51

[NEWSPAPER CLIPPING: "Manipuri Teacher Beaten To Death"]

Statesman April 7. 1970. p5

There seems to be a great deal of violence in India but it is probably for the most part unreported or played down. This item was on page 5, buried among lottery ads. The newspapers consist mainly of politics, which is presented on the level of public relations handouts. What is really going on day to day in India remains unreported. Concerning students and exams; a student from Calcutta told me of a case in a school he attended where the students told the examiners at a final exam that unless they would be allowed to bring their text books to use on the test, there would be violence. The examiners afraid for their lives allowed the students anything they wanted. "The questions are the same year after year and known by everyone" said this student and any attempt to change them would result in violence. The student here, seems always to be striking, but not for a finer education but to make it easier to maintain the status quo. To maintain corruption and dishonesty. Which is why a degree at most universities here means nothing outside of India.

52

April 11. 70

At my tutor's house - His wife's brother a boy of around 15 is visiting them. I ask him what his name his he replies so and so Singh. But is my tutor's last name. "You mean your wife has the same name?" I ask her name, she replies with a different last name. Embarrassment. My tutor explains his wife is Brahmin and she has married out of and below her caste, for he is a Kshatriya, and they would be frowned upon and ostracized by their friends if it was known. So it is kept secret as much as possible. They live in one room about 7 feet x 18, three doors open from room to room to the hall way of an inner balcony - courtyard. The room has one window, a double rope bed, some bookshelves at one end, and at the other end the cooking is done, a small end table, a cupboard, pots + pans. It is dingy, the walls have not been painted in years. Stained yellowing brown, it is close and depressing. At night lit by one dim light bulb. On the second floor, rent. 30 Rs (less than $5) per month. It is noisy. The inner courtyard, echoes sounds of the many families who occupy the building. 4 on a floor, 3 floors, all open to each other. My tutor took this place not only for its cheap rent but because he is out of the house so often tutoring until late, it was safe to leave his wife alone with the baby, as there is always some-