Authorpreneur Dashboard – Parames Ghosh
No Boundaries
Literature & Fiction
It is neither a thesis, nor it is a novel, Not it is a fantasy, not even a fairy tale. With an event of mass disobedience we start, No shot is fired, no one is physically hurt. On a sunny day, at every airport of the world, People queue up for check-in with no visa in hand. One and all, in all the classes – economy, first or business, No one has a visa; world citizenship each like to harness. No international flight takes off From Wellington, where the day starts; From other airports of New Zealand too, No other plane departs. Nowhere in the world, from any airport, Took off any International flight. Following day was no different, And the following night. All airlines gave up, No end of the tunnel, no ushering light. The main suspect behind these events was Jie-won. Jie-won’s identity is however very clear; To all passengers he was very dear. For questioning his role in mass disobedience, Arrested was Jie-won, and served punishing sentence. He was punished, subjected to forensic probes, For extracting his memoir and his hopes, To get the events that led him to his roles, To his visions to cross boundary ropes.
Book Bubbles from No Boundaries
Between Dreams of Marriage and Bachelorhood Innoce
Whenever I board a bus, I take a window seat. Today, I’m habitually on the upper deck, looking down—looking down on the people walking on the road. Half an hour to home now, I feel a bit hungry; Mamma surprises me every day with a new snack. A big jerk—screeeech, the double-decker halts. I hear the noise and the driver is trying to restart the engine, once, twice, a number of times. Soon I hear the announcement: ‘This bus won’t travel anymore because of a serious breakdown. Another bus will be here to take passengers from this bus. If you want refunds, please come down to me with your ticket’. I get the refund and start strolling towards home. It would take about 2½ hours, but I prefer brisk walking to indefinite waiting. No longer in the bus, I’m now in the crowd ambling through the streets. Shall I come across some known face here? Could I find some passers-by to talk to? Could I hunt for a suitable girl who would talk to me at least for a while?
History was created at Wellington airport on 13 Au
Jie-won was arrested for questioning on his role in mass disobedience of visa regulations all over the world. Forensic sciences and technologies are very advanced nowadays. Jie-won, though arrested for instigating terrorist activities, wasn’t subjected to any third-degree torture. Forensic experts installed a telepathic chip in Jie-won’s brain; that telepathic chip was hard-wired to a computer, to be accessed by them. This helped them to extract Jie-won’s memory and find out how Jie-won lived his life and developed the vision of moving across all boundaries in life. Forensic probes discovered many voices, pictures and videos from Jie-won’s memory—conscious, subconscious and even unconscious. The report of the forensic investigation was first narrated by robots by dint of their artificial intelligence. Robots couldn’t decipher the nationality and the mother tongue of the incumbent, so reports were published in many languages of the world; forensic robots sometimes didn’t get the exact word for the semantics in Jie-won’s memory. The author had to choose a word that best fitted the situation. The memoir has been mostly written like an autobiography of Jie-won, with interjection of how Jie-won meditated the scenarios. In his meditation, Jie-won might have seen the happenings with a closed-circuit TV, even when Jie-won was not on the scene.
Vision for World without Boundaries
Jie-won was born in a world bewitched by traditional boundaries. In early childhood, he realised, his shelter is his family, separated by a boundary from the rest of the world. He recognised boundaries between the rich and the poor, between men and women, between parents and children, between locals and foreigners, between upper and lower castes, between one country and another, between the illiterate and the educated, between the single and the married, between the young and the old and between the coward and the bold. He overcame most boundaries, till he was trapped into the boundary of marriage with Hye-jin. Jie-won shared his secrets with none. He found himself in a life of Pi; he needs to protect the tigress from drowning, at the same time he needs to be vigilant to protect himself and other relatives from the tigress. Jie-won moved to remote cities of his country, but Hye-Jin continued to remain aloof from him, either by taking leave from him for staying with parents, or by bringing her parents and/or siblings to their homes in the remote cities so that Jie-won’s home is transformed into his in-laws’ place. Jie-won thought on establishing marriage-less societies not only for his own plight but for many of his friends and relatives.
The first day in my memoir is 13 August 1948
Three-year-old Jie-won learns what money means to a poor family. He remembers Independence Day for the nineteen jeons taken off Suk-hwan’s carom board. Never, in his life, does he forget to earn and save. Ten-year-old Jie-won sees how one night changes the life of his family. A sudden strike of mental illness not only shatters Ji-woo’s life, but also everyone else’s. Each one needs to sacrifice some facilities or other, to leave some money to treat and cure her. Thirteen-year-old Jie-won sees how helpless Min-seo is when she fails the school final exams. Mainly because she is a female offspring of the family, marriage can make or break her hopes of living and school final scores count in her marriage prospects. The only boundary he can recognise is the boundary between the entire world and his own family—Papa, Mamma and his siblings. He isn’t prepared to share with the world any secret of his little world: the stories of nineteen jeons, Ji-woo’s disease and Min-seo’s helplessness. Jie-won’s world is his family, a small boat that must survive the threats of the mighty ocean—the world. He always remembers what Papa said: good education leads to a good career, good money, good marriage and a satisfying life.
From the spouse-swapping experience, Jie-won learns that no-one is indispensable in the vast world; if one person withdraws, life can still go on if persons outside the family boundary cooperate and collaborate. Each married couple is a world of two partners who set a boundary around themselves, so that flow of love and empathy is restricted by this boundary. None of these two partners is allowed to love persons outside the boundary; none outside this boundary is allowed to extend empathy to the persons inside. But, in the twosome world of a married couple, if there is no love and synergy between the partners, that world falls apart. Let us consider each person in a partnership as an individual: each of these individuals can very well live with other individuals in the world, only if empathy is extended across the boundary, both from outside to inside and inside to outside. Food, shelter and sex need to be assured by the government and the society for aspiring individuals. If each individual in a partnership can provide for oneself, it is not necessary for them to stay together. The care of the offspring poses a big challenge to spouse-swapping. That needs be addressed by the society.
Ladies finalised which lady would stay with which
Min-jun and Su-bin heard in the TV news: ‘A woman who has drunk a glass of breast milk a day since being diagnosed with cancer believes it is saving her life. She has had a daily 400ml dose of milk from an anonymous donor after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma, or bone marrow cancer, seven months ago’. While the unusual treatment had not been prescribed by her doctor, her decision had been supported by doctors at the hospital where she was treated. The TV news of the 62-year-old woman together with findings of researchers in Sweden showing that breast milk could kill cancer cells caused Su-bin and Min-jun to ponder on the inconsiderate wastage of human milk. They talked to the local hospital about starting a milk bank in the same way they maintained their blood bank. The milk from this bank could be used as prescribed doses to cancer patients. Pharmaceutical research could also be carried out using milk from the bank to manufacture medicines that could cure cancer. Three months after this milk bank was started, Su-bin and Min-jun found that their mission of preparing medicines from human milk was being defeated by profit-making ventures of the hospitals and the allied pharmaceutical companies.
Auction what you’re wearing for charities
Donors are often not prepared to donate just to remove the misery of the poor earthquake victims. But when they get opportunities to buy all clothes and apparel off a beautiful model and to see and relish her beauty with no clothes on, they don’t hesitate to donate to their hearts’ content.
Make Boundaries Disappear
Literature & Fiction
Let boundaries disappear between countries and families In this book, the author has written poems and stories that will lead us from the traditional and superstitious life of 1950s to humanity and oneness of 2050s. As in his books ‘Know No Boundaries’ by Lateral collateral and ‘No Boundaries’ by P G Cartwright, the author has tried to do whatever he can do to make the world a better place to live in. His theme is – “Let’s belong to our World and Let World belong to us - to work for and to live in. Let boundaries disappear between countries and families.”
