A room condemned to a minor punishment. The backs of those great men who come in through the inner door are seen, they are apparently of an advanced age, they come into the room holding a plank behind them, one end of the plank is held by the servant.

Babu: Come slowly…now turn the plank…there…just, just! Servant: Should I spread it, sir?

Babu: (In a slightly louder voice) What else can you do? If you had arrived late here when God’s will was being scattered, what would you have done?…Spread it, sir!…And why has this sweat been shed?

Servant: (Spreading the plank) He-he-he.

Babu: Why are you laughing?…Now, we too did mischief in our youth, used to bathe with tumblers, like pots. What is this plank?…Straighten it…like this…yes, just there. …And listen, bring a dari from Bhabu Ji, for spreading it on top. The chadar too, the one that came from the washerman yesterday, that one. (The servant goes. Babu Sahib straightens the mehndi in the meantime. He cleans the guldsta with a brush. He also puts two or four hands on the chairs. Usually the owner of the house, Pramā, comes in. Dark complexion, short stature. It is obvious from her face and voice that she is very busy in some work. A cat-like servant comes behind her, with empty hands. Babu Sahib (Rāmasvarūp) seem to be looking in both directions…)

Pramā: I am telling you that at this moment there is no need for this dhoti! One should have changed it quickly…

Rāmasvarūp: Dhoti?

Pramā: Yes, you have just changed it, and then for no reason…

Rāmasvarūp: But who asked you for the dhoti?

Pramā: This is what Ratan said.

Rāmasvarūp: Why, Ratan, is there some news in your ears? I had said - bring the chadar that came from the washerman here…Now where will I get another brain for you. A crow’s.

Pramā: Okay, go to the puja room and take a chadar from the top of the wooden boxes full of wet clothes, right! Take one from them.

Ratan: And the dari?

Pramā: The dari is kept here only, in the corner. It is lying down.

Rāmasvarūp: (Lifting the dari) And bring a harmonium from your mother’s room, and also the sitar…go quickly.

(Ratan goes. The husband and wife spread the dari on the plank.)

Pramā: But her face is puffed up.

Rāmasvarūp: Puffed up!…And you are her mother, what kind of medicine are you? If by doing so these people come into the net, then all your hard work will go to waste if you are foolish now. Don’t blame me.

Pramā: Then what should I do? I have saved all the trouble. You have put such a big head on her by teaching her to read and write. In my opinion, the trap of reading and writing does not come. Your time was good. She learned to read ‘ā ī’, learned counting and when she became a little more, she learned ‘stri-subodhini’. Tell the truth, there are such things written in ‘stri-subodhini’ - such things that your B.A., M.A. reading will be. And today’s lachchan are also unique…

Rāmasvarūp: Is there a gramophone?

Pramā: Why $\quad:$?

Rāmasvarūp: There are two types. One is made for men. You can play it once and whenever you want, stop it. And the second is made for God. Once you put a record, it does not have a name to stop.

Pramā: Shut up. You always have a brain like a lump. It is not possible that you bring her on the road like her own Uma. How much time has passed for those people to come.

Rāmasvarūp: What happened?

Pramā: You had said that just arrange it nicely and bring it down. Today, no matter how beautiful the girl is, who asks nicely without taim-tam? I had kept powder-wowder in front of her. But she has some kind of hatred for these things from some birth. My saying was that she hid her face in the veil. Oh, I am a fool, I came to you for this girl!

Rāmasvarūp: Who knows what kind of brain this has! Otherwise, with the help of today’s girls, the work of powder goes on.

Pramā: Oh, I had already said. If you make an intern pass, the girl stays in her hands, and there is no such trouble. But you…

Rāmasvarūp: (Interrupting the conversation) Quiet, quiet… (Looking through the door) You do not have control over your own tongue at all. You had told yesterday that it will be different in front of those people. But you are giving everything away from the beginning. What will you do before their arrival, God knows!

Pramā: Okay, Baba, I will not speak. Whatever your wish is, do. Just tell me my work.

