The slap of Hanuman Khan. A short story in Madhubana days.

The slap of Hanuman Khan.

A short story in Madhubana days.

Bhimaji the strongest character in Mahabharat, the boon to Mata Kunti from the lord of the element Vayu (wind / air) in Dwapar Yuga (ages fifty per cent loyality to truth) wanted to descend on earth as of today. He moved throughout Akhand Bharatvarsha (the unbroken India). Changed names for places confused him. In some of his favorite places the authorities wanted to lock him up as a wandering foreigner without any visa. Who would trap a soul that to whose father is Wind God! Soon he could judge, which broken piece of land called India where he is allowed to move. India! What a funny name of his Bharata!

He got some solace seeing so many statues of Hanuman the Vayuputra in Tretaya Yuga (the ages of three fourth loyalty to truth). So in a sense Hanuman was his brother since ages. 

Moving on earth gradually brought him the earthly disease of jealousy. He thought why do people worship his brother only.He also deserved some devotees, after all he was also in the side of justice in the great war of Mahabharat, in the camp of Lord Shri Krishna the only lord of the universe. Krishna is same as Rama the Lord of Hanuman in Tretaya. He once again became sad and landed in depression.
 He remembered when he first met imortal Hanuman during their exile in forests. He ordered Hanuman to move his tail that blocked their road away for their smooth passage. Hanuman was too old and asked a help in doing that. Yes the old monkey should be helped and Bhima tried for it with failure! An old monkey’s tail could not be done out of their way by the strongest character of Dwapara yuga. Soon the mystery unfolded and the elder brother since ages embraced him, blessed him not to be too sure about his capability in any circumstances.

 Old vices return sometimes, Bhima felt envious. He knew his brother’s greatness and repute. He wanted a positive solution, after all he had fifty percent allegiance to truth.

He went to Himalayas where his immortal brother earlier. Existing on this earth never diminished his heavenly virtues.

The elder brother smiled and patiently heard Bhima’s dilemma. Bhima wanted some statues of himself to be worshiped. He begged, at least one in India, knowing well, if there was one it soon would become viral in the net and he in near future might be worshiped everywhere like his senior brother.

 Only one recommendation he begged realizing its value in current time in India. Hanuman made him comfortable in all respect including bringing peace to him, that he is known for.

They planned to move to see some statues before Bhima can select the places of his worship, at least five places.

As per the wishes of Hanuman they met ex-railway minister, Sri Mohanlal of Bihar known as the vayuuputra of this Kaliyug (ages of total untruth). He too was praised with forty verses called CHALISA just like the popular Hanuman chalisa.

All three Pawan Putras (sons of air/wind) started moving in disguise as three common men moving places. A disguise is a minor thing for Hanuman.

They reached Madhubana industrial city that was nearer to Kiskinda the native area of Hanuman. Hanuman led them to a village in Kiskinda where a very big statue of him was standing with the club in hand. He didn’t stop there but passed the village from east to reach the western side. At the opposite side of the village a man was waiting them. The man greeted them with a loud cry of, "Jai Shri Ram" that was heard to many who were present on the ghats of the big pond of the village.

 Many stared at him including Mohanlal. The man who seemed to him as a fundamentalist Muslim should utter like this! His Jai Shriram echoed on the walls of the village mosque and the water of the big pond. The Muslims looked at him with utter surprise as he made this cry after several years, the Hindus present there particularly the aged people were more surprised to hear the familiar cry they missed for years. The man known in the whole area of Kishkinda and beyond as Hanuman Khan had rarely come out of the mosque library from the day he was told not to play the character of Hanuman in the Ramleela. Ramleela was traditionaly played on each and every village phase by phase for three long months from September to November. He played the charector of Hanuman in all the stages with all other characters changed at different places.The entire Ramayana from beginning to end was played as chronological serials that pulled crowd from a large area. Many people called it Hanuman Khan’s show and it was as Ramleela as Hanuman leela.

Yes he was originally Rahman Khan and still did the job in the mosque with that name but if one asked about Rahman Khan no Hindu or no Muslim could know who that man was. You ask Hanuman Khan any one far and near not only recognized him but also told a story about him. Ram Leela lost its glory in the area after his services was barred. 

In 1992 the show remained as usual but in 1993 January things changed. Suddenly some people started an organization called Kishkinda action committee. They perceived dispute was not only in Ayodhya but also in Kiskinda. Why should there not be an organization to support and preserve the area of Hanuman, Sugriva, Bali, Jambavan and the whole brigade that helped Rama in the war. No one questioned what they were going to preserve! They planned to build a statue of Hanuman. That was very fine proposal to all. They decided not to call the Muslims to participate in the preparatory meeting. They decided not to beg contribution from them. The Muslims did not like it as their mosque was so nicely built with more contribution from Hindus than Muslims for the reason of simple mathematics that Hindus out numbered Muslims.

 When Hanuman Khan came and participated without invitation, he was told not to do so. More Hindus did not like all these changes in attitude but they raised only weak objections.

The organization served a message to Hanuman Khan addressing him as Rahman that Hanuman’s character was to be played by the main Pahilwan (wrestler) of the new Akhada (wrestling place) they built. The Muslim youth started practicing their weapon play before Maharam in a separate Akhada. Earlier the same place was used for Ramleela and Maharam preparation. A sense of show of strength prevailed which earlier looked benign. They were not allowed to play it in front of Hindu temples and houses, which they were doing earlier.

People of both sides felt too sorry for Hanuman Khan.

