Monday, March 20, 2006

Haridas Muzumdar - Miller's Hindu Connection

The subject of Haridas Muzumdar was brought up to me by Kreg at Millerwalks.com. I immediately found myself pre-occupied with investingating the relationship between Henry Miller and Muzumdar, a man who went from being Miller's Western Union assistant to being Mahatma Gandhi's spokesman in America.

Besides being an esteemed individual in his efforts to support Gandhi and India's independence movement, as well as the American Civil Rights Movement, Muzumdar also has the misfortune of generally being acknowledged as the unidentified man who mistakingly shits in a bidet in a Paris brothel, as portrayed in Tropic Of Cancer. I'll try to back this conclusion up.

HARIDAS T. MUZUMDAR -- EARLY CONNECTIONS TO MILLER

Born in India, Muzumdar came to the U.S. in 1920 "to study" [New York Times, Feb. 26, 1956, p.26 (1)]. 1920 was also the year Henry joined Western Union and quickly became an Employment Manager. According to Ferguson's Henry Miller: A Life, Miller employed Muzumdar and liked him enough to make him his assistant.

Haridas Muzumdar makes a pretty obvious appearance in Miller's Moloch, under the name "Hari Das." As if to confirm the identity, Miller writes about an incident in which Hari is harrassed by street urchins on his second day at Western Union, at which point he pulls out a copy of An Open Letter To Lloyd George--an essay he actually wrote--and starts reciting it [Muzumdar's Gandhi Versus The Empire (1932) lists Open Letter as the first piece written "by the same author.")

According to Miller in Moloch, Muzumdar had taken the Western Union job two months after his arrival in America: "He thought of his intended studies at Columbia. They seemed far away, and about as useful as a totem pole. [...] What could he do, in America, with a degree of 'Doctor of Philosophy '?" (p. 11) Muzumdar became a friend of Henry's; he visited his home for dinner and discussions. The "Hari Das" of Moloch will be featured in some other posting one day.
MUZUMDAR AND GANDHI

Muzumdar began to make a name for himself in 1923, a year before Miller left Western Union. Gandhi The Apostle (Chicago: Universal, 1923) was, according to Muzumdar, "the first full-length portrait of the Mahatma to appear in any language of the world" (ref.) [excerpts from a 1923 review in The Nation]. Miller makes reference to Muzumdar in a letter to Emil Schnellock dated November 5, 1923: "Write Haridas Thakorrial Muzumdar and request a copy of the New York Call."

Photo above: Muzumdar (in middle) laying garlands on the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia on January 26, 1931, to mark the first anniversary of India's Declaration of Independence [pic from Gandhi Versus The Empire].

Muzumdar continued to write from the U.S. about India's "non-violent revolution" throughout the 20's, but finally joined Gandhi in India in 1929. Muzumdar was part of Gandhi's famous Salt March in March-April 1930. During the march, Muzumdar upset Gandhi by eating ice cream when nobody else could. As one would hope, Gandhi didn't hold a grudge, and Muzumdar continued to be his champion in the U.S., writing Gandhi Versus The Empire (1932), Gandhi Triumphant! (1939), and more.

THE BIDET INCIDENT IN TROPIC OF CANCER

In Tropic Of Cancer, Miller tells of his brief and miserable stay with another Hindu from Western Union, N.P. Nanavati, a pearl merchant (called Nanantatee in the novel). Dearborn's Happiest Man Alive incorrectly identifies Nanavanti as Muzumdar (which she also spells incorrectly, an error Ferguson also makes). Anyway, through him, Miller is introduced to an unnamed Indian man described as a "young man" (to Miller's 40-year old self, anyway), to whom he is assigned the task of taking to a brothel. Long story short, as I'm sure you all know, this man shits in the bidet instead of just peeing in it, which is all one should do. A big stink is made, so to speak, and the dignified, refined Indian man is embarrased.

Is this Muzumdar? As narrator, Miller never insinuates that he's met him before. In fact, I'm not even saying that Miller did anything more than base a character on Muzumdar. However, this "young man" is "decked out in a corduroy suit, a beret, a cane, a Windsor tie" and other wise very refined, as is his educated speech. This is comparable to the Hari Das of Moloch and the reality of Muzumdar's education. He's also described as being "one of Gandhi's men, one of that little band who made the historic march to the sea during the salt trouble."

