The English translation of a novel ‘Maharaja Dahir’ authored by Kolkata-based renowned novelist Debasree Chakraborti in Bengali language. The novel has been translated by Rajesh Giri
India, Pakistan
Year 2021
It’s a few minutes to eleven o’clock in the morning. A taxi stopped in front of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi. There was police security deployed here, unlike other regular days. Mithila got down from that taxi wearing green salwar kameez and black sunglasses. Mithila was accompanied by the driver from Attari Border. The driver once paid a casual attention on the Delhi Police officials from the car. Then he looked at his wrist watch and indicated Mithila to go inside.
The driver, dressed in black costume, stood outside the gate and started checking time. Police officers are on duty on one side; all those entering the Institute of Medical Sciences are thoroughly checked and then they let them in. Mithila was taken to one side by the lady police in front of the gate and checked comprehensively and let her in. Meanwhile, the person with black kurta-pajama was standing right next to them, but they did not even notice him. No one even asked why he was standing there.
When the security check was done, the policewoman handed mobile phone and told Mithila to wait for the call on mobile. She knows where she has to go; so many eyes all around are watching her, yet when she received the mobile phone in her hand, she realized that she is very safe now. After arriving Delhi, she stayed with a Muslim family in the alleys of Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi. This driver introduced himself as the cousin brother of the jagirdar of Tharparkar.
From this family she learns that Sarfarosh’s family left for Pakistan during partition, but they stayed here. They are also heavily involved with Pakistan residing in this country. Many Pakistanis come to India for treatment purpose and stay with them and then leave. Mithila remembers the way to that house in Chandni Chowk very well; she will tell it in due time. Now she slowly moves towards a chair, takes seat and starts waiting. There is a large gathering of people here; they have come from different parts of India to get treatment. People of all ages from infant to old, all are here. They are conversing with so many different languages. Mithila silently looks at the clock and finds out that she has to wait for five more minutes, and then she would be freed from a curse forever.
When Mithila has been waiting outside, Sanghamitra boarded the Jaisalmer-bound train from Ahmedabad station with her family. There was heavy presence of police security around the station; all suitcases, sacks of passengers are being checked very carefully. After five minutes their train will depart. Buddha Baba and his elder brother are sitting face to face on the passage seat and talking continuously. They have been talking continuously since they met. From the India-Pakistan border to the hotel in Ahmedabad, they talked; in the morning when we got up Bapu was saying that they laid side by side and talked till midnight holding each other’s hands. They are sharing all their memories with each other since their birth. At times, tears flow in the eyes of both of them when they talk about sadness, and they hold each other’s hands smiling while talking about joyful incidents. Seeing them like this, Sanghamitra’s heart is also filled with joy. All the memories left behind across the border are slowly fading like a mirage. Sarmad told him that they would get back Mithila in India. In due course Mithila will come to their family. Sanghamitra has not told this to her family yet. Because she still can’t believe that Mithila can come back to them again. Only two minutes left for the train to depart, Sanghamitra started reciting the Hanuman Chalissa; she downloaded this on her mobile phone. Her Bapu and his two cousins are sitting on one side talking; Sanghamitra’s mother covering her face with the veil is trying to sleep while Sanghamitra is single-mindedly reciting Hanuman challisha.
When the train was about to leave Ahmedabad station, Haider has been reading a book inside the National Library of Calcutta and smiling inside. Because before coming here, he had read something in the newspaper that terrorists from Pakistan had entered India through the Kutch border and killed several Indian soldiers. The pictures of the dead bodies of Indian soldiers were published in the newspapers; According to news reports while entering India through the Harami nala, the Pakistani charlatans killed Indian soldiers and disappeared among the people. Haider laughed himself after reading the news. There is a heavy police presence around the National Library of Kolkata. He thinks how much to deceive the general public for the sake of the security of the country. He sits quietly and continues reading the newspaper.
Three human bombs deployed from Pakistan are waiting for the ultimate moment to reach their target. At that time, in a secret place in New Delhi Dr. Iqbal aka Panchajanya, Sabirbhai aka Nomesh Gopalani and Chadha sir are sitting face to face with top officials of WAR. They are sitting in India watching everything happening there through the camera that Panchajanya left in Basir Ahmed’s bungalow in Lahore, Pakistan. In the living room Abu Talib, Sarfarosh, Ahmed and several others are sitting. Seeing them, Chadha Sir said, “They are all high-ranking officials of Pakistan’s spy agency, but where is Basir Ahmed?”
