Raphael Pentalian

Katyusha’s real name was Katerina Maslova. Her mom was a simple dairy maid. The dairy belonged to two sisters who remained unmarried. They took a great liking to the pretty, blue-eyed Katyusha and cared for her like their own daughter. The younger sister was a kind – hearted lady who baptised Katyusha and officially adopted her. Katyusha had a carefree childhood as part – caretaker and part- relative of her land ladies. They taught her to read and write; and soon, she read out the world classics for them. She grew up full of joy and happiness.
When she turned sixteen, her land ladies received a short visit from their nephew, Prince Dmitri. He was a highly intelligent and righteous college student at the time. He found much joy in his aunts’ company. Moreover, his innocent heart loved the beautiful Katyusha with a refined purity. After an idyllic sojourn, he left to pursue his studies.
It was a long time before Prince Dmitri came over to visit his aunts again. It was just before he started his military service. But the innocent lad had now turned ruthless and cunning. The unsuspecting Katyusha fell for his wily charms and lost her innocence forever that Easter season. As months went by, Katyusha realised with horror that she was with child. Her upright landladies could not bear this terrible truth and Katyusha was forced to leave their loving abode with a broken heart. She ended up in a brothel by the age of twenty – seven. Her pitiable life became even more miserable when she was falsely implicated in the murder of a wealthy businessman. She was found guilty and sentenced to four years hard labour in Siberia.
But one of the jury members shuddered with horror when he heard the name ‘Katerina Maslova ‘during the trial. It was none other than Prince Dmitri. He was filled with remorse when he finally realised what his thoughtless treachery had wrought on an innocent girl’s life. At that moment, his mind, his thoughts and his very being underwent a resurrection. He vowed to save the girl from her cruel fate at any cost. As the first step, he decided to change his sinful ways. He bequeathed his vast farms to tenants at marginal rents and proceeded to abandon the wanton luxury he lived in till that day. He adopted a simple and frugal lifestyle that reflected his enlightened thoughts. He also decided to break off his engagement to a princess. Instead, he wished to redeem Katyusha’s ruined life by uniting with her in holy matrimony. Though his declaration of love and offer for marriage brought immense happiness to Katyusha’s pure heart, she refused his proposal. Meanwhile, Prince Dmitri did everything in his power to secure her release. But despite his best efforts, he could only get her sentence reduced to simple imprisonment. Katyusha met a male nurse during this period whom she chose to be her husband, thereby releasing Prince Dmitri from his self-inflicted purgatory of guilt and remorse. Katyusha left behind her old ways of alcohol and tobacco filled wayward life to embrace a new and virtuous journey with her bride groom. A grateful Dmitri withdrew to his new, simple life. He met an English preacher during his prison visits who presented him with a Bible. The Holy Bible slowly became his constant companion and refuge. He finally crystallised his life vision based on the Bible “To love, and to love..”
We read of countless Katyushas in newspapers and other media these days. However, we never hear about a Katyusha being brought back to a life of dignity and esteem. Truth be told, we never really bother to find what really happens to these Katyushas. Who is the visionary who wrote this treatise on true love and emancipation of betrayed girls? He was the celebrated Russian novelist, Leo Tolstoy. We just encountered the characters from his novel ‘Resurrection’. I would like to add that Leo Tolstoy was the spiritual guide of our own Mahatma Gandhi. He was also the guide and hero of Vinoba Bhave. Let us permit the highest creative ideals of our renowned artists and writers to enrich our minds and purify our thoughts. May their blessed quills guide us to live our lives to the fullest.
Translated by Dr Ashine Sony