Anu Bhabhi

Kuntala Kumari Acharya

Translated from the original in Oriya by
Prof. Subhendu Mund

Anubha was married to one Block Development Officer stationed at Koraput – the headquarters town of Koraput district. Far away from the plains, Koraput is full of forests and hills. The tribal people there still remained away from the civilisation and education. The Government tried their best to improve their lot. Jogendra Mishra was the Block Development Officer, one of the officers of the Government, stationed there to look after the deve­lopment of the villages there.

Anu was Jogendra Mishra’s wife. Jogendra was a self-made man, who commanded great respect owing to his efficiency and nobility. He was a big officer for the village folk – yet he never gave them any chance to feel that he was a man of power and status.

Anu was a young girl who had to leave her college education in the middle in order to become a house-wife. She was consider­ably shy, yet took to her new surroundings quite easily. She never stayed at home if her husband was away on tour or any other official work. She also used to accompany him whenever he went. I had often seen the beautiful couple together in the tribal villages. I had also seen her among tribal women all alone, sorting out their problems. Although she was not highly educated, she was the wife of a Government officer. That is also the reason why she com­manded respect. Jogendra Mishra was perhaps the third incumbent at Koraput after the inception of the community development pro­gramme of the Government.

She was quite fond of meeting people and listening to their stories of sorrow and happiness. Even though she was not able to solve all their problems on her own, she would give them her patient hearing. That was no mean service to those people who thought that they belonged to a forgotten species of mankind.

She was born in a higher-middle class family. Her father was a well-known, if not famous doctor. He had earned a lot of money but he brought up his children with humility. They were given to understand that money was not everything. Anu inherited his idealistic frame of mind, never thought very high of herself. She was not very beautiful, but there was something in her bright and sparkling eyes which made her face quite attractive. The inner beauty glowed all over her personality. She seemed above and beyond sorrow and pleasure. She carne to the distant, sleeping township of Koraput to begin her married life.

Jogendra was very happy and contented with his beautiful wife. He did not know how would his educated, cultured and civilised wife fit into the strange surroundings. Would she not miss her parties and dinners, films and theatres? How would she accept the forest and its people, Jogendra and his society?

But she took to the new surroundings and responsibilities as naturally as fish takes to water. She became an asset to her hus­band, not a liability. She came out of the dark kitchen to the open. She shook the chains which had tied her lot to the inner sanctums of the household. She mixed with not only Jogendra’s friends and colleagues but also the tribal people quite freely, without any inhibition – as the river flows out spreading itself quenching the thirst of all.

Yet in the beginning the innocent tribals looked at her with suspicion. Why should she come out of the comfort and security of her home and move about in the villages, surrounded by deep forest and infested with wild animals? That is where she belonged, not here in the mud huts and green and dark jungle. She was the beloved wife of a big Government officer – a creature belong­ing to a class larger than life. Why should she sit with them, eat ill-cooked malt and maize with them and tend their wounds?

Noble intention wins over all the suspicions. In no time they realised the sublimity of her character. They understood that it was her maternal instinct which compelled her to spread its wings and take everyone under its fold. The sacred glow of her quality of motherhood radiated everybody else’s heart. She became the mother-figure there – dispensing her love and affection to the unlettered, rustic people of the hills.

One day Jogendra babu invited me to his quarters. I tried to guess what it could be: marriage anniversary? Some celebra­tion? Simply a get together? Some confidential discussion? I could not know.

When I went to their quarters in the evening, I was surprised to see a gathering of a number of “Kandha” (tribal) people in their courtyard. It looked like some festive occasion. But I knew very well that there was not a festive day of those people.

We sat down to listen to the chorus of the National Anthem from the tribal women. My surprise went on increasing. Who taught these people to sing our National Anthem so sweetly and so fault­lessly? Then I saw them doing dances and singing their folk songs. Some of them sat here and there in groups and talked. I saw that a handful of Kandha women were busily moving in and out of the house and taking care of everything. One of them, who was probably their leader, was particularly very active. I wanted to ask hundreds of questions, but I was discouraged by the meaningful silence of Jogendra babu.

Then it was time for dinner. We all sat down in neat rows. I was pleasantly surprised to see ‘Anu bhabhi’ taking leadership in distribution. I recognised Bhabhi in that Kandha women. She was dressed like one of them and talked in their language. That is why I was deceived. The porridge of malt and boiled roots were served. Jogendra babu asked me to stay .

After everyone went away, he told me everything. He said, “You know, Gopal, these two clans were always at war. They had never listened to reason in spite of the intervention of the law and order authorities. Now that bloodshed and violence will no more be repeated. They are now friends – even matrimonial pro­posals are now advanced”.

