THE TELEGRAM ON THE TABLE - Parashu Pradhan

Parashu Pradhan, Nepal (1943-)

(Translated By: Michael Hutt)

Krishna had come in the city from the village. He worked as a guide for tourist. All the day he was busy explaining the entire history of the country to the tourist and answering their questions. He had a dream of going to America following a tourist girl. He always used to come late at night in his room from hotel being tired. A telegram had been lying on the table for weeks. There was a message that his wife had died previous day. But the message of his wife’s death did not touch him at all. The telegram should have made him weep. He should have felt regret. He should have fasted for some days. But he didn't do anything. The telegram should have affected him. But he was not sad and nothing touches him. He was happy dreaming of America.

His living room was not that good. He paid high rent but there was no facility. If he could not get up early in the morning, he would not get water. He wanted to move somewhere else so that he could invite Miss Pandey from travel service for dinner. His best friend from his village, who was also in the city, knew about the tragic event and gave him sympathy. But the words of sympathy did not touch him at all. But one night, he could not sleep. He switched the light on and went to the table and read the telegram again. The message touched him. He regretted because he had become heartless like a stone. He got angry with himself, tore the telegram into pieces and cried for a long time. Krishna was an ambitious boy. He came to Kathmandu leaving his parents, wife and village. He had a colourful dream about learning English. Of course, he learnt English and worked as tourist guide. He spent 10 years without going home. He wanted to forget his village and family. He only lost himself in a thought of going to a foreign land. He dreamed of following an American girl who would take him to her country and he would enjoy with her there. He totally left the real track of his life. He did not care about his beautiful village and dear parents and wife.  Probably, he remembered the good deeds of his wife and his stone heart melted and flood of tears came from his eyes because of his wife's memory. Suddenly, he became angry with the death and began to cry. At last he returned to the real life and the separation of his wife gave him great grief.

Interpretation:

The story may be trying to say that a person can’t be happy forgetting his village and dearest relatives. If one does, he has to regret in the future like Krishna. This story tried to show the picture of the present Nepalese society. How young generation is being attracted by America. They are ready to abandon anything for America. Nepalese people are made senseless and heartless by the so-called modern thinking and way of living. This story may be trying to tell us that people who have come to the town from village want to forget their beautiful village, loving family and home. They dream of going to foreign country to earn more money, marry with a foreigner and live happily. They never want to return home. If they are married in the village, they feel their wives burden of their shoulder. The death of their wives gives them pleasure. Life in the city is very artificial. People easily leave the way of reality and sink in beautiful dream of comfortable life.

Critical Thinking:

The story is realistic, heart touching, beautiful and interesting. This all does not mean that it is flawless. There are many things to be understood, realized, analysed and applied in our everyday life. How can husband totally be untouched by his wife’s deaths? The writer had not given any clue that they had a bad conjugal life. So, why Krishna did not think about his wife and family? These all questions are looking for right answers. Needless to, people become selfish after they come to the town. But can a husband forget his wife because of his colourful dream? Isn't a husband touched by the death of his wife? Should a man forget his past completely? Isn't worldly life momentary? Are migrated people to the town really stone hearted? Does a married man really gain natural love and respect from his second wife? So, I don't totally agree with the writer. The story does not apply to everyone's life. This is the case of particular people.

Assimilation:

I found many things in this story to be applied, realized in our everyday life. I came to realize how people vanish in the city. They leave their village and family for the better future. But when they reach in to city, they are enchanted by modernity and slowly they start forgetting their family. They don’t come to meet their family in the village for a long time.

Works Cited

Pradhan, P. (2013). The Telegram on the Table. In M. Nissani, & S. Lohani, Flax Golden Tales: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Learning English (pp. 248-251). Kathmandu, Nepal: Ekta Books.