Scattered Fates by Ram Garikipati (ebook reader ink TXT) 📖

are closely related to Dravida. There is also linguistic, anthropological and archeological evidence that Corean may be connected to the Austronesian languages, but I tend to believe the theory that early Tamil people migrated to the Corean peninsula,’ he said.

As proof, he referred to the work by a Corean researcher, Kim Jung-nam, who founded the Korean Society of Tamil Studies and identified close to 500 cognates and about 60 phonological correspondence pairs between the languages.

‘Moreover, both the languages are grammatically similar, and in both the letter 'l' is interchangeable with 'r' and words cannot begin with them.’

That is interesting. How can Dravidian languages and Corean be interrelated?

She hurriedly opened the appendix attached to his presentation and was greeted with a list of similar words. Appā, Ammā, Eonni, Nuna, Nā, Nī, Tām, Aigu, Nāḷ...it went on.

‘Tamil and Corean have the same syntactic characteristics: the word order subject-object-verb, postpositions instead of prepositions, no relative pronouns, modifiers in front of the head noun, copula and existential as two distinct grammatical parts of speech,’ Cadwell continued.

Maya decided to meet with the professor after the conference and have a lengthy chat. This was by far the most shocking news she had heard since arriving in Madras.

How come no ordinary Corean knows it? Everyone thinks it is related to Chinese, Japanese and Mongolian languages, some also believe that it is related to Turkish, but never Dravidian languages.

She lost her chance as Professor Cadwell rushed out after giving his presentation without even waiting for the customary question and answer session.

He will surely be here for the closing ceremony.

An hour later, as the valedictory speech was being wrapped up, she looked around trying to locate him again.

Not in sight.

She turned back, and sure enough, he was there in the back row engrossed in conversation. She jumped out of her seat and approached him, not wanting to lose him again, when a sharp familiar voice caught her ear.

‘Robert, the Aryans and Dravidians are part of the same culture, dividing them and placing them at odds with each other is just a mind game,’ the voice thundered.

Professor Ganapathy! When did he come here?

‘Excuse me sir. It's me Maya,’ she said, forgetting the Harvard professor in her excitement.

‘Young lady, can't you see I am busy?’ Ganapathy curtly replied, turning back to his neighbor. ‘I am meeting my dear friend after 10 years.’

Embarrassed, she stood silently on the side, and waited for him to finish the conversation.

‘Nineteenth century was the era of Europeans imperialism. Europeans thinkers of that time were dominated by a racial theory of man, interpreted primarily in terms of skin color,’ he continued. ‘The British promoted the theory of a light-skinned Aryan race ruling a dark Dravidian race.’

‘I beg to differ Ganapathy, Sanskrit and North Indian languages are relatives of the European languages, but the Dravidian languages are entirely different.’

‘Who said so? Dravidian languages have so many Sanskrit words. The European scholars always felt that the original speakers of any root Indo-European language must have been white. The British promoted religious, ethnic and cultural divisions among their colonies to keep us under control, unfortunately some of these policies were subsumed by the so called intellectuals.’

‘So you mean to say that the European scholars invented the concept of Aryan and Dravidian races?’

‘Exactly, the difference between them is not a racial division, the idea is the product of an unscientific and culturally biased thinking, which only looked at race through the narrow prism of color. Scientifically, the only three primary races are Caucasian, Mangolian and Negroid.’

‘I hope what you say is backed up by evidence, because all my research suggests otherwise.’

‘I am sure there will be evidence soon. I believe your university is undertaking a project to analyze 500,000 genetic markers across the genomes of 132 individuals from 25 diverse groups from 13 states.’

‘That is true, my colleague is collaborating with MIT and some Dravidian organizations, once the results come out we will know whether you are right. I know it is difficult to argue with you Ganapathy, but as always it has been a pleasure. I have to rush for a dinner meeting.’

‘So long Robert. Hope to see you again soon. Let me know the results of the project once they are analyzed.’

‘Sure will. One of my students will contact you, maybe we will invite you to Harvard for a lecture.’

‘So young lady, do I know you?’ Ganapathy said, turning towards Maya.

‘Sir, it is me. I met you on Marina Beach and the library?’

‘Oh yes, how could I forget such a beautiful face, I am sorry I am getting old. Why don't you meet me at the library tomorrow, I will get you my article.’

‘I have already read it, and have a few doubts that I wanted to discuss.’

‘OK, 3'O clock at the library... and don't come with that rude friend of yours from The Hindu.’

‘Thank you, sir,’ she replied.

I am sure Naga will be thrilled to know that I finally met him.

#

Streaming out of the conference hall, Maya noticed Ruby on a sofa, working on her laptop. She checked a few missed calls on her mobile, but when she tried to call up Naga to give him the news, there was no response.

Must be busy in a meeting.

‘Hi Ruby. I'm sorry I missed your calls. Hope you did not wait too long?’

‘Hey no problem, I had some work nearby and finished early. We just rescued a badly injured puppy.’

Ruby was a volunteer-leader at the 'Blue Cross', a non-governmental organization dedicated to preventing cruelty towards animals. Her boss, Captain Sundaram had started the organization a few years ago, and mostly relied on volunteers to help him out. With the help of his wife and children he ran the organization on meager resources. A staunch crusader against cruelty to animals, the former pilot managed to attract many educated young women like Ruby to spread awareness on animal welfare.

‘It is so sad how some people treat animals.’

