1891-
Sarasvatibai:
As always, a train in motion.
Govind alights at Ratlam station, asking for the address of the Sessions judge, T.Baburao Walwalkar.
He finds the house, and produces a letter of introduction from Prof. Gujjar.
Govind 's credentials impress the judge. He takes him to ??? at Panchmahal who is about to publish a book on his musical notations, and has set up a private press.
Govind is asked to design the book cover.
Panchmahal is a district ruled by several tribal kingdoms. Govind comes across the local music of the tribals who, in fact, are conspiring against the British.
He photographs them and shows the photographs to the king. The king forbids Govind to dabble in politics.
He learns the mysteries of half-tone photo-litho 3-colour printing and ceramic photography from T. Baburao Walwalkar.
(Dada writes in a large, cursive hand in his book):
A dream
Govind has not forgotten Bombay. A news item from 1891 is alchemised in his dream.
It is the inaugration of the Rajabai Tower. Govind chases two girls up the stairs of the clock tower.
At the chime of the clock, the two girls leap off the top.
They are dead before they hit the ground.
He runs down to inspect the bodies. In the dream, they are not dead.
"One plus one makes null(Nala)", they whisper. "Now go home. It was just a dream".
When he wakes from the nightmare at the tea table, the judge reads from the newspaper at the Rajabai Tower where two girls jumped and killed themselves.
At home in his room, Govind finds a letter waiting for him.
It says that his wife Kamala has delivered a baby girl, and that he must return to Nasik, to Trymbakeshwar...
Now Govind is on the banks of the Godavari, but he cannot get across because the boatmen are on strike.
He finds that some of the wrestlers are willing to take people across, for a price.
He crosses the waters on the shoulder of a wrestler who happens to know his father well.
As he nears his house, he hears the cries of his child.
At home, he is made welcome.
He tries to take a photograph of his wife and child, but she is reluctant.
In the photograph, we see a baby growing up.
It is time for Govind to go back to Kala Bhuvan and get his new job. The letters from Prof. Gujjar are piling up.
This time, they do not have to cross the Godavari on the shoulders of wrestlers, for a bridge has been built.
The family comes to the bridge to see them off. They take off their shoes and cross the bridge.
Once again, they are in the train from Nasik to Bombay. Govind sees once again the same landscape where he had seen the huge camera capturing the length of the train.
They get off at V.T., but the figures of the gargoyles no longer seem alive.
They hail a Victoria and Govind arrives at his uncle's home, a babe in his arms. They are happy to see him.
Govind wants to show his baby the first balloon flight in Bombay. They go to the parade ground where the preperations for the flight are being made.
Amidst the chanting of the priest, the sacrifice of the buffalo and the cacophony of the brass band, the balloon lifts off with Ramachandra Chatterjee inside.
The balloonist plays monkey tricks in mid-air, unable to control his excitement.
Govind shows off to his young wife, shooting the balloon in the sky.
1891- from Phalke stories
Govind moves to Ratlam and under the guidance of the Sessions Judge, P. Baburao Walawalkar, learns half-tone block process, photo litho, three colour printing, ceramic photography.
Two girls jump to death from Rajabai tower.
VICTORIA GARDENS GRAND BALLOON ASCENT AND DESCENT in an entirely NEW WAR PARACHUTE BY LIEUTENANT MANSFIELD, R.N.R. ON THURSDAY, 10TH DECEMBER AT 4 P.M. BY SPECIAL APPOINTMENT AND IN THE PRESENCE OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD HARRIS G.C.I.E. GOVERNOR OF BOMBAY
Free admission for holder of Counterfoils of Tickets taken for the Amount of 5th December, 1891.
ADMISSION FEES
There will be no disappointment this time, the Company guranteeing to fill the balloon.
Tickets may be had at Messrs.SOUNDY &Co., LTD., BEYNON and CO., SOUTHWELL AND AUSTIN>
.... and at Mssrs. A. BHIGAJEE & Co., Apollo Bunder.
December11, 1891. A terrible calamity was the outcome of Lieutenant Mansfield's balloon ascent yesterday. WHen at an altitude estimated by some at a thousand feet, the balloon from some unexplained cause collapsed like a pricked bladder and the astronaut, the parachute and the remains of the balloon descended with frightening rapidity, Mr. Mansfield himself being dashed to the earth with such tremendous force that the life left his crushed and mangled body within a few minutes of his descent. The announcement of his performance had drawn together some thousands of spectators, all of whom looked forward with the keenest expectancy to a most enjoyable display. Everything seemed propitious, and having regard to the thoroughness of all the arrangements, nothing but success was anticipated. No suspicion of failure entered the minds of anybody. But unhappily as already stated, the unforeseen happened. The terribly tragic termination of Lieut. Mansfield daring exploit has sent a thrill or horror throughout Bombay and it may be safely asserted that even as passive spectators participated in yesterday's tragedy felt it as deeply and keenly as if he had been a personal connection of their own. He had only been here a little while but his daring had made him well known, while his geniality had made him well-liked, and the shocking ending to the career of so young and clever a man will be regarded in Bombay as a distinct calamity.
Gauhar returns from her dream of a romance with Chaggan, a Hindu noble of Banaras- the romance ends with his successful betrothal to a english speaking Saraswat girl who is conversant with the arts.
