UJJAIN UNDER SIEGE

*NOTE: NO PHOTOS IN THIS BLOG; ALL PICTURES ARE ADVERTISEMENTS.

This blog is written by a guest: My Dad (and published here with his permission).   

His TOI WriteIndia competition submission:
Rules:
1. The story must be set in the Gupta Age, in Ujjain (the capital of the empire in its latter half).
2. It must involve a crime. And its resolution.
3. The below passage should be present in the submission.

"Supratik, the Chief of Police and Internal Security at Ujjain, walked rapidly up to the riverside, just as the body was being fished out. The officer supervising the operation turned around and saluted his commander immediately."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     The history teacher chalked four options on the blackboard – the fourth one being ‘Ujjain’. She asked the Std. IX class, “Which of these four is the seat of Jainism?” Pat came a bright reply,  “option d) Ujjain”.

     Well, one may laugh at the blurted answer but suffice it to say that the Gupta kings, though Hindus, were tolerant enough to see that all faiths flourished and didn’t even think of a totalitarian state suppressing religious freedom or any other freedom. Little wonder then that the Gupta period is called ‘The Golden Age’ of India, especially when Chandragupta II, also known as ‘Vikramaditya’ meaning ‘Power of the Sun’ or ‘Valour’, ruled Ujjain. This Raja Gupta of the Magadha Kingdom was the scion of Samudragupta and Dattadevi.

     Ujjain, in all its glory, stood tall and proud on the eastern banks of the river Kshipra, in the Malwa region. It flowed majestically and serenely adding to the city’s splendour and prosperity. Being the centre of trade and commerce the city became more famous with the Guptas making it their capital. The merchants especially those coming from Indore made it their second home. The prolific trade between these two cities brought in abundant wealth making Ujjain a golden city, thriving and kicking!

     Chandragupta I, also called Sri Gupta, founded the Gupta Dynasty in 320 AD. His grandson, Chandragupta II followed the policy of world conquest like his father, Samudragupta. His empire extended from the Bay of Bengal to the Arabian Sea.

     He married the beautiful Kuberanaga, a princess of the Naga Dynasty and secured the friendship of the Vakatakas of Berar through this matrimonial alliance. What astuteness! He also gave his daughter Parvati in marriage to the Vakataka king, Rudrasana II, whose death made her the Regent. She helped her father, Chandragupta, in his campaigns who comprehensively defeated the Saka Satrapas and annexed Malwa, Kathiawar (Saurashtra) region and Gujarat. The seaports, now in his possession, opened new avenues for commercial contacts and contracts with the Western World for carrying a flourishing trade – another marvellous feather in his cap!  

     Cultural progress was the hallmark of Chandragupta II. Literature, art, etc. flourished under his patronage. His royal court adorned by Navratnas like Kalidas, added to his eminence.

     As Visnu’s devotee, Garuda became the emblem of the Gupta flag. His Brahmanic Hinduism led to sculptured images of Hindu Gods dotting Ujjain. Surely, his reign epitomized the spirit of magnanimity and liberalism.

     ‘Ambavati’, as Ujjain was originally known, gave rise to the wise and courageous King Vikramaditya.  He stands out as an icon winning a permanent place in the hearts of his people. The golden age of the Gupta’s saw its highest water-mark, its zenith, during the benign rule of Chandragupta. In fact, understanding Chandragupta II is understanding Ujjain!

     Caesar Augustus said, “I found Rome a city of clay and left it a city of marble”. Likewise, Chandragupta II could say, “I found Ujjain a city in chaos but left it a city of gold”.

     And what did the Gupta kings, after him, do? Kumara Gupta and Skanda Gupta kept the Empire running. However, Puru Gupta (467-69) being old, decandence started setting in as was the case with the unconquerable Romans. The Hunas from the North and the Vakatakas from the South, began making in-roads into Gupta territory. Besides, there arose unattended family feuds proving the saying, ‘a house divided within itself falls,’ right. Furthermore, the Governors in charge of their provinces took full advantage of the emaciated ruler and became their own bosses.

