A Unique Convict—the Debates, the Toilet Cleaning, the Pranks!

The other side of the jail life was complete enjoyment: talking, joking, laughing, playing, pranking and dramatising, and what not!

And one very interesting thing which happened was that we used to have some sort of debates—Shastrarth one may say, just like that. One debate started on “meat-eating”. There were learned persons from all religions— Mohammedans, Sikhs, Arya Samajis, Sanatanis and others in our ward. So with them all there, a debate got started on ‘meat-eating’. Two parties were formed. One was for ‘meat-eating’ and the other was for ‘non-meat-eating’. It was all in a very good spirit and mood and with a deep inspiration this debate on ‘meat-eating’ got started.

This debate continued for about three months. We used to have this for more than an hour every day and sometimes even up to two hours or more. This was the most interesting part of our jail life. Now for proofs, arguments, quotations, etc. we had to spend money. We had to arrange money and call for books from libraries and other sources, from say Arya Samaj sources from Lahore, to cite quotations and give proofs and arguments in support of the plea that meat-eating is very bad.

The other side used to prove with arguments and quotations that this has been coming from Sri Ram’s time and the Ashwamedha Yagnya, and so on. And that Rajas & Maharajas used to eat meat, and so on. This sort of activity was highly intellectual and a brilliant pastime which was a wonderful way of education to us. But in the end, nobody could finally prove and establish whether meat-eating was good or bad. So it was finished like this.

The other small things which we used to do…Yes, the other remarkable thing was that although this jail was new but the management was so bad that the toilets were not properly cleaned, and all that. So we had been complaining and complaining to these people, but they never cared.

Then we said: “Now we will show you an example and we will clean our latrines ourselves.” There again I was the leader. We had a lot of fun. I would make my dress in a joking manner like that so that we enjoy all that—I would become a bhangi with a turban on my head, a basket under my left arm and a broom in my right hand, with all the ‘implements’ of my job! But then it became a habit which we continued. And then we could keep the latrines so clean and so nice that we felt that probably even some kitchens were not kept so clean! We cleaned our latrines ourselves for about 6 months or so, till we were released. This was one of the dramas which we enjoyed.

Then other small things were there like playing cards, games, tit-bits, riddles, this thing & that thing. As I was too young—naughtiness was always foremost in my mind. We were fighting with the jail authorities that we should be allowed to sleep outside during the summer. It was a very tough fight to make them agree.

Finally we won the fight. And we were sleeping outside. One night, I got up and took away shoes of each & every person including my own and threw them in the next ward!

When everybody got up in the morning they could not find their shoes. They were bewildered.

They said, “Where have the shoes gone?” Someone was thinking this way, someone was thinking that way. Then after two or three hours the warden from the other side came and said: “How is it that your shoes are lying on this side?” I said: “No! We do not know how it has happened.” The matter was reported to the Jail Superintendent. And naturally, after quite a number of days, it was revealed that I had done that. But nobody believed it.

These were the innocent and naughty things. Such things, of course, we were doing day in and day out.

Sometimes we would blow the fuse and the entire jail would go into darkness. And there was so much of shouting and shouting and shouting. This was very easy to do in those days. We had our 2 anna and 4 anna pieces—small coins. With the switch off we would take out the bulb from the holder, put a chavannai or duvanni, any of those coins, in the holder, then put the bulb back and switch on the light. Then the fuse would be blown and the light of the entire jail would go out and all the shrieking and shouting would start!

Yes. That we were occasionally doing. Actually the shouting was so enjoyable. More than a thousand or two thousand people shouting and shrieking in the whole of the jail like that and rocking it with the ‘mass sound’! So strong and so enjoyable. So this thing we enjoyed doing.

When my interviews were stopped, my father and my wife came to interview me. And I had got married only a year or two back! My wife used to have a long ghoonghat (laughs)...What is it called (gestures & laughs & questioning)...What is it called?

Sharma: Veil.

Chacha Ji: Yes, she used to have a long veil on her face, specially because she was with her father-in-law. But my interviews were stopped and I was not allowed to go and meet them.

But then the Jail Superintendent sent word that he may be allowed to come.

But now I refused. I said: “When my interviews are stopped, why should I come? I will not come. Either that order should be cancelled, otherwise I will not come.”

By chance one of the senior police officers in Multan was Sardar Narayan Das. He was my cousin. His grandfather and my grandfather were real brothers. So my father went to him and brought him. He came directly to my cell along with the Superintendent of the jail.

Now in spite of my obstinacy, refusal and all that they just dragged me and forced me: “You must come out and see your father and your wife.”

Then I went but I did not have any talk with them. I was so angry in those days and somewhat excited...and did not talk much with these people. I went and just came away.

Sharma: Could you tell us what impact your jail life, especially solitary confinement and tortures, left on your mind? Or did the hurts really leave any bad effects?

Chacha Ji: As far as I am concerned, there was no harsh feeling because it was self-invited. I have enjoyed each and every thing very much there. And it did not have any effect on me. Even now, anyone can see my ankles, I mean those healed wounds….they are so conspicuous. But because it was self-invited, it did not hurt me at all.