27 May 2026

Paisas, Annas, Rupees

When Dadabhai Naoroji
sat pondering over the 
economic state of India.
Reflecting, contemplating over 
the things he had seen. 
Referencing and cross 
referencing the things 
he had experienced in-

"Poverty and Un-British 
Rule in India"

His theories stretching
beyond mere arithmetic-
towards the quiet starvation
of an entire civilization-
the estimate itself must have 
trembled his hands.

If he had to put in numbers
Twenty rupees he would 
hesitantly write.
Twenty rupees per year
as the per capita income,
He would gulp it down
like hot coal before he came
out of his room in fury.

And as he walked down the
corridor- his thoughts 
lingering between rupees,
paisa and annas-
entire civilization shrinking 
down to a mathematical 
humiliation-

He must have encountered 
his personal assistant 
cleaning the floors of his 
posh bunglow-
He must have looked into 
his deep eyes.

The desperation in his eyes
must have asked for better 
wages for the first time.
And Dadabhai must have 
given away sixteen annas 
to hide his own guilt.

And that's when his
Drain Theory must have 
stood up to slap him,
and Dadabhai must have 
given two more annas in a
hurried miscalculation.

But did it make up for the 
rightful twenty rupees? 
Or down the history,
the wisdom of averages
overlooked it for larger good?