Vanara

by Anand Neelakantan

  ‘Tara, we had gone wrong from the beginning. My brother’s selfless courage has taught me a great lesson. We were trying to imitate Devas and Asuras. We were competing to build a bigger city, a grander palace, a bigger arena. That is not how our ancestors had lived. They had hunted game or gathered fruits.’

  ‘And they were captured by Devas and Asuras and made slaves,’ Tara said.

  Baali glared at her. ‘They were captured because they didn’t have a place to protect them. Kishkinda is that place. Here Vana Naras will live in peace. We will not allow any outsiders here. This is our land.’

  ‘A city that closes itself will become stagnant,’ Tara said.

  ‘I am fed up of the so-called progress, Tara. See what happened to my brother, my father. Farming is against nature. Man can’t go against nature. We were worried about others enslaving us. What are we doing now?’

  ‘We don’t have any slaves.’

  ‘Tara, the cows, the bulls, aren’t they our slaves? I have been thinking about this since my brother was injured. Farming is immoral, Tara. It is enslaving animals and making them do our bidding. And when the farm animals become too weak to be of any use to us, we kill them and eat them,’ Baali said.

  ‘That is the way of the world. Devas, Asuras and other races are racing ahead. They have huge farmlands. They are storing grains in the granary so that people don’t die of hunger during the rains. They are trading so that they have money to sustain a huge army.’

  ‘Money is evil, Tara. So is the army,’

  ‘You aren’t talking sense,’ Tara retorted.

  ‘See the animals, Tara. Do they have armies? Money? God? Temples? Traditions? Other people ridicule us by calling us Vanaras. Monkey men. Earlier, I used to feel offended. Now, I feel that it is the perfect name for us. We will embrace the name. Our flags will have the monkey totem. We will proudly say we are Vanaras.’

  ‘There will be riots in the streets. Our men want us to raid Asura lands, Deva lands and build an empire,’ Tara said.

  ‘Ah, this Dandakaranya is our land. We will defend it, but never attack others. We shouldn’t be doing what others did to us. I am banning money, God, army, farming, trade—we will live how our ancestors lived. We will hunt in our forest for food or collect fruits, but we will not enslave anybody, not even animals. There will be no King or chief. I am relinquishing my title. This cave will be open to all. Any Vanara can sleep here. This country belongs to all Vanaras. Foreigners are welcome if they follow our rules. No money, no God, no temples, no granaries, no farm lands, no industry, no fire—we live a free life, like that of animals.’

  ‘Then destroy the city we built. Let’s return to the forests. Let no one wear clothes, for that too is unnatural,’ Tara fumed.

  ‘I will do that too, but slowly. That is what I am aiming at, but people must be prepared.’

  ‘You’ve gone crazy,’ Tara cried.

  ‘My city, my rules, Tara. If anyone wants to challenge me, they can duel me.’

  ‘Baali, our dream–’

  ‘This is my dream, Tara. I had taken the wrong path. My brother showed me the way. I fought the bull with a mace. I did something that was morally wrong. What is the difference between me and Ravana or Indra if I use such low tricks to win? My mace was made of bronze, and I hear Asuras have discovered a stronger metal called iron. Devas too are working on deadlier weapons like metal bows and arrows. They fight devastating wars and enslave poor people like Vana Naras or Kinnaras in their eagerness for dominance. They destroy forests and build cities. They torture animals for better clothes, better food, and better conveniences. They use horses and elephants in battle. They dam rivers. They destroy mountains and fill valleys. And they call themselves civilized. Ha, like a fool, the same madness had possessed me. I thought it was great to have an arena larger than the one in Trikota, or a palace that could rival that of Amaravati. Now I’m free. I am a Vanara, the monkey man.’

  ‘Our people have become insane. They threw parts of the carcass of the slain bull on Rishi Matanga’s Ashram. And you are proposing to make them wilder, Baali,’ Tara sighed. There wasn’t any way she was going to convince him. She had to speak to Hanuman.

