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Fine looks and charm his rooted advantages, Mr Allay Misra, after three years stint in Washington DC was the new cultural attaché for Germany in Berlin. He was born and raised in Cuttack, capital of Orissa.
His efforts at the German language rapidly paid dividends. He managed necessary official in-land tours of Germany, minus a translator; saving expensive foreign currency on compulsive travel expenditure for the Indian Government.
Nuptial ties brought Swati Sen into the occident. Before arriving, she grabbed some essentials of German language from Poona and enjoyed impressing the host country with her ethnic culture and style through entertaining programmes for those curious to know. In addition, she wished helping a Weep Children’s Charity in India who had requested for donations.
Thus organising a charity show, Swati Sen arranged to take on rent; the Ernst Reuter Saal in Reinickendorf; from the local municipality office.
The artists were to come from India and perform “Women of the Vedic Period in India” a dance drama relating veneration, of the ancient Indian woman, to go on stage in October as millennium celebration. Berlin Women’s Recreation Club patronized her plan.
Concatenation autumn’s fall, conquest of demon by Ma Durga, the time too was appropriate coinciding month Karamchand’s birth, and Germany’s Beer Festival or Oktoberfest, hammering taps into huge beer drums for ‘sports in spurts’ adding verve.
Despite ample moral support, strict financial resources made Sawti’s budget rigid. Performer Lippie Raman and her troupe of eight female and two male artists’ required secure board and lodging. She split her head over how to arrange for their stay in this expensive legendary capital and save money to hand over for charity.
Her toil to arrange sponsors proved fruitful. Many Indian restaurants offered meals but quartering them was the most worrisome task for Swati. The highest expenditure, rent for the hall; paid in advance from her personal savings was a job complete. She thanked her stars.
Honestly, the shorthaired woman was rather insulting recalled Swati when she had requested a discount on rent; that it was organised for children’s charity. Allegedly, the caretaker grumbled, “We cannot do permanent charity for all who come from third world.”
Swati startled at the woman’s remark, while her eyes caught a sly smirk on Rupp Kumar’s face standing behind, looking triumphant – ‘not an easy job to organise, newcomer madam country belle,’ written large on his face. As a fellow person of Indian origin, Rupp Kumar had volunteered to accompany Swati. Instantly, Swati understood the background of the woman’s odd air.
Sexagenarian Mr Rupp Kumar generally organised celebrations and social events. Novice to Indian culture scene in the city they were ragging Swati for her innovative cultural event.
In his hey days Mr Rupp Kumar and his German wife Ulrike along with other person of Indian origin had organised Bombay’s great film star V. Bali’s visit to Berlin.
She presented Bharatnatyam in The Congress Hall at John Foster Dulles Alley, the hall a souvenir from the Americans to the Berliners for developing interactive international goodwill and understanding.
Not clashing but with a light sarcasm in her tone Swati expressed “Oh! Yes Madam.” No matter her efforts to control, her voice let off steams. Refusing to take it low, she continued as they walked to meet the technicians controlling lights and sound, that day.
“Madam, by presenting this charity show it is not me who benefits personal finance but your organisation by way of rent for the hall; so that you may pay your technicians; subsequently also the airlines, flying the artists in and out, even though it is a function for children’s charity” strongly Swati.
“Could have done nothing but that someone moves, it sets motion which picks more drive, nowhere but here in this great city of yours giving an impetus to the auxiliary” she continued. Adding, “If you have objection to the vivacity brought in, bear with facts of stagnation” said Swati ostensibly intent.
The municipality woman caretaker Ms Birgit Bauman obviously embarrassed at own carelessness gave Mr Rupp Kumar a cold glance as if to say, “Your idea of ragging bounced back.”
Turning to Swati, she said, “I do not mean to be rude, Mrs Sen but many clubs approach us with expectations to get it for free.”
Ms Birgit Bauman went out of her way to compensate her initial discourtesy. Swati had stronger hurdles than these minute ones. She could forgive forget such trivial, surely not without a robust reply...she recollected later in calm.
Thanking Ms Bauman, she left with Mr Rupp Kumar, who was also a member of the local Indo-German club of which as an Indian Swati too had taken membership on arrival to her new home in Berlin.
Had Mrs Swati Sen known that ragging was a fashion even out of college, she could afford her appointments with no Mr Rupp Kumar in tow. Using helps from many elaborate city graphic representations available.
All foreign embassies were shifting from Bon to Berlin. Indian embassy too in a prestigious acquire at the Tire Garden Street Berlin. Thus, a small property owned by the Government of India Consulate known as Tag-ore Centre, at Strom Street Nr ten of Theodore Hoist Place, no more the main seat of previous activities, served as an emergency shelter for embassy visitors.
To Indian artists coming from New Delhi there could be no better and safe address than Number ten, Strom Street the culture house, just for two days; intended sensible Swati. She approached Mr Allay Misra with request for accommodation to the performers.
“Why you asked for Lippie Raman, she is such an old woman at the fag end of her career?” asked Mr Allay Misra contemptuously, going through Swati’s plan of artists...
“Not to forget she is a Delhi Academy Award Winner, for Bharatnatyam; to top it, old is gold,” replied Swati, however her ensemble consists of all young aspirants.
