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September 12, 2004
EXCERPTS: Choices, decisions and trials
Saad Ashraf’s protagonist Ghulam Rasool seeks admission in the British Missionary College, Delhi, in the early20th century
ONE August afternoon of 1912 with the Delhi sky overcast with monsoon clouds and tired kites flying around in the steamy air, Ghulam Rasool sat on the brick floor, at his mother’s feet.
“Ammi, through your prayers and Allah’s blessings I managed to pass the matriculation. Now I have to make a very important decision within a very short time. I have to choose between the two colleges in Delhi — Islamia College, the institution which Muslim youth usually join, or Missionary College, a creation of the British. Which college do you think I should join?”
Glowing with affection, Noorani Begum looked at her son, a faint smile on her face. She pulled out the silver betel-leaf box from under her bed, removed two damp leaves from its upper tray, and started applying lime and catechu on them with the small spatula. She sprinkled some areca nut on the leaves, stuffed the whole into her mouth, and started chewing and thinking. All of a sudden she felt very lonely, the absence of a man at her side making itself felt. Here was her son asking for a vital piece of advice which she felt she was inadequately equipped to give.
“I think you should join Missionary College. The English are very clever people. Their science and knowledge makes them rule the seven seas... they have even learnt to fly like birds and have invented horseless carriages. They will surely rule over Hindustan for a long time to come. The future will lie with those who know English and have knowledge of western science. You must learn to speak, read, write, and behave like an Englishman. Do not pay heed to what people say about Missionary College being an infidel institution. Such people speak the same way about the college in Aligarh and Sir Syed Ahmad Khan... see what good work that college is doing in educating Muslim youth. In my opinion there’s no choice except Missionary College,” advised Noorani Begum.
Ghulam Rasool applied for admission to the intermediate class of Missionary College commencing in September 1912 and received a letter to appear for an interview before a panel of the faculty. He was overjoyed at being called for the interview but nervous as he had never had any significant interaction with white people and the admission to the college depended entirely on the interview. When he broke the news about the interview to Noorani Begum, she suggested that Ghulam Rasool go and see Azmatullah for some tips on how he should conduct himself at the interview. The next day, Ghulam Rasool was with the advocate in his office near the Royal Mosque.
On the day of the interview, Noorani Begum woke up early and said special prayers for her son’s success. She went over her rosary 200 times, seeking Allah’s mercies for her son. She woke up Ghulam Rasool who dressed himself up in coat, trousers, and tie. He had purchased these three days ago from a dealer in second-hand apparel behind the Royal Mosque and got them altered to his size by a tailor who did work for British regimental officers. He drank his glass of milk and devoured half a loaf of bread left over from the previous night’s dinner, before starting out for Missionary College.
When Ghulam Rasool got down from the tonga after what seemed to be an endless ride, he was overawed by the sheer size and majesty of the college building... Ghulam Rasool made his way to the principal’s office where he found a large crowd of aspirants — fifty or more young Indians of all colours, shapes, and sizes — awaiting their turn to be called for the interview which was to begin soon and which was to be conducted over several days.
Missionary College had acquired an enviable reputation under the ruthless administration of its principal, Professor Thompson, who would brook no nonsense from any quarter, be it the faculty, the student body or an outsider. The principal believed that it was not possible to impart the benefits of western education to the masses of India and only temperamentally suitable young Indians who genuinely idolized the English way of life could benefit from their association with his college... To qualify for admission, a candidate had to get a favourable vote from each of the three members of the panel. On an average, only one Indian out of 20 who appeared for the interview was lucky to get admitted to the college.
Ghulam Rasool was still trying to familiarize himself with his surroundings when he saw a babu clad in white, moving around, ticking the names of those who were to appear for the interview. “You must be Ghulam Rasool, the Muslim boy — there are only three from your community in today’s interview. The peon will call out your name. Please follow him to the ante-room in front of the principal’s office,” said the babu.
After he left, the name of the first candidate was called out. A quarter of an hour later, the candidate emerged out of the principal’s office with a perplexed and worried look on his face. Two others displayed no better expressions, with one candidate, a lanky Sikh, emerging with sodden cheeks. When his turn came, Ghulam Rasool followed the short-statured dark figure of the peon to the ante-room. He knocked on the door. The peon opened the door and pushed Ghulam Rasool in. He found himself inside a large room whose walls were panelled with wood. Three white men sat on a long table covered with a thick and coarse, green woollen cloth. The man in the centre gestured to Ghulam Rasool to take his place on a single chair facing the panel.
“I am Professor Thompson, the principal, and these are my two colleagues — Professor Joseph Moses of the philosophy department and Professor Pringle of the mathematics department,” said the white man in the middle. Ghulam Rasool surmised that the interview was all set to begin.
“Mr Ghulam Rasool, we are impressed by your academic achievement of getting a first division in the matriculation examination, and we got a good report on you from your school, but tell us something about your background and how you managed to achieve this,” Professor Thompson continued.
Ghulam Rasool remembered all the tips that Azmatullah had given and kept his hands folded in his lap.
“Sir, please, I come of a poor but noble family. My father, Ghulam Nabi, was the superintendent of the General Post Office who died over a decade ago, serving his country and his king. Thereafter, my family underwent hard times and I had to study under the street lights of the neighbourhood. I have had to borrow books from public libraries and from my teachers in order to equip myself with knowledge. It was the devotion of my teachers and their guidance and my mother’s prayers that have been responsible for whatever little I have achieved academically,” said Ghulam Rasool.
“Mr Ghulam Rasool, are you a religious person? Do you believe that persons who do not share your faith are infidels? Please let me know what you think of the equality of human beings,” asked Professor Joseph Moses.
This, Ghulam Rasool knew, was a tricky question, the answer to which could become a source of controversy. For a moment he was tempted to make up an answer which would please the panel but then he remembered Azmatullah’s advice of being forthright.
Missionary College had acquired an enviable reputation under the ruthless administration of its principal, Professor Thompson... The principal believed that it was not possible to impart the benefits of western education to the masses of India and only temperamentally suitable young Indians who genuinely idolized the English way of life could benefit from their association with his college...
“Please sir, if saying one’s prayers is the basis of being classified as religious, I would fall in that category. But I feel that there is a distinct difference between being religious and being a religious zealot. I do not think of anybody as an infidel, because one’s faith is a personal matter to which one is born. I think all people are created equal and should be treated as such by society. If this is not so, it is because of human prejudices.”
The serious, expressionless face of Professor Moses showed a discernible sign of satisfaction on hearing Ghulam Rasool’s reply.
“Mr Ghulam Rasool, what are your views on British rule in India?” questioned Professor Pringle, the third member of the panel.
Ghulam Rasool knew that if he overly praised the English he would appear to be a sycophant.
“I think that the British have given a lot to India. They have given this country modern technology like the railways, the telegraph, and metalled roads, and made life safe for its people. But a lot more needs to be done to promote amity between the various communities that live in India,” replied Ghulam Rasool. Professor Pringle, an avowed racist who washed his hands with soap every time he shook hands with a local, felt that as long as Indians like Ghulam Rasool were around, the British would have no problems ruling over them.
Ghulam Rasool was granted admission to the academic session of the intermediate class at Missionary College.
Excerpted with permission from
The Postmaster
By Saad Ashraf
Penguin India. For more information log on to www.penguinbooksindia.com
Soon to be available with Paramount Books, 152/O, Block 2, PECH Society, Karachi-75400
Tel: 021-4310030. Email: paramount@cyber.net.pk
ISBN 0-14-303152-X
339pp. Rs466
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