Rude Awakenings - Forest Sangha Publications

^0 T H I R D M O O N 06that India had taken over here too. The stuffed animals in the large glasscases in the centre of the main hall had the occasional bit of fur fallingout, and the tiger was stalking through long grass bent and tattered withage. The collections of traditional weapons (which for some reasonwere amidst the animals) were dusty, and the tribal costumes were fadedand slightly moth-eaten. Directed past all this and the knots of peoplelooking at the various exhibits, we made our way up some wide stonestairs, flanked by more models of tribal people wearing more costumes,to the small office of the assistant curator in a back corner.He was a pleasant young chap, but although delighted to see us, hecould not help. “Regretfully the curator is not here at present, and so itis not possible to see these ashes.” I tried telling him how far we hadcome and how much we would like to see the ashes, but all we got washis sympathy and an invitation of tea. Over the tea he told us about hisuniversity thesis, which had been on some aspect of Buddhist history,and then, after at least half an hour of this, and without anyone cominginto the room, he suddenly announced, “The curator is now here andyou may see him with your request.”We had no idea why it was suddenly possible, but we did not object.With our hopes rekindled we were taken next door into a larger roomand through that into another, where the curator, grey-haired andportly, sat behind a desk taking tea with two cronies. His two companionshad the same unhurried air as the curator (it goes with beingemployed in the government service), and the three appeared as if theyhad been there all along.I repeated our request to see the Buddha’s ashes. The curator listenedpolitely and then explained, “First you must write a letter to me outliningyour request, and then it can be arranged.”“But this is our last day in Patna.”“To see the Buddha’s ashes I must first have a request in writing.” Myhopes began to sink but then I had an idea.“Could we write the letter now and give it to you?”1 8 6