Chapter 24 Chapter 22 Narayan Hemchandro

About this time Narayan Hemchandra came to England.I had long heard that he was a writer.We met him at Miss Manning's house in the Indian National Association.Miss Manning knew that I was not very social.Every time I go to her place, I always sit silently, except answering other people's questions, I never make a sound.She introduced me to Narayan Hemchandro.He doesn't understand English.His attire was queer—a pair of clumsy trousers, a wrinkled and dirty brown Persi shirt, without tie or cravat, and a velvet cap with a fringe.He has a long beard. He was small in build, with a round face speckled with smallpox.His nose was neither pointed nor flat.His hands kept stroking his beard.

Such a grotesque and strangely dressed person is naturally particularly eye-catching in a fashionable society. I said to him: "I have admired your name for a long time, and I have read some of your works. I would be very happy if I could visit my humble house." Narayan Hemchandro's voice was hoarse, and he answered me with a smile, "Of course, where do you live?" "On Store Street." "Then we are neighbors. I want to learn English, will you teach me?" "It's nothing, if I can teach you, I'm happy, and I'll do my best. If you like, I can come to the house."

"Then how dare you do it? I'd better go to your place. I also need to bring a translation exercise book." We made an appointment like this, and soon became close friends. Narayan Hemchandro knew nothing about grammar; he took "horse" as a verb and "run" as a noun. I remember many ridiculous examples like this one.But he was not discouraged by his ignorance.My knowledge of grammar was too limited to impress him much.Indeed, he was never ashamed of his ignorance of grammar. He said quite casually: "I don't go to school like you. I never felt the need for grammar in expressing my thoughts. I ask you, do you know Bengali? I do, I traveled in Bengal. It was me Translate the works of Mahalshi Devontronas Tagore into Gujarati. And I also want to translate many other languages ​​into Gujarati. And you know my translations I never stick to the original text, as long as I express the spirit, I am satisfied. Others have more knowledge and may do better in the future. But although I do not know grammar, I am very satisfied with what I can do .I know Marathi, Hindi, Bengali and now I am learning English again. What I want is a rich vocabulary, so do you think my ambitions stop there? Don't worry. I also want Go to France to study French. I heard that French has a lot of literary works. If possible, I would like to go to Germany to study German." And so he would talk endlessly.He has endless interests in learning foreign languages ​​and traveling abroad.

"Then you're going to America?" "Of course. How can I go back to India without seeing that New World?" "But where did you get all that money?" "What do I want money for? I'm not as fashionable as you are. I just want to eat and wear clothes. And that's all I can do with my books and the help of my friends. I always sit three Waiting for the train to travel. When I go to the United States, I plan to take the steerage." Narayan Hemchandra's simplicity is natural and at the same time he is very forthright.He doesn't show pride at all, it's just that he pays too much attention to his talents as a writer.

We meet every day.Our thoughts and actions are mostly the same.We are both vegetarians and we often have lunch together.This is the day I cook for myself and spend only seventeen shillings a week.Sometimes I go to his place, sometimes he comes to me.I cook English food, but he is not satisfied with anything but Indian food.He can't eat without soybean soup, but I make carrot soup, and he finally thinks my taste is very poor.Once he got some Mongolian beans, boiled them and brought them to me, and I was very happy to eat them.And so began the routine of frequent food exchanges between us:

Sometimes I send him good things, and sometimes he brings them to me. Bishop Manning's name was on everyone's lips then.Thanks to the efforts of John Burns and Bishop Manning, the longshoremen's strike ended early.I told Narayan Hemchandro how Dissrong praised the bishop's simplicity.He said, "Then I must meet this saint." "He's a big man, how can you meet him?" "What? I have my own way. I must ask you to write him a letter for me. You tell him that I am a writer and that I will congratulate him personally for his humanitarian work and tell him that because I don't know English, so I want you to be an interpreter together."

I wrote a letter according to his suggestion.But in two or three days, Bishop Manning came back and made an appointment with us.So we went to meet the bishop together.I put on my usual clothes for meeting guests, but Narayan Hemchandra was still the same, wearing the same shirt and the same pair of trousers.I joked about his appearance, but he laughed and said, "You civilized people are cowards. Great people never pay attention to a person's appearance, they pay attention to a person's heart." We entered the bishop's hall.As soon as we sat down, a tall, thin old gentleman came out to shake our hands.Narayan Henchandro greeted and said: "I don't want to delay your time. I have known you for a long time, and I came here to thank you for the good deeds you have done for the striking workers. I have always had a habit of visiting famous people in the world, so I'm here to trouble you today." This is of course my translator, and he speaks Gujarati.

"I'm glad you're here. I hope you enjoy your time in London, and that you enjoy the people here. God bless you." After saying these few words, the bishop stood up and bid us farewell.Once Narayan Hemchandra came to me wearing a pair of underwear and a "mop". My kind landlady opened the door and ran over in a panic—a new landlady who did not recognize Narayan Hemchandra—and said to me: “There is a man who looks like a madman. I want to see you." I hurried to the door and was surprised to find that it was Narayan Hemchandra.However, apart from his usual smile, there was no other expression on his face.

"But didn't the kids in the street chase you?" "Yes, they followed me. But I ignored them and they stopped fighting." Narayan Hemchandro stayed in London for a few months and then went to Paris.Sure enough, he learned French and translated French books.My French was good enough to proofread his translation, so he sent me the manuscript.In fact, he was not a translator, but just wrote down the general idea. In the end, he really carried out his determination to visit the United States.It took him a lot of trouble to get a steerage ticket.After he arrived in the United States, he was charged in court for wearing that underwear and "sweeping the floor" on the street for "extraordinary clothes".I remember he was acquitted.