Women of the Weak Topic

Fyodor Dostoevsky refers to a gruesome murder on the opening chapters of ‘The Idiot’. He was referring to ‘Crime and Punishment’, but he being Dostoevsky, was without doubt reacting to the deterioration in contemporary social life in Russia at that time.

We are presently reading about a similar dreadful event in an ‘advanced’ world where a much educated married female colluded with her lover to finish off her current family. So much for ‘harmony at work’! It is a long journey from the Ape to the Man and many are there who could not finish it yet.

Years ago, a leading publication in India came out with a cover story on the Women of epics wherein bloodshed was the order. It was with great enthusiasm that one started reading this rather disappointing compilation by different authors. The editors in this case obviously presupposed ‘epic’ to be ‘Indian’. Even among those Indian, they chose only Ramayana and Mahabharatha. They chose ten females without any hint of the syllogism in choosing the names or them in any ratiocinative order. Who were they? Sita, Draupadi, Tara, Kunti, Kaikeyi, Gandhari, Satyavati, Mandodari, Ganga and Ahalya.  

There were no authentic names on the subject. Writers spread their self-indulgence throughout the blurb, without giving a new slant to any story. The story failed to suggest what is parallel for the modern woman. Is it feminism? Is it life and times of women post 2000? It did not give any direction to the reader, apart from the usual rhetoric. Except one, nobody visualized the psychological perspective of the characters in the epics, with suggestions to the modern woman. However, she too escaped by quoting instead of sharing her views.

Two of the selected characters, Kaikeyi and Gandhari, did not have multiple spouse (or were not so accused) and may stand apart as unique role models for the new woman. It is not explained why they are among the others.  ‘Little known facts’ are sometimes misleading as in the cases of Tara and Kaikeyi. Tara is a well-respected figure in Ramayana. Sugreeva protects her by taking her as ‘wife’ and not as outrageously suggested by sexual relationship. One should doubt Sugreeva’s capability for that! Kaikeyi of course went with Bharatha, among others to meet Lord Rama, immediately after Dasaratha’s death.

Let us take one by one,

 Sita

Sita was the reason for the epic ‘Ramayana’. The sole purpose of Avatar of Lord Rama was to kill Ravana. He fails in life afterwards. The situation involving disappearance of Sita is to be further researched as it is close to self abdication by sinking into an abyss. Why the bard refused Sita ‘Swargarohana’ or ‘Moksha’ like others? Is Lord Krishna making up the folly of Lord Rama by protecting 16008 women as wives and caring for numerous Gopikas? Is Radha, a repetition of Sita?

 Draupadi

Draupadi’s relationship with Lord Krishna is not examined. Lord Krishna however, saw her as the life partner of Arjuna, Krishna’s cousin and close friend.

All the same let us not forget that Krishna also perceived his sister Subhadra as the chariot of Arjuna! During the time just before the War, was Lord Krishna remorseful about Draupadi? Krishna blesses her that all her wishes would come true. If she could not keep her karma, by loving Arjuna more than others, how could this failed character be a role model?

Tara

We should not miss the advice of Lord Rama to Tara after Bali’s death. She has to live to make Angada, the King. Here, everybody understands Sugreeva as a frivolous character. He is survived because of his intelligent ministers. Sugreeva sends Tara to pacify an angry Lakshmana when Sugreeva fails to deliver help in finding Sita. After Ravana’s death, Sita insists on meeting and bringing Tara to Ayodhya. Tara did command respect.

 Kunti

Kunti had the most troublesome life. That she is adopted explains many things? This must be why she looked beyond to seek happiness. Only Lord Krishna could foresee that she couldn’t feel comfortable in Hastinapura after the death of King Pandu. This is why he sends a messenger. She was of Yadu clan and was among wily Kshatriya Kuru kings and ministers.
 If a female child was unwelcome in those days, how come a king adopts her? If Dharmaputra carried the image of sage Vidura, then whose image Karna carries to be called, ‘Suryaputra’? In the light of stories of child abuse, she is a role model in stark contrast.

 Kaikeyi

She was the most beautiful queen among the wives of Lord Dasaratha. She helped Dasaratha in war, sitting beside him! We understand that on the occasion of the name giving ceremony of all young princes, Guru named Bharatha so because he is to be an expert in ruling the country. So, he is rightfully the King. Here, it was the tradition, which necessitated in his abdication of throne. (The same tradition, later do not help Prince Duryodhana in Hastinapura!) Once her role is over, Kaikeyi is forgotten in Ramayana. Only Lord Rama understood and continued to support her, despite once losing patience over the suffering of Sita.

Gandhari

Gandhari had to marry Dhritrashtra, who was the eldest of the two Kuru Princes. Remember that all other kings were afraid of Prince Bheeshma. Gandhari blindfolded and sacrificed her life. Duryodhana is their eldest son and Hastinapura should naturally belong to him. When Akroora reached Hastinapura at the behest of Lord Krishna, the knowledgeable King sends him back, saying, will of the God prevails. Why should Gandhari curse Lord Krishna after the war? Lord Krishna does not give any detailed teaching of Dharma to her at this stage, so unlike him, but bows to destiny. Gandhari stands in contrast to Kaikeyi.

