# Nil Durpan/Second Act

SECOND ACT

## First Scene

The Godown of Begunbari Factory
TORAPA and four other Ryots sitting
Torapa. Why do they not kill me at once? I can never show myself ungrateful. That eldest Babu, who has preserved my caste; he, through whose influence I am living here; he, who by reserving my plough and the cows, is preserving my life, shall I by giving false evidence, throw the father of that Babu into prison? I can never do that; I would rather give my life.
First Ryot. Before sticks there can be no words; the stroke of Shamchand is a very terrible thrust. Have we a film on our eyes; did we not serve our eldest Babu? Are we devoid of all sense of shame? And has not our eldest Babu given us salt to eat? But, then, what can we do? If we do not give evidence they will never keep us as we are. Wood Saheb stood upon my breast and blood began to fall drop by drop. And the feet of the filth-eater were, as it were, the hoofs of the ox.
Second Royt. Thrusting in the nails; don't you know the nails which are stuck under the shoes worn by the Sahebs?
Torapa. (Grinding his teeth with anger) Why do you speak of the nails? My heart is bursting with having seen this blood. What do I say? If I can once get him in the Vataramari field, with one slap I can raise him in the air; and at once put a stop to all his "gad dams" and other words of chastisement.
Third Ryot. I am only a hireling, and work on commission. It won't cut ice if I say that I refused to take indigo advance under the influence of the Babus. Why was I then confined in the godown? I thought that serving under him at this time, I shall be able to make a good collection and shall be able to invite my friends, on the occasion of my wife's ​completing her seventh month of pregnancy, but I am rotting here in this place for five days and again I am to go to that Andarabad.
Second Ryot. I went to that Andarabad once; as also to that Factory of Bhabnapore, every one speaks good of the Saheb of that place; that Saheb once sent me to the Court, then I saw much fun in that place. Ha! just as the Magistrate, sitting at the tails of the two Mukhtears (lawyers) shouted "Hyal" (Hallo), the two brother-in-laws in the persons of the Mukhtears kicked up a row. The wordy battle they fought made me think there was literally a bull-fight as between the white ox of Sadhukhan and the bull-calf of Jamadar on the field of Moyna.
Torapa. Did he find any fault with you? The Saheb of Bhabnapore never raises a false disturbance. "By speaking the truth, we shall ride on horseback." Had all Sahebs been of the same character with him then none would have spoken ill of the Sahebs.
Second Ryot. Don't be overjoyous. There is a saying: "I thought Kelo's mother was chaste. But she sleeps with her son-in-law". Now this torturing is all put a stop to. In his godown there are now seven persons, one of them a child. The vile man has filled his house also with kine and calves. Oh, what robbery is he carrying on!
Toarpa. As soon as they get a Saheb, who is a good man, they want to destroy him. They are holding a meeting to drive off the Magistrate.
Second Ryot. I cannot understand how the Magistrate of this Zillah has found fault with the Magistrate of the other Zillah.
​Torapa. He did not go to dine in the factory. They prepared a dinner for the Magistrate, in order to get him within their power, but the Magistrate concealed himself like a stolen cow; he did not go to dinner. He is a person of a good family. Why should he go to the Indigo Planters? We have now understood, these Planters are the low people of Belata.
First Ryot. Then how did the late Governor Saheb go about all the Indigo Factories, being feasted like a bridegroom just before the celebration of the marriage? Did you not see that the Planter Sahebs brought him to this Factory well-adorned like a bridegroom?
Second Ryot. I think he has some share in this Indigo Company.
Torapa. No! can the Governor take a share in Indigo affairs? He came to increase his fame. If God preserve our present Governor, then we shall be able to procure something for our sustenance; and the spectre of Indigo shall no more hang on our shoulders.
Third Ryot. (With fear) I die. If the ghost of this burden once attack a person, is it true that it does not quit him soon? My wife said so.
