if a i A street scene in Calcutta: He’s collected 22,000 names HIS is the story of a man who has collected 22,000 signatures for peace, at least that was his total at the end of May, for he is still on the streets day after day adding more names to the Appeal Against Preparations for Atomic War. His name is Sushil Roy, his home is in Calcutta, and this, in this own words, is ‘his story: bes To te I had no idea I would be able to collect signatures in such large numbers. But the first day’s experience collect- ing them gave mesheart. In the afternoon in Welling- ton Square, I held the appeal out to several middle-aged gentlemen. It was a new thing to them; one of them read the appeal out loud to the others —but each one was busy in his own mind thinking wheth- er to sign or not. An old gentleman of 85 sit- ting to one side was the first to take up -the pen. ‘ “You are doing very good work, my son,” the said. ‘I am signing not only for peace, but also against ithis misuse of science. . . . I. may ‘have to depart this life quite soon, still my protest will surely. bring peace in your lives— you, at any rate, will live in a good and fine world.” His trembling Hands. wrote an indistinct name and he ask- ed me to write the name legi- Dly beside it. There were nine persons by his side, all of them signed up one by one. Since that I have ‘raised thousands of signatures. Nine- ty percent thave signed with- out any objection. But I have “not been able to forget my first signatory, that white-hair- ed gentleman, Sri Monibhusan Mitra. Nor his words: “To sign for peace is to sign for building a new life and a new world.” Tailors of the city of Cal- cutta Save me an unprecedent- ed response when I approached “them for signatures. A few of them were thesitant and I asked. them how they could have any objection to signing for peace against these weap- ons of destruction. But as soon as I looked at their faces I knew. It was not objection; they could not write and so they said “No” out of shame. While their thumbprints were being taken one of them said: “We know that as soon as war comes they will raise prices and it will be the death of us—but I am such a fool that I don’t even know how to SSN: 4h? When I went to the Taltola bustee area .. . the bustee dwellers were at first terribly afraid—they thought this was some device to trap them, poor men. With great difficulty in our “own” Hindi and Urdu we tried to persuade them—and it gave good results. Several young men came forward ‘and helped in: the collection. “Those who would destroy God’s world, let them go to hell,” said a small owner of a biscuit shop there. Later, wherever I went in this area for signatures, com- mon men came forward to help. At Smith Lane they took me to the office of the Bustee Im- provement Committee. The committee gave us people who went collecting signatures from house ito house. I had a unique experience with the rickshaw-pullers at Janbazar. Most of them thought war would bring military men into the city and that they would bring fares ‘to them, the rickshaw-pullers. “But it will bring famine too,” said I, and they fell silent. They were thinking. With a sigh arold man said: “You are right, Babuji. .. . I earned money during the last war too, but prices rose four ,; times and there was not enough to eat... . dost my nephew at Calcutta.” His nephew died of undernourishment during’ the war, his neighbors told me. It was thus that I raised 22,000 signatures. But I never imagined that this was the re- sult of my individual initiative only. The collection signified that people had come out on the side of peace. The other day at the Peace ° Committee office I heard, amidst laughter, that someone was collecting signatures by racing after people. But my experience is different now. Every day people would often call from behind, “I say, Dada, here is one more signa- ture to take.” I feel proud of such calls—that I am recog- nised as a peace partisan. A new translation of Rabindranath Tagore’s story The tale ee of a parrot HERE was once a bird. It was a foolish bird. It sang, did not read Shastras. Hopped, flew; never knew what manners were. The King said: “Such ‘a bird is useless, and moreover it is a liability on the royal fruit market ‘because it eats up the fruits of the forest.” Summoning the Minister, he ordered: “Arrange for the bird’s education.” On the King’s nephews fell the task of educating the bird. The Pandits sat and argued a lot. The problem was: ‘“Wihat could be the reason for the said creature’s jack of knowledge.” The conclusion was that the bird’s nest, made up of simple bits of grass and straw, could not hold much knowledge. So the first thing that was needed was to build a fine cage for the bird. The royal Pandits received their fees and returned home satisfied. C The goldsmith got busy with getting ready the golden cage. The cage was so wonderful that people from countries far and near crowded to have a look at Ite s-3 ; “This is the climax of educa- tion,” some said. - “Even if the training fails, there is the cage at least. Look at the bird’s luck,’ commented others. The goldsmith’s bag was laden with gifts, and immediately he made for thome with a happy heart. The Pandit got down to educat- ‘ing the bird. After taking a gen- erous pinch of snuff, he remark- ed: “This is not the job of a few books.” The King’s nephew then sum- moned the writers. They piled up quite a mountain by copying books and copying in turn from copies. Whoever saw this said: “Bravo, knowledge seems to be overflowing.” The literary men took rewards which