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.
I would like to believe that at some point people realise they are turned into fools and would finally dissent
ReplyDeleteWon't it be late? History has sufficient examples of people's late realisations.
DeleteGods 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.
ReplyDeleteThe 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.
Thank you for the intellectual answer to the fundamental question posed in the post. In short, we can't expect a better world!
DeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteYou 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!)
Who succeeds him is an important issue.
DeleteBetter late than never.
ReplyDeleteMay the concerned people realizes it.
DeletePeople 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...
ReplyDeleteRising up requires courage which most people lack. Moreover, following someone seen as great is one of the easiest things to do.
DeleteEnjoyed reading this story.
ReplyDeleteGlad you did.
Delete