मेरा आजीवन कारावास / माझी जन्मठेप (स्वातंत्र्यवीर सावरकर - काले पानी का ऐतिहासिक संस्मरण)

that if he were to complain about it to the Superintendent, we may rake up the whole past
against them. Moreover the Mussulmans had hopes that the whole show would end soon,
and the Hindus themselves would oppose me.
And it did turn out as they had predicted. For, one of the Hindu tindals gave vent
to the suppressed feeling of resentment for my action among the Hindu prisoners and
punished me by not allowing me to touch their water As they always feared political
prisoners they did not take their protest further and did not ventilate it too much though
they did not give up harassing me. They constantly twitted me, by openly hailing me as
'Bhangi-Babu.
I must say, however, that much as they insulted me and continued their pin-
pricking me, the party of 'Bhangi Babus' began to grow in number and to gather in
strength so that, at last, the leader of these tindals was himself compelled to join it. And
in two or three years' time this Thakur' himself became the most enthusiastic champion of
Shuddhi, and reconversion to Hinduism, and he gave us his strong support in pursuing the
campaign. The appellation 'Bhangi-Babu' was bestowed upon me as a title to signify one
who had no scruples to dine with a Mussulman who was reconverted to Hinduism.
I did not convey the story of this Shuddhi to the ears of the Superintendent. For if
Mr. Barrie would permit us to carry on our propaganda of Hinduism in the prison, and
did not obstruct us as he had not obstructed the Mussulmans, there was no point in
informing the Superintendent about the event in question. For I did not like to pick an
unnecessary quarrel with Mr. Barrie. Mr. Barrie was, indeed, indifferent to the future of
Islam or Hinduism. He favoured the Muslim warders and jamadars because they had
proved ready instruments in his hands to harass and torture the prisoners, and, especially
the Hindu prisoners, and to keep a strict watch over us as political prisoners. If he were
now to oppose openly the Shuddhi movement, he knew but too, well, that we shall not
fail to report him to the Superintendent, and, as the latter had been on our side, he was not
sure that he would not get a scolding from him for such interference. For all these
reasons, Mr. Barrie did not say a word about our latest activities to the Superintendent.
And I had kept the movement going on. Just at this time, some three or four
prisoners from Ceylon had come to our prison on the charge of rioting and similar violent
action. They were sent on transportation for life. They became friends with us, and they
were duly registered as members of our organisation. One of them had been already a
convert to Christianity. We talked to him about the matter once or twice, and requested
him to be converted back to Hinduism. Two out of three, who were more competent,
soon got work as writers outside the prison. We assured the Ceylonese Christian that we
would try our best to secure a similar job for him too. This practical offer induced him to
become a Hindu. And by our ready method of purification we soon made him a Hindu.
In the Silver Jail, occasionally, a clergyman paid a visit to offer prayer for those who
were Christians. He came to us just after we had converted a sheep from his flock. The