I knew its ground. I had also thought, like other officers, that these two clans would never become friendly. Yet they had become friends. I could see it myself., How could this young officers do it in such a small time? I could not help asking. “But how could it be done?”

“That is what I also don’t understand”, he said. “Do you think I have done it? It is not in my capacity. It is done by your Anu bhabhi. You and I are paid by the Government to work here, but the real work is being done by Anu. I wish the Govern­ment paid her, instead of us”.

I looked at Anu bhabhi. She had already changed into her sari and was sitting tiredly. I had always thought her to be a great woman, but I knew that day she was greater than what I had thought of her.

She laughed heartily to the crude joke of her husband. She answered, “I am here by virtue of my marriage with you”.If I had not married you, I would not have got opportunity to make these people my friends. If I was married to somebody else, I would be spending my time in cinema and theatre houses or clubs and picnics. This life is no way worse than the other one. I enjoy myself amidst these half-naked, uneducated rustic people. They think I am very wise, so they accept me as an arbitrator in their quarrels. You know these clans: They are now celebrating in my court­yard”.

“If you do all this, what is the use in keeping officers like us here?” Jogendra said in mock-anger.

“Why, you look after your five-year plans, implementations and what not. What is the harm if I use my good offices and work for them in a different manner?”

I had nothing to say. I quietly enjoyed the conversation be­tween the couple, which to me was an ideal one. I congratulated them again and again from my heart of hearts.

“That’s all right, Anubha, but instead of doing all this, why don’t you pick up the text-books once more and complete your educa­tion?” I heard him speaking.

Anu bhabhi replied, “I do not think education can ever be complete. However, if you insist, I shall have to think of resuming my studies. If you think that your prestige is hampered by my activities, I won’t mind making myself up into a blue fairy and move in your jeep in the greenary of the paradise of your block”, she replied.

“Did you mind, Anubha? Prestige? I don’t know what is that. I have had to pursue my studies in hunger and starvation, what you have done to harm my unexisting prestige? I simply wish that you could complete your education. I want you to get a degree at least”.

I preferred to leave them to their personal life. I came . I didn’t know that I would go far away from them very soon. I was transferred to a coastal district. We could not keep track ‘Of each other any more.

After many years I was again going to Koraput on promotion and transfer. I was going to join the district as the A.D.M. (Addi­tional District Magistrate). I had to go to Vizianagaram by train and from there to Koraput by bus. A co-passenger told me every­thing about them. He told that Jogendra babu died an untimely death while their third child was in her womb. All my pleasure and excitement of getting promotion gave place to remorse in no time. O God, what happened to my bhabhi, I desperately thought. My co-passenger could not tell me what she was doing then or where she was. Did she break down? Is she with her parents? How old is the eldest one now? Many such questions flooded my mind. Those days with them came to my mind. How loving and affectionate they were. Can I ever forget her affection?

No, no; she was mentally very strong. I remembered. She must have arose from the ashes of suffering, bright and alive. As if he had a premonition, Jogendra babu used to tell her always to resume her studies and get her degree. How useful that degree would have been to her? How does she manage now? Is she able to give education to her children? Can she provide for their food? Do people still remember her services, or she is just another woman, young and helpless, to be trifled with? How I wish she should not have been a prey of the lust of the so-called powerful people.

I cursed myself for not being able to keep any information of that goddess. I am an ungrateful beast, I thought. This is the return of her love and faith? I had seen the couple for the last time that day when they were celebrating the union, of the two warring clans. That night I had received orders to join a new station where there was an emergency situation. I had not been able to go to them for their blessings.

After joining my new station, I got busy with my new responsibilities. I had always loved and welcomed challenge. I took up my new assignment as a challenge.

The other day I got the surprise of my life. I was invited to address the convention of the Gram Sevikas (village Level Workers). I told them about the value of selfless service for building up a new nation.

My speech was highly appreciated. After the meeting came to an end, many officials came to my jeep to see me off. A Senior Gram Sevika softly came to me and asked, “How are you, sir?”

The voice seemed very familiar. I shamelessly looked up straight at her face. Is it not that goddess? I was then a middle-­aged man, a “high” officer, yet I suddenly forgot everything. I forgot my status. My heart filled with hundreds of emotions. The goddess of my youth had accepted the life of Grama Sevika in order to feed her three children. I was proud that she had not given in against the diverse situations.

I virtually cried “Anu bhabhi” like a child and rushed to her bossom.