Saranga..........(continued)

The story of Saranga is so fascinating that as a writer I’m intrigued by so many versions of it. Below are two more versions:-

Fifth Version

*    The swan pair reappeares, this time rewarded by Lord Shiva and Parvati for unselfish love. In the burning heat of summer a pair of swans comes to a small hollow which holds only a little water. Neither will drink before the other. Both beg each other to drink. As time goes by they become desperate with thirst. But they love each other so much that neither wants to drink before the other. This way they wait and eventually die. When Lord Shiva awakes, Parvati tells him the whole story and insists, “Maharaj, give both birds the boon of life so that their love can be restored.”

 *     Lord Shiva reasons with her a great deal, but Parvati remains stubborn. Finally the matter is decided on one condition. Lord Shiva says, “I will give these swans this boon, that in every birth they will be born in one caste and one city, and their loving relationship will always continue. Even if by fate they are not born in one city and one caste, even then the story of their love will always remain fruitful.”

Sixth Version

*    This is the most popular version. In this several significant events happen before Saranga’s marriage. There is the episode of the necklace. It occurs when the lovers meet by chance at a pool where they had gone to bathe. There a kite seizes Saranga’s necklace and leaves it in a tree. When she sees this, she starts to cry. Seeing her tears Sadavrij quickly climbs the tree, brings down the necklace, and puts it around her neck. Thereafter they go back home. After sometime Sadavrij’s father sends him and his friend away so that Saranga can be married to another man. But Sadavrij and his friend join the wedding procession. When the procession reaches the bride’s door, fireworks began to be released. In this confusion Sadavrij reined his horse in at the merchant’s door, and behind him the minister’s son did likewise. Having seen thousands of men standing around in groups, the merchant was deceived. He gives Tika to Prince Sadavrij. The bride’s father thus applies the ceremonial dot to Sadavrij’s forehead instead of the bridegroom’s. Thus Saranga is united with Sadavrij.

Turkey.............the Unique Bridge

(photo credit: contrywatch.com)

*       Since the existence of life on earth and emergence of various civilizations, Turkey has acted as the bridge between not only two continents, Asia and Europe; but also between two religions and two ways of life. If the West defines democracy and human values, most of the countries in the East are governed by authoritarian regimes.

*    No Muslim nation can claim to be a true democracy which respects human rights and provides equal opportunities to all its citizens. In recent times Muslim countries are seeing an upsurge in fundamentalism and radicalism. The rise of Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Turkey and other nations is a case in point. Sane voices in these countries are becoming in minority. During general elections the hard line majority elects a leader who adopts a dictatorial approach. The civilised world keeps its national interest uppermost in mind and looks the other way when minorities are persecuted and secular folks are framed in false charges and put behind the bars.

*     The same radicalized population on every conceivable occasion derides the western way of living and elects its leaders amid lot of rabble rousing and chest thumping. But these very people when civil war breaks out in their countries run towards the secular, modern and humane West and not towards any Muslim country. 

*     Most Turkish leaders forget they have a historical role to play in the politics of the world. They with their leadership have to educate and motivate their citizens to be progressive and kind-hearted. Turkey has to imbibe the best of the West and pass it on to the East, and similarly pass on the best of the East to the western world. She has to permit smooth flow of new and progressive ideas through it. 

*    And this bridge at the moment doesn't seem to be strong enough to fulfill its historical role.

Saranga

*     While researching my latest fiction novel, I stumbled upon the most fascinating folklore about Saranga and her lover Sadavrij. Not much has been written about this fabulous story. About thirty to forty years ago this story was regularly played by every 'Nautanki' group across the Hindi heartland of India. With the death of 'Nautanki' this story along with others too got buried.

*      Saranga and Sadavrij were lovers, and their story goes back in the folk tradition. There are 35 different versions of this story. (No other folktale in India has so many versions). But almost all versions agree that Saranga was the daughter of a merchant, and Sadavrij the son of a king. And Saranga was married to someone else, while Sadavrij had many wives. Yet the lovers live only for each other, and finally are united apparently forever. Their passion and suffering end not in death but in union, blessed with worldly happiness, power and societal acceptance.

First Version

*  A popular version of the story begins when Guru Gorakhnath, a powerful yogi in North India, encounters a pair of swans, and gives them a boon. In the ancient times Guru Gorakhnath, lost in meditation of God, came to the shore of the lake Manasarovar. In that lake a pair of swans played in the water. When their gaze fell upon him, the female said to her mate, “Let me go now, as Guru Gorakhnath has come here. His attention might be drawn towards us. He is a virtuous holy man, who is easily pleased and displeased.” 

*     When Guru Gorakhnath heard this, he was pleased and gave a boon to both: “You are virtuous and modest. Therefore, after leaving this body, you will take on a human body and enjoy the worldly happiness.” Having said this, he threw a fruit. The male flew away but the female remained there, unhappy. Seeing her sad, the saint said, “If you are sad at the boon, then go, leave this body and take on a beautiful form. Your mate will take on human form at the proper time. You search for him.” Gorakhnath then went away.