“If Basir Ahmed is not there, the whole game will be ruined.”
At that time Panchajanya receives an incoming call through WhatsApp. Panchajanya saw it is Abu Talib calling. He said, “Abu Talib is calling. Should I take the call?” Someone present there advised to turn off the sound of the video and speak. Abu Talib said when he picked up the phone, “Hey Dr. Iqbal, when are you coming? Come on the moment is near almost.”
Dr. Iqbal alias Panchjanya said, “I am buying two special gifts for you and Basir Ahmed Sahib, so I am getting late, you guys finish the job on time, I will come right away.”
Abu Talib said, “Hey Dr. Iqbal, Dahir’s diary is the greatest gift to me that is enough, no need to bring anything else.”
—Today is a very joyous day for us, so it is my duty to give you a present, so don’t refuse at all. You are my best friend, Allah introduced me to you while returning from Hajj.
—Whatever you give me, I will accept that. You must bring the diary of Surya Devi today. And one more thing, today I need that one crore bucks.
—Yes, yes, you don’t have to worry at all, trust me. I will bring everything. And one more thing, Is Mr. Basir Ahmed there? I really want to meet him.
—Yes, he is the person today with the remote control. He will press the remote button and we will celebrate. But the only regret remained that you are not here.
I said, first you complete this task properly, then I will go and join the celebration.
Basir Ahmed is now seen on the monitor screen. He sat on the couch with a huge bottle of whiskey. It is understood that the bottle was purchased for the celebration.
Nomesh Gopalani said, “I myself was present during his operation, will someone predict that a few days ago his stomach was operated!
Another person said, “They drink alcohol even though they are Muslims. They project that Pakistan respects its state religion so much. Here is his sample. A former military chief who is still wreaking havoc on India for Pakistan, also drinks alcohol. Hypocrisy in the name of religion.”
It is exactly fifteen minutes past eleven o’ clock. It can be seen on the monitor that everyone present surrounded Basir Ahmed while cheering. Then they started counting from ten, a strange joy in their eyes, like everyone at a New Year’s Eve party count before the New Year begins, they were doing the same.
All of WAR agencies were watching their last moments very closely at that time. They stopped for a while after counting one—
At this time three persons located in three other places in India also looked at their watches. Very silent all around. As soon as Basir Ahmed pressed the switch, a terrible fire erupted, then it was all over. Now nothing is showing on the monitor. Death is never happy, be it friend or foe, this is the philosophy of our country, which has been carried among the people of this country since time immemorial. However, they are committed to killing the demons who are defaming the motherland and the citizens of this country.
After a moment of silence, everyone present clapped their hands. Chadha sir stood up and hugged Panchajanya and Nomesh Gopalani together and said, “Today operation ‘Maharaja Dahirsen’ become successful. But we have one more thing to do.” Chadha sir made a video call from his mobile phone. Mithila sits with her eyes closed on an iron chair outdoor of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, tears of joy welling up in her eyes. At that time, the phone given by the lady police in her hand rang. She couldn’t open her eyes for a long time, then she looked up and saw that there is an incoming video call on the mobile phone; as she was instructed to pick up the call she quickly picked up the phone. On the other side, Haider also received a video call at the National Library of Calcutta, when he picked up the call, Chadha Sir saw Mithila and Haider together. He said to them, “Mithila, Haider, what you have done for this country today, this country will remember your contribution forever. Haider, there is a white car parked outside the national library in Calcutta, you get into it now, and Mithila, you will be approached by two lady police officers immediately, they will take you to a safe place.” Mithila said, “Yes, sir, they have come, I am coming.”
Chadda sir handed the phone to Panchajanya and said, “Look who is there. Now be fully assured”. Seeing Panchjanya, Mithila started crying holding her face in her hands. She could no longer control her emotions. Panchajanya consoled her holding his palm on his chest with great emotion, “I am here, don’t cry anymore, come quickly.”