Rāmasvarūp: Then prepare Uma as much as possible. Not the wrong powder. Who is bad in any case. Send her some paan. And, is the breakfast ready? (Ratan’s arrival) Did you come, Ratan?…Come here, come here! Put the gramophone down. Open the chadar…catch it from there.

(The chadar is spread.)

Pramā: The breakfast is ready. They will not eat more than that. Some salty things have been made. Fruits have also been kept. Tea is ready, and also toast. But yes, butter? Butter has not even come.

Rāmasvarūp: What did you say? Butter did not come? You also remember at what time. You know that the shop with butter is far away, but you do not have any idea at the right time. Now tell me, Ratan brought butter. The postman’s coolie was told to come, so…

Pramā: Who has more work here? The room is fine anyway. Gramophone-sitar has also come. Breakfast is kept in a tray in the same room, so I will catch it. You have to bring everything yourself. Ratan will bring butter in this much time…there are only two men.

Rāmasvarūp: Yes, one is Babu Gopal Prasad and the other is the boy himself. See, tell Uma to come a little with turmeric. These people are like this…I get very angry with their dakini-like thoughts. They read and write themselves, they are lawyers, they go to meetings-societies, but they want a girl who is not too much educated.

Pramā: And the boy?

Rāmasvarūp: It was told to you. If the father is ser, the boy is half ser. After B.Sc., he is studying in Lucknow itself, in medical college. He says that the question of marriage is secondary, the question of education is secondary. What can I do, it is a matter of compulsion. That is, otherwise, these boys and their fathers keep telling such nonsense that they are also…

Ratan: (Who has been standing quietly near the door until now, quickly) Babu Ji, Babu Ji!

Rāmasvarūp: What is it?

Ratan: Someone is coming.

Rāmasvarūp: (Looking through the door and quickly putting the mouth inside) Oh, hey Pramā, have they also come? (The servant looks at him) Oh, you are standing here, fool. Did you not go to bring butter? …Everything has been wasted. Now go from the inner door (the servant comes inside) …and you hurry up Pramā. Uma will understand a little if you say it. (Pramā comes quickly inside. Her dhoti gets stuck with the old gramophone lying on the ground.)

Pramā: Oh, this gramophone was kept down here itself, carefully.

Rāmasvarūp: You go, I will keep it…quickly.

(Pramā goes, Babu Rāmasvarūp picks up the gramophone and keeps it. A handkerchief on the quilts.)

Rāmasvarūp: Ha-ha-ha. Come, come…ha-ha-ha.

(Babu Gopal Prasad and his son Shankar’s arrival. Intelligence of the people is seen in the eyes. From the voice, it is evident that they are quite experienced and religious men. Their son is among the slightly spoiled young men. The voice is thin and full of sarcasm. Bending the waist is their specialty.)

Rāmasvarūp: (Rubbing both hands) Ha-ha, bring the honor here. (Babu Gopal Prasad sits, but the blanket falls down.)

Rāmasvarūp: This blanket!…Give it to me. (They keep it in the corner. Everyone sits.) Ha-ha…Did you not have any trouble in finding the house?

Gopal Prasad: (Sniffing) No. We knew the tonga man. …And then we had to come here. How could the route not be found?

Rāmasvarūp: Ha-ha-ha. That is your great kindness. I have given you trouble…

Gopal Prasad: Oh no sir! As much as my work is, so is yours. After all, the boy’s marriage has to be done. Rather, you can say that I have specially troubled you!

Rāmasvarūp: Ha-ha-ha! Keep it, you are trying to dig me into the sand. We are your servants only-ha-ha. (After a while, looking at the son) And tell me, Shankar Babu, how many days of leave do you have?

Shankar: Yes, there are no holidays in college. He came in ‘weekend’.

Rāmasvarūp: Your course must be almost over now, right? Shankar: Yes, this is the only year, two years.

Rāmasvarūp: Two years?

Shankar: Ha-ha-ha!…Yes, I keep a ‘margin’ of one and a half years.

Gopal Prasad: The matter is that Shankar was sick for one year. Tell me, do these people get all kinds of diseases at this age. One of our times was that after school, they used to fly dozens of kachauri, but when they sat down to eat, they had the same hunger!

