopal reached the Stadium, the crowd was ready, they had War Drums ready, and they displayed Bows and arrows. The crowd swelled, as they reached Pilakool, Parvathi was standing behind a tree, she saw Gopal.
Gopal had become a Hero! It was indeed beyond her expectations. She could not even wave at him, her heart was palpitating wildly. ‘My God! our Gopal’.
The crowd swelled as they moved. The drum beat faster, the crowd realised that it was a call to defend the Nation, they too jumped in! The sheer exuberance was palpable.
Gopal looked resplendent with the Medal. Just as the procession was reaching the stadium, there was a loud cheer. No one could discern the cause of the stir.
Suddenly the crowd opened up. There were about twenty girls, all smartly dressed. They carried placards ‘DEFEND TELLICHERRY DEFEAT JAPAN. GIRLS OF TELLICHERRY’.
Right in front was Nalini, her right hand fist raised, she marched.
It was a stunning show. Nalini was the scintillating Star. The crowd surged. They clapped wildly. The girls climbed the stadium. They stood like warriors. The crowd burst out ‘NALINI NALINI NALINI’.
To be Contd…
Trance Series 