Nero And Robin

I hate politicians.

I say I hate politicians not because they have come to epitomize the corruption, got the culture of courtiers, chamchas and goons into the mainstream, split the entire country deep down on lines of caste, religion, creed, what not! I say I hate politicians not because the only thing they know is to ‘save their a##’, and behave as if they are God sent and forget that they are in their political seats of power because of the silent voters who vote them in (and out of power if things go way out of control) and try snub them at every given opportunity. They behave as if the common man is a cockroach, and once in 5 years as a ‘vote bank’. They, for their own personal ends and means, just because they have to get their opponents from within his own party and because they have to end those people’s political careers can go to whatever extent. Here, let me talk about our ‘Robin hood’ who gathers goons, thugs, and people beyond law; pack them into lorries, vans, jeeps, and get them into a city a good 250 odd km away, and orchestrate riots, the worst riots and thankfully the last big ones till date that this city has seen. He threw those opponents out of power and in doing so, threw his own political party out of power. Then, he got into the drivers seat of power of his party, and take on a ‘Nero’. While our ‘Nero’ was busy wooing the white skinned people creating a ‘cyber land’, this ‘Robin hood’ sat calmly, with a smile on his face which at times was really provoking a fight when his opponents had objections on his way of work. This Robin Hood is truly of a feudal mould. Born in a rich feudal and most importantly a factionist family, from an agrarian background, never had to think about money. He, after all, was born with not just a golden spoon but with a golden spoon studded with diamonds. The amount of land his family owned was counted as only ‘as far as your eye can see’ and could not, and still cannot be measured in acres. It still is so. Some of it own and earned property, some of it encroached government land, some of it handed down by his ancestors, and some just ‘gifted’ by people you know who. This Robin Hood was one of the youngest taxpayers from that part of the land. Being from a feudal background, was also well educated, a professional doctor at that. Feudal and factionism took the better and also, probably a thought that an extension to the power is politics. At that time, ages ago, Robin Hood met Nero, both as comrades, as partners, as friends started their careers. Nero, due to factors beyond anything, and initially by virtue of sentiments associated with his wedlock, has moved on to the tent of the best theatric and by far the most enigmatic leaders of the place. Robin Hood stuck to the roots, quite literally, not just to the political affiliations but also to the rustic rural background. Cut the picture to over a decade, Robin Hood, as mentioned, has become the head of his unit (with a little help with the goons, thugs, sprinkled with a few riots, faction feuds, and all) and Nero, after cutting from the ‘umbilical chord’ of his charismatic pap-in-law (and what a way he cut that chord… it was so bloody, that Nero’s thrown was washed with blood) has become the ‘king’ of the land. But, Nero being Nero was not satisfied with the Rome he had at his disposal, but, wanted to build his own Rome in cyber land, totally forgetting that his kingdom remains intact by virtue of the real votes of the real Romans, and not by the virtual Romans of his virtual land. But, Robin Hood being Robin Hood, though had every wealth, with all the power in his backyard ‘estate’ was aspiring for more. Aspiring is one thing, but walking for 1500 km directly onto the thrown of the land was a thing of awe. Being a doctor by profession, Robin Hood knew the ‘pulse’ of Romans and much better than Nero himself. To try and give a panacea for these Romans, he tried giving things, essentials and at times non-essentials too. But, at the same time, he gave things to his courtiers too and also ended up creating a mini ‘Sanjay’ in his own family. He also tried selling parts of Rome to serve people and also his people. But, at the end of the day, Romans never ceased to be in awe of this Robin Hood. But that is not just why I hate politicians of the day, or do I have to say, of the recent past (though it is not still that very believable to talk in the past tense in this story).

Both Robin Hood and Nero loved to hate each other and hated to love each other. That is the most simplistic way to put things across. But, that is the fact. They never left an opportunity to swear at each other. Robin Hood was on record in saying that Nero would feel ashamed of being born to his mother if all the truth comes out about the past. Nero was not far behind when he accused Robin Hood of being a cold-blooded murderer. Both of them stooped downed to newer lows by the day. But at the end of the day they were still friends and it is the best-kept secret. I get reminded of the lines that transpire between King Priam and Achillies, which go something, like this… ‘If I let you walk out of here, if I let you take him, it doesn’t change anything. You are still my enemy in the morning’ to which King Priam retorts ‘you are still my enemy tonight. But even enemies can show respect’. And here, the issue is between opponents, and not enemies when I talk about Robin Hood and Nero. They lived in Rome, which, thankfully, was still a democracy. Two small anecdotes based on which I can vouch for the fact that both were good friends, though opponents in the public eye. Nero had made enemies while trying to build his cyber land and those were called the ‘red shirts’ and these ‘red shirts’ plotted to kill Nero but thankfully, he survived the attempt on his life. It is said that among the first one to call Nero was Robin Hood to enquire about his well-being. Also, the other incident was when Robin Hood went walking to know the pulse of Romans, as it was long strenuous walk in mid summer, he had sunstroke and at that time, it was Nero who sent his personal set of doctors and good facilities to the doorsteps of Robin Hood. Enemies don’t do that. Opponents also cannot do that. It is only friends who can do that kind of a thing.