Rāmasvarūp: Kachauri also used to cost two paisa in those times.

Gopal Prasad: Sir, it was a time when four paisa used to buy a lot of bhallay. And the strength to come alone, alone! And now there are many other games besides this in school. Then no one knew volleyball, neither tennis nor badminton. Only some people used to play hockey or cricket. But what nonsense it is to say that this boy is weak.

(Shankar and Rāmasvarūp smile.)

Rāmasvarūp: Yes, yes, the matter of those times was also the second…ha-ha!

Gopal Prasad: (In an enthusiastic voice) And the condition of reading and writing was that when you sat on a chair once, ‘sitting’ lasted for twelve hours, twelve hours! Sir, I tell you the truth that he also passed his matric in English in those times, that even today’s M.A. cannot compete.

Rāmasvarūp: Yes, yes! This is also there.

Gopal Prasad: Excuse me, Babu Rāmasvarūp, when you remember those times, it becomes difficult to accept yourself!

Rāmasvarūp: Ha-ha-ha!…Yes, that was a colorful time, a colorful time. Ha-ha-ha!! (Shankar also does he-he.)

Gopal Prasad: (Changing his voice and manner at once) Okay, then sir, let the ‘business’ conversation begin.

Rāmasvarūp: (Surprised) Business? Bus… (Understanding) Oh…okay, okay. But at least have breakfast. (They get up.)

Gopal Prasad: You are troubling yourself so much!

Rāmasvarūp: Ha-ha-ha! What trouble is this? Ha-ha! This is my great destiny that you brought honor to my house. Otherwise, what kind of person am I. Ha-ha!…Excuse me, a little. I am ready now. (They go inside.)

Gopal Prasad: (After a while, in a low voice) Well, the man is good. It is not known that the quality is bad from house-hold. I guess, how is the girl. Shankar: Sir…

(After sniffing a little, looking around.)

Gopal Prasad: Why, what happened?

Shankar: Nothing.

Gopal Prasad: Why are you sitting with your head bowed? You have come to decide the marriage, straighten your waist and sit. Your friend says rightly that Shankar’s ‘backbone’…

(At this moment, Babu Rāmasvarūp comes in, holding a tray with tea. They put it on the table)

Gopal Prasad: You do not accept it in the end.

Rāmasvarūp: (Putting tea in the cups) Ha–ha! Do you like foreign tea or Indian?

Gopal Prasad: No-no sir, give me half milk and half tea. And add more sugar, please. I do not like this new fashion. One, the tea itself has enough water, and then if sugar is added only for the name, what will remain as zayka?

Rāmasvarūp: Ha-ha, you are right in saying that.

(They take the cup.)

Shankar: (Sniffing) I heard that the government will now tax those who buy more sugar.

Gopal Prasad: (Drinking tea) The government can do whatever it wants, but if it wants to earn money, it should only put a tax on income.

Rāmasvarūp: (Taking the cup from Shankar) What?

Gopal Prasad: Tax on beauty! (Rāmasvarūp and Shankar laugh) It is not a joke, sir, this is a tax, Janab, that even the giver will not give. The only condition is that every other woman should be exempted from this tax, that she herself should decide the tax on her own beauty as per her ‘standard’. Then see, how the income of the government increases.

Rāmasvarūp: (Laughing loudly) Wow-wow! You thought very well! Indeed, the question of beauty has become very important these days. In our time, this never even came up. (He moves towards the samosa of Gopal Prasad) Keep it.

Gopal Prasad: Never sir, never.

Rāmasvarūp: (Looking at Shankar) What is your opinion, Shankar Babu?

Shankar: In which matter?

Rāmasvarūp: That is, how much part of beauty should be there in deciding the marriage.

Gopal Prasad: (In the middle) This matter is secondary, Babu Rāmasvarūp, I have already told you, it is absolutely necessary for the girl to be beautiful. In any case, whether she puts powder and other things, or as it is. The matter is that we also accept you, but the women of the house do not accept it. Is your daughter okay?