*     The female swan became a beautiful woman. Seeing her own naked body, she got embarrassed and sat down in the lake. At that time a King, out on hunting, came there. When his glance fell on that pool, he saw her and became enchanted. The king took her to his palace to marry her. She sent out bird catchers who eventually bring her mate. But the male swan dies of grief over her changed form, and she dies of grief at his death. The king dies of grief at her death. The three are then reborn as Sadavrij, Saranga and her future husband Rupa.

Second Version

*    The second version is the story of the Pari Rambha, who smuggles her mortal lover into the world of Lord Indra. She turns her lover into a bee and conceals him in her bosom. But his presence makes her dancing less skillful than usual, and Indra becomes suspicious. He sprinkles the magic water over the bee. The moment water falls on that bee, it appears in its true form. An infuriated Indra shouts at Surajbhan, “Oh Man, who are you?” Surajbhan, with folded hands and head bowed, humbly replies, “Oh King! I'm the son of the merchant Lakshminarayan. With Rambha’s aid, I have come here to see you.” 

*   These words further enraged Indra. And he rebuked Rambha: “Oh Rambha, you, a Pari of Indra’s throne, have gone to the mortal world and taken your pleasure with a man. Therefore, you are no longer worthy of living in the world of Indra. I hereby curse you that you both go in the mortal world and take on the bodies of jackals because you both have tricked me. For seven births you will not be able to enjoy each other, and even it you try your efforts will be in vain and fruitless. For seven births you will wander, longing for union.”

*    Rambha's mortal birth story is often found as a sequel to one of the other stories, thus motivating the pair’s desperate love. 

Third Version

*   Once upon a time in the city of Ambavati lived a Brahman named Sadasukhlal. His wife Sukhmana was very delicate, as dear as life, as valuable as nine cities, brilliant in form, abode of all virtues, and devoted to her husband. Sadasukhlal loved her so much that he could hardly live even a moment without her, and leaving his work spent time with her twenty four hours. She too was devoted to her husband. Their love became known in the whole city. Everyone felt it improper to put any obstacle in the path of their love and began to help them. People gave them food and water. Thus they passed their youth in worldly enjoyment and reached old age. After some time, death tormented them but neither could die without the other. At that time Gorakhnath came, and having seen their love, gave them a boon: “Go, you will receive this human body again.” Then, having heard these words of Gorakhnath, these two gave up their bodies.

Fourth Version

*   On the outskirts of a city lived a potter. When poor Augharnath called out at his door, he came and prostrated himself before him and said, “Please come in, Maharaj, and sit down. Please take whatever you need, and have your meal.” Augharnath said, “Oh child, be happy. Through your grace, there has been peace. Abandon this city, and go settle in some other city. The moment you leave, a fire will start in this city and destroy everything. When you go out, don’t look back; otherwise, you’ll turn into a monkey.” Having heard Augharnth’s words, the potter and his wife went out of the city. The moment they left, fire started in the city, resulting in commotion everywhere. Hearing the noise, the potter and his wife stood still, and watched the spectacle. Immediately the potter became a male monkey and his wife a female monkey. They spent the night in a banyan tree on the banks of the river Narbada.

*      In that tree lived a pair of swans. The female swan said to her mate, “Look, these poor creatures, stricken by misfortune, have settled here. Tell some qissa that will help them pass the night, and as soon as it is morning they will move on.” The male swan said, “Look, these two poor things are sleeping, tired from travel. Leave them alone. But there is an omen that whoever, at this moment and conjunction of stars, bathes in the Narbada, will leave his body and become a youth of twelve years. By now only a little time is left.” The moment she heard this, the female monkey lept into the Narbada; the male monkey was left staring at her. The female monkey became a twelve-year old girl. Eventually she too is found by a king who took her as his queen. The male monkey dies of grief; she stabs herself to death; the king stabs himself at her death. Thus follow Saranga, Sadavrij, with the king returning as Saranga’s husband Rupa. 

*     There are so many other interesting versions of this folktale, which has sadly got buried under the sands of time.   

Simon Bolivar........The Great Liberator.

     

*     Hundreds of readers like me are indebted to the Great Marquez for introducing us to Simon Bolivar, arguably one of the greatest liberators of the world. I’m quite surprised that the great general is not so well known outside the two Americas and Europe. Until I read, ‘The General in His Labyrinth’ did I know about this great man, who took on the might of the Spanish Army and liberated and created Gran Colombia. Here's a brief about Simon Bolivar.

 Simon Bolivar (1783-1830)

*      Bolivar’s ancestors came from a small village in the Basque Country of Spain and settled in Venezuela in the 16th century. His first South American ancestor was Simon de Bolivar. Simón Bolívar was born in Caracas, Venezuela on 24 July 1783. He was baptized as Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios. His mother was María de la Concepción Palacios y Blanco, and his father was Colonel Don Juan Vicente Bolívar y Ponte. He had two older sisters and a brother. 