After they leave the brothel, further evidence is provided as Miller describes: "He talks about the eight vows that he took, the control of the palate, etc. On the march to Dandi even a plate of ice cream it was forbidden to take." Yes, even the ice cream is mentioned. He goes on to tell how the Young Man has newspaper men to see and lectures to give, as was Muzumdar's role. Also: "He has been to America." Finally, on page 94, Miller calls the Young Man a "saint:" at the start of the chapter, he references two Hindu "saints" he knew at Western Union, but only names one (Gupte). I think Muzumdar is the other.

Okay, one more: this bidet thing happened around August 1930, during the couple of weeks he was staying with Nanavati. On p. 90 of Cancer, Miller begins his introduction of the Young Man by saying "The young man had just come from India [...] The money he was spending was a gift from the merchants of Bombay; they were sending him to England to spread the gospel of Gandhi." In 1952, Muzumdar's preface to Mahatma Gandhi: Peaceful Revolutionary states "When all is said and done, my greatest debt is to the Saint of Sabarmati, my association with whom at the Satyagraha Ashram, on the Dandi March, and in London, I count among the greatest privileges in life" (thus placing him in England at that time). And in an article in the New York Times, dated August 29, 1930, Muzumdar is said to have "left India on July 11" (and was in New York by Aug. 29). These facts establish the possibility that Haridas was in Paris in late-July/early August 1930, the period in which Henry was with Nanavati.

MUZUMDAR LATER IN LIFE

1930s: Lectures in support of Marcus Garvey, at UNIA meetings;

1931: Prominent New York lecturer on the subject of Gandhi and India:

1947: Becomes a U.S. citizen;

Early 1950's: Professor of Sociology at Cornel College, Mt. Vernon, Iowa;

1956: Runs for US Congress as a Republican;

1982: Greatness of Gandhi: An American Estimate, edited by Muzumdar. After this, I lose track. I've located no obituary. Perhaps he's still alive?

43 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow! That is some excellent detective work, RC. I'm really impressed that you were able to trace the bidet incident to Muzumdar - the ice cream bit is perfect. Muzumdar seems like such an interesting guy. It's too bad he doesn't get more notice in Miller's biographies. And you know, I never did read Moloch. I think I'll give that one a turn next. Thanks for looking into this.

3:52 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I would recommend Ranganath Nandyal's Henry Miller in the Light of Eastern Thought for more information on Miller's connection to Indian philosophy and spirituality. While it does not pursue the Muzumdar connection, it investigates the impact of India on Miller: "It is no exaggeration to say that very few Indians have more love for India, more admiration for and more interest in Indian scriptures, and more adoration for Indian thinkers than Henry Miller" (42-43).

On 9 January 1949, Miller also wrote a piece for Bombay's Kaiser-i-Hind called "What India Means to Me." He writes that his acquaintance with "humble, obscure Indians" at Western Union allowed him "to understand why the great mass of mankind can never be fully enslaved, never utterly degraded" and to see that "the exalted being must eventually return to the great ocean of humanity to realize himself completely" (10).

7:39 pm  
Blogger RC said...

Thanks, Kreg, for putting me on the scent.

And thank you, James, for the recommendations.

9:45 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh man, thanks so much for your work on this. It is excessivly interesting and as always very inspiring!

11:57 am  
Blogger RC said...

Cheers Tony. Appreciate you taking a moment to post a comment.

12:11 am  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I knew Haridas Muzumdar. He is no longer living. I attended his funeral in Little Rock, Arkansas several years ago. For many years, before moving to Litle Rock, he taught at the Pine Bluff (Arkansas)branch of the University of Arkansas. His wife Amu also taught there. My husband helped him edit one of his books, written during the time he lived in Pine Bluff.

Have more info about him but no time just now to write.

4:10 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Did he seem like the type to drop a few turds in a bidet?

7:19 pm  
Anonymous Kreg said...

As a confirmation that Mazumdar was the model for the young man in the bidet incident, it appears that Miller confessed this once to his lawyer, Elmer Gertz. In Gertz's autobiography, To Life: The Story of a Chicago Layer, he writes:

"I did not hear the name Haridas after I left college, until I was discussing Tropic of Cancer with Henry Miller, in 1962, in Minneapolis, and learned the amazing fact that Haridas was the model for the Hindu in some fantastic passages in that highly original work."

You can read find a copy of this passage on Google Books - page 28

I stumbled across the Gertz connection via a blog post at WICKEDWORD

10:13 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Interesting post as for me. It would be great to read a bit more concerning that topic. The only thing I would like to see on that blog is some pics of some gadgets.
David Flouee
Block phone

10:29 am  
Blogger Chris Anderson said...

