Shia Hashiye

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BLACK BORDERS Author(s): Saadat Hasan Manto, Nathan Rabe, Alan Zinser and John Zylla Source: Journal of South Asian Literature, Vol. 20, No. 2, THE WRITINGS OF SAADAT HASAN

MANTO (Summer, Fall 1985), pp. 36-55Published by: Asian Studies Center, Michigan State UniversityStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40872775Accessed: 15-11-2015 10:53 UTC

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BLACK BORDERS

Translated by Nathan Rabe, Alan Zinser, and John Zylla

Dedicated

To the man who, recounting his acts of bloodshed, said, "When I struck an old woman, it seemed as if I had committed murder.1

Siyah hashiye. Lahore: Maktabah-e Jadid, 1948.

- 36 -



A Sweet Moment

It has been reported that, upon the death of Mahatma Gandhi, sweets were distributed in several places in Amritsar, Gwalior and Bombay, in celebration.

(Indian Press)

- 37 -



Wages

Looting was going on at a fevered pitch. The activity became more heated when fires broke out in ewery direction.

One fellow picked up a harmonium and was going about cheerfully singing,

Oh my love, when you went away Such pain, such strife; Who is mine in this life?

A young boy ran off stashing a pile of pãpars in the apron of his shirt.1 He stumbled, and a bundle of papars fell out.

When he bent down to pick them up a man carrying a sewing machine on his head said to the boy, "Let them be, son, let them be. They'll roast by themselves."

Somewhere in the bazaar a full sack fell over with a thud. A man ran up and slit open the belly of the sack with his knife. Instead of guts, pure white sugar spilled out. People gathered around and began filling their shirt aprons. One man was without a shirt. He quickly opened his dhoti and began to fill it with fistful s of sugar.

"Out of the way! Move it!" A tonga loaded with freshly painted cabinets passed through.

A bolt of muslin came fluttering out of a window of a tall building; a tongue of flame gently licked at it. ... By the time it reached the street it was a heap of ashes.

"Honk! Honk! . . . Honk! Honk!" A car's horn sounded and over it were heard the screams of two women.

A dozen or so men dragged an iron safe outside and began to pry it open with their lathis.

Picking up several tins of "Cow and Gate" milk in both hands, and sup- portino them with his chin, a man emerged from a shop and slowly headed out into the bazaar.

Someone shouted, "Come on! Come on! Get your bottle of lemonade--the hot weather's here." A man with a car tire around his neck took two bottles and went on without even thanking him.

Someone else shouted, "Call the fire department! Otherwise all this stuff will be burned." No one paid any attention to this sound advice.

In this way, the bazaar remained active. The fires breaking out continued to add to the frenzy. Much later, shots rang out, and bullets began to fly.

The police found the market empty. From around a corner, enveloped in smoke, the shadowy figure of a man appeared. The police sepoys dashed after him blowing their whistles. The shadowy figure quickly slipped into the smoky haze. The police sepoys chased after him.

When they emerged from the smoke, the police sepoys saw a Kashmiri laborer fleeing with a heavy sack on his back. They blew ther whistles until they were hoarse but the Kashmiri laborer didn't stop. The load he carried was no

- 38 -



ordinary burden--the sack was enormous. But he ran as if there was nothing on his back at all.

The sepoys became winded. One of them, his patience exhausted, drew his pistol and took aim. The bullet hit the Kashmiri laborer in the leg. The sack fell from his back. Panicking, he looked back and saw the sepoys slowly gain- ing on him. He examined the blood flowing from his calf; but with a jerk, he picked up the sack and, throwing it on his back, began to run again.

The sepoys muttered, "Let 'im go. To hell with him!"

Suddenly, the limping Kashmiri stumbled and fell. The sack came down on top of him.

The sepoys grabbed him and took him away along with the sack.

On the way, the Kashmiri laborer said repeatedly, "Your Honor, why you arrest me? ... I am poor man. ... I taking only one bag of rice . . . for eating at home. . . . You no right to shoot me."

But no one listened to a word he said.

