 |
| Robben Island Prison Image from Britannica Encyclopedia |
It was a pitch-black midnight. The Robben Island
Prison stood like a gigantic monster on a grim terrain. The guard who was on
watch that night was startled by an unusual sound from one of the dark cells in
the solitary confinement section of the prison. What could be that grunt-like
sound at this time of the night when all prisoners must be asleep? Even light
was not permitted anywhere in the prison. Forget sounds. Was it some ghost?
After all, so many prisoners died in those cells succumbing to the brutality of
the British police.
The guard moved in the direction of
the sound. It was coming from the cell where a prisoner named Nelson Mandela
was kept. The guard stood outside the dark cell and listened. “To be or not to
be, that is the question. Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer…”
“Mandela, what the hell are you
doing?” The guard asked. He knew if the chief heard such sounds that would be
the end of the prisoner.
Mandela told the guard that he was
reciting the soliloquies from some of Shakespeare’s plays.
The prisoners were not allowed to
read anything except the Bible. Later Tolstoy’s speeches and some books of H G
Wells were also allowed. Not Shakespeare. But Mandela had managed to get a copy
of the Complete Works of Shakespeare.
It was an Indian named Venkata Ratnam
who smuggled in Shakespeare to Robben. Venkata Ratnam was a teacher at the
Durban University and was arrested when he started supporting the causes of the
Africans against the British colonial government. When the guard saw a book
with him, he was questioned. “It’s Shakespeare Bible,” said the professor. As
soon as he heard the word ‘Bible’ the guard crossed himself piously and let the
prisoner carry it in.
Shakespeare became a favourite author
of many of the prisoners. Mandela loved the soliloquies. Shakespeare was
discussed in detail by the learned among the prisoners.
Much later, as a free man, Mandela
visited England and addressed a group of students of the London University. One
of his counsels to the students was to learn to enjoy the liberating power of
good literature. Good literature can be as soothing as a miraculous balm when
you are going through tough times. Shakespeare can be a deity in a prison.
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteHoorah for Shakespeare. Hoorah for Mandela. Hoorah for Venkata. And all like them... YAM xx
May their tribe flourish.
DeleteI'm sure books can keep you feeling alive in prison. 'Shakespeare's Bible!' -- I like that the sound of that. :) That's ONE way to sneak books into prison. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat else but books can engage the mind when one is in prison, especially solitary confinement?
DeleteVery interesting! The importance of reading is well underlined
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Delete