Free Wizard of the Crow by Ngugi wa'Thiong'o Page B

secretary thought she could see herself reflected in the man’s pain and problems and anxiety to please. Tajirika thought that the man was lying about university degrees and business cards. Sensing this skepticism, Kamltl hastened to pull out his certificate, handing it over before the boss could change his mind. Tajirika held his staff under his left armpit to receive the paper with his gloved right hand. He scanned it and nodded as if satisfied.
    “India?”
    “Oh, yes. In fact, today India is producing some of the world’s top computer scientists. The Silicon Valleys of northern California in America are full of whiz kids from India and Pakistan.”
    “How did you cope with their masala curry and hot pepper?”
    “It’s the same with food everywhere,” said Kamltl. “It is a matter of getting used to it. Our cooking here in Aburiria is influenced by Indian cuisine.”
    “Oh, I almost forgot, of course—we have Indians here and some of our streets smell of nothing but garlic and curry” said Tajirika as if to himself.
    At the thought of food, Kamltl became a tad dizzy. He could have done with a morsel of anything right now, even of the hottest pepper. But he stilled himself and added, “Let’s not forget that India is not all curry and garlic. Or that India and Pakistan are nuclear powers. Theyhave both successfully tested nuclear bombs to the surprise of the West. Many computer chips are produced in India. And there are not many universities in the world without professors from India—that is, originally educated in Indian schools and colleges. An Indian is not all dukawallah and nothing else, just as an African is not all shoeshine and nothing else.”
    “But did you learn how to make good curry?” Tajirika asked, unaware of how he was torturing Kamltl with this talk about food. “Here they don’t let us into their houses.”
    “Well, survival skills,” Kamltl said vaguely, trying to veer away from the subject.
    “Mhh! So you are highly educated?” Tajirika muttered, scrutinizing the certificate.
    “Just trying to give myself a chance,” Kamltl replied with a hint of modesty, but not displeased with hearing an appreciation of his achievements.
    “You must have read the Karma Sutra cover to cover?”
    “What is that?” Kamltl asked, genuinely puzzled, because he had never read this ancient manual of lovemaking.
    “And gave yourself a chance to put it into practice?” Tajirika said, taking his eyes off the papers.
    He glanced at his secretary in an unconvincing attempt at an apology, as if he had just realized that he had said something he should not have said in front of her; but the glance also seemed to say that he had much more he would have liked to ask had she not been present.
    Tajirika glanced at the secretary again and laughed rather uneasily. He had not yet figured her out, and he felt her judgment even in her silence. He dropped the subject of the Karma Sutra and went back to the certificates.
    “India? Madras?” Tajirika continued as if genuinely interested in the man’s educational achievements. “Tamil Nadu! And what is this? Another Indian curry?”
    “No,” Kamltl answered, not knowing whether or not he should laugh, and began to patiently explain. “India is divided into many regions just like Aburlria is divided into several provinces. Tamil Nadu is the name of a state in southeastern India. Kerala is another southern state, but on the western side. So both have a common border. Tamil Nadu also neighbors two other states on its northern side: Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Pradesh
means the same thingas
province.
But really, Indian provinces are like countries. Madras— but I think they now call it something else … Chennai, yes, something like that—Madras was …”
    “I asked you to tell me about your education, young man, and you give me a whole lecture on Indian geography?”
    “I am sorry,” Kamltl said. “India is rich in geography and history.”
    “Like