Book Review [29] : Nine Lives - in Search of the Sacred in Modern India

                                   In last few weeks i finished yet another book by William Dalrymple. Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in modern India is the latest work by him.

He writes very emotively about various faiths and faithful spread across the breadth of India. I found this book a product of a confused mind. Its hard to believe that the author of From the Holy Mountain and The Last Mughal can write such a book. He started well with the story of Jain faithful who is going to have her last rites (known as Santhara, a slow peaceful death) , then he wrote about the Theyyam (religious rite of Kerala accompanied with vigorous dance and music). After that he lost his way and started to write the story and behavior of various faiths and cults. I don't know why he has missed Islam and Christianity in his book. I have no idea why he has included the story of Lal ShahBaz Qalandar in this book. That site is in Sind, Pakistan and its not even part of the disputed territory of India. May be William Dalrymple is still living in the fantasy of British India.

Time Pass (5/10)

None of the fathers had a better son

Last week i was in my village, known as Naurejpur in Jalaun (part of erstwhile Bundelkhand). This visit was my first visit to my home in 2010. Nothing is greater than the loving affection of mother, siblings and grand parents. Although in midst of infamous Indian summer with mercury playing with an healthy average of mid 40s, the serenity of village life has not lost its healing touch. Although i did not get enough chance to visit my farms and public buildings still the very thought of it is like nirvana. I always think to retire some day (10-15 years down the line) and to live life close to nature. Some times I think of starting a school and scholarship but become scared of my habit of frequent boredom. I never felt occupied in my entire life by a single type of work. But as they say some goals are so worthy its glorious even to fail.
                   Now i am back to Bangalore and to my job, and again become a part of millions of life making jobs tougher/messier (or simpler) to billions of people. To be very frank to my soul, i hate the entire corporate world, i hate money and the attachment but its difficult to prove whether i am not suffering from "Grass is greener on the other side syndrome". Last 18 months has made a traumatic impact on my life, personality, thoughts and some times i think that i have lost some part of my audacious nature. These thoughts have been lingering in me since the inauspicious early hours of 7th Dec 2008. Responsibility makes a person more humble and polite. Now i can feel the essence of the scene from "The Magnificent Seven" when Bronson tells that the Parents of those village kids are not coward but they feel responsibility towards their wives and children.

My father used to sing these lines ( from Ek Fool do Mali) when i was fledgling kid
Tujhe Sooraj Kahoon Ya Chanda,
Tujhe Deep Kahoon Ya Taara,
Mera Naam Karega Roshan,
Jag Mein Mera Raaj Dulaara

I don't know whether i can fulfill these lines but i will try to live up to them. Around 4-5 years back, one of my friends asked me "what do you want to have".
I replied him on the spot, i want to hear the the following line from my father before i die "None of the fathers had a better son". Unfortunately i could not die like Hector before the eyes of his father Priam.

Yet Again Dismal World Cup Campaign

As i write, India is slowly moving into very regular gloom of defeat and despair. Its very sad to see the defeat of such an immensely talented Indian team. Unfortunately, in the last 2 years since 2007 revival, we have not seen high quality consistent performances from youngsters. Indian players are highly inconsistent and when you see an youngster losing a lollipop catch then you have some serious issues in the team. Intensity of Chennai Super Kings in IPL was 100 times greater than the intensity shown by team India. I hate to say but now it seems like players play only for money. 3 years back, i had some high hopes from Team India in 2007 regular world cup when Team India was knocked out from the preliminary stage only. Team India needs to seriously look and fix the much conspicuous flaws in the system. World Cup 2011 is not too far and it will be real shame to lose that in initial rounds. That will be a real disaster and can even cost players their careers.

"Nothing is lost except love, honour, pride and cup. And all these are renewable things".

The Ghost of 26/11

I am very happy after hearing death sentence to Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab. Its a pity that a 20 years old Pakistani could make a mockery of India with such an ease on 26 Nov. Death to Kasab can only give us a false sense of security and achievement. The real job is to decimate the entire terrorism industry and we have not even started. I will be the happiest person on earth, the day when all the terrorists camps in Pakistan, India and elsewhere will get their death sentence and the day when all the criminal cases will be decided within a year or two. Amen.

Hammirdeva Chauhan

Very few people know the name of Hammir Deva Chauhan, the indomitable Rajput ruler of Ranthambhore and a direct descendant of legendary Prithvi Raj Chauhan (the ruler of Ajmer, Delhi and surrounding areas). He ruled for 19 years over Ranthambhore from 1282 to 1301 AD. Hammir gave refuge to two Neo-Muslim Mongols nobles who were chased by Alauddin Khalji (1296-1316) of Delhi sultanate. Alauddin asked Hammir to give him these two fugitives but Hammir refused because of the custom of Rajputs (Sharnagat ki Raksha). The initial attack was repusled by Hammir and a commander of Delhi sultanate Nusrat Khan was killed. 

Alauddin then himself commanded the army and sieged  Ranthabhore for many days. Finally Hammir Deva Chauhan came outside of the fort and fought chivarously. The rajput ladies inside the fort committed Jauhar. When the end was near Hammir Deva Chauhan beheaded himself and dedicated his head to the Shivlinga. 

Ranthambhore was captured after a bloody massacre. The Muslims refugees were brought infront of Alauddin. Alauddin asked them what is their last wish, the fugitives replied that they want to kill him and make son of Hammir Deva, the king of Ranthambhore. After saying this they all committed harakiri.

Such was the chivaloury of the Rajputs these days. They never flinch from their duties irrespective of the price they have to pay. The list of these great leaders never ends and remember one thing these leaders belong to only one piece of land called Rajasthan. No other state of India has ever produced such a chain of great and chivalrous leaders:

Bappa Rawal
Nagabhatta
Prthviraj Chauhan
Hammir Deva Chauhan
Rana Kumbha
Rana Sangram Singh
Maharana Pratap


I am proud to be a Rajput of Chandravamshi lineage. This is a great honour as well as a great responsibility.