  ‘It wasn’t because they were going wild that they threw the carcass. Our people had thrown the carcass of the poor bull I killed on the Ashram of Matanga to ridicule him. They were being arrogant about the strength of their leader. I went to apologize to him and the hermit was cursing me that my head will blow into pieces if I step into his Ashram. Poor old man. I have no rivalry with Matanga and no intention to hurt his beliefs. If he thinks cow is holy, I respect it. I don’t believe in curses, yet I apologized to him and promised him that no Vana Nara would step in the Ashram premises. Animals are far better than us. My aim is to make us more animal like.’

  ‘God has created us to be discerning and–’

  Baali scoffed, ‘I don’t believe in God. No creature except man believes in God, Tara. The animals and birds believe in the power of their limbs, in the speed of their feet, in the strength of their wings. No God has punished any animal for not worshiping him or her. I’m Vanara, an animal and no God—if he exists—will punish me for being me, Tara.’

  Tara decided it was wise to stop arguing. Baali was convinced he was right. He left her with Sugreeva and went out to announce his decision to the citizens. She looked at the sleeping figure of Sugreeva. Tara felt uneasy, being in a room with Sugreeva. She turned to leave when Sugreeva gripped her wrist. She gasped, and he freed her. Tara hurried out but stopped when she heard him call her.

  ‘Tara . . .’

  She stopped at the exit, where a curtain parted the chamber from the main hall of the cave.

  ‘You never come to see me. You never sit with me, Tara. I expected you would be kind to me, after I saved–’

  ‘I must go,’

  ‘Just hold my hands, Tara. Just for a moment.’

  His words pierced her heart. He had almost died for her. Reluctantly, she moved to him. He took her hand in his and caressed it. Tara struggled hard to suppress the thrill of tied up desires. She remained a virgin, despite being married for more than six months

  ‘My brother has gone mad, Tara. Be mine and we shall rule Kishkinda the way you want.’

  Tara was shaken by his words. She pulled her hand from his and ran out, her mind in turmoil. What Sugreeva suggested was treason. Even his injury hadn’t changed him. If he is not freed of this obsession, Baali’s life would be in danger. She toyed with the idea of telling Baali about Sugreeva stalking her, but in Baali’s current state of mind, she was scared how he would react.

  Tara ran to Kadalivana. As she hurried through the streets of Kishkinda, she found that the eternal fire had gone out. The fountains had stopped working. Baali had started implementing his madness. She reached Kadalivana and found Hanuman meditating. She didn’t have the patience to wait until he woke up from his meditation. She fell at his feet and began sobbing. She told Hanuman about Baali’s determination to reject civilization and go back to some assumed purity of the imaginary past.

  Hanuman went to Kishkinda to meet Baali. Baali was drinking with his friends at that time. He was in a jovial mood and decided to indulge Hanuman. Tara stood by Baali’s side, worrying how Baali would respond to Hanuman. He had come as per her request and she didn’t want Baali insulting the mendicant. But Baali was becoming more and more unpredictable.

  Hanuman said the wheels of progress cannot be reversed. There was some merit in Baali’s thought. It would have been ideal had man remained an animal, but since he had already thrown away the simplicity for his greed, the greed only would remain the driving force of civilization. Those who don’t change will be enslaved, exploited or eliminated by those who embrace change and master it. Vanaras had no choice other than to race other tribes likes Asuras or Devas if they wanted to be free. Else, they would end up as Dasas to the other races. The path Baali was proposing was perilous and the unrelenting chariot of progress would crush any
one who stood in its path. The only choice was to ride the chariot.

  Baali heard Hanuman’s speech and roared in laughter. Tara saw Hanuman’s eyes flash with anger for a moment. Then the customary smile was back. Baali told Hanuman that when he needed advice he would ask for it. He had no respect for those who spent most of their lives in Deva land, studying their holy books called Vedas, wearing sacred threads like a Deva Brahmin and seeking something as illusionary as Brahman, which no one has seen, heard or touched. His drunken friends laughed at Baali’s words. Hanuman folded his palms, said Namaste in the Deva style and walked away with his head held high. Tara felt miserable.

  When she met him next time, she apologized profusely for her husband. Hanuman said he had forgotten about the incident the moment it was over. He went on to explain in detail why progress is inevitable and how Baali was wrong. Tara heard Hanuman politely, but she was more worried about her personal problems than the fate of human civilization or Vanara race. She wasn’t sure whether she could confide in Hanuman about Sugreeva’s passion for her. She needed someone to talk to, someone who she could trust. She decided to trust Hanuman and confessed to him about Sugreeva’s obsession with her. Hanuman didn’t reply for some time. He closed his eyes and started meditating. Tara waited impatiently, but when Haunman didn’t speak, she lost hope and walked back to Kishkinda. She cursed herself for confiding in Hanuman about Sugreeva’s obsession. She was scared whether the news would reach Baali.

  Another month passed and Sugreeva had recovered his health. Her father stopped his frequent visits. Baali was busy curbing a few riots that broke out after he had started his reforms. A few young men challenged him for duels and he beat them without any difficulty. Surprisingly, Rishabha made peace with Baali and the council was formed again. They were enthusiastic about Baali’s new reforms. Jambavan, Kesari and Rishabha lent their weight for Baali’s plan of Vanara’s shunning all vestiges of progress and going back to the pure, ancient Vana Nara lives. What they didn’t approve was Baali’s rejection of God, but no one dared to cross Baali. Some people left the city forever.

  Tara visited a servant’s home where she had secretly kept some fire burning. Cooking happened clandestinely, and Tara encouraged women to teach children new ways. She was desperate for a teacher who could teach her and other people to read and write. Most of the men and almost all women were illiterate and she had once dreamt of having a library full of books in her city. Now, Baali would laugh at such new things and would never permit it. She was fascinated by the thought that ideas could be frozen in words and retrieved again and again for later use. Books were magic. It was fascinating to think bards who had died thousands of years ago could speak to you through written words. She had seen books in Hanuman’s humble ashram. Perhaps, he may be able to help her. She would learn the magic of words first and then spread it among other women. She slipped to Hanuman’s ashram to enquire. Hanuman was amused by her request at first. Seeing her enthusiasm, he started teaching her the first letters. He knew the language of the Devas and the Asuras. He was trying to make a script for the Vana Nara language. Tara knew the risk Hanuman was taking. Baali had declared death to anyone who brought the polluting influence of other cultures. Books were alien to the Vana Naras. When she pointed out the risk to Hanuman, he said she was taking the same risk. Tara laughed and said she was sure Baali would never harm her. She broached the subject of Sugreeva’s obsession with her many times and Hanuman evaded her questions. She lost hope and stopped talking about it. Meanwhile, Sugreeva continued to profess his love. She found tokens of his love at unexpected places. Living in the cave palace where Sugreeva lived was becoming unbearable for her.

  One day when she reached Hanuman’s ashram, he was not on his customary reed mat in the Veranda. She called out his name and waited for him in the courtyard. When Hanuman came out, there was an old man with him. She stood up, wondering who the old man was. He bowed to Tara and said, ‘I don’t know what deeds we have done in our previous lives for this fortune.’

  Confused, Tara looked at Hanuman who was smiling at her.

  ‘Ruma,’ the old man called out, and a shy young girl came out and touched her feet. She looked beautiful with lovely eyes and honey-coloured skin.

  ‘Daughter, ask Baali to seek an alliance for his brother to the girl’s father as per custom,’ Hanuman said to Tara.

  Tara sighed with happiness. Here was a solution to all her problems. She went to Ruma who stood bashful near the rickety door of the Ashram. Tara lifted her chin and the girl looked at her with hazel eyes. Innocent and pure, Tara thought.

  ‘Consider me your elder sister,’ she told Ruma. The girl leaned to touch her feet. She picked her up by her shoulders and hugged her. A heavy weight had lifted from her heart. She thanked Hanuman and rushed back to the palace.

  When she reached the palace, she found Baali busy discussing official matters with his counsel. Sugreeva was seated near him. She knew that Sugreeva would wriggle out of it if she broached the matter in private. He had to be caught unaware. She moved to the centre and Baali looked at her with impatient indulgence. The council of ministers had stopped their discussion and looked at her in surprise. It was unusual for the Maharani to interrupt their work.

