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| Sunday, 31 October 2004 |
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'Two eyeds' and the 'one eyeds' Sunday parable by Sunanda Mahendra "Oh at last I have discovered where they exist," said the whiteman researcher getting into a mood of ecstasy. His pupil was doing some work close to him.
"I have come to the final stage of my findings. Do you know that?" asked the Master. "Sorry, what are you referring to?" "Didn't you know that I was engaged in a study into some strange humans like us living in an island." "Yes. I knew. So what did you discover about them?" "I have discovered that those fellows have only eyes on their foreheads. And they are known by the term 'one eyed'. And they live as a group far away from us, who have two eyes." "So we, two eyeds, have discovered 'one eyeds'. Is that what you want to say?" "Yes certainly, and I wish to go and see them on my own. That would be an interesting journey, for I can bring one of them and exhibit him here for the two eyeds to see. I see that they are a species of queer creatures." "Why do you call them queer?" "According to my findings, they are real humans. But they can be nasty at times." "How did you get that information?" "All these I have discovered in a rare document. With the greatest difficulty I found it lying in an archive. So before I publish my conclusion as a report, I must go there." "Is it not going to be dangerous to go alone?" "No. I don't think so." "But master I can certainly join you if you like." "Thank you. You had better stay back, for I must be tactful in my mission." "Do you wish to stay long there?" "Oh no. I feel like studying their behaviour and becoming their good friend." It looked as though the master disliked to reveal some information. The master did not say as to why he was going alone in the truest sense of the term. The master thought to himself. "If I get to the island of the one eyeds, I should be in a position to make friends with one or two of those fellows. If I bring back one of them in my little boat, I can earn a good living by exhibiting him to the two eyeds. One fine day I should be able to write a book about my journey." The dialogue that ensued between the master and his pupil ended with the verdict of the master, emphasising "I will be the most wanted anthropologist, who has discovered a new species of humans living in an island". So even without informing the pupil, the master set sails in his little boat to the island of the one eyeds. When the one eyed people saw the two eyed master, some of them raised a cry. "Oh look at that fellow. He is such a strange fellow. He has two eyes. Look how funny he looks. We got only one whereas he has got two." Although the master did not understand their language he knew instinctively what they were saying. As such he was worried from the very moment he landed on the shore of the island of the one eyeds. "Let's catch him right now, for he can be nasty. He has a gun." While several one eyed people informed this to their leader, a few caught the two eyed master, tied his hands with a rope and removed the gun from his hand. They discussed in the language, which the two eyed master failed to grasp. But he could gauge what they were saying. They gradually moved him from the shore, and brought him before their leader. The master went on talking in sign language, which the onlookers failed to understand. The leader seemed to be asking him as to how he found this island. Through a series of sign language, the master reported that he had been carrying on research into the island. The one eyed people did not harm him, but put him into a cage, where he was exhibited for a nominal fee. The master was offered good food and drink. He was seen by thousands of one eyed people. They came from various remote places. They went on giggling and smiling as if to say, "What a queer man this two eyed fellow is!" The master finally understood how sympathetic they were towards him. Then he said in sign language. "Please let me go home. I have not come to harm you. Give me my gun. I brought it thinking that you all will harm me." The leader felt sorry for the master and requested his fellowmen to put him once again into the boat. They also handed over the gun to the master. Quite a number of people were gathered in the shore to bid farewell to the master. "Take care, have a nice journey back home. And don't come again." Cried the one eyed people as the boat slowly waded across the sea. |
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"Master,
what did you say?" the pupil asked.
