Horizon of My Table

'Table' -- a small and wonderful word having   huge connotation, a necessary part of one' s life, a symbol of one' s status, and an essential part for those who read and write. Bertrand Russell has made it famous for its philosophical jambo. He says though it is not problematic for a lay man but becomes  a matter of concord for the philosophers.

I had a dream at my youngest age that  I am sitting  on my chair with books and writing pad with  enough pens  and inks of variety around me , with fire place nearby.  I am none other than Tolstoy or Solzhenisyn  or Aha !! Lewis Carroll

My Dream is broken and forgotten within few years.

One does not know what table  is but one cannot avoid its utility , excluding me, in our life . I say 'excluding me' because I used to read and write on my bed  except in my dream . I used to scattered books all over and keep my pillow on my lap and  write and reading was done almost in half sleeping mode. I was so comfortable with my posture that inspite of being reprimanded by the elders I never changed my habit of reading and writing in that way. For me table has become a non- entity in my life, I never care for that wretched thing while I eat, or talk or watching T.V. I used to remain in touch with the earth so cool and so cosy.

Hence, Why should  I write about 'table' vis-a-vis  table , now, so early in the morning ?  Corresponding to the word ' table' there may not be any table in the world like Lotus- Sky. But one fine morning suddenly I felt a need for table so that even if I am on bed or floor I can sit and write . So I ask my elder sister to gift me a small table in size so that I can sit and write like the table of old style of Munim or pandit moshay . She gladly gifted me a wooden small table but  very heavy  on festival time. I was very happy , I arranged my books inside and sit on the floor  to write like poet vidyapati , waiting for krishna while writing geet govinda . Gradually the excitement of the table subsided and it becomes the dumping ground for keeping old papers etc and nothing else . It was kept in the corner and I almost forgot about its existence . And one day while cleaning the room and other thing I discard ed that small table to my milk man .He happily received it for his son

The story begins  two years before when suddenly I felt 'a need of a table'  -- why ? I wanted to know  the mechanism  of the table which Russell investigated so minutely and ended almost in an obvious manner that -- it is our instinctive faith that we take it for granted that there is a table infront of us , although there was no reason to suppose that it is a table.  I wanted to experiment  with Russell , therefore, I called our carpenter and ordered for a table of my choice --- big enough to accomodate my books and a place for a computer,  printer and other accessories needed. One afternoon he came with a large supplements with and  it was fixed in my room. I kept a chair close by so that I can see and feel the touch of my ' dream table' . Primarily ,  I thought,  since I was not accustomed to table - chair arrangement , that is why , I was feeling so uncomfortable . My hands were not reaching to the books kept on the top of the table, neither can I write anything . I was deep neck infront of the table like the magic mirror which children enjoy in Science City . So my sister told me , ' keep two fat pillows below, you will be as high as the table and will be able to write '. I did follow the instruction . Lo !! I was feeling great over the two pillows . It was a royal seat,  no doubt, but very inconvenient to sit on. My sister insisted to sit that way but I could not . Later on it was used only for keeping the books and papers and never again for writing . Then came a momentous  day in my life when I disposed the whole thing and ordered for a large almirah for keeping the books and computer.

The matter of possessing a table , ' my table' was over for me by then.

Now the second phase of exploring the  table started in my life and I searched for a folding table so that I can use it whenever and wherever it is required .  And one day my dream came true when I found in a fair four seater folding garden table. Immediately I ordered and waited eagerly for its delivery . The final moment came and one evening the delivery boy came and demonstrated how to unfold and fold the table . It was so small in size that I can keep it anywhere in my room without occupying much space .  Next day I kept my room clean and clear of clutter so that I can unfold the table. I did it and sat for half an hour, but when unfolded it occupied the whole space in the room , I did not realise that it was meant for four people . I could not make any movement  in the room because of its size . It was radiating everywhere.  After 3-4 days it was kept close in the box and waited for another customer to take it away  and with that my dream was also gone away.

As long as it was there, my head pain became a daily affair. Neither could I use it nor could I throw it away . One day a very close person asked me about the folding table and from where did I purchase it . I immediately  handed him over the table  with pleasure. For me it works like medicine , my head pain had  'gone with the wind'  like.

I decided that I will not  go for any kind of table now.

The table , as Russell has pointed out , is a real mystery , I can never be able to use it . I am not destined to possess a table . Russell was right it is beyond my reach to know and handle it . 

The story has another  twist .

Last year, my sister , who possessed two tables at a time, wanted to throw away  one of them because she did not need it . She asked me whether I can take one of them. I readily agreed because it was from my home  collection and I don't have to spend  a coin also . And I took it happily and brought to my room . It was nothing very  difficult but shifting from one room to another. I was overjoyed that at last I got one table which is quite familiar to me , for long 20  years it was in our house,  well maintained and serving well too. I kept all my necessary things in the drawer and books on the top and started sitting by keeping a chair there. I was too glad to hold it , so soft and smooth , not with dancing atoms as Russell suggested but hard and dignified, although top of it was little bit retroflex . But that was not very  irritating

Suddenly one day I heard a noise  and presuming something fell from the top I  came running to my room . Lo !!! another blow to me !! the drawer of the table fell flat on the earth and things were scattered all over . I was shouting what is this !! What happened to my dear table !! I called carpenter,  he saw it and adjusted the drawer and assured me that it is alright  now and nothing to worry about it 😊

Days passed and as usual I kept my reading and writing on bed intact. Because there was no place to keep anything for writing . The table  was full of books and paper but no place to write. It was mine but not actually 'my table' . I understood that  my bed seat pulled me out  whenever I went close to my table  to sit and write something.  Was it a rage or jealousy , but I did not mind this possessiveness  of my bed seat,  I obliged it sitting there and doing my work .

I used to visit my room very often and feel the touch of my table . I will not forget the day when  the drawer of the table was struck and I could not pull it out  to get some important thing from inside . I tried hard and hard but it was adament not to come out .Finally I went to the shop to purchase those things like stapler, envelop and gumstick . And then next day while pulling out the drawer , the whole thing  was in my hand , the carpenter told me it was broken it could not  be repaired .

Thus there end the adventure of the third table .

Now in the picture you can see 🙂 the fourth table which I once again venture for. Once I visited the place of legendry author Sharatchandra Chattopadhyay, and Lo !!! There was a table with a slanting top , proudly telling the tale of its Master's legacy, adjustable to its Master's convenience. And me was tempted to have a table like that. My sister told me to have that type of table-slant -top but I restrict my temptation again this time and went for a flat top. So it is here.

Now it is a reality !!!

Table , oh ! Table there you are

Just at the heart of the room

Staring !! and murmuring...

"Feel my wooden warmth

By thou adorable touch

Bring life into me" .

Now I don't want to be  doubtful whether I can adjust with this table !!. But once again Russell has entered into my soul and giving me warning  that it is not so easy to handle an ordinary table . Once again it may slip out of your hands .Let myself be free from the clutches of these doubts.

Friends,

please pray for me and for  my table .

Let us have  bond between us.

Let us write together.

Let us read together.

Be peace everywhere in the room with the table.