Book Bubbles from Make Boundaries Disappear
আভা-বৌদি
নতুন চাকরী পেয়েছি দিল্লীতে, কাল সকালে রওনা হবো রাজধানী এক্সপ্রেসে। ঘটা ক’রে আমাকে বিদায় দেবার উৎসব হ’ল স্বপনদা আর আভাবৌদির বাড়ীতে। আমার ফ্ল্যাট আর ওদের বাড়ীর মধ্যে মাত্র চারটি বাড়ীর ব্যবধান। রাতদুটোর সময় ফ্ল্যাটের দরজায় ধাক্কা; ঘুমচোখে দরজা খুলে দেখি আভাবৌদি; সঙ্গে একটা বড় স্যুটকেশ; বললো, ‘ঢুকতে দাও আমাকে, বাবলু’। পরে বললো, ‘তোমার স্বপনদা খুশী নয়, ওকে আমি ছেলে দিতে পারিনি ব’লে। শুধু মিষ্টির বাবা নয়, ও বাড়ীর কেউই ভালবাসে না আমাকে; ওখানে আমি কাটাতে পারবো না সারা জীবন।‘ বললাম, ‘মিষ্টির মা যদি মিষ্টিকে ছেড়ে থাকতে পারে, তা হ’লেই চ’লবে।‘ - ‘পারলে নিয়ে যেতুম আমার মিষ্টিকেও; এত রাতে ওকে উঠিয়ে আনতে গেলে ওর বাবাও উঠে পড়তো। এখানে ভালই থাকবে ও। যদি পারি, তুলে নিয়ে যাবো ওকে একদিন।‘ পরের দিন আমার সঙ্গে ট্যাক্সি ক’রে শিয়ালদা স্টেশনে গেলো আভাবৌদি – সর্বাঙ্গ বোরখায় ঢেকে; ও অনলাইন টিকিট বুক ক’রেছে, শুধু একই ট্রেণে নয়, একই কম্পার্টমেন্টে, দুটো লোয়ার বার্থের একটা আমার আর একটা আভাবৌদির, ট্রেণে ওর নাম মেহেরউন্নিসা। ঐনামে ওর এক স্কুলের বন্ধু ছিল, তার কিছু আইডেনটিটি ডকুমেন্ট আছে ওর সঙ্গে। ট্রেণ থেকেই এস্ এম্ এস্ পাঠালাম দিল্লীর রিসিভিং পার্টিকে যাতে ওখানে পৌঁছে জবাবদিহি না ক’রতে হয়; দিল্লীবাসী দাদা আর বন্ধু বিভাসকে জানালাম আমার নিকট বান্ধবী শিউলিকে নিয়ে যাচ্ছি, ও এখন আমার সঙ্গেই থাকবে। দাদা স্টেশনেই জিগ্যেস করলো আমাকে, ‘মেয়েটিকে আগে দেখেছি’। আমি বললাম, ‘শিউলি আমাদের পাড়ারই মেয়ে, হয়তো দেখেছো কখনো’।
When I Was 9 Year Old
On Saturdays, we used to have half-days, had no classes after the tiffin-break. On that Saturday, Alka had organised a party for the entire class; each of us was asked to contribute for the expenses; I didn’t have any idea about the occasion till I was escorted by Alka to a decorated seat when a conical hat, usually worn by grooms, was mounted on my head. Minutes later Mishti was dragged to another decorated seat beside mine; she was clad in saree, wearing a bride’s crown. Then Pranab was brought there to play the role of a priest, who muttered some Sanskrit verses and declared Mishti and me a married couple. To celebrate girls made rhythmic sound by moving their tongues within their mouth; some blew conch-shells, boys whistled and clapped. Then all of us had a feast of sweets and snacks. Then it was time to depart for respective homes, when Alka and a few clever girls said that Mishti was then married and hence won’t be allowed to return home; she must have to live with her husband’s house from then on; this means I must have to take her to my place. Curiously enough, Mishti seemed willing to stay in my place. I was scared that my mum won’t like to see me married.
Looking for a Nest?
Two weeks later, Cynthia’s condition got a bit better; she was transferred from ICU to the general ward. Her heart condition was being monitored, doctors were getting ready to clear off the chest around the ruptured oesophagus and unclamp it. Poor Alyssa, however, received an urgent call from Julian’s hospital. Julian was conscious now, but one important choice must be made by the next of Julian’s kin to decide the next procedure: Option 1: do nothing and let Julian relax till he dies peacefully without any pain. Option 2: apply antibiotic fluid via intravenous drips, which would be very painful to Julian. There is only 10% chance that Julian would recover fully; the probability of painful death is 90%. In this important decision, Alyssa couldn’t consult any one. Though Julian was conscious, he could hardly talk and respond to Alyssa’s questions. Alyssa was confused, she almost advised mercy killing of Julian, as she thought Julian would suffer more pains, if antibiotics treatment were carried out. Julian, however, found Renee’s contact details and advised doctors to contact her. Renee consulted the surgeons and preferred the opportunity of curing Julian by antibiotics. Renee and Samuel phoned Alyssa and met her at the hospital. They convinced her on the choice of antibiotics.
An Impromptu Prompt Poem
Inopportune Time? Meditate? Some days we are deaf to the world around; Like to sit, idle away like a deaf, dumb, blind hound, With our eyes shut, ears plugged, hands gloved; Cannot connect to anything, anyone, anywhere in the world. Wish the life on this earth is like stories in a novel; People open their hearts and are never shy to tell, Then my inopportune hours would be flooded with ideas; Lots of poems would fill pages after pages. Was the life a bit easier at your time, Aunty? You had lots to do, lots to think, everything plenty. Still to understand the understatements of our life, Looking for opportunities in our inopportune time.
If I were in your shoes
I still like to love the world, All my close, loved ones – at my best. Would the novel a bit better, Had I woken up somewhere else – Some others near my bed – Some other bells and smells? New dads and mums in the new home To the lost street kids; New brothers – sisters – friends and Perhaps new different needs? Check out if you could find the face, You know for ages; Discover in the new novel, What you wanted to touch always – always.
What Do We work For?
When I start my day, I look at the appointments and guess how much free time I have, before after and in between the appointment slots. These free hours are most valuable hours to me. In these hours I think and I create something.- some stories, some poems, some technical ideas and look for someone, with whom my ideas can be shared.
My New Face
Let those pains – saddest thoughts Bring only the songs sweetest; I still like to love the world, All my close, loved ones – at my best. Would the novel a bit better, Had I woken up somewhere else – Some others near my bed – Some other bells and smells? New dads and mums in the new home To the lost street kids; New brothers – sisters – friends and Perhaps new different needs? Check out if you could find the face, You know for ages; Discover in the new novel, What you wanted to touch always – always.
Should we shun the tradition of marriage
We need to find out what we need to do to reduce or even eliminate the exploitation of one member of a married couple by the other. If we provide equal facilities and opportunities to a single person and a married person, then every person will earn the living as an individual, then there would no incentive to get married to get a share of the wealth of the spouse. The good news is “Sex will soon be just for fun not babies,...The vast majority of women who will choose IVF in the future will be fertile women who have frozen their eggs and delayed pregnancy,” as predicted by Prof Carl Djerassi, so a person doesn’t need to get married to have exclusive right to the spouse for sex. Nobel Laureate Emeritus Prof Djerassi died on January 30, 2015 (aged 91) in San Francisco, California, United States.
নির্বিবাহ নিঃসীম
Literature & Fiction