Torapa. Why have they brought this brother-in-law here? He does not understand a thing. For fear of the Sahebs, people are leaving the village; and my uncle Bochoroddi has formed the following verse:
"The man with eyes like those of the cat, is an ignorant fool; "So the Indigo Saheb of the Indigo Factory is a blue devil."
Bochoroddi is very expert in forming such verses.
​Second Ryot. Did not you hear another verse which was composed by Nita Atai?
"The Missionaries have destroyed the caste; "The Factory monkeys have destroyed the rice."
Torapa. What a composition! But what is really meant by "Destroyed the caste?"
TORAPA repeating the words of the second Ryot
"The Missionaries have destroyed the caste: "The Factory monkeys have destroyed the rice."
Fourth Ryot. Alas! I do not know what is taking place in my house: I am a ryot of a different village. How could I then claim to have come to Svaropur, and at the instigation of Bose, thrown away the advance offered me? When my youngest child had a fever I came to Bose to get from him a little sugar-candy. Ah how very kind he was; how agreeable and good-looking in countenance I found him; and sitting as solemn as an elephant.
Torapa. How many bigahs have they thrust on you this year?
Fourth Ryot. Last year I prepared ten bigahs but as to the price of that, they raised great confusion. This year again, they have given advances for fifteen bigahs and I am doing exactly as they are ordering me, still, they leave not off insulting me.
First Ryot. I am labouring with my plough for these two years, and I have cultivated a little piece of ground. That piece of ground which I prepared this year, I kept for sesamum; but one day, young Saheb, riding on his horse, came to the place, and waiting there himself, took possession of the whole piece. How can the ryots live if this is to continue?
Torapa. This is only the intrigue of the wicked Amin. Does the Saheb know everything about land? This fool goes about like a revengeful dog; when he sees any good piece of land, he immediately gives notice of it to the Saheb. The ​Saheb has no want of money, and he has no need for borrowing money on credit. Then, why is it that the fool does so; if he has to cultivate Indigo, let him do so; let him buy oxen; let him prepare ploughs; if he cannot guide the plough himself, let him keep men under him. What want have you of lands? Why not cultivate the village from end to end? We stand ready to help in the cultivation. In that case the land can overflow with Indigo in two years. But he will not do it......
(Aside, ho; ho; ho; ma; ma;) Gazi Saheb Gazi Saheb; Darga Darga Call your Rama. Within this there are ghosts. Be silent, be silent.
(Aside, Oh Indigo; You came to this land for our utter ruin. Ah! I cannot any more suffer this torture. I cannot say how many other Factories there are of this Concern. Within this one month and-a-half, I have already drunk the water of fourteen Factories; and I do not know in what Factory I am now; and how can I know that, while I am taken in the night from one Factory to another, with my eyes entirely shut. Oh! my mother! where art thou now?)
Third Ryot. Rama; Rama; Rama Kali, Kali, Durga! Ganesh, Ashra.
Torapa. Silence, silence.
(Aside, Ah, I can make myself free from this hell, if I take the advance for five bigahs of land. Oh! my uncle, it is now proper to take the advance. Now, I see no means of giving the notice; my life is on the point of leaving the body. I have no more any power to speak. Oh my mother, where art thou now? I have not seen thy holy feet for a month-and-a-half.)
​Third Ryot. I shall speak of this to my wife; did you hear now? Although these are become ghosts after death, still have they not been able to extricate themselves from the Indigo advances.
First Ryot. Art thou so very ignorant?
Torapa. A person of a good family; I have understood that by the words. My uncle Prana, can you once take me up on your shoulders, than I can ask him where his residence is?
First Ryot. Thou art a Mussalman.
Torapa. Then, you had better rise on my shoulders and see—(sits down) rise up—(sits on the shoulders) take hold of the wall; bring your face before the window—(seeing Gopi Churn at a distance) come down, come down, my uncle, Gopi is coming (first Ryot falls down).