Rāmasvarūp: Yes, you will see her now.

Gopal Prasad: See? When you have had such a conversation, then this custom is understood.

Rāmasvarūp: Ha-ha, this is your great favor on me. Ha-ha!

Gopal Prasad: And the birth certificate must have also been received.

Rāmasvarūp: Yes, receiving the birth certificate is no big deal. It was kept in the feet of Thakur Ji. Just consider it received by itself.

Gopal Prasad: You said it rightly, perfectly right (after a while) But yes, what has become a thorn in my ears, it is wrong, isn’t it?

Rāmasvarūp: (Surprised) What?

Gopal Prasad: About reading and writing!…Yes, it is clear matter, sir, we do not want a girl who is too much educated. We do not keep money sir, who will pay their salaries. Just the matric should pass within limits…why Shankar?

Shankar: Yes, there is no job to arrange.

Rāmasvarūp: There is no question of job.

Gopal Prasad: And what sir! See some people tell me that when you made your sons study till B.A., M.A., then their daughters also became graduates. Well, ask these brainless contractors that whether the education of boys and the education of girls is one and the same. Oh, the work of men is to read and be capable. If women also started doing this, reading English newspapers and discussing ‘politics’ and other things, then household would have been finished. Sir, peacock has feathers of peacock, not peahen, lion has hair of lion, not lioness.

Rāmasvarūp: Yes, and men have a beard, women do not. …ha…ha…ha!

(Shankar also laughs, but Gopal Prasad becomes serious.)

Gopal Prasad: Yes, yes. That is also right. The meaning is that there are some matters in the world that are only for men and high education is also one of those things.

Rāmasvarūp: (To Shankar) Have more tea.

Shankar: Thank you. I have had it.

Rāmasvarūp: (To Gopal Prasad) You?

Gopal Prasad: Just sir, now it is finished.

Rāmasvarūp: You have not even eaten anything. There was no ’toast’ with tea. Tell me, that butter…

Gopal Prasad: Sir, it was necessary to have breakfast, there was no need to fill the stomach. And then I do not even eat toast-toast.

Rāmasvarūp: Ha…ha. (They push the table to one side. Then they turn their mouths towards the inner door and) Oh, just bring the paan…! …Ask for a cigarette?

Gopal Prasad: No!

(Paan’s tashtari is brought in the hands. Uma comes. Simple clothes. Neck bent. Babu Gopal Prasad and Shankar are looking at her with their eyes closed and eyebrows raised.)

Rāmasvarūp: …h…….this is, ha…ha, your daughter. Bring the paan to me, daughter. (Uma gives the paan’s tashtari to her father. At that time, her face turns up. And a gold ring with a rim is seen on her nose. Father and son are shocked.) (Gopal Prasad and Shankar together) Glasses!

Rāmasvarūp: (Slightly clapping) Yes, that…that…last month, her eyes had become sore, so she has to wear glasses for a few days.

Gopal Prasad: Was it due to reading and writing?

Rāmasvarūp: No sir, I requested her not to.

Gopal Prasad: I see. (Satisfied, in a soft voice) Sit down, daughter.

Rāmasvarūp: Sit there, Uma, on that plank, near your aunts. (Uma sits.)

Gopal Prasad: There is no defect in the matter. There is also an image on the face. …Yes, has she learned to sing-sound?

Rāmasvarūp: Yes, sitar too, and also the gramophone. Sing a song with the sitar, at least one song.

(Uma takes the sitar. After a while, she starts singing the famous song of Meera, ‘More to Giridhar Gopal, no one else’. It is evident from the voice that she has good knowledge of singing. Her voice becomes ecstatic, even her head rises. Her eyes meet Shankar’s slightly lowered eyes and she stops singing together.)

Rāmasvarūp: Why, what happened? Sing the song completely, Uma.

Gopal Prasad: No-no sir, it is enough. The girl sings very well to your. (Uma puts the sitar and goes inside.)

Gopal Prasad: Wait a moment, daughter.

Rāmasvarūp: Sit a little more, Uma! (Uma sits.)

