Staffrider Vol.3 No.4 Dec-Jan 1980 - DISA

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proceed to prey on so-called inferiors,and only succeed in making their ownintellectual, moral and spiritual developmentvery difficult. I am sure you knowsomething about Gandhi?''Very little,' Borg confessed.'Then I think you should begin withGandhi's book about his experiences inthis country.' He went to the bookshelfand came back with a copy. 'I am sureyou will find the book very inspiring.After that you can go on to the Gita,Upanishads . . . 'That was how Borg came to be initiatedinto the world of Hinduism. Hebecame a familiar figure at seminars andmeditation sessions. He listened to visitingyogis from India and spent much ofhis time in philosophic discussions withRanjit. He continued working at Rosevale,though he tried to keep away fromthe premises as much as possible, for hecould not enter without feeling a senseof guilt. The former nunnery's conversioninto a headquarters for the securitypolice began to take on a profoundsymbolic significance: it attested to aflawed civilization.Borg thought of resigning from hiswork, but before he could do so he wassummoned to appear before Colonel vanDijk. A bloated, pale-skinned man withshort curly blond hair and beady blueeyes, van Dijk was usually dressed in asafari-type white suit which gave himthe appearance of a hospital orderly.'I have received information,' theColonel said stiffly from behind hislarge desk, 'that you are spending agreat deal of your time with a religiousgroup in the Indian area of Lenasia.Now this may seem to you a perfectlyharmless activity, but to Security anyperson who mixes socially or in anyother way with people of a differentrace is suspect. You should know that.Therefore, taking the interest of thesafety of the state into consideration, ithas been decided to transfer you toCape Town. I am sure,' the Colonelconcluded, 'that you will not suffer anyinconvenience. After all, you're a bachelor.''For some time now I have beenthinking of resigning,' Borg said calmly.'Resigning?' the Colonel asked, anuance of anger in his voice.'Yes. The direction of my life haschanged.''And throw away your future inSecurity?''Yes.''Impossible! And what of your allegianceto the state?''My allegiance is to the supreme realityBrahman.'The Colonel laughed a little, mockingly.'Come, Borg, you can't tell me thatyou are taking all that, whatever thatBrahman thing is, seriously?''I think Security is taking it seriously.If not, why the transfer?''A good point. But remember, Securityeven takes Security seriously.' TheColonel chuckled.Borg understood the veiled threat.'I shall hand in my resignation today.''You are at liberty to do so,' theColonel said, rising from his chair. 'Butremember my business is to secure thesafety of the state and if anyone, evenmy dearest friend, does anything tothreaten it, I shall have no hesitation inlocking him up. And you know whatthat means. No lawyer, magistrate,member of parliament, or Brahman willbe able to free you.''Thank you, Colonel,' Borg said andleft the office.That evening Borg told Ranjit andMaya of his resignation and what theColonel had said to him.'Good,' Ranjit said, 'you have untieda knot. In the house of cruelty, no onecan find spiritual liberation.''I am worried about the threat,'Maya said. 'And can he stop you fromcoming to visit us and taking part in ouractivities?''I think he is going to try,' Borganswered.'Then we shall oppose him withtruth,' Ranjit said with determination.'And what work will you do now,Borg?' Maya asked.'Oh don't worry about what workBorg will do,' Ranjit said. 'There is somuch to do in every incarnation. He canhelp me at Tolstoy Farm so that we cantransform the place into a memorial tothe Mahatma.''Yes,' Borg agreed. 'I shall be happyto help.''I am beginning to feel,' Ranjit said,'you have come to us to fulfil somepurpose.'Borg now spent most of his time inLenasia, only returning at night to theYork Hotel in downtown Johannesburgto sleep. Besides undertaking, with Ranjit,the Tolstoy Farm project (variouswealthy individuals were approachedand they offered assistance), he furtheredhis knowledge of yoga, practisedausterities and even learnt to play thesitar. He found Hinduism and the yogaway of life to be essentially free fromself-righteousness, authoritarianism,dogmatism, and without a primitiveeschatology based on the conception ofsin and the fall of man. It placed moraland spiritual responsibility on the individualalone rather than on messiahs andsaviours. In time Borg came to perceivethat the flaw at