     Supratik, a loyal, conscientious and hardworking Chief of Police and Internal Security at Ujjain, could be described as a person ‘having his wits about him’. Observant, diligent, ingenious, cunning (in the ways of the Ujjain world) and having a nose for trouble he was prepared for anything. With his keen perception and the ability to think on his feet he could size up the gravity of a situation quickly. Being a six-footer, fair, handsome and athletic too, he moved lithely and sprightly. With regular exercise he kept himself as fit as a fiddle. His knowledge of the use of the ‘khanda’, was second to none and his prowess with the bow and arrow – could hit the bull’s eye without batting his eyelid – was excellent indeed. Wasn’t he versatile? He certainly was – a man for all seasons! No wonder, His Majesty, Skanda Gupta had accepted his offer of tying the knot with his daughter, albeit with the connivance of his sole, lovely offspring Princess Urvashi who adored him, having fallen head over heels in love and married they were – royally!

     As was his routine now, rising at the break of dawn, Supratik finishing his ablutions and exercise, had a hearty breakfast. Readying to go to the headquarters, a messenger arrived with the news that he was wanted at the riverside.

     Supratik the Chief of Police and Internal Security at Ujjain, walked rapidly up to the riverside, just as the body was being fished out. The Officer supervising the operation, turned around and saluted his commander immediately.

     “A body was discovered at 7.00 am by some boys swimming, as was their practice, in the river. They reported the incident to me at the police station and I left in a hurry with three men  carrying the necessary poles and hooks. We asked Raju, the fisherman, to come with his boat and he willingly obliged. As you can plainly see, sir, the body is being fished out of the Kshipra river,” said Officer Puri.

     Silent but reflective, the Chief of Police absorbed what the Officer reported and saw an arrow sticking from the dead body. He looked at the sand, found some footprints but no boot-marks around. He searched around and some thirty yards away he discovered the boot-marks leading to the road. He realized that someone who was a good marksman and a trained archer had used a bow and arrow to commit this crime. He returned to the banks of the river and saw the pale body with the blood covered singlet and shorts. The arrow, 1½ ft long, made of oak had pierced his heart from the back. The impact of the sturdy arrow had propelled the swimmer head long into the river killing him before hitting the water.

     Investigations revealed that the hapless victim was a rich jeweller from Ujjain survived by a young wife and a minor daughter. The police kept the body at the headquarters for further queries from friends, relatives and informants.

     Hardly half an hour later, a rustic came panting to the station and blurted: Police, police, a man is lying dead in a pool of blood. He reported that some women had gone to the forest, as was their habit, to answer nature’s call and were thunderstruck to see the body with eyes protruding, the mouth wide open and bloody. I went and hastened back to report to you after seeing the corpse: Supratik, Puri and a police team followed the villager and horror of horrors, the dead body spoke of an excruciating death at the hands of a cold-blooded murderer. The Chief sized up the situation: An expert warrior had struck the unfortunate youth with his ‘khanda’ a double edged sword. The blade had ripped his chest horizontally and there was no pointed poke-mark as would have been the case had he used a ‘Firangi’ or a ‘Talwar’ which would finish a person with a poke to the heart.

     The area where the body lay was cordoned off and the corpse removed to the headquarters for further leads. Meanwhile, the inconsolable parents were taken home by the kind neighbours as their sole wage-earner was carried gloomily away. The tall frame of the Chief sagged a bit as he realized that a couple of trained goons had spoilt his day. Two dead persons murdered for no rhyme or reason or was it? His thoughts were interrupted by Puri again approaching him with hurried steps.

     “Sir,” “Yes?” said the top cop, “Sir, there’s been another killing – could you kindly come with us?” asked the officer. Wiping the cold sweat from his face with a kerchief, Supratik donned his cap and accompanied the policemen to the scene of the crime. A teenage boy,  carrying a sack of oranges to the market place was whacked with a heavy stick on the side of his temple. The teenager fell writhing and screaming in pain. The ‘Choradharmika’ – a special officer trained to catch thieves - witnessed the scene, sprang to his feet and rushed to help the lad but after a few spasms the body lay still, felled in one blow by the work of a master killer. In the meantime, the villain had disappeared.

