It was such a hectic day for me even after a long holiday of
7 days. Like every year, I was much engrossed in preparing for the “Ravan Vadh”
on the Vijayadashami. It’s the symbol of showing winning of good over evil. I
am one very active member of our “Vishwa Vijay Samati” which every year
celebrates Ravan Vadh in the Main Field of our city. This group meets only during
the Dasahara festival as almost all the member of our group are into some or
the other job / business. Ravan Vadh has always been very special to every
group members and every member is having some memories attached with it. After
all we all had seen it since our childhood days and are inculcating the same to
our future generation. Ravan is being killed every year since last 2000 years.
I still remember going to Gandhi Maidan with my dad just for seeing burning of
Ravan after a short drama of Ram – Ravan War. My dad use to take me there on
his Atlas Cycle. While I could not be able to see Ravan burning with lot of
crackers, my father use to let me stand on the small seat of the cycle to get
the view. Seeing Ravan burning and the body parts falling on the ground was
always giving me a great pleasure. With Ravan’s effigy getting soiled after
burning, I was always feeling relieved that once again Ravan is being killed
and we would live happily atleast for one year till the time again we would
have to kill him.
Even now, the way we prepare this occasion, it always was
giving us same feeling as if “Chalo iss baar phir Ravan ko maar diya, ab kam se
kame k saal to sukoon se rah sakenge”.
Silly thought, but let it be.
Tomorrow is the final show. We this time had made effigy of
Ravan, Bibhishan and Kumbhkarna the tallest one. This was a symbolic
representation of increasing evil in our society. We wanted to give this
message to society that if we do not kill the evil within, we would keep
increasing the height of the Ravan. All the preparation was completed well on
time. Not even a single item on the check list was unmarked. We left for our
houses in the evening to see a better tomorrow. I was so very tired that after
having my dinner, I directly went to bed to have a good sleep as tomorrow was
the D – Day for us.
“Get up son… you’ll have to kill me to make this world free
of Ravan for a year atleast”
“Who is this…” and I got up of bed.
Oh it was a 6 ft tall good muscled person standing in front
of me. He was wearing a saffron dhoti, a gold tiara and lot of jewelries.
“Who are you” – I asked with a very strong voice.
“You don’t recognize me? I am the one whom you kill every
year. I am Ravan.”
“What… why you came here? Are you here to ask for the mercy
of your life!”
“Hahahaha” – It was a loud laughter that I felt that it me
blow my ear drum.
“I am Ravan, I haven’t asked for the mercy even when I knew
that I am dying and Lord Ram was standing in-front of me. And you feel that now
I ask mercy of my life from you. I think the human race has developed good
sense of humor over these 2000 years’ time”.
“See I came here to ask a question to you. Ram was having
reason for killing me. Why you human are killing me every year. What have I
done to you?”
I was winking to actually reply with the valid reason. “umm,
because, you are an evil… ummm because people like you are dangerous to the society”.
“Hmm, are you sure this is the reason why you guys are
killing me every year. Ok give me one answer, have you read Ramcharitmanas or
what you popularly called, Ramayan.”
I was thinking for the answer.
“For saying yes or no, you probably need not have to think so hard.
So let me tell you that like almost 90% Indian, you also haven’t read it and
whatever idea of Satyug you have is through Ramanand Sagar’s serial. Fair
enough. So tell me what wrong I did that you say I am the symbol of evil?”
Again searching for an appropriate answer.
“Have you ever heard that I was the king of Lanka. My
country was made of Gold. Even much before you guys were praised as “Sone ki
chidiya”. In my country, no one, mind it, no one was poor. You guys are still
discussing about the eradication of poverty irrespective of the fact that you
keep killing me since last 2000 years. I had crossed the line only once when I
kidnapped Sita. After that I never have crossed the line. I gave a complete
respect to Sita and wooed her instead of being really nasty. You guys… everyday
lot of news of kidnapping girls and crossing the lines are filled in the
newspaper. I kidnapped a girl who was mature enough. And you guys, oh you don’t
even care about the age. How can you guy think that it is ok to cross the line
with a 1 – 2 year girl? And you feel that I am the symbol of evil? Huhh.
In my country, there was no instance of class
differentiation and everyone was working for the state to maintain it as a
country made of gold. And you guys have differentiated Upper and Lower Cast and
feel proud of it. A class differentiation is being supported by the kings of
your country even now that they make minority commission, SC / ST commission,
reservation and whatnot to ensure that this class differentiation should always
remain. And you think killing me is a kind of winning on the evil.
We were termed as Rakshak but have you ever heard in Ramayan
that we were killing people and eating it. We even were not killing animal for
eating. You guys are still struggling on the animal symbol of religion and
killing people and doing everything that I think is an evil act. And you still
feel that I am the symbol of evil.
I happen to be much educated and even your Ramayan speaks
that which is written to praise Lord Ram and tell you about the Satyug. I knew
a fact that to make a nation prosperous, the king has to be educated. And what
about you? Do I need to tell you that your king cares about the education? An
angutha chaap is making policy for the nation to make it prosperous. Hahahaha,
the human race has really developed a supreme sense of humor.
Continue killing me. I really don’t have any problem with
that as this gives you a heavenly happiness. My only question is do you really
feel I am the symbol of evil! I think you guys first will have to clear the
fundamentals than think of killing me.”
I was in a Trans hearing these. Not even
winking my eyes from him. And suddenly I saw that I am facing the wall of my
room. No one was there.
“Get up Amitesh get up. You’ll have to leave for the Main
Field. This is your D – Day, isn’t it?” It was my wife who was trying to wake
me up.
I felt that I Wake Up today after many centuries.