নিঃসীম নির্বিবাহ জীবনের স্বপ্নে ======================= মানব জীবনের পরম সত্য – অদ্বিতীয়ত্ব । আমি গোটা জগতের নাগরিক হ’তে চাই, চাই সকলের আপন একটি জগৎ গড়ে তুলতে – যে জগৎ একটি পরিবার, একটি প্রতিষ্ঠান। এই বইটির কবিতা আর কাহনীগুলি ১৯৫০এর কুসংস্কারের ঐতিহ্য ফেলে যুগোপযোগী ২০৫০ সালের জীবনধারার জন্য ডাক দিয়েছে। আমার লেখা ‘No Boundaries’ by P G Cartwright বইটিও পড়তে অনুরোধ ক’রবো। নিঃসীম আকাশের নীচে সীমান্তবিহীন এই জগতের মানুষ যে কোনো দেশে বসবাস ক’রতে পারবে, জীবিকা নির্বাহ ক’রতে পারবে। এক দেশ থেকে অন্য দেশে যাওয়ার জন্য ভিসা বা ওয়ার্ক পারমিটের প্রয়োজন হবে না। সীমান্তবিহীন জগতের স্বপ্নের বীজ এসেছে আমার দেশ-বিদেশের অভিজ্ঞতা থেকে। ভারতবর্ষের গরীব সদগোপ (চাষার জাত) ঘরে জন্মে ইঞ্জিনীয়ার হ’য়েছি, পারদর্শী প্রোগ্রামার হ’য়ে এসেছি অস্ট্রেলিয়ায় ১৯৮৪ সালে, দেখেছি অনুন্নত ও সমুন্নত দেশের জীবনযাত্রার তফাৎ। পরে ২০০২ থেকে শুরু হ’য়েছে, এক আমেরিকান কোম্পানীর কর্ম্মচারী হ’য়ে, দেশ-বিদেশের বড় বড় ব্যাঙ্কে কোর ব্যাঙ্কিং সুরু করার কাজ। ২০০২এর জানুয়ারীতে প্রথম কাজটি ছিল পোল্যাণ্ডের ওয়ারশ-তে, অস্ট্রেলিয়ান হিসেবে আমার পোল্যাণ্ডে কাজ করার জন্য ভিসা নিতে হ’ল, অথচ আমার সহকর্মী আমেরিকান নাগরিকের ভিসার প্রয়োজন হ’লো না। অথচ পোল্যাণ্ডের নাগরিকের ভিসা লাগতো আমেরিকায় গিয়ে কাজ করার জন্যে, পোল্যাণ্ড আর আমেরিকার মধ্যে পারস্পরিক সমঝোতা নেই ভিসার সমান অধিকারের ব্যাপারে । পরে ইউরোপিয়ান ইউনিয়নের দেশগুলির মধ্যে যাওয়া-আসার জন্য ভিসার দরকার রইলো না। শুরু হ’লো আমার স্বপ্নের - কবে হবে পুরো পৃথিবীর দেশগুলির মধ্যে এই ধরণের সমঝোতা। বিশ্বযুদ্ধের সময়ে সীমারেখা টেনে, প্রতিটি দেশে দেশভক্তির চর্চ্চা হ’য়েছিল; এখন সময় এসেছে জগৎ-প্রেমের;
Rough-Cut Book Bubbles from নির্বিবাহ নিঃসীম
আভা-বৌদি
নতুন চাকরী পেয়েছি দিল্লীতে, কাল সকালে রওনা হবো রাজধানী এক্সপ্রেসে। ঘটা ক’রে আমাকে বিদায় দেবার উৎসব হ’ল স্বপনদা আর আভাবৌদির বাড়ীতে। আমার ফ্ল্যাট আর ওদের বাড়ীর মধ্যে মাত্র চারটি বাড়ীর ব্যবধান। রাতদুটোর সময় ফ্ল্যাটের দরজায় ধাক্কা; ঘুমচোখে দরজা খুলে দেখি – আভাবৌদি; সঙ্গে একটা বড় স্যুটকেশ; বললো, ‘ঢুকতে দাও আমাকে, বাবলু’। পরে বললো, ‘তোমার স্বপনদা খুশী নয়, ওকে আমি ছেলে দিতে পারিনি ব’লে। শুধু মিষ্টির বাবা নয়, ও বাড়ীর কেউই ভালবাসে না আমাকে; ওখানে আমি কাটাতে পারবো না সারা জীবন।‘ বললাম, ‘মিষ্টির মা যদি মিষ্টিকে ছেড়ে থাকতে পারে, তা হ’লেই চ’লবে।‘ - ‘পারলে নিয়ে যেতুম আমার মিষ্টিকেও; এত রাতে ওকে উঠিয়ে আনতে গেলে ওর বাবাও উঠে পড়তো। এখানে ভালই থাকবে ও। যদি পারি, তুলে নিয়ে যাবো ওকে একদিন।‘ পরের দিন আমার সঙ্গে ট্যাক্সি ক’রে শিয়ালদা স্টেশনে গেলো আভাবৌদি – সর্বাঙ্গ বোরখায় ঢেকে; ও অনলাইন টিকিট বুক ক’রেছে, শুধু একই ট্রেণে নয়, একই কম্পার্টমেন্টে, দুটো লোয়ার বার্থের একটা আমার আর একটা আভাবৌদির, ট্রেণে ওর নাম মেহেরউন্নিসা। ঐনামে ওর এক স্কুলের বন্ধু ছিল, তার কিছু আইডেনটিটি ডকুমেন্ট আছে ওর সঙ্গে। ট্রেণ থেকেই এস্-এম্-এস্ পাঠালাম দিল্লীর রিসিভিং পার্টিকে যাতে ওখানে পৌঁছে জবাবদিহি না ক’রতে হয়; দিল্লীবাসী দাদা আর বন্ধু বিভাসকে জানালাম আমার নিকট বান্ধবী শিউলিকে নিয়ে যাচ্ছি, ও এখন আমার সঙ্গেই থাকবে।
মেয়ে লুট ক’রে বিয়ে
A man generally marries to bring a girl from a different family to his own. It is still customary in Bengal that the groom, before setting out for the bride’s place, assures his mother – ‘I’m going to bring a maid-servant for you’; this maid servant, however, is not a part-time maid servant who works for a salary; she is rather a slave-woman would serve the groom’s family for life; because it is not easy for a slave-woman to escape from her in-laws’ place. Even if she manages to escape, it is not easy to start a new life again either as a single woman or as a wife of another man; the past marriage leaves indelible marks on her mind and body and she fails to be totally accepted by another man. ‘Meye Loot Kore Biye’ is a novel written in verse; rarely, if ever so far, we got such a novel in verse. This novel tells of a time when it was customary to kidnap a girl with the intention of marrying her. Unlike the rituals of this age, man and woman were not used to try to know each other for exploring compatibility between them and propose for marriage with or without loving the incumbent. Parents of the groom or the bride were not used to measure the physical appearance, skills, income of candidates and family histories or the prospect of a dowry from the prospective in-laws. After attaining a suitable age, a man with enough income to run his own family, would go out, kidnap a suitable girl and bring her home for marrying; that man wiuld take all responsibilities of that kidnapped woman and won’t demand any dowry from her parents. In those days, when a girl was born, her parents used to say that the girl is the treasure of someone else, they have the responsibility of taking care of this treasure till that day of her getting kidnapped by her man. Since kidnapping a girl was not illegal, girls’ parents would not deter a man of a marriageable age from kidnapping the girl, rather they will accept the kidnapper as their beloved son-in-law. The story of this verse- novel may be summed up as follows: Before partition of Bengal, Kiriti Chatterjee went on a mission for kidnapping a virgin girl and marrying her to be his wife. When he brought the kidnapped girl home and untied her hands, feet and mouth, Kiriti came to know that the girl was indeed a Muslim housewife. Now Kiriti was in a fix; he could not return the girl to her family in apprehension of her honour killing. Kiriti’s parents were not ready to accept her as a bride of the family. Kiriti came out of his parents’ place and rented a flat to live with the kidnapped girl as his partner. The father of one of Kiriti’s friends accepted the kidnapped girl as his daughter and became Kiriti’s father-in-law. After this, Kiriti started a non-violent revolution to remove boundaries between countries. His theme was: “Let’s belong to our World and Let World belong to us - to work for and to live in. Let boundaries disappear between countries and families.” In the world without boundaries, Bangladesh and West Bengal became close friends again because of their common mother tongue.
Book Bubbles from মেয়ে লুট ক’রে বিয়ে
যায় কি পাওয়া মনের মানুষ লুট ক’রে?
আমরা সবাই সন্ত্রস্ত – কী ক’রবে ইমরান? ও চলেছে জানলার দিকে, একটু একান্তে গিয়ে ওয়ালেট বের ক’রলো ইমরান ওর পকেট থেকে, ওয়ালেটের পকেট থেকে একটা ফটো ক’রলো বার – হাসিমুখদুটি দাদা হাব্বাব আর নানী মেহেরউন্নিসার । ফটোটি কপালে ঠেকিয়ে আদাব ক’রলো ইমরান, বললো, ‘পেয়েছি যদিও অপরাধের নিখুঁত প্রমাণ, অভিযুক্ত ক’রবোনা কাউকেই আপনাদের দুজনের; অপরাধী ঐতিহ্য নিয়মধারা একালের ও সেকালের। এক:- নিয়ম রয়েছে মেয়ে লুট ক’রে বিয়ে করার, অথচ আইন নেই পকেট মেরে মানিব্যাগ নেওয়ার। বেআইনী - কোনো জিনিস চুরি করা, কোনো ছেলেচুরি করার মতিভ্রম; অথচ মেয়ে চুরি আইনসঙ্গত, কারণ মেয়ে লুটে ক’রে বিয়ে করা নিয়ম; দুই:- নারীহত্যার নিয়ম বংশসম্মান বজায় রাখার খাতিরে, শাস্তি দিতে হবে দুর্বৃত্তকে, রক্ষা করো প্রতারিতা নারীরে। নারীহত্যা আর মানুষ-খুন অপরাধ একই পর্য্যায়ের, ভেবোনা নারীকে সমান কুকুর বেড়াল জানোয়ারের। যদি যথার্থভাবে বিধিবদ্ধ না থাকে এই দুই ব্যাপার, ক’রতে হবে আমাকে সেই সব আইনের সংস্কার।’ ‘সাবাস!’ বলে উঠলো ঠাকুর্দা, ঠাকুমা সমস্বরে; সঙ্গে যোগ না দিয়ে আমিও উঠলাম না পেরে। অশ্রুধারা দু-চোখ জুড়ে আমার, ধরলাম ইমরানকে জড়িয়ে; একটু দূরে রইলো ঠাকুর্দা, ঠাকুমা অভিভূত হ’য়ে দাঁড়িয়ে। হিন্দু নয়, মুসলমান নয়, ঘটি নয়, বাঙাল নয় – মানুষ খাঁটি ভালবাসার, চাই কেবল মানুষ, মনের মানুষ, প্রেম নয় কেবল পুরুষ বা মহিলার। যায় কি পাওয়া মনের মানুষ লুট ক’রে? ক্ষ্যাপার মতো পরশ পাথর খুঁজবে ফেরে, যেখানে দেখবে ছাই, দেখো উড়িয়ে নেড়ে, পেতেও পারো কোনো স্পর্শমণি রতনেরে।
