Award And Other Stories

Author(s): Pratap J Tolia
Publisher: Vardhaman Bharati International Foundation

Page 10

10
Ignoring Arun and looking at prashant, the officer went on telling -
"Yes sir, | You are getting the complete land-amount invested by your parents. Honourable Government is giving this amount for a noble cause of social service. Jnanyagna has been commenced on the outskirts of our city in which people are gladly giving very very bid donations of lakhs of rupees---- You also should donate something for the same---and still however you are being given this Award with respect. In an Honouring Cermony, you will be respectfully Awarded the same"
"But------ - But---------"
Having grasped the non-acceptance of prashant in these words, the officer abruptly stopped him speaking and told plainly
"Sir 1 Kindly approach the newly opened office of this "Seat of Learning" if you want to know more or questions anything about the same. We the Government Servants are only the executors of the orders----- and if you intend to get the Award sign this Letter of Consent for the same."
And he took out and placed before prashant a cyclostyle printed paper, a Deed of Agreement- no, not the Agreement, but the "Joint Exploitation" of the plot of Government and the politicians of the so called "Seat of Learning !" prashant, who was not at all accustomed to bear any sort of exploitation or injustice, immediately fired back
"Please talk of donations and charities later. When you are sitting here as the Representative of the Government please reply what "Logic", what "Justice" and what "Legitimate Reward" is there in this cheating Award of your Government ? what, the amount of Rupees Five Hundred invested in 1942 will remain STATIC even after fifty five years in 1997 ? I think the same should be the rate of interest and custom in the Banks owned by the Government, said to be the Monopolist of Progress! What, is this your much publicised Big Great Award? Excuse me, I will accept only the complete amount full of justice if I have to accept the same at all. Otherwise farewell to this Award of yours to your Greatly just Government!"
Telling so satirically and throwing that "Black Paper" of the Award back to the officer, being shocked at the form of the Award-cheating upto this extent and experiencing helpless condition like the looted crow and cheated traveler, prashant got up from there. He and Arun thought it useless to discuss any more with this officer and break their heads and went to the office of the New Seat of Learning.
And there, the politican Honorary Secretary of the Seat of Learning, who was well versed in playing his diplomatic political games gave them more sophisticated, more dedicating reply than the Government Officer:
"Prashantji! A man of latter and Son of Goddess of learning like you should give blessings and all co-operation to the planning of "Seat of learning" of ours.