Haridas Muzumdar was my next door neighbor growing up while he taught inexplicably at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. He lived in Little Rock with his wife Amu. After Haridas passed, Amu passed away sometime later in route back to India. Amu was always nice and gracious. Haridas was set in his ways and took a substantial amount of talking to in order to get him to open up or smile.

10:39 pm  
Blogger Unknown said...

Agen Judi Online
Agen Judi
Agen Judi Terpercaya
Agen Bola
Bandar Judi
Bandar Bola
Agen SBOBET
Agen Casino
Agen Poker
Agen IBCBET
Agen Asia77
Agen Bola Tangkas
Prediksi Skor

Prediksi Skor AUSTRALIA VS KYRGYZSTAN 12 November 2015

1:40 am  
Blogger mmjiaxin said...

mulberry outlet,mulberry handbags outlet
prada outlet online
ferragamo outlet
coach outlet online
chanel outlet store
kate spade uk outlet
black friday 2015
ralph lauren outlet
discount ugg boots
cheap football shirts
lebron shoes
discount oakley sunglasses
polo shirts
kobe bryants shoes
designer handbags,handbags outlet,cheap handbags,purses and handbags,wholesale handbags,designer bags,bags outlet,handbags wholesale,cheap purses,discount handbags,handbags sale,wholesale purses,handbags and purses,designer purses
ugg boots sale
rolex watches
moncler jackets
oakley sunglasses wholesale
nike foamposite
mm1223

8:59 pm  
Blogger Unknown said...

jiannin0902
mcm backpack
ugg boots sale
louis vuitton bags
ugg clearance
nike air max uk
louis vuitton handbags
longchamp handbags
christian louboutin shoes
nike roshe
coach outlet store
cheap ugg boots
michael kors outlet
ugg outlet
ugg outlet
ralph lauren pas cher
michael kors outlet clearance
ugg boots
ghd uk
coach outlet
rolex uk
louis vuitton
cheap nike shoes sale
cartier sunglasses for men
jordan 4
coach handbags outlet
nike huarache
ray ban sunglasses sale
tiffany and co
michael kors handbags on sale
toms shoes

4:18 am  
Blogger Unknown said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

12:05 pm  
Blogger Unknown said...

That's so interesting, I've been really trying to look into him. He is my great grandfather, and he lived such an interesting life .

12:08 pm  
Blogger Unknown said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

12:11 pm  
Blogger Unknown said...

I have his obituary and also a paper signed by the President for when he became a US citizen. Also dedicating a holiday to him.

12:13 pm  
Blogger Unknown said...

I have his obituary and also a paper signed by the President for when he became a US citizen. Also dedicating a holiday to him.

12:14 pm  
Blogger Unknown said...

Haridas is my great grandfather!

12:14 pm  
Blogger Unknown said...

timberland boots
cheap nhl jerseys
christian louboutin
christian louboutin shoes
goose outlet
cheap uggs
uggs australia
giuseppe zanotti
oakley sunglasses wholesale
mlb jerseys
20171.11wengdongdong

10:57 pm  
Anonymous Monika said...

That appears to be excellent however i am still not too sure that I like it. At any rate will look far more into it and decide personally!

7:31 am  
Blogger Unknown said...

hermes belt
versace shoes
jordan shoes
fitflops
michael kors outlet store
michael kors handbags
cleveland cavaliers
golden state warriors
ed hardy clothing
air force 1 shoes
20170407

11:33 pm  
Blogger raybanoutlet001 said...

ray ban sunglasses outlet
michael kors uk
true religion outlet store
versace jeans
nike factory outlet
yeezy boost 350 white
ray ban sunglasses
miami heat jersey
coach outlet
ugg outlet
2017.7.5

9:46 pm  
Blogger jeje said...

san diego chargers jerseys
christian louboutin sale
nike outlet store
michael kors outlet clearance
adidas outlet store
golden state warriors
nike trainers uk
coach outlet
nike soldes femme
salomon boots

9:25 pm  
Blogger Unknown said...

www0614

polo ralph lauren
oakley sunglasses
pandora charms
five fingers shoes
fitflops outlet
burberry outlet
pandora jewelry
ecco shoes
tods outlet
givenchy handbags

9:56 pm  
Anonymous Roy (rrzgow@gmail.com) said...

Interesting narrative on Haridas. He was my stepfather for a brief period when he was a professor at Cornell College. His marriage to my mother (his second marriage) ended in divorce about 1958. We believe Haridas can be seen in the photo of the Gandhi funeral pyre on the cover of Life Magazine at the time of Gandhi's death.