পরদিন সকালে চায়ের টেবিলে
পরদিন সকালে চায়ের টেবিলে আমিই বললাম সব কথা খুলে। বললাম, ‘লুটতে গিয়ে কোনো কুমারী কন্যাকে, না জেনে তুলে এনেছি আমি এক বিবাহিতাকে; আরও বেশী মাত্রা মোর এ অপরাধের; কারণ শুধু পরস্ত্রী নয় সুভদ্রা আমাদের, গৃহবধূ সে এক জোয়ান মুসলিম মরদের।‘ হতবাক সবাই বাড়ীর; বিস্ফোরণ বারুদের, মাথা নীচু নির্বাক নতুন বৌ সুভদ্রার, আকুল অশ্রুধারায় ভাসে দুচোখ তার। নিশপিশ করছিল মা, চড় মারবে গালে কার, ঠিক করতে পারছিল না, আমার না সুভদ্রার। বাবা স্তব্ধ – ঘৃণায়, রাগে; শুরু হবে নির্দয় শাসন. পুত্রস্নেহ নিশ্চিহ্ন, ছারখার ক’রে দেবে ত্রিভুবন। শান্ত স্পষ্ট গলায় শুরু ক’রলাম ধীরে ধীরে আবার, ‘সুভদ্রার ঠিকানার নেই আমাদের কোনো দরকার না ওর শ্বশুরবাড়ীর, না ভাই বা বাপের বাড়ীর ওর। শেষ ক’রে দেবে ওকে শ্বশুরবাড়ীতে খাইয়ে জহর; ঘরপালানো বৌকে খুন বংশমর্য্যাদা বাঁচানোর জন্য, এতো ওদের অবশ্য কর্ত্তব্য, এতে হবে পরম পুণ্য; শক্তিশালী পুরুষের ধর্ম্ম বৌ-ঠেঙানোর ঐতিহ্য, মেয়েদের পরপুরুষের সংসর্গ ক’রবে না সহ্য। প্রথম স্ত্রী চার বছরেও পারেনি দিতে কোনো সন্তান, নতুন বৌ এনে ওর ভাসুর শুরু ক’রেছে অনুসন্ধান। বাঁজা বৌ খায় ঝাঁটাপেটা আর ছোট রাণী পায় যত আদর; সংসারের সব কাজ করে বাঁজা-বৌ, পায় না যোগ্য কদর। লুটে আনা সুভদ্রাকে ওখানে দিলে ফিরিয়ে, বিছুটি দিয়ে মেরে নেবে ওর ছাল ছাড়িয়ে; তারপর উৎসব ক’রবে ওকে খুন ক’রে, কেটে ফেলে।…. আলাদা ফল হবে না ওর বাপের বাড়ীতে খবর দিলে। কারণ ওরা নিশ্চয় ওর শ্বশুড়বাড়ীতে খবর দেবে। জানাজানি হ’লেই আমাদের উপরেও হানা হবে।‘
নতুন খেলা শিখছে মোদের বৌদি
সিঁড়ি দিয়ে দোতলায় উঠতে বাঁদিকে একটা ঘর আমাদের খেলার, শুনলাম সেখান থেকে আসছে আওয়াজ আমার বোনেদের হল্লার; ‘দাদা, এদিকে আয়’, তুলি ডাকলো আমি ওদিকে তাকাতেই। চারজনে ক্যারম খেলা ভালো হবে, যদি একটু যোগ দিস তুই। নতুন খেলা শিখছে মোদের নতুন বৌদি; জমবে খেলা, তুই ওর পার্টনার হ’স যদি।‘ নতুন ড্রেস সুভদ্রার - সুন্দর মানিয়েছে ওকে, রূপ ওর আরও খুলেছে তুলির একটা ফ্রকে। ফ্রকটার ঝুল হাঁটুর অনেকটা নীচে পর্য্যন্ত, হাঁটু বের করা নয় মেমসাহেবদের মতো । বললাম, ‘তুমি তো ড্রেস বদলাচ্ছো ঘন ঘন, রাত্তিরে কী প’রবে, এখনো কি কিছু জানো?’ ‘দেখি, তুলি বা মিলির রাত্তিরে পরার জামা কি বাড়তি আছে। নয়তো একটা সুতির সায়া-ব্লাউজ চেয়ে নেবো মার কাছে।‘ ভালোই ক্যারম খেললো সুভদ্রা নতুন শিখে; ও আর আমি হারিয়ে দিলাম মিলি-তুলিকে ।
তিন শিকারী একসঙ্গে আবার
মোহিতের বসার ঘরে দেখি রয়েছে শ্যামলও। তিন শিকারী একসঙ্গে আবার হ’য়েছি জড়ো। ‘বল্ কী খবর তোদের?’, আমি ক’রলাম শুরু। বললো বিধ্বস্ত মোহিত নামিয়ে চোখের ভুরু। ‘আমি আনলাম শিকার ক’রে; আর শিকে বেশ ছিঁড়লো ভাইয়ের আমার। নন্দিতাকে নিয়ে যেই আসি বাড়ীর দরজায়, মা ওর কচিমুখ দেখে আদরে হাত বাড়ায়, ‘ঘরে এসো মা; বয়স কত তোমার?’ নন্দিতা বললো, লজ্জা-লজ্জা মুখ তার, ‘পড়েছি চোদ্দোয়, সবে এই ফাল্গুনে ।‘ মা আনন্দে চেঁচালেন এই কথা শুনে - ‘খোকোন, পড়া ছেড়ে নেমে আয় নীচে । দ্যাখ দাদা তোর জন্যে কী নিয়ে এসেছে ।‘ খোকোন নন্দিতাকে দেখে গলে গেল একেবারে; বললো, ‘ধন্য দাদা, আমি তোমার স্নেহ উপকারে। ব্যস্ত আমি সারাদিন পরীক্ষার পড়া নিয়ে; সময় নেই যে আনবো লুটে কোনো মেয়ে; দিলে এ উপহার তোমার অপার স্নেহ দিয়ে –‘ কী করবো বল? আমি কৃতার্থ হ’লাম দাদা হ’য়ে। তারপরে মার উপদেশ নির্দেশ ক’রে সার, রোহিত সযত্নে ঘুচিয়েছে কুমারীত্ব নন্দিতার; নন্দিতার বাবার সঙ্গে কথা বলেছি গিয়ে ওঁর বাড়ী; বললেন, ‘শৈশবে কুশিক্ষার জন্যে এত বাড়াবাড়ি। বেলতলা গার্লসে পড়ে নন্দিতা, ওঁর বড় আদরের মেয়ে অঙ্কে একশো পেয়ে, ক্লাস নাইনে উঠেছে ফার্স্ট হ’য়ে।‘ শেষে সমাজের নিয়ম-ঐতিহ্যের দিকে চোখ দিয়ে, রাজী হ’লেন রোহিতের সঙ্গে দিতে মেয়ের বিয়ে। বললেন মেয়েদের পড়াশোনা করার নেই দরকার। ওঁর স্ত্রীও এক লুটে আনা মেয়ে – করলেন স্বীকার।‘
রিক্সো দাঁড়ালো বাড়ীর দরজার ধারে
যেসময়ে বাড়ী ফিরি আমি অফিস ছুটির পরে শুক্কুরবারে, ঠিক সেইসময়ে রিক্সো দাঁড়ালো বাড়ীর দরজার ধারে । রিক্সোর ভাড়া দিয়ে, এলাম দরজার কাছে মালটাকে কাঁধে নিয়ে; দরজা-ধাক্কা দিলাম ওকে দু-পায়ের উপর সাবধানে দাঁড় ক’রিয়ে। মা দরজা খুলতেই প্রণাম ক’রে ব’লি, ‘দ্যাখো তোমার জন্যে এনেছি এক ডালি…’ মা ব’ললো, ‘অর্জ্জুনকে ব’লতাম মহাভারতের কুন্তী হ’লে – যা এনেছিস বাছা ভাগ ক’রে নে তোরা পাঁচভায়ে মিলে; এ অর্জ্জুনের তো নেই আর কোনো ভাই; থাকার মধ্যে শুধু এক দিদি আর বোন দুই, তারা বৌদির ভাগ চাইলে তো তোর কোনো আপত্তি নেই । দাঁড়া একটু শান্ত হ’য়ে; বরণ ক’রে বৌকে ঘরে নিই ।‘ … … একটু পরেই এলো মা নিয়ে বরণডালি, সঙ্গে আমার দিদি মিলি আর বোন তুলি; মিলি জোর ক’রে মুখ ফুলিয়ে শাঁখ বাজাচ্ছে; তুলি আর মা আমাদের ঘিরে ঘিরে উলু দিচ্ছে । মহা সমারোহে হাত-পা-মুখ বাঁধা বধূ হোল বরণ । দিদি বোনেরা ভাবলো, ওরা লুট হয়ে যাবে কখন? মা বোনেদের বললেন, ‘এবার তোরা যা, পড়া বা সেলাইবোনার কাজে। নতুন বৌকে নিয়ে খোকন স্ত্রীআচার ক’রবে; পরে পাবি বৌদিকে কাছে।‘ বোনেরা চ’লে গেলে মা আমাকে বললেন ধীরে ধীরে, ‘খোকন বৌমাকে তোর বিছানায় শোয়াও যত্ন ক’রে, তারপর ওকে ঘরে রেখে বাইরে এসে দাঁড়িয়ো; আমি আসছি প্রসাদ নিয়ে বলবো কী করণীয়।‘
মেয়ে লুট ক’রে বিয়ে
‘আমাদের যুগ ছিল একান্তই পুরুষপ্রধান, মেয়ে লুট ক’রে বিয়ে ছিল তখন বিধান; পরস্পরকে দেখেশুনে ভালো না বেসে, লোভ চেপে, ঠোঁট বেঁকিয়ে মৃদু হেসে, ভালবাসার অভিনয় ক’রে এযুগের মতন, বিয়ের প্রস্তাব ক’রতো না কেউ তখন । পাত্র-পাত্রীর আয়, রূপ, গুণ, বংশ-পরিচয় আর যৌতুকের ওজন, ছেলেমেয়েদের বিয়ে দেবার জন্যে দেখতো না বাবা, মা, গুরুজন; বিয়ের বয়স হওয়ার পর প্রতিটি তৈরী ছেলে, সংসার খরচ চালানোর মোটামুটি সঙ্গতি হ’লে, আসতো একটি মেয়েকে সুযোগমত লুটে নিয়ে; লুটে আনা মেয়েটিকেই খুশী মনে ক’রতো বিয়ে; লুটে আনা মেয়ের দায়িত্ব নিতো লুটেরা স্বামী, মেয়ের বাবা-মার কাছে চাইতো না কিছু দামী । ‘মেয়ে পরের ধন’, মেয়ে জন্মালেই বাবা-মা বলতো, যতদিন কেউ লুটে না নেয়, ঘরের মধ্যে পালতো; মেয়ে লুট করা যেহেতু বেআইনী বা বেইমানী নয়, বাবা-মার চোখের সামনে মেয়ে অনায়াসে লুট হয়; যদি কোন বিয়ের বয়সী ছেলে এসে জোর ক’রে, বিয়ে ক’রবে ব’লে কন্যাকে সঙ্গে নিয়ে যায় ধ’রে, লুটেরাটিকে কোনোভাবেই বাবা-মা বাধা না দেবে, সসম্মানে তাকে প্রিয় জামাই হিসেবে মেনে নেবে । সে যুগের মেয়েরাও চলতো তখনকার ঐতিহ্য মেনে; লুট হবার জন্যেই জন্ম একথা জানতো মনে প্রাণে; ঠাকুরের কাছে প্রার্থনা ক’রতো প্রতিটি মেয়ে, সুন্দর সুস্থ কেউ যেন যায় তাকে লুটে নিয়ে, তার আগে বয়স যেন না যায় খুব বেশী হ’য়ে; আরো ভালো হয়, পাড়ার জানাশোনা ছেলে হ’লে, বাবা-মার কাছাকাছি আদরে থাকা যাবে তাহ’লে; ছেলেরাও নজর রাখতো সুন্দরী স্বাস্থ্যবতীদের উপর, বাইরের ছেলেদের ঢুকতে দিত না পাড়ার ভিতর।
‘I’m going to bring a maid-servant for you’
A man generally marries to bring a girl from a different family to his own. It is still customary in Bengal that the groom, before setting out for the bride’s place, assures his mother – ‘I’m going to bring a maid-servant for you’; this maid servant, however, is not a part-time maid servant who works for a salary; she is rather a slave-woman would serve the groom’s family for life; because it is not easy for a slave-woman to escape from her in-laws’ place. Even if she manages to escape, it is not easy to start a new life again either as a single woman or as a wife of another man; the past marriage leaves indelible marks on her mind and body and she fails to be totally accepted by another man. ‘Meye Loot Kore Biye’ is a novel written in verse; rarely, if ever so far, we got such a novel in verse. This novel tells of a time when it was customary to kidnap a girl with the intention of marrying her. Unlike the rituals of this age, man and woman were not used to try to know each other for exploring compatibility between them and propose for marriage with or without loving the incumbent.
