Section 2: Pages 51-90
Policemen were often corrupt
"In a country which had accepted caste distinctions for many centuries, inequality had become an inborn mental concept. If caste was abolished by legislation, it came up in other forms of class distinction. In thoroughly westernized circles like that of the civil servants in the government secretariat in Delhi, places for parking cars were marked by according to seniority, and certain entrances to office were reserved for higher officials. Lavatories were graded according to rank and labeled SENIOR OFFICERS, JUNIOR OFFICERS, CLERKS AND STENOGRAPHERS and OTHER RANKS. With a mental make-up so thoroughly sectionalized, grading according to their social status people who were charged or convicted of the same offense did not appear incongruous. Iqbal was A-class. Jugga was rock-bottom C." (Singh 70-71)
This passage is said by the narrator of the story when Jugga and Iqbal is brought to their respective cells in the local police station. The passage is a very good explanation of the distinction of class and the role of caste in the Indian society. The narrator is able to clearly depicts why the higher class members of society were treated and the distinction of treatment. The author shows this difference by mentioning how Jugga was treated by the police and how Iqbal was treated. The author is able to explain the Indian caste system by showing how the treatment of the two men differ dramatically. Although Iqbal was accused of a crime and therefore in custody, the police still showed a level of respect to him because he is a government-affiliated personal. Whereas on the otherside, Jugga, who is a lowly unemployed and part-time farmer, is treated like an animal with policemen giving the least amount of respect. This passage summarizes the caste system of India.
"...He had been through it-once. Hands and feet pinned under legs of chapoys with a half a dozen police sitting on them. Testicles twisted and squeezed till one became senseless with pain. Powdered red chillies thrust up the rectum by rough hands, and the sensation of having the tail on fire for several days. All this, and no food or water, or hot spicy food with a bowl of shimmering cool water put outside the cell just beyond one's reach. The memory shook him." (Singh 74)
This passage is, once again, said by the narrator of the story. In this particular scene of the story, the reader is able to see what happened to Jugga the last time he was "interrogated" by the police. Due to his many trips to the police station and his juvenile behavior, it seems as though Jugga has been tortured by the police inspector quite a few times. In the scene, Inspector Sahib is forcing Jugga to tell him where he was during the night of the robbery and who the robbers were. Jugga tells them that he was outside of the village but he does not tell him what he specifically doing because he was with Nooran. Although Jugga is already innocent and has a legitimate alibi, the subinspector suggests he will torture him with the technique they used last time. The officers are obviously forcing to confess to something he never committed in order to have a reason to arrest Jugga in the first place. This passages is extremely disturbing and furthers depicts the treatment of underclass members of a caste-driven society.
"The girl came and sat down on the edge of the bed, looking away. Hukum Chand put his arm round her waist. He stroked her thighs and belly and played with her little unformed breasts. She sat impassive and rigid. Hukum Chand shuffled further away and mumbled drowisly., "Come and lie down." The girl stretched herself beside the magistrate. The sequins on her sari tickled his face. She wore perfume made of khas; it had the fresh odor of dry earth when water has been sprinkled on it. Her breath smelled of cardamom, her bosom of honey. Hukum Chand smuggled against her like a child and fell fast asleep." (Singh 90)
This passage is said by the narrator, describing what Hukum Chand, the deputy commissioner, is doing to the teenage dancer. After seeing the train loaded with dead bodies arriving at the Mano Majra, he seems to have gone into depression. He is, once again, relying on prostitution, alcohol and drugs to soothe the emotional damage that he got from the sight of dead people. This shows the weakness of the commissioner and how corrupt he is. This character definitely has mental issues that needs to be fixed as he is the deputy commissioner which comes with a role to serve as a role model to the citizens. Relying on prostitution and other drugs to soothe his daily pain is not so appealing nor good.
This passage is said by the narrator of the story when Jugga and Iqbal is brought to their respective cells in the local police station. The passage is a very good explanation of the distinction of class and the role of caste in the Indian society. The narrator is able to clearly depicts why the higher class members of society were treated and the distinction of treatment. The author shows this difference by mentioning how Jugga was treated by the police and how Iqbal was treated. The author is able to explain the Indian caste system by showing how the treatment of the two men differ dramatically. Although Iqbal was accused of a crime and therefore in custody, the police still showed a level of respect to him because he is a government-affiliated personal. Whereas on the otherside, Jugga, who is a lowly unemployed and part-time farmer, is treated like an animal with policemen giving the least amount of respect. This passage summarizes the caste system of India.
"...He had been through it-once. Hands and feet pinned under legs of chapoys with a half a dozen police sitting on them. Testicles twisted and squeezed till one became senseless with pain. Powdered red chillies thrust up the rectum by rough hands, and the sensation of having the tail on fire for several days. All this, and no food or water, or hot spicy food with a bowl of shimmering cool water put outside the cell just beyond one's reach. The memory shook him." (Singh 74)
This passage is, once again, said by the narrator of the story. In this particular scene of the story, the reader is able to see what happened to Jugga the last time he was "interrogated" by the police. Due to his many trips to the police station and his juvenile behavior, it seems as though Jugga has been tortured by the police inspector quite a few times. In the scene, Inspector Sahib is forcing Jugga to tell him where he was during the night of the robbery and who the robbers were. Jugga tells them that he was outside of the village but he does not tell him what he specifically doing because he was with Nooran. Although Jugga is already innocent and has a legitimate alibi, the subinspector suggests he will torture him with the technique they used last time. The officers are obviously forcing to confess to something he never committed in order to have a reason to arrest Jugga in the first place. This passages is extremely disturbing and furthers depicts the treatment of underclass members of a caste-driven society.
"The girl came and sat down on the edge of the bed, looking away. Hukum Chand put his arm round her waist. He stroked her thighs and belly and played with her little unformed breasts. She sat impassive and rigid. Hukum Chand shuffled further away and mumbled drowisly., "Come and lie down." The girl stretched herself beside the magistrate. The sequins on her sari tickled his face. She wore perfume made of khas; it had the fresh odor of dry earth when water has been sprinkled on it. Her breath smelled of cardamom, her bosom of honey. Hukum Chand smuggled against her like a child and fell fast asleep." (Singh 90)
This passage is said by the narrator, describing what Hukum Chand, the deputy commissioner, is doing to the teenage dancer. After seeing the train loaded with dead bodies arriving at the Mano Majra, he seems to have gone into depression. He is, once again, relying on prostitution, alcohol and drugs to soothe the emotional damage that he got from the sight of dead people. This shows the weakness of the commissioner and how corrupt he is. This character definitely has mental issues that needs to be fixed as he is the deputy commissioner which comes with a role to serve as a role model to the citizens. Relying on prostitution and other drugs to soothe his daily pain is not so appealing nor good.
