Kurta-Pajama of Masterji: Hareshwar Roy

Kurta-Pajama of Masterji: Hareshwar Roy

There was a small village named Jamuaon. There was a primary school there, which had arrangements for classes from grade one to five. The amusing thing was that there was only a single room in the name of a school, and even that solitary room was in a dilapidated condition. All classes were conducted together in this very room.

In one corner of the schoolroom lay an old wooden chest. That very box played the role of the school office. When school was dismissed, materials such as the school register, chalk, duster, clock, broom, bell, and hammer were neatly placed inside this box.

In terms of furniture, there was nothing in the school except a dilapidated wooden chair. Even that chair wobbled unsteadily whenever someone sat on it. The school children had nicknamed it Masterji's 'Chakuni Elephant.' To sit, students brought jute mats from their homes.

In front of the school was a small garden. It was quite green and beautiful. Colorful, smiling flowers were always seen blooming in its flowerbeds. Separate flowerbeds were allocated for students of each class. Therefore, during their gardening period, students of all classes worked enthusiastically in their respective beds.

The sole teacher of this school was Sahadev Narayan Ji. Out of respect, everyone called him 'Masterji.' Masterji's house was located a short distance from the school. Apart from Masterji, there were two other members in his family, his wife and his ten-year-old daughter, Anupama.

Although Masterji was around fifty years old, he did not look a day younger than seventy or seventy-five. Thin and nearly five and three-quarter feet tall, Masterji was very fond of wearing crisp white khadi kurta-pajamas. Thick-lensed spectacles always perched on his nose. He spoke very little. Laughing and smiling was something he hardly seemed to know. As he walked, his leather shoes adorned with tassels kept playing a rhythmic creaking tune.

Masterji, who successfully played every role from principal to peon, was extremely punctual. No matter the weather, he always arrived at school right on time. His superiors were well aware of that fact.

One day, a government letter addressed to Masterji arrived at the school. According to the letter, an inspection team was to visit the school the very next day. Masterji informed the students of this news and instructed them to arrive at school on time the next day wearing clean clothes.

The arrival of the government letter caused quite a stir in the entire school. Regular classes were suspended, and a grand cleaning drive was initiated. The schoolroom's mud floor was plastered with cow dung. The chair and the wooden box were wiped down and polished with a wet cloth. Dust settled on the portraits of great personalities hanging on the school walls was brushed off. The garden out front was also cleaned. Masterji was satisfied only after every single thing was cleaned. Afterward, Masterji rang the closing bell at the scheduled time, quickly locked up the school, and headed home.

After having a light snack, Masterji set off for the market as usual. This market, named Jitaura, was located about two kilometers from his village. On the way, a thought crossed Masterji's mind. Getting a new kurta-pajama stitched would leave a great impression on the inspection team. The moment this thought struck, a sparkle appeared in his eyes, and his pace quickened.

Hurrying along, he reached the market and went straight into Mahangoo Seth's shop. After purchasing the cloth, he quickly made his way to his personal tailor, Tuttu Mian. By then, it was nearly five-thirty. Being winter, the sun was just about to set. Tuttu Mian was busy preparing to close his shop.

Without electricity after sunset, it was impossible for Tuttu Mian to sew. Working by the light of a small kerosene lamp was extremely inconvenient for him. Besides, he was past sixty years old, and his eyes had grown quite weak. He was somehow managing his work relying on his spectacles.

Upon seeing Masterji, Tuttu Mian offered a respectful greeting and asked the purpose of his visit. Masterji explained the situation.

"Bravo, Masterji, bravo! You are something else! Officials are visiting your school tomorrow morning, and you have come late in the evening to get a kurta-pajama stitched? Isn't this like digging a well after the house catches fire?" Tuttu Mian said warmly.

"Oh no, Mian, no. In fact, I only received the news about the officers' arrival today," Masterji clarified.

Despite his reluctance, Tuttu Mian could not turn Masterji down. So, in a hurry, he took Masterji's measurements and cut the fabric in no time. Then, lighting the small lamp, he said jokingly, "Masterji, if there's any flaw in the stitching, don't blame me."

"Oh Mian, what are you talking about? Have I ever done that?" said Masterji.

Tuttu Mian then showed such swiftness that there was no significant delay in preparing Masterji's kurta-pajama. Once ready, he wrapped it in a piece of newspaper and handed it over to Masterji.

By the time Masterji reached home with the kurta-pajama, it was dinner time. So, after washing up, he ate dinner and went to bed. Thinking about the next day, he didn't realize when he fell asleep.

The next morning, Masterji woke up a bit late; it was already six o'clock. Since it was Saturday, school was scheduled to start at seven-thirty. So, after attending to his morning routine, Masterji grabbed the kurta-pajama wrapped in the newspaper and rushed toward the school. He had mentally decided to put on the new outfit right at the crucial moment.

Upon arriving at school, Masterji quickly swept the grounds and hung the bell in its designated spot. Shining the brass water pot and glass, he set them on the wooden box. Then, after cleaning his teeth with a twig, he bathed at the school handpump. Since he had no hair on his head, he didn't even have to worry about combing it.

Before long, it was time for school to start. Masterji rang the bell loud and clear. As soon as the bell rang, the students lined up in front of the school for morning prayers. Then the prayer began: "Var de, var de, Veena Vaadini var de..."

Just as the prayer ended, a jeep was seen approaching in the distance. Instructing the children to stand right where they were, Masterji quickly turned toward the room and swiftly put on the new kurta-pajama before coming back out. Seeing his bizarre attire, the students standing in line began to cover their faces with their palms and giggle. Unaware of his own appearance, Masterji's attention remained entirely focused on the approaching jeep.

The jeep pulled up near the school. One by one, the officers stepped out. As their eyes fell upon Masterji standing with folded hands, they began to smile. Within a couple of moments, those smiles turned into bursts of laughter. Along with the officers, the children standing in line also burst into loud guffaws.

Masterji was utterly bewildered. Gathering courage, he asked the officers, "Sir, why are you all laughing like this looking at me?"

Holding back his laughter, one officer said, "Hey Masterji, why are you wearing a clown's costume from a theater company? The pajama is hanging down to your knees, the sleeves of the kurta are missing, and the pockets are stitched on the back!"

"Sir, this is all the result of my rush," Masterji said, looking down at himself.

In just a few moments, Masterji who usually refrained from even smiling, began making a strange face and burst into one loud laugh after another. His style of laughing was so unique that a fresh fountain of laughter erupted all over again. Amidst the roaring laughter, Masterji was trying to say something more, but nothing could be heard above the echoes of "Ha-ha-ha-ha, Hee-hee-hee-hee, Hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo."