Revenge of the Chandalas

by Sandeep Nayyar

  “What if a Shudra wants to study them?”

  “If he is capable and willing, yes, why not!” responded Shastri ji to the volley of questions from his daughter. He knew where this conversation was headed, and this worried him.

  “Who decides the ability of a Shudra for studying holy texts?”

  “A guru or an acharya, most of the times. But why all these concerns, my child?”

  “If Gunjan is capable and willing, will you be ready to give him the education of Vedic texts?” Shatvari quashed all the arising concerns in her father's head regarding Gunjan's name.

  “Can I ask why you have become so interested in Gunjan lately?”

  “I am not interested, just sympathetic. I totally believe that it's not right to keep him away from the texts and learning he deserves. He was born of a Brahmin mother from a reputed family. He has to work and live like a Shudra, just like his father.”

  “No work is small. Each of us has a place in society. A cartman is needed by a society as much as a learned scholar. If he is content doing what he does, why should you be worried?”

  “It's not about what he does to earn a living. It's about his feelings and ambitions. If he yearns to study and be learned like a Brahmin boy, why can't he be allowed to do that? You yourself say that will is a form of energy, hence the term willpower. So, it's clear that if you kill a man's will and desires, you kill the man.”

  “Yes, you are right, and I agree with you. But we have infinite desires and wishes. It's our duty to restrain the ones that aren't practical.”

  “You mean to say that it's not practical thinking for a Shudra to fancy the thought of becoming a Vedic scholar. You think it's a wild whim?”

  “Not entirely, it will purely depend upon his abilities and skills. On the other hand, if all Shudras harnessed the desires of doing a Brahmin's work, who will do the job assigned to them? Our social system will simply collapse.”

  “I am not talking about all Shudras. I am only concerned about Gunjan. Will you be willing to assess his ability? Will you impart the knowledge he seeks if he qualifies to be your student?”

  “I will have to think on this.” Shastri ji knew it wasn't an easy decision.

  Shastri ji often pondered over the social problems of his times. He was a strong believer that faith and occupation should be individual choices. There were many examples in Vedic tradition where the great sages belonged to non-Brahmin and at times lower castes. Valmiki, Vedvyas, and Vishvamitra became one of the greatest sages not because of their lineage but their ability and merit. The caste system had its own challenges. Some crony Brahmin priests commanded favours from the state, and they flexed their influence over the lower castes. Plenty of discriminatory offences were on the rise. Though despite all this, the system was working and still in place. There had been no imminent threats of rebellion from the suppressed classes.

  But that didn't mean there would be no threat in the future. There was no way to guess if the society was running smoothly or sitting on a dormant volcano filled with inequity, discrimination, and anger and suppressed fury. He forced his mind to think over why Gunjan can't access the Vedic texts being a Shudra. Traditionally, only Brahmins and people from royal lineage could study the scriptures. Tradition had also proved that it could be modified and changed keeping with the times. Shudras also worship the same gods. They build temples and they appoint priests, adept at religious rituals. So why couldn't Gunjan be educated?

  Shastri ji felt at ease at his newfound conclusion. He made up his mind to assess Gunjan for his abilities to be his student.

  Shastri ji scanned Gunjan's face who sat in front of him. Shastri ji wasn't prepared to be lenient with Gunjan.

  “Shatvari told me about your interest in Vedas and Vedic scriptures. Is this correct?”

  “Yes, that's right I told her so.”

  “Why will that be? Why do you want to study the holy texts?”

  Gunjan felt the razor-sharp attention of Shastri ji's eyes on his face. He replied, “Because I want to understand life.”

  “Life! it's inside of you. Why do you wish to seek it in scriptures?” Shastri ji's forehead suddenly became a holy ground of many furrows as he continued to probe Gunjan.

  “My life is only finite. Its experiences are limited. I want to study the experiences of the great saints and sages who understood life more than me through years of spiritual pursuits and devotion.”

  Shastri ji looked at ease by Gunjan's increasingly evident self-confidence. It was clear that his personality didn't scare Gunjan. He asked, “How would you know if their experiences are relevant for you or not? If they are true or fake, if they'll be of any use to you at all?

  “That's why I am seeking a teacher. Only a guru can enlighten me.”

  Shastri ji's forehead furrows eased and a smile descended upon his lips. He sat observing Gunjan for a few moments to make sure his replies were genuine and if he really felt that way. He finally spoke, “Gunjan, I am convinced that you are fit to be my student and study the holy texts of our civilisation.”

  Gunjan almost jumped with happiness. He got up and bowed down to touch Shastri ji's feet. Shastri ji touched his head and blessed him by saying, “We will start from tomorrow morning. Come before sunrise in Brahma-muhurta. I expect my students to be punctual.”

  Feeling worried from not finding Gunjan's cart outside Acharya ji's house, Shatvari looked around confused. She felt a bit puzzled but thought there must be something that stopped Gunjan coming. Maybe the oxen got sick. They never get to rest. Yoked in carts, oil mills, or ploughing in the fields. These animals are exploited so much and on the other hand they are also worshipped. Man has such double standards.

  “Seems like your cartman is nowhere in sight today, so would you give me the pleasure of dropping you home Shatvari? I also want to seek Shastri ji's blessings,” Shatvari found Damodar standing at the door looking at her.

  “Thanks, but I am sure Gunjan is on his way here,” replied Shatvari and turned back towards the road.

  Damodar was adamant, he added, “Why not just try my carriage today. It goes like wind, by the time your Gunjan will come here, you'll be home.”

  “I am sure your carriage is fast and comfortable. It looks really nice. But I am sure Gunjan is coming here, and he'll be disappointed not to find me here.”

  “Aah, so you are concerned about the feelings of that cartman but have no idea that your friend might feel worse,” Damodar stepped back, sighed, and looked disappointed.

  Shatvari noticed Damodar's body language. She looked straight into his eyes and said, “Are we friends already you think? I think you are getting too excited.”

  Shatvari took pleasure in how Damodar blushed and looked down to hide it? He seemed to gain more courage from it and spoke again, “That's what I am saying, I'll drop you to your house and we'll get a chance to speak and be friends.”

  “But as you said your carriage goes like the wind, we'll hardly have time to know each other. Your habit of rushing things may get you in trouble, again.”

  Damodar knew what she meant. He kept quiet.

  Soon a slow-moving cart came in sight. It was Gunjan. Gunjan was soaked in perspiration. “Please accept my apologies for being late. One of the wheels got stuck in mud. As you know it is rainy season and it was hard to get around all the muddy roads.”

  Shatvari quickly glanced at Damodar and spoke with a playful tone, “It's okay Gunjan, it's only a modest bullock cart and not a horse carriage that goes like the wind.”

  Damodar knew what was happening. He noticed Shatvari quickly jumping to be seated in the cart. She looked back at him one final time. She had one corner of her lower lip pursed between her teeth. Damodar wasn't sure what to make of the entire conversation. On one hand, he was glad of the playful sarcasm that was exchanged between the two. But he was also worried if Shatvari took him to be a vagrant flirt who tried his hand at every passing beautiful girl. He knew he always liked her from childhood. As s
he had been younger than him, there never was a chance to be friends. Now they were both adults and could be friends and lot more. He was only a few years older than her.

  “So, how's your study going Gunjan?” Shatvari asked as soon as the cart moved.

  “Very good. Shastri ji has been telling me so many new things which I never knew about,” replied Gunjan while tending the oxen.

  “Really! What kind of new things? Let me hear them too.”

  “I am sure you already know this. Shastri ji told me that the whole universe is comprised of Brahma. Every living or non-living thing comes from the same source. Our soul is just a fragment of the divine universal soul. So, when the source is the same, we all are the same. There is no inequality.”

  “Yes, very true, even Acharya ji says something similar. He says that the universe is the divine play of Shiva and Shakti. So, yes, as you say, we are all equals, as if coming from the same parents.”

