Free Murder with Bengali Characteristics by Shovon Chowdhury Page A

more supple. Primarily, we are a cultural organization, with some light drilling to ensure that we synchronize spiritually. We also have a sister concern, the Junior Thug Society, which works with impressionable young minds. We operate in over three thousand schools. Our main focus is the mind, with secondary focus on the body. We would never assassinate anyone, let alone an educationist. I am appalled that an educationist has been assassinated. They are like jewels.’
    ‘Since you’ve spent so many years training young men to assassinate people, have you considered that someone may have actually gone out and done it?’ asked Li.
    ‘It’s natural to make that error,’ said Amalendu. His expression was forgiving. ‘All we do is clear the pollution from their minds, and help them to think good thoughts. Modern society is confusing them. Women are a source of challenge. Technology can be distracting. Western ideas are permeating. We are waiting for the return of Goddess Kali, who will destroy all the evils that have befallen us. Once we have received clear signals that she is coming, we will help to prepare the way. At that time, naturally we will rise up and destroy all evildoers. It’s our duty. But currently we are focusing on culture. In fact, the boys will be performing Tagore’s famous dance-drama
Chandalika
next week, in which a low-born woman causes a lot of difficulty. The women will all be played by men. I have seen the rehearsals. They are delightfully graceful. Would you like to come and see? I can give you tickets. Only five thousand rupees each. It’s at Kala Mandir.’
    ‘Chee chhee, sir,’ said Phoni-babu, unable to help himself. ‘Don’t ask money from the police. Even from you, this is not expected.’ The air was full of sentiment. In this case, his own had been hurt. ‘You can give us four complimentaries, and four more for my Big Babu. His wife is just like you, very cultured. Make sure it’s first row. Last week some cinemawallah gave second-row tickets, we had to break his legs. It was very unfortunate.’
    ‘Barin-babu was against religion,’ said Li, ‘He was an atheist, and he was teaching his students to think the same way. Didn’t this make him your mortal enemy?’
    Amalendu smiled at his simplicity. Chinese people were so linear. It came from speaking a language where each word was a symbol. There was no nuance to it, no room for interpretation. Their language affected their thinking.
    ‘Naturally, we are against the Sickulars,’ he said, ‘but over time, we have managed to suppress most of them. Some of the more prominent ones have performed beautifully executed somersaults and become devotees of correct culture. The remnants are scattered and few. We don’t concern ourselves with them too much. Why would lions care about the barking of a few mongrels? This is the first time I am hearing about this person. The news must have been censored.
Ananda Bazar Patrika
has been carrying a lot of blank pages lately. If anything, we should worry about you people. So many of you are Christians these days. There are over 200,000 of you in Calcutta alone. The religious and demographic characteristics are changing, which is no doubt your plan.’
    ‘The other three victims were Chinese,’ said Li, ‘I don’t suppose you know anything about them, either?’
    ‘We were deeply shocked to see people maligning us in this way,’ said Amalendu, ‘although I must tell you there were four victims, not three.’
    ‘My mistake,’ said Li. ‘The fourth victim was that officer in Sina Bank, right?’
    ‘Actually he was a purchase manager in the Fragrant Valley Trading Company,’ said Amalendu, ‘but I don’t blame you for being confused. An officer of your experience must be handling so many cases.’
    ‘Can you help with some leads?’ asked Li. Sometimes he pretended to be humble.
    ‘This Motipur is in Junglemahal, isn’t it? Very lawless locality. No doubt godless Naxalites would