9:23 pm  
Blogger SSSSSS said...

balenciaga shoes
yeezy boost 350 v2
vans shoes
longchamp longchamps
nike air force
nike huarache
adidas stan smith men
hogan outlet online
adidas stan smith
adidas superstar UK

3:27 am  
Blogger jeje said...

ralph lauren outlet
nike chaussure femme
fitflops shoes
pandora charms outlet
ecco shoes
michael kors outlet online
adidas yeezy
pandora
adidas nmd
supreme shirt

9:14 pm  
Blogger Unknown said...

www0906

ralph lauren polo
coach outlet
golden goose
moncler outlet
canada goose outlet
ugg boots
canada goose outlet
christian louboutin outlet
mbt shoes
coach outlet

10:19 pm  
Blogger yanmaneee said...

yeezy boost 700
nike foamposite
jordan shoes
jordan shoes
nmd
nike air force
kd 11
chrome hearts
nba jerseys
cheap jordans

10:54 pm  
Anonymous Mahendra Doshi said...

I am doing a piece on the Gujaratis who came to the U.S.A.Haridas Muzumdar was one of a few had a long career here. Does anyone know when he died? I really like to know.

5:21 pm  
Blogger Jasabola said...

poker online
poker online
poker online
poker online
poker online

4:52 pm  
Blogger yanmaneee said...

kd shoes
lebron james shoes
golden goose
yeezy boost 350 v2
lebron shoes
jordan shoes
yeezy
yeezy boost 350 v2
yeezys
kobe shoes

9:42 am  
Blogger Unknown said...

Mudahnya Withdraw Situs Terpercaya
Situs Slot Online Terpercaya
Mudahnya Deposit Situs Terpercaya
Freebet Gratis Tanpa Deposit
Bomjudi Situs Winrate Terbesar
Agen Sbobet Terpercaya
Link Alternatif Arenawin

5:14 am  
Anonymous usbergerac-rugby.com said...

Exclusive material, thank you to the writer. It is actually incomprehensible in my opinion at present, however in common, the usefulness and importance is mind-boggling. With thanks and all the best… usbergerac-rugby.com

4:41 am  
Blogger yanmaneee said...

golden goose shoes
supreme hoodie
stephen curry shoes
nike sb dunks
supreme new york
curry 7
supreme
air jordan 1
kyrie 6
kobe shoes

9:44 am  
Anonymous dez magic said...

A very informative story and lots of really honest and forthright comments made! This certainly got me thinking a lot about this issue so cheers a lot for leaving! dez magic

12:58 pm  
Blogger BOMJUDI said...

Hobispin
Hobi Spin
Hobi Free Spin
Hobifreespin
Agen Bola
Judi Online24jam Slot Terpercaya
Judi Slot Pragmatic Play
Situs Parlay
Website Judi Bola Terpercaya
Judi Slot Online Apk
Cara Daftar Roulette Online
Judi Slot Online Terbaik
Situs Rekomendasi PokerClub88
Situs Alternatif Pokerclub88
3dbet

11:54 pm  
Blogger BOMJUDI said...

Bomfreespin
Bomjudi
Bom Judi
Bom Free Spin
Situs Slot Tergacor
Slot Gampang Menang
Bomfreespin
Bank Online 24 Jam
AFB
AFB 365
AFB365
Pokerclub88
3dbet
Hobispin
Hobi Spin
Hobi Free Spin
Hobifreespin

11:55 pm  
Blogger BOMJUDI said...

Situs Paling Gacor
Slot Pragmatic Gampang Menang
Slot Pragmatic Gacor
Isin Live Togel
Bomjudi
Game Slot Dapat Uang
Hobispin
Judi Online BRI 24 Jam
Pemburucuan
Situs Paling Cuan
AFB 365
AFB365
Bomjudi

12:12 am  
Blogger BOMJUDI said...

Bomjudi Slot
Slot Pragmatic Gampang Menang
Slot Pragmatic Gacor
Bom Judi
Slot Autowin
Game Slot Dapat Uang
Bandar Slot Jackpot Terbesar
Judi Online BRI 24 Jam
Pemburucuan
Situs Paling Cuan
AFB 365
AFB365
Bomjp
Bom Jp

12:22 am  
Anonymous Mahendra Doshi said...

I finally researched when Haridas T.Muzumdar died. He died in Pine Bluff, Arkansas on june2,1995. He was 95 years of age.

2:08 pm  
Blogger daftar slot online agen judi bola resmi said...

freechip gratis terbaru tanpa deposit

10:35 am  

Post a Comment

<< Home