The Omaha guide., 1946-11-23
ALONG
MY WAY
sToNiNG THE LiBERAToR
BY Lawrence r. Lewis


1 was purchasing some presents
at the American PIX in Calcutta.
India, during my stay there wait
ing for transportation home. 1t
had been a pleasant afternoon,
and although it was in mid-Jan-
uary. the temperature was about
rs degrees and the sky was as
clear as a mountain stream. One
of the Indians, working as a clerk
in the PIX, began a conversation
with me.
you going home, Sergeant 2"
the Indian asked.
Yes, I am supposed to be leav-
ing any day now, I replied
This Indian wore British made
clothes. and spoke English well.
Not exactly as we would speak it,
when he talked the words were
sometimes out of place or broken
but very understandable.
He was showing me some Of
the silver bracelets and lockets
that the PIX had on sale. but his
mind was on politics. not the mer-
chandise in the show case.
The Indian clerk continued to
place different pieces of jewelry
on the glass counter. giving me
the once over several times, not
knowing how far to go in this
conversation.
You find a girl in Calcutta ?''
he asked hardly above a whisper.
and with a half-smile on his face.
Il am not looking for a girl,
I answered, appraising the jew
elry all the same time.
you no like Indians 2" he in
quired.
yes I like Indians. I like al
most everybody now. 1 replied.
The Indian clerk leaned over
closer and said, This bracelet,
beautiful isn't it? Only % rupees.
Indians have nothing against you
people. You are like us. Indians
no like white man rule. AS soon
as Americans go home, there will
be trouble, much trouble.
I just remained silent. 1 was
not looking for an argument on
race relations in which to spoil my
day.
4 "You like American" he contin-
ued.
Certainly, I answered. "That
is my home. I love America. My
wife and baby are there.
I paid the clerk for a bracelet,
some earrings and a pin. He thank
ed me for the purchase. but tried
to prolong my staying by show
ing me other articles Of interest
and value.
/ AS I turned away the Indian
clerk leaned even further over the
counter and whispered, when
you tAmericans 60 home there
will be much trouble"
Already there had been meetings
and gatherings in Calcutta of the
Indians. Some of the demonstra-
tons were on the verge of riots.
! Students they called themselves.
Their riotings did not interest me
although they reminded me of the
lynchings in the South. A group
of people taking advantage Of
others who could not protect them
| selves.
A few days later a real riot
did break out in Calcutta. We
were not many miles out of Gull
cutta, but it was no concern of
ours. Americans did not NEEDLE
in political affairs Of India, unless
it was to protect the lives of
American soldiers. A bulletin came
out making Calcutta out of bounds
for American troops.
Our ship, the beautiful, sleek,
Marine Angel, had locked and 7
was booked for passage on it. We
were all hoping that the riot would
not hold us up. Thousands of us
had sweated out weeks waiting
for a ship to come in, and now
we might not even be able to get
to it. Unless you have been thru
it you cannot realize the torment
one goes through waiting, hoping
and praying that tomorrow will
be the day.
The next morning in the early
hours we were ordered to stand
by for transportation to the Ma
rine Angel. The half-moon was
still high in the sky and the stars
mingled with the electric lights of
the camp, helping to light our
way. Somehow it reminded me of
a thief in the night, hiding under
/ the cover of darkness
AS we reached the center of Cal
cutta, the trucks were speeded up.
| It was just breaking dawn, and
the American MP's with their
white helmets, white jeeps, and
automatic guns, wre racing up and
down the long convoy of trucks.
British soldiers were guarding the
streets. All along the routs I saw
burned American trucks, many
| overturned, with the American
flag painted or placed on them.
Indian boys, some young, some
old, stood with angry faces, ready
to give somebody an unWelcome
shower. A rock shower. Many re-
ceived that shower. I could not
believe all this was happening. I
Thought about the Indian clerk at
the PIX. About his words, when
the Americans leave there will be
trouble. Trouble was already
here. They had just stoned men
who a few months before would
have died, as gladly as any man
can die, to protect India, her peo-
nlo md their hnnnoc