  “If we are the same and have a same divine source, why are we divided in a social system of caste and creed? Why doesn't a Brahmin wilfully embrace a Shudra in our society? Why does the society not approve relationship between a Shudra and a Brahmin? You are right when you say that the society stands opposite to what religion says.”

  “Gunjan, the problem is not in the entire society. People interpret religion and traditions as per their understanding and convenience. Not everyone thinks like Acharya ji or my father.”

  Shatvari felt that this topic is again prodding Gunjan's soft spot. She tried to change the topic. She asked, “Okay, tell me what you would do if you fell in love with a Brahmin girl?”

  Gunjan was visibly blushing. He looked away and replied, “I will try to not let this happen.”

  “You don't do love, my dear, you fall in love. It's not in your hands,” Shatvari was enjoying this now.

  Gunjan wasn't sure what Shatvari was pointing at. Could she feel the way his heart fluttered at her sight? Was she hinting at something she couldn't utter in words? Gunjan regrouped his thoughts and replied confidently, “Yes, I know love can't be controlled but one must always control his karma. Shastri ji says that a man must never act out of selfishness. Every man's karma should be to enrich the society and people around him. Love that hurts your society and your own family can't be any good and it should be controlled and shunned as soon as possible.”

  “I disagree with you Gunjan. By doing what you are saying you are feeding the ego of society and not serving your religion and humanity. Your karma should align with your religion or dharma. And all scriptures prove that love is supreme. There is nothing beyond or above love. I can't agree with any argument otherwise.”

  “Okay well, you are engaging me in an argument that I can't win. Not yet.”

  Gunjan kicked one of his oxen and whipped his lash in air. He was unconsciously thinking about him and Shatvari. He felt worried.

  Chapter 8

  Neel was shocked to see that against his plan only half of the Kosala soldiers went after Dhananjay's battalion. The rest of them stayed there and hoisted South Kosala's flag as if they had won the battle. Many of them had opened bottles of wine to celebrate the perceived victory. The message was clear, they had won the battle and they would wait there until a message comes from the other half of the army.

  Disappointed to see his plan failing, Neel gathered his thoughts. He believed that this was not a simple attack on Mekal state but a raid on the fundamental identity of its people. The loss would mean giving up on the ultimate hope.

  He could sense that his wide forehead was shrinking with deepening lines of worry. His eyes, so filled with hope and excitement just a while ago, now showed growing pain and despair. He quickly recollected himself. He knew this wasn't the time to behave like a vanquished leader. His whole army was looking at him for inspiration. He couldn't allow them to see a weak and nervous leader. He took a couple of deep breaths and addressed his soldiers, “My dear friends, as you can see our plan hasn't fared as per our expectations. It can be slightly difficult for us to defeat them. But as we know we cannot allow them under any circumstance to defeat us. They are fighting for their ambitious intention of expanding their state. They have nothing to lose, they will simply go back to their state. We, on the other hand, have everything to fight for. Our pride, our history, our identity, our culture, and our role in the consolidation of the foundation stones of Aryavart. If we are defeated, we will be wiped out from the pages of history. We will be made an undignified part of Kosala. Do not forget that a lot of our men are still captive in Kosala prisons. So many of our women are in their captivity and we don't know how many of them have been pushed to prostitution. This moment, my brave soldiers, is the moment to write destiny of ourselves and our future generations. We owe our existence to our ancestors who fought and laid their lives to give us the freedom that we have enjoyed so far. Now, the time has come for us to stand up and defend our own freedom. Are you ready to stand up and reclaim your freedom from the enemy?”

  The army erupted with the deafening shouts of “Jai Mekal” and “Jai Suryadev”.

  All the soldiers became one single unit. Now they had a reason to stride forward and fight out the enemy at every cost. Their king's ideals struck a chord with each one of them; they could now see that it was their own battle. It was the battle for their identity and future and not just warfare between two states. They had to win this battle.

