BY ANAND MANAPURE  

 

 

IN THE intricate tapestry of human interaction, the art of Civilisation often conceals a myriad of unspoken truths. Consider the scenario: you arrive at a friend’s home to find them partaking in a sumptuous dinner. They extend an invitation, which you politely decline, professing to have already dined. Yet, inwardly, hunger gnaws at your stomach, a testament to the societal fabric woven with these untruths, deemed essential for harmonious interaction. Such are the nuances of primary etiquette, meticulously ingrained within us. Imagine Mr. X, unexpectedly reunited with his former paramour at a social gathering after years of separation. She introduces him to her spouse with polite formality, prompting Mr. X to offer courteous pleasantries, all the while grappling with a storm of emotions beneath the surface. In the recesses of his mind, a tumultuous narrative unfolds, questioning his worthiness compared to the chosen mate. He mumbles “which way am I lesser than him that she chose him rejecting me?”. This dichotomy between societal niceties and inner turmoil underscores the perpetual quest for validation, an eternal pursuit of unattainable aspirations. Reflecting on my days at Morris College, Nagpur, a fellow scholar and my colleague garnered the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award, prompting grand celebrations organised by the faculty.

 

Amidst accolades extolling his literary prowess and creative genius, whispers of dissent emerged in the sanctum of the tea club, veiled behind his absence. Despite outward displays of admiration, discontent simmered amongst colleagues, lamenting the opacity of his poetry akin to the enigmatic and obscure verses of Robert Browning. Such is the paradox of human nature – the ease of outward praise juxtaposed with the struggle to genuinely rejoice in the success of others. Before embarking on the lofty pursuit of spiritual enlightenment, one must first navigate the labyrinth of human frailties. From the wellspring of genetic predispositions emerge tendrils of jealousy, envy, and unwarranted competition, entwined within our essence. The 1948 Nobel Prize winner for literature T S Eliot’s poignant lines in ‘The Waste Land’ echo this sentiment, casting April as a harbinger of cruel cycles, entwining memory and desire in a melancholic dance. “April is the cruelest month, breeding Lilacs out of the dead, mixing memory and desire, stirring dull roots with spring rain; Winter kept us warm, covering Earth in forgetful snow, feeding a little withered tubers.”

 

Robert Frost’s famous lines from ‘Mending Wall’, “good fences make good neighbours,” underscore the importance of delineating boundaries to preserve harmony in human relations. To transcend these innate inclinations is the true test of humanity’s evolution, epitomised by the biblical injunction to “love thy neighbour as thyself,” a directive fraught with the acknowledgment of our inherent struggle against comparison and rivalry. Consider the eminent singers Manna Dey and Mohammad Rafi – though peers in the realm of music, Dey humbly acknowledged Rafi’s superior talent, a testament to his magnanimity amidst professional rivalry. Indeed, the intricacies of civilisation serve as a veneer atop a tumultuous sea of chaos and darkness, masking the depths of our shared humanity. Only by transcending the shackles of envy and competition can we aspire to commune with the divine, for true enlightenment lies not in ascension, but in the humility of the soul.