Last week we went to Dashahra celebrations arranged in one of the largest parks in Manchester. In spite of a cold, wet and windy weather thousands of people came. They all jeered when the large effigy of the ten headed demon king Rawan came in the view and cheered when it was burnt following the bull’s eye hit by Ram’s arrow. We are very enthusiastic and gung ho about burning not only the the Rawan of Ramayan but anyone who we perceive to be as evil as Rawan as long as he is not one of us. If he is our kin or we are directly benefitting from his evil deeds, we gladly tolerate him, even praise him and sometimes worship him.
It is not only true for the individuals but almost all human institutions, whether it is a small charity organization or a big country. Even a cursory look at recent history of Saddam, Gaddafi and Taliban and their relation with different countries will prove the point. They had quite cosy and mutually beneficial relations with all the countries and kings who were capable of restraining them but choose not to. They were all attending different forums and meetings (the modern Swayambaras and Yagyas) with them at one time or another.
Only when Rawan chooses to kidnap Ram’s Sita, all hell breaks loose. Murder of thousands and suppression of millions in Iran, Libia and Afghanistan only raises Ram’s eyebrows not his all-powerful bow, until “nine eleven”!
The reason Rawan gets up and has to be burnt again next year is that each of us shelter a bit of him within us and we choose not to kill it, till it attacks our own hearts and even then the Amrit of our self interest revives him back in no time.
