'M. P. Ajmera' a short story.

 

    'M. P. Ajmera' is a short story written by Mahendrasinh Parmar and published in 2016. This story is a part of Short Story Collection named 'Polytechnic.' The genre of the story can be categorized as a Black Comedy. This tale follows Third person narrative technique with an omniscient view.


      Narendrakumar Ajmera ( M. A. Sanskrit )  is the protagonist of this story. By designation he is a primary teacher but dreams to be a University Professor. In the beginning of the story he shows the vexation of primary teachers. which is being load on them by government.  ( According to Narrator!  ) For Ajmera , his degree is in a vain as he remains busy in census survey, polio immunization campaign,  family planning,  literacy campaign and etc. He considers these all things as a donkey work.
     However, as he is an onus teacher,  this time he gets work as an Election Officer.  It is his first duty as an election officer, here things becomes more comic as he gets his duty in super sensitive booth. For him this is like an important duty to fulfill.

      Here, an interesting thing starts.  He reaches at the booth.  ( EVM machines were not developed ! ) People from village invites him for a dinner but he denies to go as he considers this as a bribe / trap !
        Now Narendrakumar seems more serious,  responsible and faithful to the democracy.  He remains hungry for a whole night. On the other hand we see poor condition of primary school. The same narration we find in 'The White Tiger' - novel by Arvind Adiga. Even he doesn't sleep at night.  When he goes for ' Morning Work', he carries all the voting papers / Ballot with him. But he leftover as he sees foxes and dogs - doesn't cast his 'morning' vote...! On the other side policeman enjoys the treat given by villagers, especially by Power. On the day of voting Ajmera sees a man with big moustache. Who again invites him for the lunch.  But suddenly he finds issues regarding bogus voting. People just gathered around booth. Albeit of the risk of his life,  he warns a herd.  At the same time he doesn't find policeman ! He just threatened by that herd but he replied that I will not let die the democracy of a nation.

        At the end of the day,  he submits the Ballots,  but the voting percentage are lower compared to other booth.  He says : It is because of his integrity. After 3days's labour he reaches at home and finishes his
'Morning Work.' Now,  Narendrakumar seems totally exhausted.  
 
        After three months again he gets notice from collector to work in an election.  But nobody becomes ready to work in that super sensitive booth.  Here , we see that suddenly Narendrakumar gets selected for University Professor. Thus , some how some questions raises in our mind that how Narendrakumar makes himself free from the duty of an election officer...!? Is he withdrawals his name by giving money...?  But we know that he is a man of integrity.

     But the last conundrum is, how he gets name of M. P.  ...!? ( For that you can read story...!)

     By concluding this review I can say that writer has used a comic tone to show the hardship of teachers.  At the same time we see two nation : Nation of light - darkness.  Also the satire on Police system and etc.