At the police station, too, the Kashmiri laborer tried hard to clear himself. "Your honor, other people, they take big, fancy things. ... I only take one sack of rice. . . . Your Honor, I wery poor man. . . . Every day I eat only boiled rice. ..."

Tired and defeated, he wiped the sweat from his forehead with his dirty cap and gazed wishfully at the sack of rice. With outstretched hands, he pleaded with the police sergeant, "O.K, Your honor, you keep the sack. . . . Just pay me my wages . . . four annas. "

Note

1. papaos: thin discs of spiced chickpea-flour, resembling a wery large potato chip, deep-fried and eaten as a snack or with meals.

- 39 -



Cooperation

A mob of forty or fifty men armed with lathis were advancing toward a house to ransack and loot it.

Suddenly a thin, middle-aged man broke through to the front of the crowd. He faced the rioters and addressed them as their leader. "Brothers, there is immense wealth, countless valuables in this house. Come on, let's seize it together!! We'll divide the booty amongst ourselves."

Clenched fists and lathis were brandished in the air and a resounding tor- rent of shouts and slogans burst from the crowd.

The mob of forty or fifty men armed with lathis, under the leadership of the thin middle-agd man, began to advance quickly toward the house, the house of immense wealth and countless valuables.

Halting at the main door of the house, the thin man once again addressed the rioters. "Brothers, whatever is in this house is yours, but don't fuss and fight over who gets what. Come on."

One of them shouted, "There's a lock on the door."

Another shouted, "Break it down!"

"Break it down! Break it down!"

Clenched fists and lathis were brandished in the air and a resounding tor- rent of shouts and slogans burst from the crowd.

The thin man motioned to those about to break down the door to stop, and with a smile, said, "Brothers, wait- I'll open it with the key." Saying this, he took a ring of keys out of his pocket and, selecting one of them, inserted it in the lock and opened it.

As the massive wooden door creaked open, the frenzied crowd rushed forward to get in. The thin man wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "Brothers, take it easy. Everything in this house is yours. There's no need for all this commotion."

The crowd immediately calmed down. One by one, the rioters filed into the house. But as soon as the looting began, chaos broke out again. The rioters mercilessly began to clean out the valuables.

When the thin man witnessed this scene, he said to the looters in a dis- tressed voice, "Brothers, calm down. There's no need to quarrel among yourselves-or to claw and grab. Cooperate! Don't be envious if someone gets hold of a valuable item. It's such a big house, look for something else for your- self; but don't be brutal about it. If you insist on fighting, things will break, and it'll be your own loss."

Once again order was instilled among the looters. The thin man exhorted the looters, "Look, brother, this is a radio; pick it up gently, otherwise it will break, here, take the cord with it too."

"Fold it up, brother ... fold it up, first. That's a walnut teapoy . . . with ivory inlay. ... It's yery fragile. . . . There, that's better1.

- 40 -



"No, no ... don't drink it here, you'll get drunk. . . . Take it home with you.

"Wait, wait, let me shut off the main switch; otherwise you'll get a shock."

Meanwhile, a commotion arose from a corner. Four rioters were fighting over a bolt of silk. The thin man quickly ran over and scolded them, "how stupid you are; you'll tear this expensive cloth to shreds. This house has everything; there should be a yard stick around. Go find it, measure the cloth and divide it among yourselves."

"Woof, woof, woof!" Suddenly a dog barked. In the blink of an eye a snarling cur bounded into the room and, leaping, mauled two or three looters. The thin man shouted, "Tiger, Tiger!"

In Tiger's fearsome mouth was a looter's ragged collar. Wagging his tail, he lowered his eyes and moved toward the thin man. As soon as the dog appeared, all the looters fled, except one whose collar was in Tiger's mouth. He looked at the thin man and asked, "Who are you?"

The thin man smiled. "The owner of this house. . . . Watch it' . . . That glass jar is about to slip from your hand."

- 41 -



Partition

One man pickeo out a large wooden crate for himself. When he tried to pick it up, he couldn't budge it an inch. Another fellow, not finding anything worth taking, said to the man struggling with the box, "Can I give you a hand?

