Once I got an unexpected opportunity to check the authenticity of a soothsayer who claimed to be clairvoyant due to her intimacy with a devil incarnate.
One morning way back in 1971, we heard a commotion at Prof. Appapillai’s house. Prof. Appapillai was the senior most don and the Dean of our Faculty at that time. I went up and learnt that the previous night a thief had broken into their house and taken a lot of Mrs. Appapillai’s jewelry including her highly priced matrimonial talisman. The police were informed but beyond the formalities of recording statements, getting information on suspicious persons making routine enquiries in the neighborhood nothing happened. The old cook woman and companion of Mrs. Appapillai insisted on consulting a soothsayer. In desperation even this suggestion was followed up. As a young couple Padma and I were requested to go with the cook woman who was virtually illiterate.
We went to a place at Heerassgala where a young woman had a reputation for getting into a trance and make accurate predictions through the help of a spirit. I have been skeptical of such claims and wanted to test this woman. I suggested that I go first and then the cook woman comes in next as a separate client but we’ll make enquiries about the same thing. By the time we went, there was already a crowd of people and we had to wait for quite sometime. While waiting I noticed that some of the household people are moving among the crowd and getting into casual conversation. I warned the cook woman and Padma not to mention our problem to them because such information will enable the soothsayer to advance knowledge on our problem and build upon it. After sometime I was called in. The room was dark except for a single oil lamp with a low flame placed in front of a white tea plate. The wall behind was decorated with images of Gods and demons. As I entered the room the woman was muttering some sermons to the flame and then she started shaking her head 1st slowly and then vigorously increasing the pitch of her voice. Suddenly she commanded me to concentrate on the subject I wish to seek help and look into her face. I obeyed her commands and then after muttering more non-sensibles she stated with confidence that I have come to seek some solace for a lost romance. She said that I am deeply in love with a beautiful young girl but so far had failed to get any response from her. Immediately I realized that she is going on a wrong track perhaps deceived by my young appearance, but I baited her more and let her continue. She consoled me saying that this is a temporary setback and should perform some rituals to win her back. I kept on nodding my head agreeing with her. She then thrust a piece of paper with a list of items I should get ready and come another day to perform this ritual. I came out fully convinced that the whole thing is a big farce and this woman is fleecing innocent people. As arranged I was followed by the old cook woman as the next client. While Padma and I waited near the door we could hear her commanding the old woman to keep her mind focused on what she wants to know. Suddenly she shouted that the old woman is not concentrating and asked why she came. The old woman broke down blurted out ‘Why did’nt the master who just left the room tell you that we came to find out about a theft of jewelry?” That was it the soothsayer got furious and summoned me back into the room. As I came in she behaved like the devil incarnate and demanded why I misled her and did not divulge our real problem. She was growling and barking commands at me giving the impression that it’s the devil that is questioning me. I was non-plussed and calmly said “Well you are the soothsayer and all you asked me was to concentrate on my problem and not to tell why I came. I thought you had special powers to see what we are coming for.” She knew her bluff was called. She got into an uncontrollable trance, became hysterical and chased everyone out shouting and kicking and her helpers had to rush in and control her. Eventually someone came out and announced that there will be no more soothsaying on that day as the spirit had been provoked.
That ended our efforts of getting clues on the theft of Mrs. Appaplillai’s jewelry from a fraudulent soothsayer and the unhappiest person was the old cook woman who looked at me as a complete spoil sport.