I hate politicians precisely because of this. To take a leaf from a very colorful and most eloquent ruler of another country, ‘Politicians also have personal lives’. But not for public consumption I guess. Never could the friends meet. Now, they never can. I hate politicians because of not the other reasons, but because of the sheer absence of humanity, a personal touch for their own, just because they are compelled to act to the gallery. And the gallery does not approve of friendship between Nero and Robin Hood.

This is for the Robin Hood, who lost his life because of bad weather, because of rains. The same rains about which he joked a while back that the rain God has joined his fold and that is the reason that there never was a drought in the land from the time he took to the realm. And he Robin Hood vanished in the forests, close to the rural folks that he claimed to be his. And he had to be brought back to the city after taking help from an ambulance network service, which he has been instrumental in getting wider and to serve the common man. He died while on his way to take a walk, this time only to take a walk for a place in history.

I hate all politicians equally, but, at the same time, I have no objection to admitting and approving the small ‘blips’ of good work that they do… few and far between.

I guess you, the reader would know who the Nero, Robin Hood and the other characters are in this story.

Be compassionate, be humane, be a politician later... you never know if there is a tomorrow ever!

Diwali - Eid - 'Hyderabadiyat'

Been a while since I have posted something here. I still am not able to do justice to this completely, but, as of now, I have this writeup I have made for some other purpose a couple of years back, when both Diwali and Eid fell on the same day. That was the time, I wrote about the significance of both these festivals, and how similar all the religions are, though we keep fighting on petty issues. Also, through this essay, I tried to show how Hyderabad celebrates both these festivals, and tried giving it a local flavor.

So, here it is...

If India is known for its rich cultural heritage and religious tolerance, welcome to the Melting pot, Hyderabad! What best time to know about the cultural and religious heritage than this month, November, for, this is the most happening month on the festive calendar, after all this is the month when Deepavali and Eid-Ul-Fitr are celebrated! This is not about knowing how these festivals are celebrated, but to throw light on the much finer aspect that is going missing in the modern day world and how close we both are, two brothers after all!

This is the most revered, the most pious month according to both the Islamic calendar and also the Hindu calendar. Eid marks the end of Ramadan, the month long fasting. Eid-Ul-Fitr literally means “Festival of Breaking the Fast” in Arabic. Ramadan, the holy ninth month of Islamic calendar is the month of sacrifice and to look inwards and become a better human. It is marked by prayer, fasting, and charity. It is primarily a way of seeking proximity to God.

Ramadan and its significance is marked by the fact that it is mentioned as Siyam (singular: Saum) in Arabic which is the fourth pillar of Islam and places a number of rules for self restraint on the activities of Muslims during Ramadan. This month is significant as this was the month when the holy Qur’an was revealed to the humans through the Prophet Muhammad by the holy angel Gabriel. Muslims consider the Qur’an to be God's speech recorded in the Arabic language, and transmitted to humanity through Prophet Muhammad, who is considered the last of the prophets.

On the other hand, Diwali falls on the last day of the seventh month of the Hindu calendar, Ashwin. There are many tales about the festival based on which part of the country you hail from. On this very day the sun enters its second course and passes Libra, which is represented, by the balance or scale. Hence, this design of Libra is believed to have suggested the balancing of account books and their closing. Despite the fact that this day falls on an amavasya (new-moon) day it is regarded as the most auspicious. Diwali is the day when King Ram’s coronation was celebrated in Ayodhya after his epic war with Ravana, the demon king of Lanka.