     The Dandapastika - the head of this special police force was informed immediately and he with the duty cop sped all the way to meet Puri and the three proceeded to inform the Top Cop about the killing of the teenager and the thug’s escape. Puri thanked the two informants who accompanied the police team to the site.

    ‘What’s happening to our peaceful Ujjain?’ muttered Supratik under his breath. “Hello, what’s this, another murder to report?” asked he of Puri who was striding towards him. “Yes sir and this at the local school.” Looking washed-out, the same police team arrived at the institution of learning. Mohan, the school Principal lay on the mud floor with his tongue lolling out, and hands clutching his throat. Apparently, he had unlocked the gate and was walking towards his office when the hoodlum struck. ‘Death by strangulation, compression of the neck, surely’, he surmised. ‘Garroting’ it is! Bending down he examined the throat and saw the rope- marks on the neck. The mark being lower on the neck of Mohan, the scholar, was sufficient proof that he was not hanged but strangulated.

      Satisfied with his investigation, the Chief reached the Headquarters with the choked body of the eminent educationist following behind. He dispatched two policemen to his house and asked them to accompany his wife, the Princess, to the Headquarters. He also sent Puri along with two more cops to five top officials – advisors and police consultants. He asked two more men to collect more cops from the Station and ordered them to close the city gates, the port and banned the assembly of more than two people for the next couple of days. He also sent an emissary to the Commander in Chief of the Royal Army requesting his presence at the meeting of his Advisors at 11.00 am of the same fateful day.

      The eminent seven were informed about the four murders by officer Puri. Supratik spoke about how the crimes were committed and what his deduction was. “It is a conspiracy to bring chaos upon our cherished city Ujjain. With the death of our dearly beloved ruler, His Majesty, Emperor Skanda – may his soul rest in peace – the enemy thinks we are weak but we shall prove them wrong”. He also narrated to them the measures he had already taken and asked them for their wise suggestions and advice. In the meantime, he requested them to see the four bodies laid out in the special room before coming to any conclusion.  

     When they were seated, refreshments were served and the first person to raise her voice was his wife, Urvashi. “You have to inform His Majesty, King Puru of what has transpired” – all agreed. She was requested to do so along with the Commander of the Army, on their behalf and also report the action being taken. The next speaker said, “How do we know whether these crimes were committed by four different persons or by a single goon?” Another added, “Can you elucidate upon the conspiracy theory of the enemy infiltrating the police?” That made another ask, “How about Ujjain itself falling into enemy hands and the king’s safety?” The fifth asked him to post more guards all around the treasury. The sixth added, “No money, no honey for them.”    

      The Chief iterated that he would act immediately on their wise suggestions. Thanking them profusely, he pleaded for their continual support. Before they broke up, he remarked, “Please do me a favour: Send word to each of the provinces under your jurisdiction to dispatch four of the best men in each of these categories today itself, before nightfall: Archer; Khanda swordsman; Danda warrior; Garroting expert. He saluted everyone and then they dispersed.

      Lost in thought, he realized the gravity of the situation. If Ujjain fell, the kingdom would fall into the hands of the enemy. The prolific trade between Ujjain and Indore brought about a cut-throat competition between these two important cities. Flesh trade, kidnappings, and gambling were the ‘in’ things. Thieves, knifers, money lenders etc. were the evil accompaniments to the deadly music of crime. But to have four murders, skillfully executed in about an hour near the Police Headquarters was the limit. Everything, the more he thought about it, pointed to a plot to capture the Capital and bring about the downfall of the Gupta Kingdom.

