77

Dear Readers, 

                    A colleague of mine recently lent me a book to read which has come as a shocker. The book is entitled Javednama authored by Mohammad Iqbal. The name rings a bell, doesn't it? Yes, as we all know in India, Mohd. Iqbal was the man who wrote "Saare jahan se accha", yet later full-heartedly supported Jinnah and his two nation theory.

                     The book is a translation of the original work of poetry written in Persian expounding Iqbal's fine maneuvers with words and ideas and philosophy. It is a dramatic depiction of a long journey into interstellar space by important thinkers and prophets. What came as a surprise is that this great and prolific "Islamic" ideologue included in his list the likes of Vishvamitra, Gautam, Zarathustra/ Zoroaster, Tolstory etc.

                      We realise that we know so little when we learn about thoughts which seem to unshackle the mind from petty restrictions that limit its functioning. The charm of philosophy and its gratification lies in the fact that it uplifts you from the mean baseness that is called mediocrity or the 'general'. It is beyond the laity to grasp, leave alone practice. Suffice is to repeat Iqbal's idea about love :

            "Ishq yun kamil shavad adamgareest" 

            'love culminates into humanisation'

                   The love that he is alluding to here is a special feeling lying beyond the flower valley of gender. In fact, it is through the metaphor of love that he explains and differentiates between religion, philosophy and prophet-hood.  

76

Dear Readers,

                   Here is an excerpt from a letter I wrote to my VC recently.

Hon. VC Saheb,

            The regular interactions that we as faculty had with you and our peer, have not only instilled confidence and a new zeal among us but have also inculcated in us a familiar feeling towards this grand institution gearing up to reach higher destinations. On this note, I take liberty to write a letter to you expressing my genuine views. 

                 Two thousand six hundred years ago, Gautam Buddha visited a specific place in Bihar during the course of his extensive travel. This specific location was called Pavarika amravana or the Pavarika mango forest and under one such tree, the Buddha delivered sermons to the Sangha. Many centuries later, the great Nalanda University developed at the same site and Buddha's values were spread universally by bhikshus and bhikshunis like Asvaghosa, Vasubandhu, Nagarjuna and Silabhadra.

                Sir, there are several mango trees in our campus and a big one is situated right behind the Humanities Hall. The purpose of narrating this story is to assure you that the opportunity that you have given to scholars like me will be fully utilised with full devotion and dedication. We all would strive hard to make University of Rajasthan an institution as profound as Nalanda....

                        The Vice-Chancellor was kind enough to send a warm reply. A reply which further bolsters up one's grit and passion for the goal set to achieve........

                                 

75

Dear Readers,

                     Mystery and serendipity awaits you at every turn along the road through Rajasthan where history lies strewn across the landscape. Recently, I encountered one such gem on my way from Jaipur to Degana, a small village-turned-town in the Thar desert. The reason I was traveling down to that place was to attend a function organised to mark the 308th anniversary of the legendary Maharaja Surajmal of Bharatpur. This prominent figure of India during the eighteenth century would be discussed in the next post as his achievements and contribution are far too numerous..

                      As for now, let us return back to our small garhi (the Rajasthani word for fortress). Perched on a lofty hillock lies this castle with a commanding view of the vast landscape around. It was the seat of the local thakur or lord who belonged to the Sultannot sub-clan of Meria Rathors of Marwar. We met the present scion of this lord's family who exhibited medieval courtesy and showed us around his property. We learned about the architecture, the important wars that this castle saw and temples in and around. The castle was an exquisite example of rain-water harvesting. 

                    

                        On my way back, Tameghji, a colleague of mine and I, pondered over the fact that so much of our history lies trapped in such remote and inaccessible corners of the country. It is an urgent need for us to properly register, document and study such monuments before they are wiped out completely by the reckless and cruel forces of the market and political expediency.... 

  

74

Dear Readers,

                     Last Sunday I took my students at the Centre for Museuology and Conservation, deptt. of History and Indian Culture to the ancient site of Chandravati near Abu road in Sirohi district of Rajasthan. The levity that one feels while travelling with students is amazing. The journey was a combination of zest and quest for knowledge. All of my co-travelers were responsible, mannered, inquisitive and in short, not a menace. The trip was also a picnic of sorts with long sessions of chatting about the subject and its nuances. 

                     The site was a marvel. Dr. J S Kharakwal is conducting excellent excavations at this once-upon-a-time huge metropolis that reached its peak glory in the early Medieval period. This rich city once was spread over an area of 42 sq. kms. For the reason it was situated on the ancient route connecting Gujarat with Delhi, this city was ran-sacked by several expeditionary armies marching across the landscape. All around the present site lie scattered remains of structures that were once grand temples of handsome style and proportions. 

                      It was for the first time that I was at such close quarters with archaeology. The feel of the tools in your hand and the burning desire inside to keep on digging to find some valuable clue lost in the sands of time is so strong that one looses oneself and all notions of time. The mystery and beauty of this lost city augmented with those serene hills standing aloft nearby, paves a path that connects you to those lost inhabitants of this place and to the warmth of their homes. For a moment, you look around and find yourself in the midst of a chirpy , busy, boisterous city somewhere in the eleventh century CE.....