Enter Gopi Churn and Mr. Rose with his Ramkanta in his hand
Third Ryot. Dewan, there is a ghost in this room. Now, it was crying aloud.
Gopi. If you don't say as I teach you, you must become a ghost of the very same kind. (Aside, to Mr. Rose) These persons have known about Mojumder's confinement, we must no more keep him in this Factory. It was not proper to keep him in that room.
Rose. I shall hear of that afterwards. What ryot has refused; what rascal is so very wicked? (Stamps his feet).
Gopi. These are all well-prepared. This Mussalman is very wicked; he says, I can never show myself ungrateful, (nimakharami).
Torapa. (Aside) O my father; How very terrible the stick is. Now I must agree with them; as to future considerations I shall see what I can do afterwards. (Openly) Pardon me, Saheb! I, also, am become the same with you.
​Planter. Be silent, thou child of the sow! This Ramkant is very sweet. (Strikes with Ramkanta and also kicks him.)
Torapa. Oh! Oh! my mother, I am now dead. My uncle Prana, give me a little water; I die for water. My father, father!
Rose. Shall not filth be discharged into your mouth?
(Strikes with his shoes
Torapa. Whatever thou shalt say, I shall do. Before God, I ask pardon of thee, my Lord.
Rose. Now the villain has left his wickedness. To-night all must be sent to the court. Just write to the Attorney, that as long as the evidence is not given, not one of these shall be let out. The Agent shall go with them. (To the Third Ryot) Why art thou crying ? (Gives a kick).
Third Ryot. Bou, where art thou? These are murdering me. O my mother! Bou! my mother! I am killed, I am killed. (Falls upside down on the ground).
Rose. Thou, stupid, art become (bawra) mad.
(Exit Mr. Rose
Gopi. Now, Torapa, have you got your full of the onion and the shoe?
Torapa. Oh Dewanji, preserve me by giving a little water. I am on the point of death.
Gopi. The Indigo warehouse and the steam engine room, these are places where the sweat shoots forth and water is drunk. Now, all of you come with me, that you may at once drink water.
(Exit all
* ↑ And has......salt to eat?: i. e. And has not......given us food? In India the giver of bread is described as the giver of salt:—Ed.
* ↑ The two Mukhtears have been compared here with two fighting bulls.
* ↑ Torturing: the word in the original is 'Ikshul' the meaning of which has not yet been found out. According to some the word may also mean 'unjustified detention'.
* ↑ Belata: i. e. England.
* ↑ This refers to a certain practice in India of the bridegroom going to the house of relatives amid great feasting before the celebration of the marriage.
* ↑ Gazi Saheb & Darga: These are words used by the Mohemmadans in times of great alarm and here used to express the fear of ghosts.
* ↑ Rama, Kali, Durga, Ganesh: Names of Hindu gods & goddesses.
* ↑ Ashra: i. e. Ashura, the Demon.
* ↑ Ramkanta: it is very like Shamchand.
* ↑ Bou: Bengali word for 'wife'.

## Second Scene

The bed-room of Bindu Madhab
SARALOTA sitting with a letter in her hand
Saralota. Now, my dear love with an honest tongue is not come, and an elephant, as it were, is treading on the lotuslike heart. I have become hopeless amid very great hope. In expectation of the coming of the Lord of my life, I was waiting with greater disquietude of mind than the swallow (chatak) does when waiting for the drops of rain at the approaching rainy season. The way in which I was counting the days exactly corresponded with what my sister said, that each day appeared, as it were, a year (deep sigh). The expectation as to the coming of my husband is now of no effect. The course of his life itself will prove successful, if the great action in which he is now engaged, can prove so. Oh! Lord of my life! We are born women, and cannot even go out to walk in the garden; we are unable to walk out in the city; can by no means form clubs for general good; we have no Colleges nor Courts, nor Brahma Samaja of our own; we have nothing of our own, to compose the mind when it is once disturbed; and moreover, we can never blame a woman when she feels any disquietude. O my Lord, we have only one to depend upon—the husband is the object of the wife's thoughts, of her understanding, her study, her acquisition, her meeting, her society; in short, this jewel—the husband is all to a virtuous woman. O thou letter! thou art come from the hand of the dear object of my heart, I shall kiss thee, (kisses it); in thee is the name of my lord; I shall hold thee on my burnt heart, (keeps it on her breast). Ah! how sweet are the words of my Lord; as often as I read it, my mind is more and more charmed (reads).