The making of Hanuman Khan was not easy. It started accidentally as they once played the act of Hanuman bringing Lava and Kusha on his shoulder for which the director found Rahman as the fit candidate for his shear strength. He played and liked the role so much that a new artist was born. The Ramleela got a new dimension. The director told him to read the Ramayanas. He went on reading. He read local language Ramayan, original Sanskrit Ramayana and he mastered in Tulsidas Ramayan. It became his obsession to read and repeat, to quote here and there, to advise in social gatherings. He without his consciousness mastered the epic. He somehow identified a Hanuman in him each time someone addressed him with that name. He was an artist, his only art was to play as Hanuman. He also became a vegetarian as he felt it to be a sin that a Hanuman eating animal flesh. When he prayed Allah he prayed like Hanuman prayed Rama. His every breath was bringing a Jai Shriram. No body in either community objected it, for others he was the class actor the true Hanuman descending for three months. Why three months he remained a bachelor as he felt it was a qualification to play as Hanuman. People prayed his blessings in their difficulties to which he only smiled and told Jai Shriram, Toba Toba, pray Ram or pray Allah as per the seeker’s faith.

However others said his smile was enough.

And he was told not to play as Hanuman!!!

And he was told not to play Hanuman??

Hanuman was told not to play Hanuman?!

He became silent and silent for ever. He always remained secluded inside the four walls of the library where all the Islamic and Hindu literature were there. He was found reading and reading something. Many thought, he lost his mental balance. When he went to regular prayers he talked to none. The chief priest one day called on him and told to utter Jai Sriram for 108 times holding the beads of rosary of Muslim faith. He felt the man being deprived of his lone and unique faith turned psychotic. The old priest of the temple also called on him and felt sorry for his state of affairs.

And now that forgotten cry of Jai Sriram echoed the whole village and people irrespective of faith soon gathered there.

Mohanlal was too confused and wanted Hanuman in disguise must tell something but he told nothing except Jai Shri Ram in a voice as slow as whisper. Bhima too was confused seeing the funny dresses of people of two types. How people can be different he exclaimed as in his time he had seen people in the side of Dharma (right) and Adharma (wrong) not Hindu or Muslim. He thought, “What is going on this earth that they had cleaned from Adharma". He had not the power of his senior brother to read a situation automatically.

Soon Khan became silent and people too.

People went back to their places. Khan was found to show the way to his house to his three distinguished guests, that was well arranged and vacant.

In the village people discussed the matter.

His childhood friend Shashank was appointed as the Principal of ‘Hanuman Vidya Niketan’ a school managed by Kishkinda action committee. He resigned from his similar job in a DAV school in Gangtok three months back on invitation. He felt very sorry for his friend but could not meet him as his very existence was of lesser significance and could not be solved. He wanted to meet him now. With him a group of people came to Hanuman Khan's residence.

He greeted his friend with a very tender voice of repentance. 

For so many years Khan ignored the whole village and the whole village came to talk to him now! He found the head of the action committee who originally had told him not to wish the character of Hanuman. He found the old director on whose wish he started reading the Hindu epic. There was Baba Amar who was the man with whom he discussed Tulsidas Ramayan, there was the Mullah who advised him to repeat Jai Sriram for 108 times counting the beads, and there was the head of the Maharam committee. There were the old artists playing with him Ram, Sita and all other characters. He found too many fragments which once was one and only one Kishkinda.

For all these days he had no power to tell his side. He was wounded. He ceased to exist as a human. He was in a Tapasya (penance). Now it was broken. Who could now tolerate his rage? He had the power to burn the entire Lanka. His curse could kill any body and his friend was in front. He knew his friend always tried to meet him, to discuss with him but all these days he avoided.

 He went as if holding a club and with all his force he did hit his friend a solid slap with the cry of ‘Jai Shriram’. Sashank instantly fell down on the ground but soon got up as if nothing happened.

Hanuman Khan spoke. "Whom did you ask before joining the school? What good this school did? They made it a place where no Muslim could enter although not officially so. The government school was there the haves Hindus did not send their children to government school the Muslims could not read in the Hanuman Vidya Niketan so they went to other places. The government school now got children from poor class Hindus and Muslims. Now they sent children to Madrasas where teaching was far from being modern. What was this? Was it development? The manner matters. Was it not possible to do a school where there was no school? Was it not possible Muslim people get quality education from Hanuman Vidya Niketan? This was not a matter of Hindu or Muslim it was that a bunch of extreme minded people destroyed the whole social structure built in thousands of years of tolerance and brotherhood. Did any one get the permission of Hanuman or Rama to use their names to fragment the society?

 This was Kishkinda the original land of the evolutionary middle species having the intellect of man and body of a monkey and I Hanuman Khan represents the middle of two religions the bridge to communicate between all possible religious disputes and suddenly a group broke the bridge. Lord Hanuman’s blessings were there so with all these negatives no major problem happened here."

Probably no one had the power to stop him now.
A girl came rushing to announce that a piece of cement was broken from the left side face of the tall statue of Hanuman as a naughty boy pelted the bunch of mangoes that was hanging a little higher!

Meeting dispersed and Hanuman Khan rushed to the spot to feel pity that he did the crime to slap a friend in presence of Lord in disguise.The whole village gathered there to see the mystery as Hanumanji asked Bhimaji and Mohanlal was it the right place to build Bhima’s statue?

Needless to say Bhima lost all his interest to be worshiped,

they soon left the place allowing the people settle their problem as per their wish.