  Neel led the strike on the approaching Kosala soldiers. Loud echoes of 'Jai Suryadev' could be heard all around. The enemy soldiers were taken aback by this wave of passion. They felt that the Mekal king had given his soldiers some secret strategy to defeat the enemy. Neel moved his horse around with lightning speed. He pulled one of his daggers and threw it at one Kosala soldier. The dagger darted into the soldier's right shoulder. He nearly fell off his horse. Neel raised his sword and slashed an agile blow on the soldier's shoulder again. This toppled him off the horse and he dropped his sword. As the soldier was leaning backwards and trying to get hold of his horse's rein, Neel sprung forth onto him slicing the air around his body so fiercely it took the soldier's head away from his body. The lifeless head fell on the ground and a jet of fresh blood gushed out of it. Neel looked at his blood-stained sword and raised it to dedicate his first kill to the Sun God. He tightened his grip and moved on again onto another enemy soldier.

  Soon it was evident that Mekal's hundred soldiers would thrash Kosala's five hundred in a matter of time. Riding on the wave of motivational echoes of their king's speech, they stormed the war zone with spectacular agility and prowess. Kosala's army was taken by surprise. The celebrations of a victory that they anticipated to fall into their lap without any struggle, now seemed a distant dream. It was fading fast. They had to run to save their lives. They started to flee towards their state's territory in the south-west. Neel stopped his soldiers to follow them. This would not achieve the desired result they were looking for. He instructed half of the soldiers to stay there to guard the camp, and the rest would follow him to the forest where Dhananjay was fighting as per the plan.

  On the other front, a battalion of the Kosala army was chasing Dhananjay and his soldiers deep into the forests, completely unaware of the trap they were being led into. They also had no idea of what had befallen their allies on the other front. Ambling down unknown rocky terrains and diminishing light they kept moving with a single intent to hunt down the Mekal men. They had already killed and injured a few and the rest seemed like a simple formality to them.

  Dhananjay and his soldiers had different ideas. Deep into the forest, the paths diverged into four directions. He stalled his horse and looked at the one in front of him going straight up north towards the hills, another one turned a corner to move towards the north-west; another descended the valley; and a fourth path towards the south-west valley. The neigh of his horse seemed to instruct the rest of the horses to stop and respond back. Dhananjay turned around to address his soldiers, “The path diverges into four directions.
We should also split into four groups. We will move ahead on our respective paths and suitably choose a spot to hide ourselves. The men of Kosala do not know anything about these terrains. As they are following our footsteps and will be here soon, they will soon be confused. So, we move ahead now and find a place not far from here so that we can keep an eye on this crossroad. Let's hope that our other battalion comes and finds us. In the meantime, we can wage a guerrilla war on the Kosala men.” All the men heard the instructions and split in four groups. They took their positions and waited for the enemy to appear.

  Kosala's men chased the Mekal soldiers into the forest. They now stood at the crossroads where paths diverged in different directions. They looked for signs to figure out where their enemy might have gone. Nothing conclusive could be found and they stood clueless and disappointed.

  One of the horsemen, who stood taller and more composed than the rest took a semicircle with his horse to face his fellow men. He addressed them saying, “As you can all see it's difficult to assess where the Mekal soldiers have disappeared. I assume they have moved north-west towards their state capital. But I might be wrong as this is only an assumption and we cannot plan to fight a battle based on assumptions alone. We have no idea of their might in their territory. It is best not to go to attack the enemy in its backyard. I suggest that we should retreat and go back.”

  This seemed to perturb a few Kosala men who had the enemy's bounty in their sights. One of the soldiers said, “But Commander, we are all here and their capital is not far off, why not intensify the attack and win it today itself? We have already captured one of their camps and their soldiers are running for their life. All this points to the fact that they have already given up and do not have any will to fight back.”

  “Don't be an excited fool! Battles are fought on the basis of pre-planned strategies and strategy needs certain information, which we don't have. We are standing in the middle of a forest within enemy territory. We have no idea what lies ahead. I order all men to retreat.” said the commander.