নির্বিবাহ নিঃসীম
Literature & Fiction
নিঃসীম নির্বিবাহ জীবনের স্বপ্নে মানব জীবনের পরম সত্য – অদ্বিতীয়ত্ব । আমি গোটা জগতের নাগরিক হ’তে চাই, চাই সকলের আপন একটি জগৎ গড়ে তুলতে – যে জগৎ একটি পরিবার, একটি প্রতিষ্ঠান। এই বইটির কবিতা আর কাহনীগুলি ১৯৫০এর কুসংস্কারের ঐতিহ্য ফেলে যুগোপযোগী ২০৫০ সালের জীবনধারার জন্য ডাক দিয়েছে। আমার লেখা ‘No Boundaries’ by P G Cartwright বইটিও পড়তে অনুরোধ ক’রবো। নিঃসীম আকাশের নীচে সীমান্তবিহীন এই জগতের মানুষ যে কোনো দেশে বসবাস ক’রতে পারবে, জীবিকা নির্বাহ ক’রতে পারবে। এক দেশ থেকে অন্য দেশে যাওয়ার জন্য ভিসা বা ওয়ার্ক পারমিটের প্রয়োজন হবে না। সীমান্তবিহীন জগতের স্বপ্নের বীজ এসেছে আমার দেশ-বিদেশের অভিজ্ঞতা থেকে। ভারতবর্ষের গরীব সদগোপ (চাষার জাত) ঘরে জন্মে ইঞ্জিনীয়ার হ’য়েছি, পারদর্শী প্রোগ্রামার হ’য়ে এসেছি অস্ট্রেলিয়ায় ১৯৮৪ সালে, দেখেছি অনুন্নত ও সমুন্নত দেশের জীবনযাত্রার তফাৎ। পরে ২০০২ থেকে শুরু হ’য়েছে, এক আমেরিকান কোম্পানীর কর্ম্মচারী হ’য়ে, দেশ-বিদেশের বড় বড় ব্যাঙ্কে কোর ব্যাঙ্কিং সুরু করার কাজ। ২০০২এর জানুয়ারীতে প্রথম কাজটি ছিল পোল্যাণ্ডের ওয়ারশ-তে, অস্ট্রেলিয়ান হিসেবে আমার পোল্যাণ্ডে কাজ করার জন্য ভিসা নিতে হ’ল, অথচ আমার সহকর্মী আমেরিকান নাগরিকের ভিসার প্রয়োজন হ’লো না। অথচ পোল্যাণ্ডের নাগরিকের ভিসা লাগতো আমেরিকায় গিয়ে কাজ করার জন্যে, পোল্যাণ্ড আর আমেরিকার মধ্যে পারস্পরিক সমঝোতা নেই ভিসার সমান অধিকারের ব্যাপারে । পরে ইউরোপিয়ান ইউনিয়নের দেশগুলির মধ্যে যাওয়া-আসার জন্য ভিসার দরকার রইলো না। শুরু হ’লো আমার স্বপ্নের - কবে হবে পুরো পৃথিবীর দেশগুলির মধ্যে এই ধরণের সমঝোতা। বিশ্বযুদ্ধের সময়ে সীমারেখা টেনে, প্রতিটি দেশে দেশভক্তির চর্চ্চা হ’য়েছিল; এখন সময় এসেছে জগৎ-প্রেমের; পৃথিবীর প্রতিটি নাগরিক সক্রিয়ভাবে সচেতন থাকবে, যাতে কেউ প্রবঞ্চিত না হয়। প্রতিটি মানুষ তার অধিকার ও দায়িত্বের ব্যাপারে সচেতন হ’য়ে কাজ ক’রবে, যাতে অন্য কোন নাগরিকের মানবিক অধিকার ক্ষুণ্ণ না হয়। পৃথিবী একটিই দেশ; এই দেশের বাইরে যাওয়ার দরকার নেই সাধারণ নাগরিকের। নির্বিবাহ জগৎ হোক একটি বিরাট পরিবার, যেখানে বিবাহিতেরা অবিবাহিতদের সঙ্গে সমান সুযোগ সুবিধা পাবে । স্বামী বা স্ত্রীকে প্রবঞ্চিত ক’রে ব্যক্তিগত লাভ করার সুযোগ থাকবে না। বিবাহের প্রয়োজন ২০৫০-এর পরে একেবারেই অন্তর্হিত হবে। গর্ভনিরোধক পিলের উদ্ভাবক Carl Djerassi -এর জীবনদর্শন অনুযায়ী, ২০৫০ সালের পরে নারী আর পুরুষে মিলে সেক্স বা রতিক্রিয়া করবে শুধু নির্ম্মল মজার জন্যে, সন্তানকে জন্ম দেওয়ার আশা বা দুশ্চিন্তা কিছুই থাকবে না। গর্ভনিরোধক পিলের আর দরকার থাকবে না, কারণ নারীরা তাদের ডিম অর্থাৎ eggs আর পুরুষেরা তাদের শুক্রাণু বা শুক্রকীট অর্থাৎ sperm ঠাণ্ডাঘরে জমিয়ে রেখে নির্বীজন করবে নিজেদের, অর্থাৎ বন্ধ্যা হয়ে যাবে। কৃত্রিম ডিমও তৈরী হবে হয়তো ২০৩০এর আগেই। ভ্রূণহত্যার আর প্রয়োজন হবে না, কারণ বিনা পরিকল্পনায় সন্তানের ভ্রূণ সৃষ্টি করবে না কেউ। সন্তান উৎপাদন ক’রতে সক্ষম অনেক নারী তাদের তরুণীজীবনের ডিম [eggs] ঠাণ্ডাঘরে জমিয়ে রাখবে একটু বড় বয়সে জীবনে প্রতিষ্ঠিত হয়ে IVF-এর মাধ্যমে অন্তঃসত্ত্বা হবার জন্যে। বিশ বছরের তরুণীরা এই পন্থা নিয়ে নিশ্চিন্ত হবে যে বয়স হ’য়ে ডিম নিঃশেষ হবার আগে, তাদের জীবনসঙ্গী বেছে নিতে হবে না; কর্ম্মজীবনে নিজেকে প্রতিষ্ঠিত করার পরে সন্তানকে জন্ম দিয়ে লালনপালন করার সুযোগ পাবে। সন্তানের জন্ম দেওয়ার জন্য নারী ও পুরুষের রতিক্রিয়ার প্রয়োজন হবে না।
Book Bubbles from নির্বিবাহ নিঃসীম
স্বাধীনতার পরে চাই সমুন্নতিরস্বপ্ন
বাঁচতে হ’লে একটা কিছু গড়ে তোলার স্বপ্ন চাই। ষাট বছরের জোয়ানেরা এসো, লড়ে বাংলা বাঁচাই।।
আমার নতুন মুখ
নতুন ক’রে এঁকেছি আমার ছবি, দেখতো চিনতে পারো কিনা? বড়ো শক্ত এই মুখোসটা বদলানো, বাঁচার অভ্যেস করে মানা। ক’রেছি শুরু আঁকতে নতুন ছবি, লিখবো এবার নতুন উপন্যাস, হুবহু যা ঘটেছে তাই নিয়ে, সাজবো সাজাবো বাক্যের বিন্যাস। তারপরে ছবিটাকে দেবো ব’দলে, মুছে দেবো যাকিছু লাগেনি ভালো, জুড়ে দেবো যাহা চেয়েছিল মন, উঠবে ফুটে আঁধারের মাঝে আলো। এক চিলতে চিতার পাশে ব’সে, অপার শান্তিতে চোখ এসেছিল জুড়ে, শুধু এইটুকু থাক, কেন এই ক্লান্তি – কী হবে তার খোঁজ আর ক’রে? বেদনার অনুভূতি ফুলের মতোই সুন্দর, দিক না নরম পাঁপড় মেলে; শুধু শ্মশানের শেষ শিখা কেন, সাথে আকুতির দিনগুলো দিই ফেলে? আরো সুন্দর হোতো কি উপন্যাস, যদি অন্য কোথাও ভাঙতো আমার ঘুম? অন্য কেউ থাকতো আমাকে ঘিরে, বাতাবরণে অন্য বদান্য সুরের ধূম? আরো উচ্ছ্বাস জাগতো কি যৌবনে, যদি অন্য কোনো ছন্দ থাকতো জুড়ে? নতুন উপন্যাসে বানানো সব ছবি, নিয়ে যেতো কোনো অজানা অন্তঃপুরে। নতুন বাবা, নতুন মা, নতুন দাদা-দিদি-ভাই-বোন, নতুন সঙ্গী, নতুন ছেলেমেয়ে, নতুন নাতিনাতনীদের ভিড়ে, আমার মুখোসটাকে দেবে পুরো নতুন রঙে ছেয়ে। Page 2/2 নতুন রঙের ভিড়ে পেলে কি খুঁজে, যে মুখ তোমার অনেক দিনের চেনা? নতুন উপন্যাসে, দেখো নতুন চোখে, সেই সনাতন আমাকে যাবে জানা? ********
তাড়াতাড়ি একটা কবিতা
উপন্যাসের সময় নেই, ছোটো গল্পও বড্ডো বড়ো, কবিতার দুচার পংক্তিরমধ্যেই কোরতে হবে জড়ো মোর সারা দিনের ক্লান্তি, মোর জীবনভরের প্রয়াস। চেতনা-বেদনা-প্রেরণা-মূর্ছনায় আমার ক্লান্ত নিঃশ্বাস পৌঁছে দেবো তোমাদের – তোমার উপলব্ধির গোড়ায়। সে বেদনায় বিহ্বল হয়ে কাঁদার সময় তোমার কোথায়? সে চেতনার সবুজ রঙে স্নানের সুযোগ নেই তোমার, গানের থমকে, হোলির দমকে না প্রতিধ্বনি প্রেরণার। তবু তোমার প্রতিটি কথায় প্রতিটি কাজে, আমার এই আমি – হাজার আমির মাঝে উঠবে ফুটে ঘাসের, গাছের সবুজে সবুজে, আমার জীবনে বহু জীবন মিলবে সহজে। মৃত্যুর মুখোস খুলে জীবনের স্নিগ্ধ কবিতা, এনে দেবে স্বছন্দে সচ্ছন্দে ক্রমণ বারতা।।
NO BOUNDARIES
Literature & Fiction
Jie-won was born in a world bewitched by traditional boundaries. In early childhood, he realised, his shelter is his family, separated by a boundary from the rest of the world; his family needs to survive in the adversities of the world. He was looking for a magic to overcome this boundary to make his family at par with the world. Many boundaries restricted his journey of Oneness. He recognised boundaries between the rich and the poor, between the men and the women, between the parents and the children, between the local and the foreigner, between the upper caste and the lower, between one country and another, between the illiterate and the educated, between the single and the married, between the young and the old and between the coward and the bold.
Book Bubbles from NO BOUNDARIES
We were seven in the family
I was the youngest member in the family consisting of my parents, my elder brother and three elder sisters. This family of seven was the world to me. Each one in the family trusted every other member of the family. Father worked hard to make both ends meet. Mother carried out all household duties to look after her husband and five kids. We, brothers and sisters, worked hard in schools and at home to keep our hope alive in the world. We shall become the World one day.