Gopal Prasad: (To Uma) So you have also done painting-venting…

Uma: $\quad: \quad$ (Silent)

Rāmasvarūp: Yes, I forgot to tell you that. This torn picture, the one with the dog, she pulled it. And also on that wall.

Gopal Prasad: I see! This is very good. And sewing and other things?

Rāmasvarūp: Sewing is the responsibility of the whole house, only this, even my shirts. Ha…ha…yes.

Gopal Prasad: Okay. …But, yes daughter, have you also won some awards-gifts? (Uma is silent. Rāmasvarūp coughs for signs. But Uma remains silent in the same way, with her neck bent. Gopal Prasad becomes hesitant and Rāmasvarūp claps.)

Rāmasvarūp: Answer, Uma. (From Gopal Prasad) Ha–ha, she…

Gopal Prasad: (In a stiff voice) She should also open her mouth a little.

Rāmasvarūp: Uma, look, what are you saying. Answer, no.

Uma: (In a soft but firm voice) What answer should I give, Babu Ji! When a chair-table is sold, the shopkeeper does not ask anything from the chair-table, only shows it to the buyer. If it is liked, it is good, otherwise…

Rāmasvarūp: (Standing up in surprise) Uma, Uma!

Uma: Now let me tell you, Babu Ji! …These great men have become your buyers, ask them a little that do girls not have a heart? Do their wounds not hurt? Are they like helpless sheep, that the butchery takes good care of them…

Gopal Prasad: (Coming in the middle) Babu Rāmasvarūp, you called me here to insult me?

Uma: (In a sharp voice) Yes, and do not let our humiliation be measured by you for so long? And ask your Sahibzade a little that how they escaped from the hostel of girls like servants’ feet, hiding their faces!

Shankar: Babu Ji, let’s go.

Gopal Prasad: Girls’ hostel?…Have you studied in college?

(Rāmasvarūp is silent!)

Uma: Yes, I have studied in college. I have passed B.A. I have not done any sin, have not stolen anything, and do not show cowardice like your son, looking around. I have an idea of my own honor, my own dignity. But ask them how they escaped from there in that way, hiding their faces like servants.

Rāmasvarūp: Uma, Uma?

Gopal Prasad: (Standing up in anger) It is finished. Babu Rāmasvarūp, you have insulted me. You said that your daughter has only studied till matric, but she has passed B.A. Oh God! What a thing! It is also a good thing that even a lie has some truth. Come on, son, let’s go…

(They move towards the door.)

Uma: Yes, yes, go, of course, go. But when you go home, find out a little that whether your lalda’s spine is also there or not - that is, backbone, backbone! (The face of Babu Gopal Prasad has the anger of helplessness and Shankar’s rulasaapan. Both go outside. Babu Rāmasvarūp sits heavily on the chair. Uma becomes silent in the usual way. Pramā comes in worried.)

Pramā: Uma, Uma…she is crying!

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Hearing this, Rāmasvarūp gets up. Ratan comes.

Ratan: Babu Ji, butter…

Everyone looks towards Ratan and the curtain falls.

Exercise Questions

1. Ramasvarup and Gopal Prasad compare their past with the present time while talking about time. How far is this kind of comparison logical?

2. What helplessness of Ramasvarup is revealed by the contradiction of educating his daughter and hiding her for marriage?

3. Why is it not appropriate to expect Ramasvarup to behave in this way with his daughter for deciding her relationship?

4. Gopal Prasad considers marriage as ‘business’ and Ramasvarup hides his daughter’s higher education. Do you think both are equally criminals? Write your opinion.

5. What shortcomings of Shankar does Uma want to indicate by saying “whether your lalda’s spine is also there or not…”?

6. How do boys like Shankar or girls like Uma need personality for society? Answer with argument.

7. Explain the significance of the title ‘The Spine’.

8. Based on the story, who do you consider as the main character of the novel and why?

9. Describe the character traits of Ramasvarup and Gopal Prasad based on the novel.

10. What is the purpose of this novel? Write.

11. What efforts can you make to give women their due dignity in society?