Sin Cleansing

November 3, 2010 at 9:15 AMNov (Literature, Musings, Poetry, Slice Of Life, Soliloquy)

Standing near the exit door George Bush said that there have been some mistakes on his part while he was the President. How true was his statement, is something which can be questioned. But yes, at least for the sake of appearing ‘good’ he said so. But does this wash away his sins?

Hitler committed suicide. Out of fear or out of guilt? We know not. Even if considered as an act of being guilty, will that wash away his sins?

While studying about the massacre during partition Asish Nandy interviewed one Mangathram. In one of the initial interviews Mangathram expressed his anger towards men who cry and behave “like a women”. And in one of the  follwing interviews, supporting his act of killing during the partition, narrating, proudly, the stories of him killing Muslims, then justifyed his act by quoting an old saying: “When, in a forest, an old huge tree falls down, no one can save the small plants, on which the tree falls” This justifcation was followed by a moments silence and then Mangathram buried his face in his hand and wept like a child. After that he refused to meet Nandy. Was he feeling guilty? May be. But does that wash away his sin?

May be, Bush, Hitler, Mangathram and many more such felt guilty of their acts at a later stage of their life. Even if found guilty in the realm of law and even if punished for their acts, what is he justice given to the ones who were the innocent victims of these peolpe?

*****

….. Look from the helicpoter
Peep from the aeroplane
From the car or in the press meets
Wearing caps
Or go close and see
Hiding all your dark shades
Wearing the mask of empathy and love.
There is only one sight to see!
Only one silent agony!
But worry not
The corpse will never demand
For an explanation from you…

… May be years later
While cultivating this land
A skull might surface
And laugh.
But then fear not
For, a skeleton will
Never demand for an answer…

– ‘Nagnamuni‘ (Original Name: Keshavarao) in his Koyyagurram (Wooden Horse) a modern Telugu epic written in 1977.

19 January 2009