The Boundary between the Family and the World
Forensic experts try to fathom Jie-won’s memory—how deep does he remember his early childhood days? Does he remember when he first crawled, when he took the first step for walking? What were his first boundaries? Only some days are found to be vividly remembered, such as the day he is shocked to find the harsh truth, or the day he is amazed to discover himself and the real world before him. One such day for Jie-won is the Independence Day of South Korea …
Vision for World without Boundaries
In a camp for envisioning the soul of the world, Jie-won proclaimed: ‘The goal is to become a citizen of the world. Let all countries like the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Russia, Australia, Canada, Thailand, the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan belong to one organisation—the World. Let any citizen of this organisation work and earn livelihood anywhere in the world. Let visa or work permit be no more required for moving from one country to another. ‘We know that countries have fought many wars to define their borders. Citizens of a country inherit the privileges of that country. We want all citizens of the world to inherit the same privileges, irrespective of the country of birth.
Trapped into Boundaries of Marriage
Forensic robots infer that young Jie-won devotedly follows all rules and regulations of his society and country. His goals are to get a good job, a good wife and a happily married life thereafter. He gets a good degree and a good job. His parents have him married to a suitable girl—Hye-jin. It doesn’t take long for Jie-won to realise that the body and soul of Hye-jin aren’t for him. He feels he is living with someone else’s wife. Jie-won recognises his relationship boundaries. He finds himself at the intersection of two relationship sets; one is the little world to which he was born—Papa, Mamma and his siblings; the other consists of Hye-jin and Joo-won.
Trapped into Boundaries of Marriage
After reaching the hospital, Jie-won parked his scooter and took the briefcase off. The letter, he picked up from the letter box before starting for the hospital, was still haunting him. He could not but open and read the letter before going to his father’s bed. It was Regan who had written a few lines that brought a vivid picture of his physical intimacy with Hye-jin: Regan, sitting on a chair asked Hye-jin to come over and sit on his lap, keeping her legs on both sides of Regan. Hye-jin happily obliged to arouse him……. Regan was proudly confident in that letter that Hye-jin is pregnant with Regan’s. He exclaimed in the letter, ‘My horse has won the race!’ Jie-won couldn’t rest after reading this letter from Regan; he opened Hye-jin’s letter, addressed to Reagan. He got even a bigger shock to go through Hye-jin’s narration of events with Regan. Jie-won couldn’t believe how Hye-jin had relished every detail of her intercourse with Regan. She was, in this letter, sorry and relieved at the same time that she wasn’t pregnant with Regan’s. She had menstruated on Saturday forenoon; that made her write to Regan second time on the same day. She promised to fulfil his desire at some later dates, with exclamations of deep love.
A fruitful year with Soon-ja
While moving from Soon-ja’s house back to Hye-jin’s place, I packed my paraphernalia and I also took the cast-iron statue of the naked girl from Soon-ja’s wardrobe. At the centre of the garden at Hye-jin’s place, I installed a fountain and circular fence around it. The cast-iron statue was placed in the centre of the circular fence and water from the fountain flowed over the naked girl. While Hye-jin’s and my guests appreciated the artwork, prepared by me, no-one asked about the lady portrayed in the statue. Some connoisseurs guessed I might have copied Duval La Naissance. After Young-ho returned to his place, Soon-ja again hid behind her tent-like frocks. No-one could guess any similarity of her appearance with that of the cast-iron statue. Soon-ja herself considered the statue as her undisclosed gift to me while she was rearing my generous gift in her own body.
Hye-jin managed Kun-woo quite well for a year
As there was no child at home, Hye-jin and Kun-woo didn’t have to seek their approval before being in the same bed together. Though Kun-woo was a bit fierce in love making, he wasn’t interested at the start. Cougar Hye-jin enjoyed a crush with him. She discovered a treasure she wasn’t going to let go of too quickly. Kun-woo was one rare customer and she knew it. She wouldn’t even tell her girlfriends about it lest he became the most popular man in town. Hye-jin wondered how she could continue seeing Kun-woo after the end of this experimental year.
My one week with Chun-ja
I worked for an hour in the evening to write up the notes on my laptop. Chun-ja was ready to go to bed. She came to me and said: ‘Why take so much trouble writing all these? I can type fast and do this very well. I’ve scribbled some notes and sketches. Why don’t you change and come to bed?’ I said: ‘No, I’ll let you sleep on your side of the bed. So far I haven’t shared my bed with anyone other than Hye-jin. With a traditional mindset, I consider this as a sin—as a blasphemy’. ‘Please have faith in your own ideas, don’t follow traditional superstitions. No act is a sin as long as it doesn’t hurt anybody. We’ve done enough work, now it’s time to listen to your heart. This week our duty is to know each other as much as we can. I’m looking forward to seeing you with me here.’ I returned wearing my night suit and looked at Chun-ja, now clad in her nightshirt. I thought I was seeing a different person. It was difficult to make out whether a boy had come in place of Chun-ja. She might have been wearing a padded bra during the day so her flat chest wasn’t revealed, but she had nowhere to hide behind her nightshirt.