“Such a big group, ten plus one, we shall have to see if our house is free those days to accommodate the dancers” Mr Allay Misra to eagerly expecting Mrs Swati Sen. Going up to the calendar, he checked the dates.
Swati wondered why he was being difficult, because earlier while introducing himself to the local Indians he had promised all possible support to people with Indian ethnic stage plans.
Finally, Mr Allay Misra confirmed to house the artists in Strom Street though, not without a clause. Swati had to agree volunteer participation for another staging by amateur group at Brightside Place organised for the Asia Pacific Week in Berlin.
Berliner Senate and Deutsche Industry Bund sponsored the show. She could not afford to disappoint Mr Misra by a no. The cultural attaché asked Swati to meet Mr Siddique who needed some more character roles for his play.
Not to disrupt her own agenda, having less time to memorise dialogues, she had a choice, the tiniest role possible. Moreover, opponents on prowl stressed her persistency at realising her ideas thereby causing her lose valuable time.
Coercion of circumstances left her no choice. Helplessly fraught, she trudged for rehearsal, searched for the best character in terms least conversation; and triumphantly found one, in that of the maidservant’s.
Not that she was uninterested putting up brave, in live theatre but practice in the evenings for this extra show burdened her own October programme…
Extract the best out of adverse situation; she thanked her stars once again. The Asia Pacific Show scheduled for August could help as a platform to publicise her dance-drama in Ernst Reuter Hall. The idea stimulated, motivating Swati to give her best.
Director, Mr Siddique of the hilarious comedy show “Yedwab Goes Abroad” hailed originally from Lucknow later to settle in Berlin with his German wife and daughter. President of the Carom Club in Berlin Mr Siddique wrote plays, short stories, poems and had some, published, also in Urdu.
Lukewarm response – could be ragging -- from the usual local club and theatre community to Mr Misra’s call for a drama presentation, at Asia Pacific Function, he welcomed Mr Siddique when he proposed to volunteer his jovial piece, written specially for the occasion, in German.
At that time, Mr Siddique’s niece Rubaina from Lahore came visiting her uncle in Berlin. A flawless sub continent charm Rubaina accepted to play the role of Yedwab’s bride Madhu, on her uncle’s suggestion. Yedwab was the hero performed by Mahesh, a bright young microbiologist from Maharashtra attending the Max Plank Institute Berlin.
Having accepted the role, no matter what she did, it was Swati’s real challenge to wear the stare of illiteracy. Standing in front of the mirror, she was impatient to bring about the required looks of a maidservant.
“Irrelevant image able fit into whichever role maybe, is quality acting,” Swati thought. “The world is a stage” she recollected Shakespeare.
Plaiting her hair, she tried the cheap gaudy earrings, kohl in eyes, and after much labour achieved goal. The bright pink silk sari, bottle green sweater, and socks to perfect make up. Looks of maidservant favoured by the woman of the house with rich discards. “Was it not interactive services?” Swati in self-murmur.
Thunderous applause followed hilarious laughter. The show was a success. All actors introduced by name. Among the audiences Swati’s son and her husband, naturally the cultural attaché, representatives from the Berlin Senate, and an international open-air public.
All came running to congratulate Swati. “You are but a real maidservant” gleeful grin cheek to cheek, teased her husband Astir Boron Sen.
“Thank you Mr Broad Smile” Swati consecutively teased back.
“Mummy you acted great” said her son Sampayan Sen appreciating.
Mr Siddique had played the role of a servant too. He was overjoyed with the feedback and informed Swati about the videotaping of the drama done by his friend Asif Naqvi.
Among the audiences, some youths from Punjab working as cooks and utility workers at local Indian restaurants congratulated Swati with a feeling of anchor in her performances that they actually came from well-to-do but rustic background. Almost an instant fan club set for her meek but outstanding role.
“This is how stars are born!” Mr Rupp Kumar and his wife Ulrike commented appreciating Swati’s labour, having overcome their initial hard feelings. She felt pleased at their remark.
Sometimes it may be really difficult to congratulate a woman for her role as a maidservant; perhaps she may erupt but what about a man-acting servant?
Mr Allay Misra took time to congratulate Swati possibly searching for the right words. In his suave politeness “Mrs Sen, you looked authentic” a subtle arc in smile. “You acted wonderfully and stole away many hearts, in the role of serving your Mistress,” he added.
“Authentic, sounded well” thought Swati, obviously smiling, “No wonder he was the last to congratulate her. Was it an exact endorsement, proving his deep rooted sophistication, cultured?”
Swati thanked all and the Cultural attaché to the Ministry of India in Berlin for his promised solidarity and co-operation to her forthcoming show “Women of Vedic Period in India”
She was delighted to see the Indian Ambassador Mr Rumen Sen grace her function at the Ernst Reuter Saal. Her invitations to other very important persons not turned down, many arrived better late than never.
Everyone appreciated the drama and relished the ethnic dinner prepared surprisingly by no Indian restaurant but the German restaurant housed in the same hall cellar owned by a Spanish man, under guidance from Swati. The hall had their set rules for no outside catering.
Only the beetle leaf Pan concluded gastronomic feature came from Mr and Mrs Dutt allowed for ethnicity. It called for an amusing incident when some European guests used fork and knife to eat the green triangular preparation. Mr and Mrs Banerjee clad in dhoti and sari, explained to them that Pan was a concluding mouth freshener popped into the mouth with fingers.