On the other hand, Haider came out of the National Library of Calcutta and said, “Dad, don’t you always say that at the end of any terrible experience there is a very good experience; after the operation ‘Maharaja Dahirsen’, their relationship left a very beautiful feeling”. Chadha sir said, “Your mother is worried, return home soon, then there will be a lot of talk about these things”.
On that day, there was News in Pakistan that a terrible explosions took place in three places at the same time in Pakistan. According to the news, a huge explosion took place at around eleven in the morning in the Lahore bungalow of former military officer Basir Ahmed. The explosion killed Basir Ahmed, his girlfriend Fiza and all the employees working in the bungalow. At the same time, an explosion occurred at the bungalow of the Sarfarosh in Tharparkar, Sindh province, killing the Jagirdar and all the employees of his bungalow. On the very same day, at the same time, a madrasa exploded in Tharparkar, which had been providing shelter, food and education to helpless, orphaned children for a long time. When the explosion occurred in the madrasa, the students of the madrasa had gone to offer a special prayer at Dargah Hazarat Sakhi Abdul Wahab Shah Jilani. So while they were all safe, the head of the madrasa and several prominent teachers died. Pakistan believes that India is responsible for the blast. Another news is showing along this news is the mysterious death of two surgeons from Tharparkar and Lahore in Pakistan. They were in their chamber in the hospital last night. At that time they suddenly fell into death. No injuries were found on their body; preliminary investigation suggested that they died of heart attack. However, after the blast at Tharparkar and Lahore, this incident is suspected to be a murder. Because a few days ago, Basir Ahmed returned home after undergoing an operation from this doctor in Lahore. Moreover, it is heard that the Jagirdar Sarfarosh had regular contact with this doctor of Tharparkar. Now the investigation is looking into whether there is any connection between these incidents.
Mrs. Chadha is watching TV intently. At that time the doorbell rang. Mrs. Chadha knows who has come; she was given all the instructions beforehand. As she hurriedly got up and opened the door, two female police officers passed Mithila to her. Mrs. Chadha hugged her and brought inside the room and made her sit on the sofa. Then closed the outer door and gave Mithila a glass of cold water. Mithila is drinking the cold water from the glass while the news was going on that a Pakistani terrorist has been caught outside the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi. ATS has been searching for him for long time, it is suspected that those who trespassed into India from Pakistan through harami nala, he is the one of them.
Mithila finished the glass and let out a big sigh of relief and held Mrs. Chadha’s hand tightly. (Continues)
Click here for Part-I , Part-II, Part-III , Part-IV , Part-V , Part-VI , Part-VII, Part-VIII , Part-IX , Part-X, Part-XI, Part-XII, Part-XIII , Part-XIV , Part-XV , Part-XVI, Part-XVII, Part-XVIII , Part-XIX, Part-XX, Part-XXI , Part-XXII, Part-XXIII , Part-XXIV , Part-XXV , Part-XXVI, Part-XXVII, Part-XXVIII, Part-XXIX, Part-XXX , Part-XXXI, Part-XXXII, Part-XXXIII , Part-XXXIV , Part-XXXV , Part-XXXVI , Part-XXXVII , Part-XXXVIII, Part-XXXIX, Part-XL , #Part-XLI , Part-XLII , Part-XLIII , Part-XLIV, Part-XLV , Part-XLVI , Part- XLVII , Part-XLVIII , Part-XLIX, Part-L , Part-XLI
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Debasree Chakraborti is a renowned novel writer of Bengali language. Based in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, she has done Master’s in Modern History from the Kolkata University, and authored some thirty books, mostly the novels, with historical perspective and themes. Her most recent novel is ‘Maharaja Dahir’ that covers the history of Sindh from 662, the year of first attack on Sindh by the Arab armies till date.
Rajesh Giri, born in Kolkata, had his early schooling from Kolkata and then from Medinipur—a village in Bengal. He graduated from Calcutta University with Physics and Maths and Master’s from Burdwan University in 2016. Now he is associated with Adhdhyaan educational institution teaching Physics. History enthusiastic Rajesh Giri is particularly interested in the ancient civilization of India and other regions like Egypt, Mesopotamia, and North America. He loves traveling.