By order of the royal families of Ayodhya and Mithila, the kingdom of which Sita was princess, the cities and far-flung boundaries of these kingdoms were lit up with rows of lamps, glittering on dark nights to welcome home the divine king Ram and his queen Sita after 14 years of exile, ending with an across-the-seas war in which the whole of the kingdom of Lanka was destroyed. In Kerala it is celebrated as the day of the return of their beloved king, Bali. The story is that Vaman, an avatar of Vishnu while sending Bali to the nether world, gave him a blessing that he can return to his people once a year to light millions of lamps from the one lamp that was gifted by Vaman himself, so that on the dark new moon light of Diwali, the blinding darkness of ignorance, greed, jealousy, lust, anger

It is also the day when the world celebrates the end of the demon king Narakasur ruler of Pragjyotishpur (a province to the South of Nepal) in the hands of Lord Krishna.

Prophet Muhammad said, “Ramadan burns the sins and faults, just as the fire burns the wood.” The importance of this divine month was reiterated by the Prophet when he said, “The Month of Ramadan is the month of Allah (God), bringing His Mercy and Forgiveness.” And the Hindus light the diyas on Diwali to denote that innumerable rays of light and knowledge pierce the impenetrable darkness and ignorance. A sublime light of knowledge dawns upon humanity and devotion of man finally conquers ignorance. This self-enlightenment is expressed through the twinkling lamps, the diyas that illuminate the palaces of the wealthy as well as the lowly abodes of the poor.

It is believed that on this day Lakshmi walks through the green fields and loiters through the bye-lanes and showers her blessings on man for plenty and prosperity. Both Ramadan and Diwali speak of correcting oneself and becoming a better human. According to Islam, Ramadan fasting leads one to become a better human by way of conquering oneself, their desires and wants to attain knowledge while the diyas of Deepavali signify the attainment of knowledge.

In Islam, fasting is worship, a time of reflection to refresh our long-forgotten pledge with God, the pledge of being perfect witnesses of the Prophets’ lifestyle. It is the time to look at ourselves critically, see where we have departed from the ways of the Prophets. On the other hand, the Hindus, on the day of Diwali, worship the goddess of Wealth, Lakshmi. Muslims, as mentioned before, believe that the month on the whole is blessed as the holy Qur’an was bestowed to the humanity and that the humans can reach the closest to Him this whole month. There is a belief in the Hindus that Lakshmi walks on the earth during Diwali and to welcome her, the pujas are done.

So, no matter you are a Hindu or a Muslim, this is the time you can get the closest to God. On the day of Eid, there are special prayers that are held at the Idgahs, where people congregate in large groups and offer prayers to God. Diwali is also marked by a visit to the nearest temples in the day and pujas done along with the families at night. And how can Diwali and the festivities be complete without the mention of firecrackers? After all, this is the festival of lights, sweets, rangolis and crackers and fireworks, not necessarily in that order! There generally are marathon rounds of cracker bursting that at times continue till the wee hours of the next day!

Now let’s look at the similarities in the way we celebrate these festivals. One buys new clothes, and lights and decorations mark the festivities. Children are seen as the busiest lot with gifts galore. There is shopping frenzy all around as it is the biggest festival. Families and friends visit each other and exchange sweets and dry fruits. They also have special meals together. They greet and hug each other and seek blessings from the elders. This is a typical festive atmosphere, and one cannot make out whether this was a mention about the Eid or Diwali as such, as this is how both of them are celebrated.

Almost similar! In fact, one of the main features that mark Eid is the charity that is associated with it. There are business communities, mostly from the “Old” parts of Lukhnow, Delhi or Hyderabad where both Muslims as well as Hindus equally take part in giving a percentage of their earnings to charity, either to the poor or to the nearest masjid. Ask any old timer from these cities as to what festival it would be when people wear new clothes, exchange sweets and especially dry fruits, he would have two answers… Eid or Diwali!

There is a very good reason behind Hyderabad being referred as the “Melting Pot” and that reason is a delicacy that is special to this place! At the time of Eid, visit any Muslim family and there is a “Must Have” dish, which is called “Sheer Korma”. Also, if you visit any Hindu family, not just in Hyderabad, but to any typical Telugu household of the Telangana, you would for sure be served with a dish called “Penilu”. So what? What is the similarity, one might ask! Sugar, dry fruits fried in clarified butter and vermicelli in milk, that is how it is made no matter you call it “Sheer Korma” or “Penilu”!

Well, if you are still thinking about the similarities, then here is more food for thought. Diwali is the day when Bhagvan Mahaveer, one of the holiest prophets of Jainism attained “Nirvana” this day and this is the reason that makes this day auspicious for Jains. So, time for prayers, celebrations, feasts, Indian style, whether you are a Hindu, a Muslim or a Jain!