     Stirring from his melancholic reverie, he sent an emissary to the Army Commander, with this message: Night patrol to be undertaken by the Army. Since police force is compromised, I suggest you send spies in plain clothes at your earliest, to pubs, brothels, market places, gambling joints and wherever necessary. He also asked Puri to go home accompanied by a couple of cops and also post more guards at his own house and get more reinforcements at the Headquarters along with a reliable officer to take over from him, for the day. “Thanks,” he said meaningfully. As an after-thought he added, “Just inform the officer on duty to accommodate the four experts from each of the provinces who will be arriving in an hour or two. I’ll be back within a couple of hours.” Puri saluted his boss and they parted.

     A sleuth once wise cracked, “Detective work is 95% sweat and 5% chance.” ‘Well,’ thought Supratik, ‘Where is this lady luck hiding? When will he chance to meet her?’ When he entered Headquarters after two hours, he saw cops standing in groups of four.

     Supratik stood tall in his Chief of Police uniform and addressed the summoned specialists from each province, “Gentlemen, I have the honour to stand before the best of Ujjain’s soldiers consisting of Archers, Khandwa swordsmen, Danda warriors and Garroting masters. Permit me to congratulate you and also thank you for the yeoman service done for the Gupta Emperors and our Kingdom. However, there’s a downside to our good name and proud history. Four cold-blooded murders were committed this morning and the criminals are at large. There’s a big reward if any of you help in nabbing the criminals by revealing any information or evidence. Nevertheless, no mercy will be shown to the dastardly plotters. If you confess to your crime, mercy will be yours”. Shocked, nobody moved. Silence reigned supreme!

     The Chief then met the four experienced investigators who would interrogate them for as long as it took to flush out the culprits. The first Investigator nicknamed ‘Chatter Box’ would talk and make them talk (friendly). The second was ‘Bone Crusher’: “I’m making no bones of it but I’m ready to break bones, if needed” (cruel). Third: ‘Bluff master’ would convince them there was hard evidence against them (serious). Fourth: ‘Sharp eyes’ would watch for body language and eye-contact (stern).

     Intensive interrogation began in earnest but there was no break-through even till the next morning. These cops were themselves all well-versed and trained in this art of investigation and couldn’t be fooled easily which Supratik had anticipated.

     Unknown to many, Supratik, had a trump card up his sleeve which he decided to play. It was his personal bloodhound, ‘Suryakant’. Daily, the hound and the top cop went for their afternoon run before lunch. Yesterday, they had run to the river bank and the hound was made to smell the boot-prints - Mind you, bloodhounds have a phenomenal sense of smell. Besides, they stir up odours from the ground - these fantastic traits were going to be tested today. The dog sniffed around the shrubs about 30 yards from the bank and started barking. His master saw what he had expected - a bow about 5ft long with its string broken. Using his kerchief, he carried it home. Next, the dog and his master went speedily to the second scene of crime which had been cordoned off. The bloodhound smelt the dried blood and nosing around discovered a handkerchief full of blood marks which the assailant had used to wipe his Khanda. Unwittingly, he had flung the handkerchief away which Supratik picked up. Again, this duo sped to the market place and by the side of the mud-road the four-legged sniffer halted for his two-legged investigator to catch up and carry home the third evidence, namely, the thick stick. Ultimately, they stood in the school compound and, not surprisingly, they found the rope thrown behind a tree! Suryakant smelt it while his master bagged the last evidence. “Well done, boy. You’re promoted to Deputy Head of Police!” The mutt wagged his short tail and dogbraced him affectionately as he received pats of appreciation.  

     The four pieces of evidence, brought from home, were now placed on a large table and one by one the suspects came to see them. Suryakant who was chained securely about 15 feet away instinctively spotted the four murderers and tried to pounce on them as they came towards the table but the chain thwarted his attempt. They were taken away for further questioning and undoubtedly, the Chief was proved correct. There was a conspiracy by the Indore business community and the powers that be, to overthrow King Puru and take over the reigns of power. Princess Urvashi summed it up well: My beloved husband Supratik has saved Ujjain again. Long live the King, long live Super-cop Supratik! 

--- THE END ---

                

Length of blog: 3000 words (exact).

Genre: Guest Writer

Please rate out of 5 stars (no half stars please). Also do  provide your comments.