  Tara said, ‘I have come with great news.’

  ‘Yes, my dear,’ Baali said, tapping his fingers on the armrest of the throne. Sugreeva frowned at her. She smiled heartily at Sugreeva and said, ‘Isn’t it the duty of a sister-in-law to find a suitable bride for her beloved brother-in-law?’

  Sugreeva’s face drained of blood and turned pale.

  Chapter 27

  ‘I have found our Sugreeva a beautiful bride,’ Tara said, smiling.

  ‘No, no, I don’t want to marry,’ Sugreeva said, but Baali raised his hand, cutting off Sugreeva and addressed Tara. ‘May I know who the lucky girl is?’

  ‘Her name is Ruma and she is in the Ashram of Hanuman. In fact, he brought the alliance,’ Tara said. She knew this was the riskiest part. She prayed Baali would support her.

  ‘Hanuman, ha?’ Sugreeva said with a derisive smile, ‘I’m disappointed with you, Yata. That man insulted my brother. There are rumours that he does illegal things. And how rude was he speaking to my brother when he came to advise him about—huh—progress? How can you do this, Yata? You may not care for the prestige of my brother, but–’

  Baali interrupted, ‘No, brother. I was drunk that day. It was not his fault. I should have apologized that day itself, but my ego prevented me from doing so. My wise wife has provided me a chance to redeem myself. And if that apology can earn my beloved brother a good wife, should I not do that without delay? Tara, lead us there.’

  ‘No, no, I don’t want to marry,’ Sugreeva was angry. ‘I don’t want to marry some unknown girl. I have not even met her.’

  Baali put his hand on Sugreeva’s shoulder, ‘Alright, Sugreeva. Do you have any other girl in your heart? If so, your brother would be the first person to fulfil your wish.’

  Tara was shocked. She was scared Sugreeva would point to her and all hell would break loose. She wished the earth would open up and swallow her.

  ‘Is it so, my brother?’

  She heard Sugreeva’s frenzied tone. Her heart thudded in her ribcage.

  ‘Anything for you brother, anything. You want the celestial nymph Rambha? Menaka? Thilothama? Your brother Baali will get all of them for you. You want to rule Kishkinda, I will abdicate now. Do you want to conquer the heaven? I will do it for you.’

  ‘Shall I ask, brother? Do you give your word?’

  ‘Ask, my brother. Ask for anything except my beloved Tara and it shall be yours before you could blink,’ Baali said, looking at Tara.

  Tara pressed her lips to prevent them from trembling. Her body was shivering. She looked at Sugreeva whose face had gone ashen. Did Baali know?

  ‘I want nothing except my brother’s love,’ Sugreeva said in a cracked voice.

  ‘That you shall always have, till my las
t breath,’ Baali hugged Sugreeva.

  The procession to the Ashram of Hanuman wound through the rocky outcrops of the hills. The huge boulders that abounded the hills around Kishkinda looked as if an unruly giant had played with colossal pebbles and left them scattered. Tara was walking beside Baali. Sugreeva walked a few feet behind, deep in thought. Tara took this respite to entwine her fingers with Baali’s. Her husband held her close. She whispered in his ears, ‘The girl seems to be from a poor family.’

  ‘How does it matter? She should be of good character and love him with all her heart and remain faithful to him.’ Baali said. That Sugreeva should remain faithful to Ruma was the bigger problem, but Tara didn’t say it aloud.

  As soon as they reached the Ashram, Baali wanted to apologize, but Hanuman was too big-hearted to care for such things. Sugreeva and Ruma saw each other briefly, but not in private. When Baali asked Sugreeva whether he liked her, he said he was ready to do whatever his brother commanded. No one sought Ruma’s opinion. The date of the wedding was fixed by Tara on the same day the astrologer had given the auspicious day for consummation of their marriage. She could feel Sugreeva’s hostility and helplessness, but she pushed her agenda with determination. It helped that Hanuman understood the situation and his words rendered weight to her cause. She knew Sugreeva was fuming inside, but consoled herself that once he was married he would forget about her. That thought strangely filled her with a sense of loss, but she determinedly pushed it away.