*      His father died before Bolívar's third birthday and his mother died when he was almost nine. After his mother's death, Bolívar was placed in the custody of an instructor, Miguel José Sanz, but this relationship didn’t work out and he was sent back home. He went on to receive private lessons from various renowned professors. Don Simón Rodriguez became Bolívar's friend and mentor who instilled in him the ideas of liberty, enlightenment and freedom.

*    Through years of military training, he developed a passion for the armaments and military strategy, which he later would put to use in the wars of independence. A few years later in Paris he witnessed the coronation of Napolean, an event that left a profound impression on him. From that moment, he wanted to bring similar glory to the people of his native land. 

*      After returning to Venezuela, Bolivar joined the group of patriots that seized Caracas in 1810 and proclaimed independence from Spain. He went to Great Britain in search of aid, but could get only a promise of British neutrality. When he returned to Venezuela and took command of a patriots’ army. He recaptured Caracas in 1813 from the Spaniards, but the Spaniards forced him to retreat from Venezuela to New Granada (now Colombia), also at war with Spain. He took command of a Colombian force and captured Bogota in 1814. 

*     The patriots, however, lacked men and supplies, and new defeats led Bolivar to flee to Jamaica. In Haiti he gathered a force that landed in Venezuela in 1816, and took Angostura and became dictator there. He marched into New Granada in 1819 and defeated the Spaniards in Boyar in 1819, thus liberating Colombia. He then returned to Angostura and led the congress that organized the original republic of Colombia (now Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, and Venezuela). Bolivar became its first president on December 17, 1819.

*    Bolivar crushed the Spanish army at Carabobo in Venezuela on June 24, 1821. Next, he marched into Ecuador and added that territory to the new Colombian republic. After a meeting in 1822 with another great liberator, Bolivar became dictator of Peru. His army won a victory over the Spaniards at Auacucho in 1824, which needed Spanish power in South America. Upper Peru became a separate state, named Bolivia in Bolivar's honour, in 1825. The constitution, which he drew up for Bolivia, is one of his most important political pronouncements.

*     He had great difficulty in maintaining control over the vast Gran Colombia. In 1826, internal divisions sparked dissent throughout the nation, and regional uprisings erupted in Venezuela. Gran Colombia had become fragile and was on the verge of collapse. To preserve the union, an amnesty was declared for the Venezuelan rebels, but this increased the political dissent in the neighbouring regions. In an attempt to keep the nation together as a single entity, he called for a constitutional convention in March 1828. 

*      His dream was freedom for all races in the Americas, and for this reason and to prevent a break-up, he sought to implement a more centralist model of government in Gran Colombia, which included a lifetime presidency with ability to select a successor. This move was considered controversial in New Granada and thus failed. 

*   Two months after the failure to write a new constitution, Bolívar was declared president-liberator in Colombia. He considered this as a temporary measure, as a means to re-establish his authority and save the republic, although it increased dissatisfaction and anger among his political opponents. An assassination attempt on 25 September 1828 failed, thanks to the help of his lover, Manuela Saenz. Dissent continued, and uprisings occurred in New Granada, Venezuela, and Ecuador during the next two years. 

*    Bolívar finally resigned the presidency on 27 April 1830, intending to leave the country for exile in Europe. He had already sent several crates containing his belongings and writings ahead of him to Europe, but he died before setting sail from Cartagena.

*    On 17 December 1830, at the age of 47, Simón Bolívar died of tuberculosis in Santa Marta, Gran Colombia (now Colombia). On his deathbed, Bolívar asked his aide-de-camp, General Daniel F. O'Leary, to burn remaining, extensive archive of his writings, letters, and speeches. O'Leary disobeyed the order and his writings survived, providing historians with a wealth of information about Bolívar's liberal philosophy and thought, as well as details of his personal life, such as his long love affair with Manuela Saenz. 

*     Simon Bolivar was one of South America's greatest generals. His victories over the Spaniards won independence for Bolivia, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. He is called El Liberator (The Liberator) and the "George Washington of South America."

Where is Iran headed to......!!!

*   Minoo Khaleghi, an Iranian woman parliamentarian has been blocked from taking her seat in the Majlis by the Guardian Council because her photos without headscarf have appeared in some newspapers. She was one of 18 women to win seats in the recent general election. She has been accused of uncovering her hair while in China and Europe. 

*  Her successful election stands annulled, despite Khalegi’s protests that her photos were fakes. Now her only hope lay in the hand of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, who has the last word in such cases. 

*  Not long ago a woman was punished for watching men’s volleyball. A few days ago some Iranian models have been arrested for posting their photos on the social media and charged with promoting western culture. 

*   In this century it’s unthinkable that citizens in some countries are not able to enjoy the freedom that folks in liberal and progressive democracies in Europe, Asia, Africa and Americas have. The leaders and people in such must realize that regression would push those countries into dark ages.