What’s in a name? We all wonder. But along with surnames and names of parents, Indians are the only people who are asked to fill in dozens or even hundreds of names in various application forms, right from birth to death. These days we find it easier to fill in application forms, asking for all sorts of details, some of them quite personal and intimate. Such applications forget one major fact – curiosity killed the cat and soon may not spare you.
Indians are immensely curious about everything happening to them and their neighbours. This was more so in the villages, where I grew up. We expected a lot from our neighbours, not just bowls of sugar or spices or salt, but even cash. I remember events when my father ran around the house desperately trying to locate new hiding places for cash or kind which were sought out by inquisitive neighbours, who had inquisitive fingers to lift various items on our tables. These could be eatables, easily portable provisions or vegetables. Many of such neighbours had what we called ‘X-ray eyes’, which were able to penetrate even thick envelopes and discover what was inside. Was it a divine gift, your guess is as good as mine. A particular neighbour would lift a packet of fragrant flowers freshly bought, bring it close to his nostrils and inhale deeply, of the flower’s fragrance. This happened all the time, putting an end to our regular flower purchase, though I can’t estimate how much the family saved by cutting out so many purchases, some needed, others not, from obstinate hawkers.
This could happen to anyone. Some slick handiwork, nimble fingers, quick appearance and disappearances. We are careless people, we clutter our houses with unwanted goods, which cry out to be whisked away without anyone’s knowledge. We are intensely curious about guests to our neighbours’ homes, particularly those who arrive with large suitcases and plenty of cash to throw about. We reached our own conclusions drawn from popular film scripts, these men could be smugglers. