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Holy Dog and Political Power


The short story titled ‘Power’ written by well-known Rajasthani writer Vijaydan Detha is a metaphor on the nature of political power and the pragmatism of people who are subjects of that power.

In this story there is magistrate who is the favourite of the King. The magistrate is so beloved of the King that he is more powerful than the King. The subjects are all scared of the magistrate. He has no children though he has seven wives. He blames the wives for his childlessness. Finally he adopts a dog named Koel. All the people of the country love Koel. Rather, they pretend to love Koel. They sing Koel’s praises.

Koel’s life is cut short by a disease. The magistrate, rendered unable to bury or cremate the dead dog by his great love for it, gets the dog stuffed and embalmed. When he expresses his desire to have a golden cage built for Koel, the people instantly donate whatever jewels and ornaments they have.

Soon miracles begin to take place because Koel has attained a divine status for the people. Koel in the golden cage is their new god. They try to outdo each other with their claims about the miracles that happen to them because of Koel’s blessings.

When the magistrate dies and the new magistrate expresses his dislike of the stuffed god, people are too eager to discard Koel and present the golden cage to the new magistrate.

You can make any animal sacred and get people to worship it. To kill for it. To die for it. Do anything for its sake. You can construct a phenomenal temple and install an idol in it and, with its help, keep a whole nation in thrall. People are eager to keep your ego inflated and contented because they know their survival, or possibly more than survival, depends on their obsequiousness. They are practical. Cunning too. They will worship you and your dog as long as you have the power over them. The day you lose that power, the same people will dump your holy dog on the trash heap and follow the new ruler. Remember that even Hitler had millions of fans.

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Comments

  1. Pooja MahimkarMay 25, 2024 at 10:58 AM

    I would like to believe that at some point people realise they are turned into fools and would finally dissent

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalMay 25, 2024 at 11:09 AM

      Won't it be late? History has sufficient examples of people's late realisations.

      Delete
  2. Priyabrata NandaMay 25, 2024 at 11:30 AM

    Gods don't exist when they are not in the consciousness of groups of humans. Just imagine a world where no human beings are alive. In this hypothetical scenario, there will be no Gods no Prophets. These created powers survive and thrive only when their followers rally around them by inventing sacred myths, elaborate rituals, fear, rewards and punishment as well as philosophical systems associated with them. Just like human beings, these sacred entities must also be materially rich in order to be powerful. Sacred entities are nothing but human mediated and dependent symbols. They could be human beings or animals or inanimate objects, etcetera. Additionally, their continuity is also dependent upon the continuity of their willing followers and their metaphysical beliefs in them.
    The religious systems are not different from say, the economic systems, educational systems or the political systems. All of them are required for a functional society.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalMay 25, 2024 at 4:28 PM

      Thank you for the intellectual answer to the fundamental question posed in the post. In short, we can't expect a better world!

      Delete
  3. Yamini MacLeanMay 25, 2024 at 3:22 PM

    Hari OM
    You may have heard, the UK is to go to the polls in a few weeks. Our current leader/ruling party is about to face this inevitability. YAM xx (who is slowing getting over the lurgy - sorry for long absence and thanks for continuing to visit my scheduled posts!)

    ReplyDelete
  4. magiceyeMay 25, 2024 at 7:17 PM

    Better late than never.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Liz A.May 25, 2024 at 11:40 PM

    People will do what they have to do to survive. Sadly, sometimes that means stroking the ego of those that rule. If only they would rise up and expel the one who takes power...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalMay 26, 2024 at 6:48 AM

      Rising up requires courage which most people lack. Moreover, following someone seen as great is one of the easiest things to do.

      Delete
  6. CarolineMay 26, 2024 at 8:07 PM

    Enjoyed reading this story.

    ReplyDelete

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