The man trying to pick up the crate accepted the offer of help. The fellow who couldn't find anything worth taking rocked the crate with his strong hands, lifted it up, and heaved it on his back. The other man supported him. They both left.

It was a massive crate. The struggling man's back creaked and his legs doubled under the weight. But the prospect of the reward numbed him to the physical pain. Compared to the man carrying the crate, the man who had claimed it was quite weak. The whole way he maintained his claim by supporting it with one hand. When they reached a safe place, the one who had done all the work set the crate aside and said, "Tell me, how much of the stuff in this box will I get?"

The man who haa first spotted the crate replied, "One fourth."

"Not enough."

"Not enough? That's too much. After all, I laid my hands on it first!"

"That's true, but who broke his back hauling it here?"

"Fifty-fifty then?"

"Fine. Open the box."

When the crate was opened, a man leaped out from it. In his hand was a sword. As he leaped, he split both partners into four pieces.

- 42 -



Proper Use

After firing ten rounds and wounding three people the Pa than beamed trium- phantly.

Chaos erupted. People were falling all over each other, scrambling to grab something, and brawls broke out. The Pathan, rifle in hand, muscled his way into the crowd. After almost an hour of wrestling with the mob, he managed to make off with a thermos bottle.

When the police arrived, everyone fled - including the Pathan.

A bullet grazed his right ear; the Pathan couldn't have cared less. His hands tightly clenched the red thermos bottle.

Upon reaching his friends he proudly displayed his red thermos bottle. One of them smiled and asked, "Khan Sahib, what's that you got there?"

Khan Sahib gazed at the bottle's shiny cover with fondness and replied, "What do you mean?"

"That's a bottle for keeping hot things hot and cold things cold."

"Khan Sahib stuffed the bottle in his pocket. "Sure, I'll put my chewing tobacco in it--it'll stay warm in summer and cold in the winter."

- 43 -



The Advantage of Ignorance

The trigger was squeezed. The bullet roared out from the pistol. A man peering from a window doubled over on the spot.

A little later, the trigger was squeezed again. A second bullet whistled out. On the street, a water-carrier's sack burst. He fell face down. His blood streamed out, dissolving in the water.

The trigger was squeezed a third time. It missed its mark. The bullet was absorbed by a damp, mud wall.

The fourth bullet struck an old woman in the back. She dropped without even a scream.

The fifth and sixth bullets were wasted; no one was killed or wounded.

The sniper was annoyed. Suddenly, a small boy ran into the street. He turned and leveled the barrel at the boy.

His companion said, "What are you doing?"

"Why?" the sniper responded. "You're out of bullets."

"Keep quiet--the kid doesn't know that."

- 44 -



Appropriate Action

When the attack occurred, some members of the minority community in the neighborhood were killed; the rest fled for their lives. However, one man and his wife hid in the cellar of their house.

The husband and wife hid for two days and two nights, anxiously awaiting their murderers' arrival. But no one came. Two more days passed. Their fear of death began to wane. Hunger and thirst tormented them.

Four more days passed. Life or death was no longer of interest to the husband and wife. Together they emerged from their place of refuge.

"We surrender - kill us."

The people he'd addressed pondered for a moment. "According to our religion, killing is a sin."

They were all Jains.1 But they consulted among themselves and handed over the husband and wife to men from another neighborhood for appropriate action.

Note

1. The Jain religion abhors all forms of violence. Some Jains are so adverse to killing that they wear masks so as to avoid breathing in germs or bugs, and sweep bugs, etc. from the path before them.

- 45 -



Miracle

The police started conducting raids to recover stolen goods. Struck with fear, people began to dispose of their looted goods in the dark of night. To avoid the arm of the law, there were also some who, when they got the chance, got rid of even their own possessions.

One man was faceo with a dilemma. He had two sacks of sugar that he had looted from a grocery store, he managed to somehow dump the first into a nearby well in the middle of the night. When he picked up the second one and began to dump it in, he went in with it.

People gathered when they heard his screams. Ropes were lowered into the well. Two young men climbed down and fished the man out. However, several hours later he dieci. The next day, when people drew water from the well, it was sweet.