MY DEAR SARALA, In my letter I cannot express what anxiety my mind feels to see your sweet face. O what inexpressible pleasure do I feel when I place your beautiful (moonlike) face on my breast! I thought that that moment of happiness is come; but pain immediately overtook pleasure. The College is closed, but a great misfortune has come upon me; through the grace of God, if I be not able to extricate myself from it, I shall never be able any more to show my face to thee. The Indigo Planters have secretly brought an accusation against my father in the court; their main design being, In some way or other, to throw him into jail. I have sent letters, one after another, to my brother giving him this information; and I myself am remaining here with the greatest care possible. Never disturb yourself with vain thoughts. The merciful Father must certainly make us successful. My dear, I have not forgotten the Bengali translation of "Shakespeare"; it cannot be got now in the shops, but one of my friends, Bonkima by name, has given me one copy. When I come home, I shall bring it with me. My dear, what a great source of pleasure is the acquisition of learning! I am conversing with you, although at such a great distance. Ah! what great happiness would my mind have enjoyed if my mother did not forbid you to send letters to me.
"I am yours, Bindu Madhab".
As to myself I have a full confidence as to that. If there by any fault in your character, then who should be an example of good conduct? Because I am fickle; cannot sit for some time quietly in one place, my mother-in-law calls me the daughter of a mad woman. But, where is my fickleness now? In the place, where I have opened the letter of my dear Lord, I have spent nearly a fourth part of the day. The fickleness of the exterior part has now gone into the heart. As, on the boiling of the rice, the froth rising up makes the surface quiet, but the rice within is agitated; so am I now. I have not that smiling face now. A sweet smile is the wife of happiness; and so soon as happiness dies, the sweet smile goes along with it. My Lord, when thou shalt prove successful, every thing shall be preserved; if I am to see your face disquieted, all sides will be dark unto me. O my restless mind, wilt thou be not quieted? If you remain unquiet, that can be suffered. As to your weeping, none can see it, nor can hear it; but my eyes! you shall ​throw me into shame, (rubbing her eyes); if ye are not pacified I shall not be able to go out of doors.
Enter ADURI
Aduri. What are you doing here? The elder Haldarni is not able to go to the tank-side. All whom I see are of a disturbed countenance.
Saralota. (A deep sigh) Let us then go.
Aduri. I see you have not yet touched the oil. Your hairs are yet dusty, and you have not yet left the letter. Does our young Haldar write my name in the letter?
Saralota. Has the Bara Thakur finished his bathing?
Aduri. The eldest Haldar is gone to the village. A law-suit is being carried on. Was that not written in your letter! Our master was weeping.
Saralota. (Aside) Truly, my Lord! Thou shalt not be able to show thy face, if thou can'st not prove successful. (Openly) Let us now rub ourselves with oil in the cook-room.
(Exit both
* ↑ Refers to Soirindri.
* ↑ Bara Thakur: the eldest brother of the husband.

