Drought - Purushottam Agarwal
“Oh! Yes my son. I will give you in a while a thing of your taste and to your heart’s content. Your father has gone to bring them. He is expected any moment to come back.”
Kamala’s eyes were full of tears as her 3 years old son was starving. It was a fact that no body in her small family had eaten for last three days. Her husband, Sudarshan, had been out of job. This year there were no rains and the land was parching. There were almost drought-like conditions. Water, even for drinking, was not available. Sudarshan was just a farm laborer. Hence there was no work for him on any farm. Many others were out of job and their families were starving.
Sudarshan entered the house and laid many eatables before his wife and child. He seemed to be in great hurry. Kamala wanted to know certain things. But he was in no mood to talk to her. Instead He commanded, “ Eat at once whatsoever I have brought. There is no time for questions and answers. Kamala, I will tell you every thing after meals.”
They started eating without any loss of time. Kamala started feeding her child first. The child was hardly through his meals when a loud knock came on the door. Sudarshan delayed the process of opening it as he wished that let his son eat to his heart’s content. When he saw that his son’s meal was over he opened the door. Kamala saw was red capped army of State Police. The Police rudely asked Sudarshan about a theft, which had taken place in a hotel. Sudarshan kept silence. The Police dragged him out side. He said to his wife to continue with her meals, he would join her soon. His wife could not understand the episode.
Sudarshan was produced before the City Judge. There also he kept complete mum. When the Judge also could not get any thing out of him, then he was produced before the King narrating about their failed efforts to get any details from Sudarshan.
The King commanded him to tell the facts. The Court Council asked Sudarshan,
“ Did you steal food from the hotel?”
“ Yes sir.”
“You knew well that the punishment for stealing is death even then you dared to steal?”
Sudarshan was silent for a long while. The Court Council pressed him again for a reply then he said, “ My family was starving for last three days. I was out of job. I was just a farm laborer and farming could not be done due to failed rains. I therefore had no option but to steal food to save my child from death.”
Th King looked utterly shocked. He wanted Sudarshan to confirm what he said under oath. When Sudarshan said with God as witness what he said was correct.
It appeared from the facial expressions that The King was terribly annoyed. He ordered to summon the Welfare Minister of the State. When the minister came, the King asked him, “I have ordered you to ensure that no body goes without meal in my kingdom. If some body is not able to manage his meal the State should provide it. It was only yesternight that you reported to me that no body was starving. The State Cashier did tell me that you have withdrawn huge sum for this purpose. Then how is it that this man had been starving for couple of days? I can safely deduce that there must be some other families also who might be starving. It is serious crime on your part.”
The Minister prostrated before the King and begged for amnesty. The King, instead of paying any attention to him, looked at his Prime Minister and Chief of Army.
‘” What punishment do you think shall be proper for the Welfare Minister?”
The Prime Minister and the Army Chief exchanged a short discourse. Then the Prime minister submitted to the King,
“It is a cognizable offence and only punishment under the law of the State is death-sentence and confiscation of all his property.”
“Very well, so this greedy creature should be put to death at a prominent public place so that other may also see the fate of greedy and dishonest Officer of the State."