That yery night votive lamps lay flickering on the man's grave.

- 46 -



Correction

"Who goes there?"

"Who are YOU?"

"Har har màhãdev s har har màhãdev . "1

"Har har màhãdev."

"What proof do you have?"

"Proof? My name is Dharm Chand.

"That's no proof."

"Ask me anything about the four Vedas."

"We don't know the Yeda--give us some real proof."

"What?"

"Loosen your pajamas."

When his pajamas were loosened, a clamor arose. "Kill him, kill him!"

"Wait, wait--I'm your brother. I swear to God, I'm one of you."

"So, what about this?"

"I'm coming from the territory of our enemies. I had no choice . . . did it only to save my life. . . . This is the only thing wrong with me; the rest of me is all right."

"Shoot it off."

The mistake was blown away . . . and Dharm Chand with it.

Note

1. Hindu salutation and rallying cry during partition rioting.

- 47 -



Jelly

At six in the morning, near the petrol pump, an ice vendor with a pushcart was stabbed. At seven, the body still lay on the paved street with the melt- ing ice dripping on it.

At 7:15 the police came and took the body away. The blood and water were left lying on the street.

A tonga passed by. A small boy looked at the shiny clots of blood. His mouth watered. He tugged at his mother's arm and said, pointing, "Look, mummy, jellyi11

• * •

Advertisement

The whole neighborhood burned down in the fire. Only one shop was spared. On the front of it hung a signboard: "Your complete line of building materials available here."

• * *

Pathanistan

"Yo, quick, who are you?" "I ... I. ..."

"Yo, speak up, you son o1 the devil- Hindu or Muslim?

"Muslim." 11 Yo, who is your prophet?" "Muhammad Khan."

"OK ... go on." - 48 -



Beware I

With great difficulty the rioters dragged the owner out of the house. Getting up and brushing off his clothes, he said to the rioters, "Go ahead, and kill me, but whoever touches my money had better beware!"

• * *

Eternal Vacation

"Grab him . . . grab him. . . . Don't let him get away." After a short, frantic chase, the victim was caught. When the spears closed in to pierce him, he pleaded in a trembling voice, "Don't kill me, don't kill me! I'm on vacation."

Ealal and Jhatka}

"I placed the knife on his jugular, then slowly slit his throat according to hai al."

"You did what?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Why did you kill him that way?"

"Just for the fun of it."

"For the fun of it! You son of a. ... You should have killed him according to jhatka . . . like this. ..."

And the Muslim's head was severed with a single blow.

Note

1. halali The Islamic method of animal slaughter, similar to kosher butchering, in which, after the name of God is invoked, the jugular vein is cut. jhatkã: The traditional Hindu method of animal slaughter which entails de- capitation with one stroke.

- 49



A Bum Deal

Two friends got together, and from ten or twenty girls, selected one and bought her for forty-two rupees. After spending the night with her, one of the friends asked her, "What's your name?"

When the girl told him her name, he became upset. "But we were told that you were of the other religion!"

The girl replied, "He lied."

Hearing this, he ran to his friend and said, "That bastard cheated us. He sold us a girl of our own religion- come on, let's return her."

• • •

Beastliness

With great difficulty, the husband and wife managed to salvage some of their household goods. They had no idea what had happened to their teenage daughter. They also had a baby daughter whom the mother held tightly to her breast. The rioters had driven off their brown buffalo. Their cow was saved, but her calf was lost.

The couple was hiding with the baby and their cow. The night was pitch dark. When the child began to cry with fear it was as if the stillness of the night had been broken with a banging drum. The terror-struck mother placed her hand over the child's mouth so that their enemies wouldn't hear. Her cries were stifled. The father covered them with a heavy blanket. A little while later they heard the distant cry of a calf. The cow's ears stood up. She got up and began to race madly about, bellowing. They tried desperately to quiet her down but it was no use. Hearing the commotion, their enemies approached; torches could be seen in the distance.

The wife snapped angrily at her husband, "Why did you have to bring that beast with you?"