‘Yes it is. The puppy that we rescued had been badly beaten and left to die. I hope he survives. We have evidence of the culprit on close circuit camera, the cops will be dealing with him soon.’

‘What will happen?’

‘He will get a two year prison term.’

‘Amazing. No one cares for animals in my country.’

‘We have very stringent rules for animal abusers. Our second President NTR loved animals and introduced some very tough laws,’ Ruby said closing her laptop.

‘In my country, there are no stray or abandoned dogs. If one is found on the roads, it is immediately taken home.’

‘That is good, but you said no one cares.’

‘Yes, they end up on the dining table.’

‘Oh my God!’

‘Dog soup is a traditional food in Corea for centuries. We call it bosingtan.’

‘How can people eat dogs?’

‘Not the pets, but dogs specially bred for their meat, although abandoned or lost pets are never spared. Actually many of the younger generation is against dog meat, but the older generation doesn't care. We are still a poor country and the income inequality is high, so free meat is always welcome.’

‘Have you ever tasted dog meat?’

‘I did as a child, but not any more. I cannot bear the thought as I have two Schnauzers at home. Coreans and Chinese believe that bosintang has medicinal properties and also increases stamina. Dog meat keeps ones body cool during the summer.’

‘I know it is rude to comment on other cultures, but don't you think it should be banned?’

‘I understand your feelings, especially since you work for animal welfare, but older Coreans don't differentiate between dogs, cows or pigs. We cannot ban dog meat without banning other meat. In any case, this concept of keeping pets for entertainment is a western concept, the Asian society has always kept animals for their food.’

‘Not any longer, but you are right, we tend to get upset with the dog eating cultures without realizing that cows, pigs and goats are also thinking animals. Why not ban animal killing altogether?’

‘Are you a vegetarian?’

‘No, I am not.’

‘Now isn't that a paradox? Many people who fight for animal rights are non-vegetarians. They do not mind eating animals for their own food. I think each individual should be free to decide what she wants to eat. The government has no role to play, and certainly the western society should not tell us which meat can be eaten and which not.’

‘You are right, the people who object to dog meat mostly come from countries where beef and pork are a standard diet. I don't mind vegetarians protesting against killing animals for food, but non-vegetarians complaining about dog meat are just hypocrites.’

‘You know Ruby, there is an argument that whales should not be killed because of their high intelligence, so the western world wants to ban whale hunting, without considering that it has been food for Northern European and the East Asian countries for generations. If that is the case, pigs also possess high intelligence, but they are routinely butchered and eaten. Why don't they demand a ban on eating pork?’

‘You may be right, but the western lobby is more powerful, that is how they got whale hunting banned in 1986. Moreover the issue is not as simple as you mentioned. Most whale species are getting extinct.’

‘Dogs are not extinct. I am sure they will succeed in imposing a global ban on dog meat, while continuing with beef and pork.’

‘Maya, I know it is an emotional issue. By the way, do you know that beef is banned in Hindustan because Hindu's worship the cow, but pork is allowed although Muslims consider it dirty.’

‘I heard there are a lot of Muslims and Christians in Hindustan, don't they protest?’

‘They did, but it is a Hindu nation, and no one cares for the minorities, especially Muslims, because the greatest enemy is Pakistan. Not so in Dravida, which is secular.’

‘So although you have majority Hindu's, you can eat beef here?’

‘Sure. We allow all types of meat, but their killing is heavily regulated. No one eats dogs or snakes, so they are not included in the laws.’

‘What exactly is the proportion of minorities in Dravida and Hindustan?’

‘Dravida has a population of 223 million, of which the Hindu population is roughly 83 percent, Muslims 11 percent and Christians 6 percent.’

‘What about Hindustan?’

‘Hindustan has almost four times our population, around 805 million. Hindus are 80 percent, Muslims 14 percent and Christians 2 percent. They also have other minor religions like Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists.’

‘So you mean to say that Hindustan has more number of Muslims and Christians in absolute terms?’

‘Yes, non-Hindus in Hindustan are around 165 million, which is almost equal to our total Hindu population.’

‘Yet they banned beef?’

‘That is the difference between a secular democracy and a dictatorship. By the way, want to taste beef curry tonight?’

‘Sure, Naga never told me. I always thought it was banned here because of the Hindus.’

‘I have an idea, why don't we go to a good beef restaurant run by a Keralite.’

‘From your province?’

‘Kerala is known for its beef dishes, we call it nadan curry, you will love it. First let’s take a taxi and do some shopping at Spencers'. We can wait for Naga, and Mathew said he would join us.’

‘Sounds like a good idea to me.’

The mobile suddenly buzzed in her handbag.

‘Sorry, I couldn't take your calls. I was in the library. Where are you now?’ Naga said.

‘At the conference, on the way to Spencers Plaza. I have some good news for you. Guess who I met?’

‘Ruby?’

‘Hey don't joke, you know she was supposed to pick me up and is here now. Professor Ganapathy!’

‘So the old man did not die?’

‘Of course not, I am meeting him again tomorrow.’

‘ I will be there soon, we can discuss it later, don't want to get fined for talking while driving.’

‘Just one more thing. Did you know that Coreans originally came from Dravida?’

‘Impossible, we are a completely different race.’

‘Wait till you hear what I just heard. Don't be late.’

‘I too have some interesting news to share.’

#

‘I never knew that beef curry could be so tasty. I just loved