## Third Scene

A Road pointing three ways
Enter Podi Moyrani
Podi. It is the degenerate Amin who is ruining the country. Is it through my own choice that I am levelling the axe at my feet, by giving the young women to the Saheb? Oh to think of the club which Rai (Ray Churn), lifted against me that day! If it were not for Sadhuda, the day would have proved my last. Ah, it bursts my heart when I see the face of Khetromany. Have I no feeling of compassion, because I have made a paramour my companion? Whenever she sees me still, she comes to me, calling me Aunt, Aunt! Can the mother, with a firm heart, give such a golden deer into the grasp of the tiger? The younger Saheb is never satiated even with two of us—Kali, the daughter of a rude tribe and me. How detestable is this, that for the sake of money I have given up my caste and my religion; and also am obliged to touch the bed of a Buno (rude tribe). That libertine, the elder Saheb, has made it a practice to beat me whenever he finds me, and has also said, he will cut off my nose and ears; that vile man is come to an old age, can keep women in confinement, and can kick them on their buttocks, but never runs after women. Let me go to the blackmouthed Amin and tell him that shall not be effected by me. Have I any power to go out in the town? Whenever the nasty fellows of the neighbourhood see me, they follow me as the Phinge (a kind of bird) does the crow. (Aside, a song) Whenever I sit down to reap the rice in the field. Her eyes immediately come before my sight.
Enter a COWHERD
Cowherd. Saheb, have not insects attacked thine Indigo twigs?
​Podi. Let them attack thy mother and sister, thou degenerate fool. Leave off thy mother's breast, go to the house of Death; go to Colmighata, to the grave.
Cowherd. I have also sent orders to prepare a pair of weeding knives.
Enter a LATYAL or CLUB-MAN
Oh! the Latyal of the Indigo Factory!
(The Cowherd flies off swiftly
Latyal. Thou, Oh lotus-faced, hast made the tooth-powder very dear.
Podi. (Seeing the silver chain round the waist of the Latyal) Your chain is very grand.
Club-man. Don't you know, my dear, wherefrom comes the clothing of the bailiff and the dress of the nautch girl?
Podi. I wanted a black calf from you a long while ago, but yet you did not give it me. My brother, I shall not ask from thee any more.
Club-man. Dear lotus-faced, don't be angry with me. To-morrow, we shall go to plunder the place called Shamanagara; and if I can get a black calf, I shall immediately keep that in your cow-house. When I shall return with my fish, I shall pass by your shop.
(Exit the Club-man
Enter four BOYS of a Native Pathshala
Four Boys. (keeping down their mats and expressing great mirth with the clapping of their hands.)
My dear Moyrani, where is your Indigo? My dear Moyrani, where is your Indigo? My dear Moyrani, where is your Indigo?
Podi. My child Kesoba, I am your aunt. Never use such words to me.
Four Boys. (Dance together) My dear Moyrani; where is your Indigo?
Podi. My dear Ambika, I am your sister; don't use me in this manner.
Four Boys. (Dance round Podi)
My dear Moyrani, where is your Indigo? My dear Moyrani, where is your Indigo? My dear Moyrani, where is your Indigo?
Enter Nobin Madhab
Podi. What a shame is this, that I exposed my face to the elder Babu.
(Exit Podi, covering herself with a veil
Nobin. Wicked and profligate woman. (To the children) You are playing on the road still; it is now too late, go home now.
(Exit Four Boys
Ah! I can within five days establish a school for these boys, if only the tyranny of the Indigo be once stopped. The Inspector of this part of the country is a very good man. How very good a man becomes, if only learning be acquired. He is young; but in his conversation he has the experience of years. He has a great desire that a school be established in this country. I am also not unwilling to give money for this purpose; the large Bungalow which I have, can be a good place for a school; moreover, what is more happy than to ​have the boys of one's own country to read and write and study in his own house, this is the true success of wealth and of labour. Bindu Madhab brought the Inspector with him, and it is his desire, that all with one mind try to establish the school. But observing the unfortunate state of the country, he was obliged to keep his design to himself. How very mild, quiet, goodnatured, and wise is he become now! Wisdom in younger years is as beautiful as the fruits in a small plant. In reading of the sorrow, which my brother has expressed in his letter, even the hard stone is melted and the heart of the Indigo Planter would become soft. I cannot now rise up to go home, I do not see any means; I was not able to bring one of the five to my side, and cannot find where they are taken away. I think Torapa will never speak a lie. It shall be a great loss to us, if the other four give evidence; especially as I was not able to make the least preparation; and again the Magistrate is a great friend of Mr. Wood.