the heart of Judaic-"Christian civilization was its selfrighteousclaim to absolute truth andthat this deception constantly led tobrutal manifestations of various formsof authoritarianism and to theestrangement between reason andaction.After several months Borg received amessage that the Colonel wished tospeak to him. He went immediately inhis car.'I am afraid,' the Colonel said to him,after asking him to be seated in a chair,'that your activities are causing graveconcern to Security.''Concern?''Yes, you are interfering with theIndian people.''Explain that to me, please.''They have their own group areaaccording to state policy. What do youwant there every day?''I am a Hindu.''What! How can a Christian be aHindu? I have never heard anything soabsurd.' The Colonel laughed derisively.'Listen to me, Borg. Let me speak toyou in plain terms. You are challengingthe laws of the state by going to Lenasiadaily and associating with people of anotherrace.''There is no specific law that preventsme from going there, nor a lawthat says that I cannot change my religion.''Don't tell me what I know, Borg,'the Colonel said with menace. 'As far asI am concerned, you are interfering withpeople of another race.''If you wish to interpret my presencein Lenasia in that way you may do so,Colonel van Dijk,' Borg answered.'Don't you dictate to me,' theColonel said angrily. 'There is one otherthing. You are a vagrant with no visiblemeans of support. Where do you getmoney from to live?''I don't need any money at present,'Borg said serenely.'You are defying me,' the Colonelshouted. 'You will soon regret it. Go!'Borg rose from his chair and left theoffice.After taking his vows of renunciation,Borg went on with his life in a quietdignified way. He now wore a saffronrobe, allowed his walnut-coloured hairto grow long, and on his forehead drewthe emblem — mark of the ascetic —two parallel vertical lines in charcoal. Hegave up living at the York Hotel andstayed at Tolstoy Farm. It was not longbefore a posse of security police officersarrived in an American car and arrestedhim. He was taken to Rosevale.Colonel van Dijk, who had been stokingthe fires of his fury at Borg's challengeto his authority by pacing thefloor of his office, stopped suddenlywhen the captive was brought in. Hewas shocked by the long-haired, out-36 STAFFRIDER, DECEMBER <strong>1980</strong>/JANUARY 1981
landish appearance of the man — hissaffron robe, his sandals, the beadsaround his neck and strange mark on hisforehead, all contrasting strongly withthe stiff light-blue uniforms of theofficers. For a moment he believed hewas seeing an illusion. A sense ofprofound fear filled him, his larynxtightened and he could only manage tosay in a soft voice, 'Sit down, Borg.'And then the Colonel did not knowwhat to do. The four men who hadarrested Borg left the room quicklywithout waiting to be dismissed. TheColonel looked at Borg as though heexpected to be addressed. Borg remainedsilent. The Colonel began to feelthat if he did not leave the office hewould be impaled by the look in Borg'sgrey eyes. He turned and hurried out ofthe office. He ran into the next-doorroom, asked an official to leave as hewished to make a private telephone call,and then with brisk, nervous fingersspun the dial.'Brigadier Becket, please. It's veryurgent.'He waited for the call to be putthrough and then said, 'Listen Brigadier,this is van Dijk speaking. Borg is now inmy office and I don't know . . . ''Lock the man up!' Brigadier Becketshouted.'Please listen, how can I lock a manup who does not look like a man.''What, Colonel? Is your eye-sight failingyou?''I don't know how to explain, but heis in a sort of dress . . . ''Listen to me, Colonel. If Security isafraid of the way in which a mandresses, then we might as well closeRosevale and everybody can go home. Isay lock the man up immediately.''But he is wearing a sort of long yellow. . . orange dress.''A man in a dress? He must be mad.Then why arrest him?''On your orders . . . ''Listen, Colonel, I think there issomething wrong with you. You informedme that you wanted Borgarrested for being a traitor and a threatto the security of the state. I think I willspeak to the Honourable Minister aboutgetting a psychiatrist stationed at Rosevale.'Brigadier Becket put the telephonedown.The Colonel returned despondentlyto his office, hoping that Borg hadtaken the opportunity to escape. But hewas still there, sitting very serenely inhis chair. The Colonel sat down in hischair.'I am afraid, Borg,' the Colonel saidapologetically, 'I have to do something Iam very reluctant to do. You know thatorders cannot be stopped by an officialof lower rank. I was forced by the Brigadierto send for you.''You have to do your duty,' Borgsaid. 