What if...????What if Aziz Hassim had called his second book "Revenge of Shyama or Adya Ma or perhaps even Tara Ma or Revenge of Dakshina Kalika"??? Would these titles have caused the same uproar within the community as the actual title of the book as depicted in the picture on the left?
I hardly think so - only because we are all too familiar with what has become all too conventional and we no longer seek to extend our spiritual knowledge beyond what we already know or have learnt...
The common excuses are:
Ag comon... that's left for the priests and pundits rights??? After all - how are they going to make a living if we studied all that they have????
We just don't have the time for it...
Oh - just by the way... all of the above titles/ names are also given to the divine Goddess, Mother Kali.
If Kollapen were alive today - he'd probably exasperate vehemently with rage at the way we treat our brothers and sisters. In his time and more so in the time of his parents the Indian was just that, an Indian. (Kollapen will live on forever in the pages of this book). There was no definition by wealth or religion, no status by social clique's as is the case now... The North and South battle took place in the America's - yet it seems to have found its way here in our time, in our country, in our community... The Grey Street Laarnies may not repent, but they know and see the revenge for their actions - in their lives and in the lives of their children... or is it just karma???
Now there was a time... Although a time of pain, torture, suffering and loss!!!! But - it was a time when you knew who your arch nemesis was as you toiled his plantation! Unlike today when your foe could be anybody, your neighbor, your colleague, your friend, your family, the very one you trust - your own kind!!!
The Revenge of Kali by Aziz Hassim was launched on July 21st, 2009. His second book after the award winning, The Lotus People. Fortunately for him, that book had nothing to do with a particular South African radio station, even for the namesake. The Revenge of Kali is a journey of great self realisation for every South African person of Indian origin. Our history is not told as it rightfully was and with stories such as these, we are able to cross the lanes; roads; walkways of the Casbah, live on the sugar plantations and smuggle cartons wrapped in oil rags in Durban harbor. Fact/ fiction/ imagination...do not miss out, get your copy and read it, I know you will enjoy it as much as I did....
Word of advice, cherish the beginning as he takes you on a historical journey of our past which many know nothing about but will claim the fame when they celebrate 150 years of the arrival of the Indentured Laborer in 2010.
PS: Why should you celebrate the arrival of a slave anyway?????
Is that something to be proud of when your ancestors were kidnapped from the streets of India, foiled into believing what they were mislead to believe.... and then coming here to slave on plantations of sugar with every kind of inhumanity/ injustice thrust upon them!!!!
Well such is the SPIRIT of the INDIAN - He/ She will flourish in time under any circumstance......Celebrate that @#$*@&%$!!!!!
PSS: It is said, Kali is the fearful form of the Mother Goddess. And now to clear any misconceptions this is what the truth behind that picture is...
As legend goes, in a battle, Mother Kali got carried away and began destroying everything in sight. To stop her, Lord Shiva threw himself under her feet. Shocked at this sight, Mother Kali stuck out her tongue in astonishment and put an end to her homicidal rampage. Hence the common image of Kali in her meleé mood with one foot on Shiva's chest and her tongue stuck out. nobody could stop her other than Lord Shiva....
Hope we have all learnt something today....
Peace....
Hey Rakesh
ReplyDeleteYou are right on the mark – our ancestors had to overcome many challenges, firstly submit to hard labor and that was eventually followed by racial oppression. But during all this there was camaraderie & mutual respect and strong, diverse friendships, where friends would lay down their lives for one other.
Unfortunately times have changed. Like you say, today your foe can be anybody. This is definately an interesting and enjoyable book and maybe it will change people’s mind about how we should behave towards one another.
In Aziz Hassim words "while The Lotus People is a novel about what the apartheid regime did to the Indian community, Revenge of Kali is about what the Indians did to themselves".
its sad but true many indians living in india , south africa , mauritius , u.k ,u.s.a canada, and other countries , forgot their indian culture and values..they ape western culture and take pride in changing their indian names in some johnny , candice , julie , harry ,shane ,shaun , russel ,sandy , candy ...........and make a total candy floss of their culture n ethics...... not to mention changing religions.........and many more such things. they get brainwahsed by people n cultures who ruled and ruined us........ ahhhhhh so painful and shameful. what they don't realise is da fact that by changing their names n religion , they can't change the colour of their skin or or physical features , they will still be called "indians" wherever they r and sometimes even have to go through lots of ......... u know what i mean. recent examples in autralia , uk, canada......hope u guys read in newspapers n watched news........
ReplyDeletetake pride in who u r , u r an indian ,born indian n u will die as indian . if u lose urself , how will others respect u.......
wake up indians!!!!!!!!