Do-hyon spent a week with Hye-jin
Both Do-hyon and Hye-jin liked to dance. They started with wine and champagne and went on dancing with breaks for nibbles. This went on and on till they felt it was time to relax and go to bed. Do-hyon said, ‘Let’s shower together’. Hye-jin replied: ‘No, thank you. I’ll have my shower in the morning and alone. You may go ahead now’. Do-hyon showered and changed into his night shirt. Hye-jin was ready with her Victoria’s Secret lingerie. When they were both on the bed, Hye-jin said, ‘Now I would like to see your performance. Are you ready?’
Young-ho with Min-ji for one week
Young-ho was a very caring person, especially with pregnant Min-ji. He keenly observed how a pregnant lady behaves and craves food. Min-ji found Young-ho more caring than her own husband, Do-hyon. She thought she wouldn’t tell Young-ho about that. As the artist, Young-ho wanted to draw pictures of pregnant Min-ji. Min-ji didn’t mind posing as a model, often scantily clothed and sometimes with no clothes on. Young-ho never attempted to have sex with her, rather he was always concerned about delicate pregnant Min-ji. When Young-ho was modelling Min-ji’s statue, using modelling dough, he often touched her shoulder, hips, breasts, belly and even her pussy with his palm or fingers to get the exact shape on his hand so that he could transfer the same shape to the dough. Min-ji quietly submitted as she felt Young-ho had no intention of molesting her. She posed in different ways as requested by Young-ho throughout the week, allowing him to inspect every detail of her delicate body in the same way she did a medical practitioner. Min-ji was always assured that he was conscious of her safety and never, during this process, was he inappropriately clothed.
Worldwide Identity Theft: Spouse Details Lost for
Some hackers have hacked the only central database that stores personal details of every citizen. This central database is maintained in the cloud; all human services systems refer to this database to find out what benefits a person is entitled to and what taxes a person is obliged to pay. After this hacking incident, every person has lost all information about the spouse, and marital status has defaulted to ‘single’. All computerised human services continue functioning with nulls in the spouse details and default values in marital status—and the default value is SINGLE. Worldwide Identity Theft: Country Details Lost for Everyone? You can easily move from one country to another. Some hackers have hacked the only central database that stores passport details of every citizen of the world. All immigration service systems of the world refer to this database to find out which country a person is eligible to visit, live in and work for. After this hacking incident, every person in the world has lost all information about the country of residence and citizenship status has defaulted to ‘World’. All computerised immigration systems continue functioning; every person has become a resident of one country—World. No visa check will now be necessary for travelling from one part of the world to any other part of the world.
Chapter 22: One World—One Organisation
Then came the day—13 August—when history was created all over the world as passengers queued for flight after flight and no-one showed their visa for travelling to the destination country. After the mass disobedience of visa rules at all international airports of the world, Kyu-won dreamed that citizens all over the world danced and sang as they dared to imagine unity. Unable to use an existing song without permission, I came up with my own words: Know no boundaries, In the world granted to us. Let us belong to our world, Let the world belong to us. Like the sky above and The air we breathe in, Let the world be granted to us, Let’s work for and live in. After the forensic probe into Jie-won’s memoir, it is established that Jie-won has never been a terrorist; he is out-and-out nonviolent and peaceful; he is no risk to society—he is released from custody. It is acknowledged that Jie-won’s vision for the future is far different from age-old traditions. Time will tell whether or not our next generation will follow this vision.
Minimising Exploitation of People
Exploitation of people is no longer a local issue of a particular country or community, but a global problem. Exploitation is higher in those communities and countries where education and income are less equitably distributed between man and woman, old and young, healthy and sick, fit and disabled. We need to check whether we could reduce or stop fœticide (the destruction of female fœtus or unlawful abortion), whether we could stop mass raping of women, who are considered as pet animals that could be used for pleasure and killed when not required. Hye-jin advised her followers, ‘Though marriages are no longer required, you still need a good education, then a good job. You might try to win love, but don’t take your spouse for granted. Your spouse might not continue with you through thick and thin, till death. You’ve to plan for your life after retirement; you have to save for yourself instead of whiling away your time and money for your spouse. Children’s books would no longer brainwash them for a happily married life. Cinderellas shouldn’t wait for princes to rescue them. Come what may, they have to support themselves.’
I read your poem, when no one else was with me
Days after days, spent dimes after dimes; Toiled hard; roamed continents—many times. Visited long, long ranges of mountains; I wandered on beaches, oceans, fountains. Yet you escaped my vision, bewitched my browse; Could never hold and raise the tip of your blouse. To discover the two beautiful mesmerising globes And feel the apex on their two sweet sultana poles. I know that you belong somewhere else, not to me, to us. You believe as well, I belong to an omnibus—fictitious. Yet there’s something in me that matches something in yours, In our endeavours, dreams, meaningless demeanours. You dream—you have wings to fly, disappear in the sky, Get airborne to the home of your dreams, faraway, nearby. I dream I amble through the forests, by the river to the sea. You dream of heavens; I daydream the earth I want to see. We’re living our dreams, though far from each other. Would we love our dreams, if we remain together? With the citizen of the world, our dreams, let us share. The heaven, hell and earth; let the boundaries disappear.
Chapter 12: A Week across Relationship Boundaries
The six couples have a fascinating week in Calgary. Each one spends a week with someone outside their family boundary. Woo-jin and Myung-sook and Kun-woo and Su-bin swap their partners. They start very physical. After the first day’s encounter Kun-woo avoids Myung-sook to prevent any damage to her uterus. Woo-jin and Su-bin, however, enjoy each other to their hearts’ content. They consider a week’s delay in treatment won’t matter. Su-bin is happy to dream of a child and thinks she will inspire Kun-woo with the same dream soon. At the end of the week, Jie-won thinks over again. His urge to extend his love and empathy for people across family boundaries isn’t fully propagated to the incumbents of the exercise, because individuals involved haven’t shed their traditional outlooks. Some individuals want to reinforce bonds with their own spouses, but don’t get any opportunity to do so. Some treat their partners as siblings, assuming that they shouldn’t encroach on their own personal values. Young-ho chooses a model for his professional needs, but shows empathy to pregnant Min-ji without showing any urge to enjoy or molest a woman. Woo-jin takes this opportunity to enjoy a young woman, but he looks after her as well and identifies a potential problem that needs be solved.
We visited the Lion Safari Park at Cambridge
Everyone prayed to God, ‘Let the lunch period be over soon; we’re dying to get out of the car and breath free in air’. One hour seemed a very long time. The lions might have been watching us as meals-on-wheels; anytime they might pierce through the broken windows and taste our flesh.
A group holiday for a few families
Lots of people of South Korean origin lived at Ottawa. Had we so wished, Hye-jin and I could have started friendships with hundreds of those people, but I considered my time and money were more important than gossiping with many people. At the same time we didn’t like to restrict ourselves within the boundary of South Korean people. We had a few local friends even before our arrival here—Jong-soo and Sung-ki—and we developed friendships with more people via Min-hyuk, who loved to invite people of South Korean origin—but Hye-jin and I could filter those chosen by Min-hyuk to select like-minded people. We found a few more friends at the South Korean Association. In a big gathering like the Jungu festivities, we came across lots of people but only a handful remained attached to our daily life. Kun-woo used to work with me at the Buyeo office of DCS. Prior to this also, he visited me at Consultronics when he came to discuss the electricity billing process on DCS’s behalf. Later, he met me again when I joined DCS as the consultant in electricity billing. But we didn’t see each other for long at DCS-Buyeo because he was on an overseas assignment in Glasgow. After that assignment, he came to Vancouver on another DCS project with Northpac Bank
Chapter 9: Into the Developed World: Canada
On 14 December I came to the airport to see Hye-jin and Joo-won off. Though Hye-jin and Joo-won flew once from Seoul to Abbotsford, this was their first journey from a foreign country back to South Korea. I was with them during the check-in and guided them in filling in the form to be submitted at the immigration counter. We sat a while on a bench to snack on a few biscuits with water I had with me, then Hye-jin and Joo-won entered the immigration hall. I proceeded to the floor above the departure hall and sat on a bench waiting for take-off. I could see passengers walking into the plane via ladders but couldn’t make out whether Hye-jin and Joo-won were among them. Finally the plane took off. I prayed to God for their safety. It would take 14 hours for the flight. I’d ring GemDaddy after 16 hours. I’d already waited for more than an hour in the airport since Hye-jin and Joo-won walked into the immigration hall. I didn’t like to go back to my Rope Street apartment even after the plane took off, but what else could I do? I walked five minutes from the airport to a place where I could avail myself of cheap public transport.
Chapter 8: Between the Developing World and the De
With both parents departed, Jie-won rethinks the relationship boundaries in his life. By virtue of their marriage, a relationship boundary has been set up around Hye-jin, Joo-won and himself. Similar boundaries have been set up around Jie-won’s siblings and their spouses. The little world of Papa, Mamma and siblings, where he was born, are now depleted. His siblings love him dearly, but they all have their limitations. They are primarily obliged to spend their time and money on their intimate families. Jie-won isn’t happy within the boundary of his married life, because most often he lives alone, as Hye-jin is away with her parents and siblings. When she is with him, some of her parents or siblings stay with her as well, so Jie-won feels he lives in his in-laws’ place. Jie-won thinks he should go far away from Hye-jin’s relatives and friends so that he can set up bonds with his wife and son. If Hye-jin doesn’t accompany him, he won’t lose much because she isn’t available to him anyway. He will have opportunities of working on his vision of societies without marriage. Jie-won hasn’t forgotten the nineteen coins taken off Suk-hwan’s mock carom board. He wants to learn more and earn more, buy a place to stay, acquire amenities and gadgets to make living more and more comfortable.