'The Lord Khrishna in the Gitatells Arjuna the warrior to perform hisduty during battle.'The Colonel picked up the telephoneand summoned the quartet of officerswho had arrested Borg. They camewithin a few minutes and saluted.'Khrishna says that you must performyour duty,' the Colonel said, lookingat Borg.The officers looked at each other andthen at the Colonel.'Why don't you carry out yourduty?' the Colonel asked sharply.'Sir, you said Khrishna said we mustperform our duty,' one of them said.'I didn't say that, stupid! Borg saidthat. Why don't you carry out your responsibilities?''Sir,' Borg addressed the Colonel, 'foryour information my name is Yogi Satyananda.''Please carry out your responsibilities,'the Colonel said to the officers,looking even more disturbed as thoughBorg's words were a potent imprecationagainst him.The officers were mystified. Theyhad been asked to bring Borg to theColonel and they had done so. Theirduty ended there. Now the Colonel wastalking about responsibilities.'What responsibilities, sir?' one ofthem asked.'Fools! You went to . . . Why don'tyou take him to his room?''His room sir?' another officer asked.'Don't you understand . . . therewhere people are kept until they aretried?'In order to assist the Colonel, Borgrose and saying, 'I know where the cellsare,' walked out of the room, followedby the officers.The Colonel was sweating. He didnot want to take on the responsibilityof having Borg locked up. The man hadchanged, changed utterly. One neverknew what forces he could invoke toharm him. He had informed BrigadierBecket of his intention to have Borgarrested and he had approved. Thereforeultimate responsibility lay with him.The telephone rang. It was the Brigadier.'Colonel, what information did youget from Borg about political activitiesin Lenasia?''Nothing, sir.''Nothing? What is happening toRosevale? Don't you fellows know howto get them to say what you want themto say? What have you done to Borg?''He is locked up, I think, accordingto your instructions.''My instructions?''Brigadier . . .'Listen, Colonel. As soon as you getBorg to say what you want him to say,let me know.'The Colonel put the telephone down,but it rang almost immediately.'This is the Morning Star. We havereceived information that YogiSatyananda has been arrested. Is thistrue?''No ... he is not under arrest, buthas been allowed to rest in a room.''Until when?''Well . . . till tonight perhaps.''Can you give us any reason for hisdetention?''He is not in detention and I am notobliged to give any reason.''Is he held under the State SecurityAct?'The Colonel put the telephone downangrily and began pacing his office.In the afternoon an orderly broughta newspaper to the Colonel's office.Thick black headlines lashed his eyeslike vipers: Yogi Satyananda Arrested.Huge Demonstration Planned in Lenasia.The Colonel tore the newspaperand flung it into the litter basket.'Lies! lies! The man is not underarrest!' he shouted.Several officials from nearby roomscame rushing in.'What is the matter, sir?' they allasked.'Nothing!' he shouted. 'Stay in yourrooms until I call you.'They rushed out, but a messengercame in, out of breath.'Sir, a procession of demonstrators ison its way here. It is led by a man in asaffron robe.''How did he get out?'The messenger took a step back.'Who, sir?''The man in the robe.''Get out from where, sir?''Get out of this building?' theColonel screamed.The messenger ran out of the office.There was going to be trouble now,the Colonel knew. He had sensed that assoon as Borg had come into his office.He was now leading a demonstration toRosevale. But how had he managed toget out of his cell and return to Lenasia?The Colonel was afraid to think. EasternSTAFFRIDER, DECEMBER <strong>1980</strong>/JANUARY 1981 37
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Page 7 and 8: THE CANE IS SINGINGBY NARAIN AIYERT
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Page 19 and 20: D.John Simon.IN MEMORIAM-BERNARD FO
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Page 33 and 34: THE SUNAn extract from a novelby Mo
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Page 37: 6JT/WEST\ Story by Ahmed Essop Illu
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Page 49 and 50: • Bob Marley is theblack prince o
Page 51 and 52: BACKHOMEMIRIAM MAKEBAHUGH MASEKELAA

Staffrider Vol.3 No.4 Dec-Jan 1980 - DISA

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