Enter a RYOT two PEADAS or Bailiffs of the Police, and a TAIDGIR of the Indigo Factory
Ryot. My elder Babu, preserve my two children; there is no one else to feed them. Last year, I gave eight carts' load of Indigo, and did not get a single pice for that, and also I am bound, as with cords, for the remainder. Again they will take me to Andrabad.
Guard. The advance-money of the Indigo and the marking nut of the washerman behave alike; as soon as they come in contact, they become mostly joined. You villain come, you must first go to the Dewanji; your elder Babu also shall come to this end.
Ryot. Come, I don't fear this. I would rather have my body rot in the jail than any more prepare the Indigo of that white man. My God! my God! none looks on the poor (weeps). My elder Babu, give my children food; they ​brought me from the field; and I was not able to see them once.
(Exit all, except Nobin Madhab
Nobin. What injustice! These two children will die without food in the same way as the new-born young of the hare suffers when the hare is in the hand of the savage hunters.
Enter Ray Churn
Ray. Had not my brother caught hold of me, I would have put a stop to her (Refers to Podi) breathing, I would have killed her; then, at the utmost, I had been hanged for six months. That villain!
Nobin. Ray Churn, where art thou going?
Ray. Our mistress ordered me to call Putakur. The stupid Podi told me that the bailiff will bring the summons tomorrow.
(Exit Ray Churn
Nobin. Oh! Oh! oh! That which never took place in this family has now come to pass. My father is very peaceful, honest, and of a sincere mind, knows not what disputes and enmities are, never goes out of the village, trembles with fear at the name of Court affairs, and even shed tears when he read the letter. If he is to go to Indrabad, he will turn mad; and if, to the jail, he will throw himself into the stream. Ah, such are the misfortunes that are to fall on him while I, his son, am living: My mother is not so much afraid as my father is, she does not lose hope at once; with a firm mind she is now invoking God. My dear-eyed is become, as it were, the deer in my volcano; she is become mad with fear and anxiety. Her father died in an Indigo Factory and her fear now, is ​lest the same happens to her husband. How many sides am I to keep quiet; is it proper to fly off with the whole family or, is it not right that to do good unto others is the highest virtue? I shall not turn aside hastily. I see, I am not able to do any good to Shamanagara; still, what work is there which is beyond the power of exertion? Let me see what I can do.
Enter two PUNDITS
First P. My child, is the house of Goluk Chunder Bose in this quarter? I heard from my uncle, that person is very honest—the grandeur of the Bose family.
Nobin. (Bowing before him) Sir, I am his eldest son.
First P. Yes! Yes! very honest: To have such a son is not the result of a little virtue.
To such a family is an unworthy child never born. Can a piece of glass be found in a bed of rubies?
What is said in the Shastras never proves wrong. Haven't you followed the sloka brother, Tarkalankar? (Takes snuff.)
Second P. We had bean invited by Babu Arabindu, of Sougandha. To-day, we remain in the house of Goluk Chunder; and shall do good unto you.
Nobin. This is my great fortune. Sirs, come by this way.
(Exit all
* ↑ All these signify that "let Death come upon thee."
* ↑ Tooth-powder: made of tobacco ashes.
* ↑ Pathshala: village primary school of Bengal.
* ↑ This expression "had been hanged for six months" is only used sarcastically.
* ↑ Putakur: the priest.
* ↑ That is, the deer feels disquieted when exposed in a volcano so is my mate troubled by the many anxieties in my mind.
* ↑ Tarkalankar: a title of Sanskrit logicians.