they heaped up on bul- lecks and in a moment scurried cowards their homes, which were ever after free from want. The nephew’s vigilance over so costly a cage knew no bounds. Repairs to it became ‘a constant affair and noticing the great vomp of brushing, cleaning and polishing, everyone said: “There is improvement.” ’ A large number of people were nut to ‘work and a great many more were engaged to keep watch over them. They drew | their wages in handfuls month after month and filled up their own safes; These men and their numerous cousins and relatives bubbled with satisfaction as they lay back on the cushions in their pleasure houses. ta The world suffers from so many wants, but has critics in plenty. They said: “The cage is improving, but nobody knows what is, happening to the bird.” | This remark reached the King’s ears. He sent for the nephew and asked: anenhon, what is this 1 hear?” The nephew said: “Your Maj- esty, if you desire to learn the cruth, please call the goldsmiths, the Pandits, the writers; send for the men who repair the cage and those who supervise the repairs. The crities slander ‘as they do not ° have enough to eat.’ Hearing his answer, the King realized the position clearly and immediately a golden chain was put round the mephew’s neck. _ The King riow wished to see fur himself how vigorously the training was being carried on. So cne day he made his appearance at the schoolhouse along with his Ministers, courtiers and friends. Immediately conchshells blew at the doorway and bells rang followed by the beating of trum. pets and drums of various sizes, the jingling of cymbals and the playing of flutes. The Pandits cleared their throats, shook their tufts and started chanting hymns. The mason, the workman, the SZoldsmith, the writer, the super- viser and all their cousins and relatives cried: Glory to the King! The nephew said: “Your Maj- esty, do you see what is happen- ing?” The King said: “What a mar- vel. This is not a little noise.” The nephew said: “Not noise alone, there is good sense behind it too.’ The King was delighted and as he was about to climb on the ele- phant after crossing the entrance, the critic, who was hiding in the bush cried out: “Your Majesty, have you seen the bird?” The King was startled and said: “Look there, I quite forgot it. ZI have not seen the bird.” He came back and told the Pandit: “I must see the method of your training the bird.” He saw it and was highly pleas- ed. The method of training was so much bigger than the bird it- self that the bird could hardly Rabindranath Tagore RABINORANATH TAGORE, the great Indian poet, ° was born on May 7, 1861. His work breathes his hat- red of oppression and his love and faith in his peo- ple. Over the years -his was one of the most, power- ful voices in the struggle to free India and his mem- ory is today revered by the Indian people, to whom he wrote: “Come young nations Proclaim the fight for freedom Raise up the banner of invincible faith. Build bridges with your life across the Gaping earth blasted by hatred And march forward.” Opponent of fascism, foe of imperialism, believer in. the future of a free Asia, his confidence in the future’ of humanity took him to the Soviet Union to see for him- self the new socialist so- ciety in the building. He died in 1941. pAaG PACIFIC TRIBUNE — JULY 15, 1955 — es not be seen; it seemed it Ae i necessary to see it at Y The King was satisfied that arrangement was a food 3 cage contained neither fo water; only piles and pi a pages torn out of piles an + dow! of books were being ee tip the bird’s throat with thi ous! a pen. Singing had ci ‘ come to a stop — ali nd & had bee! little opening for crying ne eas sealed — a thrilling » deed! n the This time ‘before getting order elephant, the King gaV€ ins to that Sirdar whose job i o bos ing people on the ears, 10 the ears of the critic wel snd DY As days went by, the Prd f came half-dead, in othe refined. , t! «quilé The guardians thought: hopeful.” ould Yet out of habit the bird ova gaze at the first light of the most and clap its wings ae 5 unruly manner. On ae the it would even hana eryin’ {0 bird would be seen urs cage break open the ‘bars of with its feeble beak. sit “What impertinence!” oy claimed the Guard- in-Chi Immediately the - “placks arrived at the schooly4 Bite his bellows, hammer 3 m And what a hectic ham “eft followed! The iron chal yet? ready and the bird’s wit clipped. The King’s brothers ~ 5 on made gloomy faces ae obi their theads said: “In olf dom, the birds lack matte commonsense but also 8" on Then the Pandits, pen put ‘aand ‘and spear in ay be © alle up a show which coul education. The blacksmith’s busin rd al came brisk, his wife en yard and jewelry and the oan m th? Thief received a rewal Xing for his vigilance. O The bird died. xovoll when it happened. The ome critic spread the news: is dead!” Calling the nephew, ! he eH asked, “Nephew, what is I hear?” y Mal The nephew said: “YOU is 00” esty, the bird’s training * plete.” The King asked: any more?” 3 “Goodness, no,” replied nephew. ‘Does it fly?” - SND ste, re? “Does it sing any ™° i “No.” nth on give “Does it cry if it is ™ food?” ; : “No. ” the pind The King said: Bins ee iM here at once. I eG to ng Wise The bird came. ‘ came the ame. jechsh a fuotman and the horsemy made King pressed the bird: pag f no sound. Only the dry ' books ‘inside «its ‘belly se rustling mumbling 1 pret Yonder — the sout the pried ° 5 of the new Spring ¢ jeans deep sighs of the YOUR? abl! and made restless my 5: the flowering fores *rranelted BiachF ANJAL! f «poes it i poe ~_ ae