- 50 -



Humility

The train was stopped. Those of the other religion were taken out and put to death with swords or bullets. When they were finished, the rest of the tra- velers were treated to sweets, milk, and fruit. Before the train started up again, the organizer of those handing out the sweets addressed the passengers.

"Brothers and sisters, we were informed only recently about the arrival of the train. That's why we were unable to serve you in the way we would have liked."

• * *

Fertilizer

Upon his suicide, a friend of his remarked, "he was so stupid. I told him a thousand times, 'Look, just because they cut off your hair and shaved your beard doesn't mean you've lost your religion. Gurûjï willing, if you apply yogurt daily, you'll be back to normal within a year. '"^

Note

1. guru : reference to Nanak, founder of Sikhism; jZ: honorific particle. - 51 -



Resolve

"On no account am I ready to become a Sikh. Give me back niy razor."

• * *

Under Supervision

A, pretending to his friend, B, that he was a co-religionist, set out with a military squadron to bring him to a safe place. On the way, B, who had ex- pediently changed his religion, asked a soldier, "So, tell me, sir--have there been any incidents around here?"

"Nothing special- in one neighborhood, though, some 'dog1 was killed."

B asked nervously, "Anything else?"

The reply: "Nothing special- three 'bitches' were found in the canal."

A, for B's sake, said to the soldiers, "Isn't the army doing anything?"

The reply: "Of course- it's all done under our supervision."

• • *

Shoes

The crowd turned and rushed at the statue of Sir Ganga Ram. Lathis were showered on it and bricks and rocks were hurled. Someone rubbed tar on its face. Another gathered together some old shoes and, making a garland of them, advanced to put them around the statue's neck. But the police came and bullets started to fly.

The one who was putting the garland of shoes on the statue was wounded and was sent to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital for first aid.

- 52 -



Foresight

The first incident happened near the hotel at the intersection. Immedi- ately a guard was posted there.

The second incident occurred the very next evening in front of the store.

The guard was moved from the first place and assigned to the site of the second incident.

The third incident took place at midnight near the laundry. When the police inspector ordered the guard to keep watch at this new place, he pondered awhile and said, "Why don't you post me where the next incident will be?"

• • •

Sorry

The knife slit the belly past the navel, cutting the pa jama strings. Sud- denly, from the mouth of the man wielding the knife came these words of regret, "Tsk, tsk, tsk . . . my mistake."

• • •

Concession

"Don't kill my daughter before my eyes."

"Go on, do him a favor--take off her clothes and take her aside."

- 53 -



Love of Cleanliness

The train was stopped.

Three men with rifles approached the compartment. Peering in through the windows, they asked the passengers, "Hey, any muvghãs [roosters] in there?"

One passenger started to say something but stopped. The others answered, "No, sir.11

A little while late four men carrying spears come by. Peering in through the windows, they asked the passengers, "Any murghas in there?"

The passenger who earlier had started to say something but stopped answered, "I don't know--why don't you come and check in the bathroom." The spearmen entered. When they broke down the bathroom door, they found a murgha.

One of the spearmen said, "Butcher it."

But another one replied, "No, not here--you'll mess up the compartment; take him outside."

* * •

His Kindness

When the performance was finished and the audience had left, the music master said, "I had nothing left when I came here, but dearest Allah, in such a short time, has made me a fortune."

- 54 -



A Need For Rest

"He's not dead- look, he's still alive."

"Let him be, man--I'm exhausted."

• • •

Luck

"Nothing's going my way--after all that work, I finally got my hands on a box, and it turned out that all that was in it was goddamn pig meat."

• • •

Reality Denied

"What kind of people are we, anyway? Over there in the temples beef is selling like mad. But here, after all that trouble rounding up fifty pigs and butchering them in this mosque, no one's coming to buy pork."1

Note

1. The speaker is a Hindu. Conservative Hindus do not eat meat of any kind, while Muslims do not eat pork. It was common practice during communal con- flict for Hindus to desecrate Muslim mosques by slaughtering pigs in them and likewise for Muslims to desecrate Hindu temples by slaughtering cows in them.

- 55 -



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Shia Hashiye