Satyavati

She has little to offer to any woman. She has not made any decision, all by herself which could affect the epic Mahabharata. Even if it was she, who demanded her sons to inherit the throne, she might only have learned from past ‘mistakes,’ and to look beyond. She was however not in a position to prevent any alternative outcome.

 Mandodari

Her resemblance to Sita must be peripheral. It is said that she survived a lost daughter to the Sea. Mandodari knew that her husband’s actions would land him in trouble. When Ravana managed to get all around him including his son killed, this was so intolerable that she looses her patience and aids Angada in a certain way to disrupt Ravana’s ‘Homa’. Ravana, is one who was destined to be killed only by Lord Rama. Mandodari is a role model in endless patience and tolerance and not as suggested to be an early (helpless) acolyte of Ravana.

 Ganga

When analyzing Ganga’s actions, we should think why the eight vasus did not wish to live on earth after their birth. Is it OK if a sage curses somebody to be ‘born’ on earth? The eight vasus were taking refuge in a slip of tongue by the sage Vasistha. Vasistha meant that they should experience the agony of life on earth. Ganga obliges to save them. Now, this is a most precious thought as unlike any other occasion, we come close to the biblical belief that if born on earth, one suffers and might do evil. Traditional Hindu thought follows that, through birth as ‘man’, one can lead life to Moksha (Purushartha), whereas no other form of life has this benefit. One gets this special form, after being born in several other forms. What do we learn, then, from Ganga?

 Ahalya

Versions on her story differ. One view is that Indra took the guise of sage Gautama to sate his selfish lust. Gautama on his return from bathe sees Indra’s semblance and questions him, upon which, he curses Indra. We don’t know the truth except that she was to await Moksha by the touch of another man!

 Victims of a virtuous world

 Many women characters in Epics like Ramayana and Mahabharatha, are made victims of the circumstances. They were as confused as we are when they had to make important decisions. The result was war, destruction, agony and suffering. Lord Krishna stands apart.  He was the ultimate teacher and protector. Yet, he could not prevent the end. He could not influence everybody.

Despite the above examples and most modern psychological help, we are seeing that Men and Women lack ability for logical reasoning and analysis, in expressing emotions. It is a long way to a satisfactory emotional quotient for everybody! We are seeing the end result, all around us.

In the Ahalya’s case for example, can we say that, if both were aware of the attraction for each other (as suggested in one version) and if they analyzed the alternatives, results could have been different!

We all should learn on our ‘response’ to emotions. We need learning and not role models and this is unfortunately continuous throughout life. We can become better individuals. It is a choice.

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Hope, Audacity and a Hijack

(Foreword: One of my first( July 2008); it was well received saying ‘powerful’! India is going to Polls this week after 6 years and US in two years. It would be interesting to look back after reading this! Good Luck!)

I confess ignorance about the American mind!

I am aware that a lot of Indians and among them, so many 'Mallus' have settled there and some are its respected citizens. All I know is that it has cosmopolitan culture with a strong democracy and fundamental citizen rights including free speech. Its currency is still the most accepted international legal tender. Though it is criticised for playing the world police, there is no credible alternative to its present policies.

Back in India, another democracy, some of us are pelting stones at everything American. We torch Mr. Bush's effigy. We can't accept the nuke deal and therefore get uranium for our reactors. We prefer darkness to globalization. State of Kerala in India has the most number of rivers. Yet, we cannot have another hydro electric station because that will kill our environment and endanger rare species of animals and plants. Atomic stations are a no no due to dense population and high costs, while thermo power stations face no objections, whether they are polluting or not. We should have something, right? We have to sit in darkness for half an hour every night between 6~10 p m. Day times it is usually the other way round. We have electricity as a guest. We have accepted power cuts as natural and socialistic like rations in the good old days! We amaze at the development happening in other States in India. We like to live in paucity. We are slowly becoming cynical. Everything American has to be despised, even if it is good, because it comes from imperialism and capitalism. Not so about Barack Obama.

 Here comes somebody who talks about change. Someone who says values and virtues are indispensable for a country much like its growth of GDP. He says as a country, America has empathy deficit to understand 'feelings' of other countries. Who else can say this credibly than Obama Jr.? But I still think he is 4 years younger for the top job. What he should have done is to become the vice president nominee and then later become the President. But why not? Americans ask us. With all the support, will he make it to the top job, nobody can say. What happened to Al Gore?

 It is difficult to predict America. Anybody can hope to make a fortune there, but to enter the minds and get through the primaries should be tougher than going through the eye of the needle!

I must confess I was with Hillary. I do not know what happened. It is not just the phenomenon; it is a little bit of impatience or lack of understanding and perseverance. The undercurrent was very high. We heard a lot about a New York Mayor. Nothing happened. Are Americans averse to accept a woman on top?

