Come November and my friend Mr Amos – Mr E..J. Amos – Mr Edie John Amos – would start seasoning meats for his friends as Christmas present. He would even take his annual leave from The Statesman newspaper in this season to devote his attention to seasoning and baking cakes.
Mr Amos felt more akin to me, as his father was a Bania – member of the trader community – as Mahajans are also Banias. Barring some States in India, where Mahajans are Brahmins. Sometimes he would narrate the tale of how his father embraced Christianity. His father and the local Padre were great friends and met often to exchange gossip and argue over religious practices of different communities and other subjects.
One day the argument took a serious turn and the senior Mr Amos set a bet : that he would convert to Christianity if the Padre proved right; otherwise the Padre must convert to Hinduism. Mr Amos senior lost the bet and converted to Christianity, as promised.
Suddenly one day Mr Amos applied for a transfer to Teleprinter section from Proofreading room. We, the proofreaders, were taken aback. Who will give us seasoned meats and cakes on Christmas ?, was a question uppermost in our mind, as Mr Amos had taken leave after the transfer.
But our fears proved unfounded, as the seasoned meats and cakes arrived in time to say cheers to Xmas and New Year.
We often discussed in private what meats Mr Amos seasoned. Some of us being staunch Hindus, hated the thought that they might be eating beef, as cow for Hindus is holy and worshipped. But Mr Amos assured us that he did not season beef, as he himself did not eat it.
I remember one of my senior journalist colleague telling me that he enjoyed beefsteaks when abroad. “After all American cows are not our (Indian) holy cows.” And he would laugh loudly at his own joke. Especially after a drink or two.
I have found many of my senior colleagues in the profession as hypocrites. They would say they do not eat beef, but in the dark recesses of their refrigerators one often finds beautiful looking imported beefstock packets. “Oh that,” they would say sheepishly. “Beefstock is not beef, you know.”
One is gratified to enhance one's knowledge.
Coming back to Mr Amos, he believes no charity is true charity unless it hurts you – severely.
o0o
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