by Sudipta Das
13
The New Nation
The Violet Land was not a part of any other colour country as traditionally it was considered to be forbidden to go there. Most of the people who had dared to go there got lost in that hypnotic natural maze and lost their lives. Kit was the only one who could decode the secrets of the land and navigate through it. Most of the land was unknown and uncharted. Kit declared ownership of this Violet Land unto him and offered to share it with the Hoos who would like to come and settle there and work with him for the cause of the psychic harmony of the Hoo race. This was a very bold and over-optimistic step. At the time of this declaration, it seemed that no one would be interested to come to the barren terrains of the Violet Land and bear its harsh elements leaving behind the hospitable living in their respective colour countries.
Within months of the declaration though, the foresightedness of Kit became evident. There were individuals among the Hoos who did not live off material resources alone. Their existence was not merely in pampering their bodies and entertaining their minds. They wanted to live for a cause and were willing to take up the hardships for that cause. Many of these Hoos – farmers, labourers, intellects, scholars, technologists, doctors, teachers, students, laities, male, female, old folk and youngsters from many colour countries, responded to Kit’s offer and landed in the Violet Land. Kit fondly addressed them as the ‘special ones’ and warmly welcomed each one of them.
The immigrants, who came to the Violet Land in search of the light that had shone through Kit, did not come empty handed. They brought along with them diversity of knowledge, expertise and their own Hoo talents and resourcefulness. They also had their friends and connections all over Hoola. Their settlements started from the hamlet at the green patch and gradually spread in all directions. Mere cultivation of the fields at the green patch around the hamlet could in no way sustain such a large settlement. Kit, more than anyone else, knew it better. He had already chalked out his plan for sustenance of the settlement.
As I have written before, technologically, the Hoos are a much advanced race than the humans. But, the downside of their technology is that they consume astounding amounts of energy. To generate this energy, they create tiny stars in their advanced power plants. One of the essential ingredients for the generation of power on this power-hungry planet is the marble shaped dyne stones.
I had read in Kit’s diary that, it had been in the folklore since the ancient times that there are dyne stones in the Violet Land. In his youth, he made his first expedition to the hitherto unknown Violet Land in search of the precious stones for his native red colour country, Isthad. After years of hardship, a mine of dyne stones was discovered at a distance from the hamlet on the green patch.
Now, with the help of the immigrants, this mine was exploited. Later on a few more dyne stone rich mines were discovered elsewhere in the Violet Land. Soon, the nascent nation started minting money by exporting the stones to all over Hoola. With this money power they imported all the material resources that they required not only to survive but actually flourish in the Violet deserts. Thus, within a short span of a few years, a tiny but vibrant and spiritually and economically strong nation grew up there. They called this new nation Kithad, which, in the Hoo language, means the land founded by Kit. Our humble hamlet developed into a sprawling town. Kit named this town Hamton. Hamton became the capital of Kithad.
Most of the land was charted, roads were constructed and landmarks were put in place so no Kithadian would be lost in the maze of the Violet Land. However, they left the rim of the Violet Land around Kithad untouched to keep unauthorised intruders at bay. Any such Hoo would be lost in the maze of the Violet Land before it could reach Kithad. So no one would dare to breach this natural barrier.
Now, living in my own apartment in Hamton, I proudly looked back to those initial days when Kit and I were literally scavenging and did not know from where the next day’s meal would come. Stranded in the hostile elements of the inhospitable land, we could hardly dream then that such a prosperous future awaited us and all those who subsequently came to settle there.
Notably, Kithad became the first multi-coloured country on Hoola. The people of this cosmopolitan nation were as multi-coloured as their planet Hoola itself; a heterogeneous demography. Though it grew on the Violet Land, Kithad remained spiritually white. Everyone in Kithad was free to practice any colour of its own individual choice. Thus, freedom of colour came to existence on Hoola. The people happily embraced Kit’s ideal of inclusiveness and accepted each other as they were. They chose Kit as their leader. Kit, a true multi-coloured personality, often wore white attire symbolising the assimilation of all the colours in him, instead of the traditional red apparels of his native red colour country, Isthad. Most of the time, his colour changing tail appeared white. It was a direct reflection of his boundless heart, which easily encompassed all.
Soon, a state of the art international university was opened at Hamton. The Hamton University had all the different faculties: arts, literature, science, economics and an elaborate colour faculty for the study and research into the essence and the natures of the three hundred odd colours and colour shades that existed on Hoola. Many exponents and scholars of the colours from all over Hoola joined the university. They wanted to see a new light of liberation through their respective colours but they did not have the necessary environment of openness for this in their respective home colour countries. New generation students enrolled at the university from all over the globe.
At the opening ceremony of the colour faculty, Kit addressed the assembly of the scholars and students and memorably outlined the aims of the faculty as follows:
“Revered scholars and promising students, I welcome you all to the Hamton University and thank you for coming here. As we know, presently the colours are fairly inseparable aspects of our Hoo being. Perhaps it is our colours that make us a unique race. I have been to planet Earth. There the human race does not have any colour perception and they do not develop colour tails like us. Most probably, we have acquired these colours from the unique environments of our multi-coloured planet. It appears that, from the very beginning, consciously or sub-consciously, we were destined to be affected by our colourful environments.
“We are also aware that, our colours elevate our souls and yet, simultaneously fragment our Hoo race, most importantly, in our own psychologies. Why does this happen? We are here to attempt to open mindedly discover the details of the statics and the dynamics of our colours so that we may reach the crux of the problem and seek remedial solutions.
“Being among the multitude of diversity of colours, can the plight be to cling on to any one of them and then to say that, that particular monochrome is supreme and it is all that there should be? Yet, narrowed down by our respective rich but finite colour traditions, each Hoo tends to conceive its colour thus.
“Things, perspectives, perceptions and orientations change from individual to individual, from group to group, from community to community, from colour country to colour country and interestingly, at all these levels from time to time. In the process, we lose sight of our global existence due to our partial perceptions taken from our relative perspectives and diverse orientations.
“A possible remedy may be in double training our minds to revisit the global existence of the race as a whole from a universal perspective, rather than a narrowed down monochromatic one, to form an inclusive global perception while maintaining the colour choices, rather than the colour ascriptions, of the individual. Like, metal cuts metal and diamond cuts diamond, the partial divisive perceptions of each community have to be overridden by this, relatively new, inclusive global unifying perception with a spirit of accommodativeness and acceptance of each other.”
Then, turning to the students Kit said, “Dear students, now I shall reveal a secret to you. ‘Average’ or ‘ordinariness’ is essentially a construction of the Hoo mind and therefore these have no existence in reality because, in the diversi
ty of existence, each one is unique and thus extraordinary. The largely stereotyped and insensitive externality will hardly ever tell you how unique and how precious you are. That is something that you will have to find out yourself as no one else knows you better than you know yourself. Do not be afraid to look beyond the stereotypes in order to find your true Self. Even if you fail to find that unique and extraordinary ‘You’, it is always worth investing your time and energies in this quest. This is how your infinite potential can become manifest. The goal of Hoo life is to realise, in this relative finiteness, the Absolute Infinite and thus, become free.
“Hoo history is full of examples of ordinary Hoos who achieved extraordinary feats in their lives. Therefore, have faith in yourself.
“Now, when it comes to realisation of the Self, when it comes to that search for the Soul and when it comes to finding the Divine within, who else can be your best friend and philosopher than your own Self; only that Hoo who Itself is Self-realised and unselfish and is loving to you. Fortunate are those who find such a rare One as their teacher. For most Hoos, the search for such a One may continue for years and even lifetimes may go by in vein. Why wait, when you have a second option in your own Self. Who knows you, your thoughts, motives and aspirations more than your Self? The Self is ever present with you, your constant companion. You have perfect and direct communication with the Self without the need for any language, sign or symbol.
“The whole universe is set before you like a huge open book and a lifetime to gather knowledge. Defy the bandwagons. Step aside and witness everything external like a true student. Internally, be your own watchdog and notice the thoughts and their causes and effects. Most importantly, never lose sight of the wonderful and unique things that only you have thought. Focus and work on those and those will manifest. Thus serve all from inside out and realise the Self.”
Kit paused and concluded his speech saying, “Please, preach not. If you can, serve all with your knowledge and wisdom without expecting anything in return. This way, ultimately you will gain the most. Because, then your knowledge will multiply and manifest and you will be nearer to the Divine than any amount of preaching activity can ever take you to.
“Serve all like a servant, perceiving the Divine in each. Then the Divine will manifest in you and in all those that receive your pure, undiluted knowledge; the heavens will descend upon Hoola.
“We have a wonderful opportunity to perform a great task for a grand purpose. The Supreme is ever with us.”
The receptive audience remained in awe at the farsighted and iconoclastic optimism for the Hoo harmony that was exuded by Kit.
However, the divisive forces on Hoola were as active as the unifying ones. Sometime later, they would show their colours.
Where there is good, evil follows. Selfishness shadows unselfishness.
14
The Abduction
The marriage of Isthadian red Kit to Inthadian blue Ket had set a precedence of inter-colour marriage, which had broken the taboo on such marriages. Their children manifested that union. This inspired other youngsters who subsequently united thus. This fundamentally upset the colour-differences. It seemed like colour harmony would soon be a reality on Hoola. But it was not to be; not so soon, not so simply and not yet. A few hardened old-fashioned colour rulers, who gained from the colour differences, were infuriated. They saw that their exclusive control over their respective colour communities was losing ground threatening their positions of socio-economic and political advantages. These rulers had no reason to be happy about and to join these inter-colour marriage parties.
The physical conditions of the barren Violet Land, on which Kithad was established, had its inherent disadvantages. On this land, radio waves deviated unpredictably and posed serious problems not only in long-distance wireless communication via satellite but also to surveillance and security. To circumvent this problem, the nation was being wired and technological innovations were being sought. However, these measures were anything but adequate. Soon, this drawback would lead to grave consequences.
Just when Kithad was flourishing and things were going on well, the misfortune took place. One morning, to her horror, Ket found that Kit was missing. Everyone became alarmed. Later it turned out that one of Kit’s bodyguards was also missing.
A couple of anxious days passed after Kit’s sudden disappearance but neither Kit nor the guard could be found anywhere. On the third day, Sook became extremely retracted and calm. Since the morning, he refused to eat anything despite Ket’s repeated attempts. We tried to console him by saying that we would do everything to find his father and that his father would come back soon, but he wouldn’t even talk to anyone. He just sat at the window with his gaze firmly fixed at the southern horizon. Knowing his unrelenting nature, we decided to leave him to himself for a while. Ket, however, kept constant watch on her son despite her own worries. Strangely enough, the tip of Sook’s tiny tail poked out of the window from time to time and directed in all directions like a serpent trying to sniff the air around it. Only after well past noon, Sook left his seat at the window, went to his mother and holding her hand uttered three words in the Hoo language, which mean, “Pa – south – tower.”
His mother called me and others and asked, “What do you make of it?”
I had no clue whatsoever. I had very limited knowledge about Hoola. However, the ruler in charge of the foreign affairs of Kithad put together his guess within a few moments. He explained to Ket, “We have checked every part of Kithad but Kit has not been found. He is not in Kithad. Now, to the south, Kithad tapers into a common border between Isthad and Inthad. Further south is the yellow colour country, Hunthad.”
“The tower of Gumba.” Ket interrupted impatiently.
“Yes, the famous tower at Gumba, the capital of Hunthad. That is what readily comes to mind. Sook seems to imply that Kit is in that tower!” exclaimed the ruler.
Ket immediately responded, “I am sure, Sook knows his intuitions.”
“But we had no plans to send anybody there in the near future, certainly not Kit. Our relation with Hunthad is not very upbeat,” the ruler said.
“In any case, he would surely tell us before leaving,” said Ket.
“Kit has no business in that tower. It can only mean that he has been abducted and put in that tower by Hunthad’s despotic ruler, Hunet. It occurs to me now that, the missing bodyguard was an immigrant from Hunthad. He might be a Hunthadian spy. We should have been more careful while recruiting him,” inferred the ruler.
Dismayed, Ket sat down.
15
The Hunthadians
Hunthad, the vast tropical yellow colour country to the south of both Isthad and Inthad, is inhabited mostly by the yellow tailed Hunthadians. Millennia ago, a greatly gifted Hoo, by the name of Hun, had originated the yellow colour and unified the warring Hoo factions who lived in the lands where the daylight is predominantly yellow. Through his heavenly visions, Hun had realised the Supreme Unity in the form of the yellow colour. He was one of the pioneers who professed the unity of the entire Hoo race.
Interestingly, most of the Hoo wisdoms were broadly realised and revealed in the ancient times itself. Since then finer and finer details had been added to those broad sketches.
Now, Hun had realised this great wisdom that, the highest level of existence of the Hoo race is possible only when the whole race has been united on a platform of equality. But, due to the realities of the time in which he lived, his birth and upbringing in the tropical lands where the daylight is predominantly yellow and his own individual intuitive orientations and inclinations, he perceived that unity from his yellow perspective.
During Hun’s time, those tropical lands were inhabited by mutually fighting savage tribes. His initial attempts to unify them by the light of his wisdom of unity yielded insignificant and unsustainable results. But, he was determined to manifest the wisdom into reality. Then it dawned upon him that the only way to effectively unify these savages was
to take resort to force. He picked up the weapons and organised an army with his followers. The fire of his enlightenment sparked in his weapons. One by one, he subdued the tribes and transformed them into his colour, yellow, under the blessings of his yellow deity, Huntha. By the time Hun died, he had unified many of the tribes of the tropics and consolidated them into the huge yellow colour country, which he named Hunthad.
After Hun’s death, there was none in Hunthad who was as resourceful as Hun himself. Gradually, the light of his wisdom faded away from the public memory. Only the exterior forms of his yellow colour remained giving the Hunthadians their unique colour identity. Literally following Hun’s words and blindly emulating his actions, his scrupulous followers were caught within the ambit of Hun’s yellow colour, which is, after all, only one of the innumerable possibilities of Hoo colours. Hun’s followers wanted to paint the whole of the multi-coloured planet, Hoola, yellow. To achieve this, they even took recourse to militancy. War was in their ethos since times immemorial. For generations, the Hunthadians fought numerous battles and wars and transformed the conquered enemies into yellow. This went on for a thousand years. In the first few centuries, their war tactics proved pretty efficient and the yellow colour spread over large areas on Hoola. Then, these incessant wars gradually ebbed away their resources, their forces became fatigued and their militancy simply became unsustainable. Thus, they were compelled to come to a halt.
In the meantime, the Hunthadians’ aggressive approach to unify the race through force and fear had made them unpopular among the other colours. Even now, there was an uneasy mistrust between the Hunthadians and the rest of the race.
16
Hunet
Hunthad is ruled from the Yellow Palace in the capital city of Gumba. This luxurious palace is built with a kind of locally available shining yellow stones and hence the name. It has all the amenities befitting monarchs: elaborate gardens with fountains, grand living quarters, banquet halls, elegant court rooms and more. At the centre of the palace is a huge round hall with circular galleries and balconies around an elevated podium.