If you could have something named after you, what would it be?
The tale revolves around an arrogant king who seeks to immortalize his name by engraving it on a mountain. Despite expanding his kingdom, he ultimately faces humiliation when guards force him to wait in line, leading to disappointment and despair upon his arrival at the summit. The narrative illustrates the futility of seeking lasting recognition solely for personal glory. Historical figures like Emperor Ashoka are cited to demonstrate the transience of fame, emphasizing that true contributions stem from selfless actions rather than ego-driven pursuits. Ultimately, the story encourages valuing sincerity over superficial acknowledgment in remembrance.
Once there was a king. He was a little arrogant and ambitious, as anyone in power would be. He tried to do good for his subjects and helped them in their problems and woes. Yet, he always endeavoured and did everything possible to keep himself alive in his people’s hearts even after he was gone.
He expanded his kingdom by subjugating weak and small neighbouring states and bringing some into his ambit as a protectorate. He was convinced that he would have the ability to engrave his name in boldface on a hilltop as a Universal Sovereign on a designated mountain. He had heard that engraving a name on the hilltop was a great and everlasting thing an emperor should do.
He kept on vanquishing kingdoms and states, merging them within his kingdom for some time until he considered it enough; he tried to venture out to reach the mountain to engrave his name.
The emperor started his journey to the mountain. After a few days, he, his huge army and companions reached the base of that hill. As he tried to climb the mountain, guards of the mountain stopped him and his fleet. Feeling offended, he mendaciously boasted about himself and told the “Ill-mannered” guards to give him the way. Unimpressed guards did not buzz but showed him a long serpentine queue. “Go and stand at the end of this queue and wait for your turn,” they said to him.
King had no choice but to obey guards. He went to the tail end of the queue and started waiting for his turn. The impatient king became restless, but there was no solution. After several days of wait the desperate king started climbing the mountain in haste. Reaching at the summit, he did not find place to engrave his name. After a hectic search, he found a small space enough to engrave his name but not any more words. The king was disheartened, and in a fit of desperation, he copiously perspired.
His slumber broke. Heavily breathing, the awoken king sat clumsily on the bed. It was a nightmare, shaking him from the inside out.
The story narrated above shows the hollowness of the idea of having one’s name engraved with a wish to be remembered for a long. It is a hegemony to have such an ambitious wish which is like a pavonine soap bubble with a very short duration.
People now know about Emperor Ashoka, who ruled centuries ago, but until the early twentieth century, it was not ascertained as to who he was. In his early rock edicts, he was referred to as “Devanampiya Piyadassi” (Beloved of Gods). In a rock edict discovered in 1915, the relationship was established as Ashoka (One without sorrow).
The historical personality Ashoka, a great emperor who accepted Buddhism after the Kalinga war, remained in oblivion for a long time till his edicts were excavated and the inscriptions deciphered. It goes without saying that the glam and glitter of the temporal world is momentary.
The events are bound to happen since the time humans first started learning things, gradually, picking up experiences and momentous occasions shaped their way of life. Primitive humans might have seen a huge wildfire and its potential. They must have experienced its power to burn everything, roasted fruits and even animals, making them palatable for their consumption must have taught them a lesson. The tremendous power of fire aroused a sense of terror and awe in those who started worshipping fire. The incidents were the turning point in the life of primitive humans who painted their stories not for making names but for their remembrances.
Cave paintings tell a lot about their way of life. It was their start, and they must not have individual ambition. We do not know as to who has made an impression or stencilled it on the rock. It is like signs made by modern-day labourers who often make line diagrams of anything on large construction sites. It is the outcome of their emotional expression and unconscious will to draw something at their leisure.
Billions of years back, in the time of yore, inhabitants of the earth, mostly gargantuan lizards, we now term them Dinosaurs, did not intend to put their footprint or eggs as evidence of their survival. Their remains were meticulously curated and preserved by natural forces as fossils. They tell a story when viewed in a logical order. Curious modern men, scientists, palaeontologists, and archaeologists painstakingly join the fragments to recreate the shadow of the creature that lived billions of years ago. The recorded incidents become history, and their interpretation is subjective. In the absence of a storyteller, the interpretation based on concrete pieces of evidence is near absolute, but when there is one, it becomes subjective. The human mind and its perceptions are different, causing the variation in the style of interpretation.
The essence of narration is that a wish to leave an impression for the future is nothing but a mere wish that is very loose, like dry sand in one’s fist. Nevertheless, it shouldn’t be construed that the argument favours inaction or deterioration. Diligent action and honest efforts are necessary as they pave the way for development and growth. Human knowledge is the outcome of a long and persistent effort to acquire and curate it. It is to be noted that the painstaking work was not for individual praise but was an incognito effort to do good for the masses and humanity. It is praiseworthy.
One such example of narcissistic pleasure was displayed in the recent past when, five decades earlier, a time capsule containing materials praising an individual ruler was unearthed. The lopsided account was a feeble wish to become immortal.
A common person does not do things for personal promotion, especially when it is done in the public interest or for the advantage of the masses. It is also a reality that there are people who want to portray themselves as saviour and want to flaunt their actions, portraying them as their achievements by putting their names prominently. It is often seen in public places where a signage displaying a message about the name of the donor or contributor is displayed. It is the personal wish that also contributes to the ardent wish for publicity. It pleases and satiates the personal whim and fantasy but is very short-lived. Common people don’t know them even.
Places like crematoriums are seen flooded with stone placards affixed on cement concrete benches displaying the name of the person/s who donated and constructed that bench. Except for a few persons or the family members who knew them, no one knows about them. Naming anything, place or scheme after a renowned personality to honour him/her is a different category. It is good as they remind us about their indulgence and dedication to the cause, but naming to satiate one’s ego should be avoided. It is also seen that monuments and statues were constructed in the name of a living ruler, which was considered not in good taste. It received widespread criticism.
Modern time is a time of self-praise to the extent that it looks ludicrous. Amidst the inundation of things, the essential thing is that one gas to have a breathing space. Nostrils need to be placed above the water surface to keep oneself alive and survive. Promotion is necessary, but while promoting oneself, it is equally important that the qualities must be highlighted along with the possible and inadvertent mistakes. The content must not be gaudy.
An encapsulated simple, honest, smart and straightforward message is needed. While promoting an individual, product or service it should show the sober and genuine properties. It resonates with people’s sentiments. Temporary sparkle or momentary glitter does more harm than good.
-END-
Leave a Reply