Now as everything is over, we have to look forward to the 'Phenomenon'. Of course he is! Only I am late in accepting him. Or, like Americans, I did not take him seriously from the very beginning. Here is the story.

In Nairobi, Kenya, Hussain Onyanko Obama was a cook to Christian missionaries during World War I. He has visited Europe and India when he served in the British Royal Army. He accepted Islam at Zanzibar and added Hussain to his name. He had three wives. Obama Senior was born to Akuma but was brought up by Onyanko's third wife Sarah. Though born in Kenya, Barack Obama Sr. was a brilliant young man who got scholarship to study in America. At age 23, he joined Hawaii University to study Economics. In Manama, he met Ms Ann Dunham, a fair and beautiful young lady. Against all odds, they got married on February 2, 1961. Those days it was difficult for a white lady to marry an African. But Ann was a liberal like her parents and who could think above sectarian beliefs. Barack Obama Jr. was born to this couple on August 4, 1961.

It is amazing to read how Ann brought up our Obama. Obama Sr. and Ann separated as fast as their union. Obama Sr. received an opportunity to study in Harvard. He wanted to leave Hawaii.
Ann was a feminist and was a liberal when (in those days) there were no liberals and feminists. Much unlike them, who throw the wedding ring in river or to auctioneers with bitterness, Ann, infact kept the relationships and whenever she could, allowed Obama Sr. to communicate with our Obama.  Obama was very happy to meet his father when he was 10 years old, and when Obama Sr. came to Hawaii.

Ann was married to Lolo Soetero, an Indonesian and young Obama settled with them in Djakarta along with his sister Maya who was by then born to the couple. Ann was an agnostic and she read a lot of religious books and encouraged Obama and her sister to read the Bible, Hindu Upanishads, Buddhist and Taoist teachings etc. She brought home cassettes of Martin Luther King Jr. Obama remembers his mother as the greatest influence in his life.

Obama liked to be back in Hawaii for his High School. Like any child, he wanted to be close to Grandpa and Grandma. At the age of ten, he studied in Honolulu in the renowned Punahau School. Madeleine Dunham was then Vice President of Bank of Hawaii.

Ann's second marriage was by now facing rupture. In 1980, they separated. Ann was still doing field work in Djakarta as part of her studies about Japanese handicraft in Indonesia. Hawaii University gave a Doctorate to her in Anthropology. She worked for United States Agency for International Development, Ford Foundation, and Women's World Bank. By now a Cancer Patient, she was back in Hawaii in 1994.

 Obama studied in Occidental College for 2 years and then did his Graduation at Columbia University in Politics and International Relations. Came 1988 and he joined Harvard Law School. He was the first black president in the history of Harvard Law Review in its history of 104 years!

In 1991, he took the Law degree and taught constitutional law at Chicago University as part time lecturer from 1993 to 2004. He worked as a summer associate in Sydney and Austin, where he met his wife Michelle Robinson. Their first date, a movie -Spike Lee's "Do the right thing" -was indeed helpful! They got married in 1992 and have two daughters Malia and Sasha.

Ann always told Obama and Maya stories about how Negroes in South America became Scientists, Doctors and Advocates by studying donated books. She always told them that to be a Black is to be the owner of a great inheritance. In 1995, she died. Her body was cremated in Hawaii. Obama remembers her agility, her bountiful happiness and her ability to astound.

The hijack is nothing but the seizing of our attention to this new phenomenon. But when I read about Ann, I do understand. The image I am getting from what Obama says is that the new American is a soul searching and responsible individual. Obama seems to be a responsible Individual. He is brought up to be so. Being spiritual is not being a victim to false beliefs.

To read and understand Indian Upanishads with a critical mind is not easy. It is the distance between today's Rasputin like Swamis and our Nithya Chaithanya Yati. After all it is the ability of mind and imagination which equates 'Narayana' with cosmic body. It is the same ability of the Good Samaritan. It is very easy to dub all Asian religions obscure. It takes about the same effort Ann took to understand them. It needs the same tolerance level she had for keeping relationships for her children with their respective fathers. To learn one has to read and should be listening to learned Gurus. Spending days in Himalayas with some narcotic addicts will not make any body a learned one.

Sadly Ann's tolerance and passion for knowledge is what we are missing today. May be due to MCPs, may be due to FCPs. What we need are more Anns for more Obamas. Not Madonnas. Ms Rice might make it, Ms Hillary may have to wait or let us have hopes on Ms Chelsea for instance. For the American Woman, the trip to the top is long. Let us hope Ann's dreams will come true.

The new found acceptance of Obama in India is coming from the hypocrisy of Indians. Is it because it rings like Osama? Obama equals Obama and America equals only America. Be it Rice among the Republicans or Obama for the Democrats, I do not think change will happen that fast. It is a long long road.

  (Story of Obama is adapted from K Balakrishnan Nair's 'Obama equals Obama' in Malayalam Weekly June 27, 2008.Views expressed here are strictly personal views of the author.)

(July 2008; Gather)