Chapter 7: Days before Papa leaves the Earth Bound
‘The reason I’m calling you so late is that Papa isn’t well; I would like to talk a bit about him.’ ‘What’s wrong, Suk-hwan, with Papa?’ ‘Nothing in particular, Jie-won, but his whole body is failing. You know, he is 83 years old.’ ‘Yes Suk-hwan. What does the doctor say? What needs be done for him?’ ‘The doctor doesn’t say much; no more new medicines, he continues with the medicines for blood pressure and arthritis. Now he cannot take much food and can hardly get up from the bed. I don’t know if anything can be done. I can only pray and let him die peacefully in the bed here.’ ‘It’s a bit late to visit you tonight, Suk-hwan, but I’ll surely see you and Papa tomorrow morning. I’ll be at your place around ten.’ Next morning, when I reached Suk-hwan’s place, Papa was in bed. He wasn’t willing to get up, brush his teeth and have breakfast. I held his hand and asked, ‘Papa, don’t you like to have tea? You normally relish tea anytime in the day. What about some biscuits, bread?’ ‘No, I don’t have any appetite’, Papa said. I looked at his eyes—Papa had lost his appetite for life, he didn’t want to live anymore.
Chapter 6: Move within the City Boundary of Papa
After spending four and half years at Chuncheon, I got an opportunity to move to a city. Though I relished the natural beauty of Chuncheon, we missed the amenities of the city life. My move from Busan to Chuncheon was apparently for financial reasons, for a better position in a government undertaking, but my hidden motive was far different from what my parents and in-laws guessed—I wanted to live with Hye-jin alone, spend more time with her where she wouldn’t be distracted by her parents or her old friends and neighbours. Indeed, both Hye-jin and I lived together and struggled together in Chuncheon, but we helped each other and loved each other in the industrial village of Chuncheon—especially in the first few months, when pregnant Hye-jin loved to be cared for by me. Together we spent a happy married life in expectation of our child. But this period of closeness lasted only for four months. After that I wasn’t allowed to organise the childbirth in the local hospital; I was asked to take Hye-jin to Sang-chui’s place at Janggok, where Hye-jin’s parents also arrived months before the expected date. But the closeness and togetherness Hye-jin and I enjoyed in the first few Chuncheon months couldn’t be realised any time later.
Don’t we have any right to organise the best treat
Both Yun-seo and I went to visit the surgeon specialising in treating throat cancer at the institute. He advised that Yun-seo would be fully cured only if she followed the prescribed schedule of treatment, which included radiation plus chemotherapy sessions to start with, followed by specialised surgery. However, since this sort of surgical and therapeutical procedures were available only in SK Institute of Medical Sciences, Yun-seo should stay in Buyeo for at least one year, if not longer. I phoned Suk-hwan to keep him posted on the news of Yun-seo’s arrival at Buyeo and plans of her treatment at SK Institute of Medical Sciences. Suk-hwan came to our place to visit Yun-seo and to get appraised of her status. As far as I could gather from Suk-hwan’s words, he seemed to be worried only about the marital status of Yun-seo, with little concern for her health. ‘You shouldn’t have brought Yun-seo from her in-laws’ place’, Suk-hwan said to me, when we got a chance to talk privately. ‘Do you have any plan to get her back to Yeongdeok?’ ‘Not yet’, said I. ‘We can only plan after a few months, based on the progress of her treatment at SK Institute of Medical Sciences. Yun-seo may write to Moo-ryong to keep him posted about the progress.’
I couldn’t forget those few words of Mamma ever in
Once, when no-one else was around, Mamma said to me, ‘Why did you bring us from Gyeongju, if you couldn’t let us stay with you from then on?’ ‘I didn’t realise, Mamma, that I’d need to move from Busan and that a four-bedroom quarter wouldn’t be always available to me. The life became so tough at Busan, I didn’t know if I’d remain employed there forever.’ ‘You could have sent us back to Gyeongju.’ ‘Yes, I didn’t consider that option, and neither did you or Dad.’ ‘Life was different at Busan for us. Your dad could move about wherever he liked, he could buy groceries, meat, fish, vegetable—whatever he wanted—and I could cook and feed you all. Here, we’re not treated as a part of the family, we’re always guests, and they’re looking forward to sending us back to your fold.’ ‘I’d have taken you if I could. We stay in a two-bedroom quarter where we cannot accommodate four of you. No rented flat is available in that colony where we could have taken you.’ Someone appeared on the scene and this private conversation couldn’t be continued any further, but I couldn’t forget those few words of Mamma ever in my life.
Met a stranger on the road
Whenever I board a bus, I take a window seat. Today, I’m habitually on the upper deck, looking down—looking down on the people walking on the road. Half an hour to home now, I feel a bit hungry; Mamma surprises me every day with a new snack. A big jerk—screeeech, the double-decker halts. I hear the noise and the driver is trying to restart the engine, once, twice, a number of times. Soon I hear the announcement: ‘This bus won’t travel anymore because of a serious breakdown. Another bus will be here to take passengers from this bus. If you want refunds, please come down to me with your ticket’. I get the refund and start strolling towards home. It would take about 2½ hours, but I prefer brisk walking to indefinite waiting. No longer in the bus, I’m now in the crowd ambling through the streets. Shall I come across some known face here? Could I find some passers-by to talk to? Could I hunt for a suitable girl who would talk to me at least for a while? ‘You’re Si-won, are you?’ I hear from a girl just behind me. ‘Yes’, I’m about to say, but dissuade myself. ‘No, I’m Jie-won; I’ve a friend named Si-won,’ I say, ‘but we don’t look alike’.
Chapter 1: Vision for World without Boundaries
In a camp for envisioning the soul of the world, Jie-won proclaimed: ‘The goal is to become a citizen of the world. Let all countries like the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Russia, Australia, Canada, Thailand, the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan belong to one organisation—the World. Let any citizen of this organisation work and earn livelihood anywhere in the world. Let visa or work permit be no more required for moving from one country to another. ‘We know that countries have fought many wars to define their borders. Citizens of a country inherit the privileges of that country. We want all citizens of the world to inherit the same privileges, irrespective of the country of birth. Jie-won studied the book, One World—a travelogue published by Wendell Willkie in 1943. Though inspired by Wendell Willkie, Jie-won could see that his small team doesn’t have the resources to go around the world talking about his concepts and he can’t elicit attention of the influential political leaders who could make things happen. As Jie-won observed so far, the political leaders thrive on patriotic feelings and would hardly encourage the formation of a world government.
In a bid to cure cancer
Min-jun and Su-bin heard in the TV news: ‘A woman who has drunk a glass of breast milk a day since being diagnosed with cancer believes it is saving her life. She has had a daily 400ml dose of milk from an anonymous donor after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma, or bone marrow cancer, seven months ago’. While the unusual treatment had not been prescribed by her doctor, her decision had been supported by doctors at the hospital where she was treated. The TV news of the 62-year-old woman together with findings of researchers in Sweden showing that breast milk could kill cancer cells caused Su-bin and Min-jun to ponder on the inconsiderate wastage of human milk. They talked to the local hospital about starting a milk bank in the same way they maintained their blood bank. The milk from this bank could be used as prescribed doses to cancer patients. Pharmaceutical research could also be carried out using milk from the bank to manufacture medicines that could cure cancer. Three months after this milk bank was started, Su-bin and Min-jun found that their mission of preparing medicines from human milk was being defeated by profit-making ventures of the hospitals and the allied pharmaceutical companies.
The first day in my memoir is 13 August 1948
Forensic experts try to fathom Jie-won’s memory—how deep does he remember his early childhood days? Does he remember when he first crawled, when he took the first step for walking? What were his first boundaries? Only some days are found to be vividly remembered, such as the day he is shocked to find the harsh truth, or the day he is amazed to discover himself and the real world before him. One such day for Jie-won is the Independence Day of South Korea … https://www.amazon.com/dp/1542608074
Which lady would live with which man for a year?
This time spouse swapping was carried out in two stages: the first stage started with a toss of a coin to decide whether men would choose their partners or women would be the choosers. The ladies won the toss. During the days of the week women would discuss amongst themselves to decide which woman would get which man, but during the nights of this week, each woman would sleep with her legal husband. At the end of the week, the ladies would finalise who would stay with whom for the next year. Each lady would continue in her own house for this experimental year, but with a different partner. Each man would take his car to the new place where he’d live for the year. This time more rational judgement was required, so it was decided that they wouldn’t decide this by lottery. Each woman ranked the men in order of preference with the most highly preferred man receiving a score of six and least preferred a core of one. Though a lot of research was carried out, the final decision involved much negotiation among the women and those with better negotiating skills prevailed. Pairs were chosen unanimously for the year-long experiment.
Auction what you’re wearing for charities
Donors are often not prepared to donate just to remove the misery of the poor earthquake victims. But when they get opportunities to buy all clothes and apparel off a beautiful model and to see and relish her beauty with no clothes on, they don’t hesitate to donate to their hearts’ content.
