The Naik Cutchery Hall
The Naik Cutchery Hall
On the southern rib of my town,
the Cutchery Hall stand erect.
An old relic coloured in golden yellow, white and green,
black domes at the crown-top.
Old, solid, huge cylindrical pillars guard at the entrance,
elephant-like, in all Royal majesty.
Built three centuries ago, the notable thing is its age.
The judicial court wakes up every morning,
donning unique appearance each day.
Its morning looks are dull.
The peons and chowkidars brush teeth, smoke and spit.
Later,
rustic villagers arrive in soiled clothes.
To solve disputes over agricultural fields,
broken marriages, petty quarrels, wall disputes,
slap and bite cases, loans and money-lendings,
unending family cases…..
At 10 a.m., the judge arrives in black gown.
The minions rush, serve, stoop down…
The din in the court silenced to serious silence.
The British era fans whirr and twirr from the ceiling,
rattle everyone’s ears.
On its uncemented walls how many
innocent men rested their hopes?
Its halls partially-lit,
spacious for a Maharajah durbar.
How many wise tufted men argued
hours and hours
in ceaseless silver tongues,
to the yielding ears of British Daniels
seated on the dais?
How many Brahmins thrilled
the ears of attorneys getting applause
in words and huge fees! !
Ah! what a legacy these court walls speak of!
The mute witnesses for centuries to witty eloquence!
How many English bosses charmed, spellbound
by the tongues of Iyers and Iyengars?
* * * * * * *
In the afternoons,
the sizzling Tamil Nadu sun,
dozes everyone to sweaty siesta in the verandahs,
the villagers eat, chew betel leaves, belch,
and plead to avaricious lawyers for brief salvation.
As dusk sets in,
the Cutchery Hall is desolate.
The clerks and copyists
seek comfort over arrack,
till early dawn milk –vendors ring bells
unto their deaf ears waking them and the court…….
---
Glossary:
Cutchery Hall - judicial court
Naik Cutchery Hall - judicial court built during the reign of
King Tirumal Naik who ruled Madurai
chowkidar - menial servant in an office
maharajah - king
durbar - king’s court
brahmins - orthodox Hindu priest class
Iyers and Iyengars - caste divisions in Brahmin community
----
P.S. – This Colonial period judicial court lies in Srivilliputtur, my hometown in Virudhunagar District, in the south- Indian State of Tamil Nadu. In 2005 A. D., when the new court buildings were erected in the outskirts of the town, the old judicial court was permanently locked, closed and the premises were handed over to the Central Archaeological department, New Delhi.
---
Copyright reserved © 2007 New Delhi, India
Ramesh Iyengar
The Naik Cutchery Hall
On the southern rib of my town,
the Cutchery Hall stand erect.
An old relic coloured in golden yellow, white and green,
black domes at the crown-top.
Old, solid, huge cylindrical pillars guard at the entrance,
elephant-like, in all Royal majesty.
Built three centuries ago, the notable thing is its age.
The judicial court wakes up every morning,
donning unique appearance each day.
Its morning looks are dull.
The peons and chowkidars brush teeth, smoke and spit.
Later,
rustic villagers arrive in soiled clothes.
To solve disputes over agricultural fields,
broken marriages, petty quarrels, wall disputes,
slap and bite cases, loans and money-lendings,
unending family cases…..
At 10 a.m., the judge arrives in black gown.
The minions rush, serve, stoop down…
The din in the court silenced to serious silence.
The British era fans whirr and twirr from the ceiling,
rattle everyone’s ears.
On its uncemented walls how many
innocent men rested their hopes?
Its halls partially-lit,
spacious for a Maharajah durbar.
How many wise tufted men argued
hours and hours
in ceaseless silver tongues,
to the yielding ears of British Daniels
seated on the dais?
How many Brahmins thrilled
the ears of attorneys getting applause
in words and huge fees! !
Ah! what a legacy these court walls speak of!
The mute witnesses for centuries to witty eloquence!
How many English bosses charmed, spellbound
by the tongues of Iyers and Iyengars?
* * * * * * *
In the afternoons,
the sizzling Tamil Nadu sun,
dozes everyone to sweaty siesta in the verandahs,
the villagers eat, chew betel leaves, belch,
and plead to avaricious lawyers for brief salvation.
As dusk sets in,
the Cutchery Hall is desolate.
The clerks and copyists
seek comfort over arrack,
till early dawn milk –vendors ring bells
unto their deaf ears waking them and the court…….
---
Glossary:
Cutchery Hall - judicial court
Naik Cutchery Hall - judicial court built during the reign of
King Tirumal Naik who ruled Madurai
chowkidar - menial servant in an office
maharajah - king
durbar - king’s court
brahmins - orthodox Hindu priest class
Iyers and Iyengars - caste divisions in Brahmin community
----
P.S. – This Colonial period judicial court lies in Srivilliputtur, my hometown in Virudhunagar District, in the south- Indian State of Tamil Nadu. In 2005 A. D., when the new court buildings were erected in the outskirts of the town, the old judicial court was permanently locked, closed and the premises were handed over to the Central Archaeological department, New Delhi.
---
Copyright reserved © 2007 New Delhi, India
Ramesh Iyengar
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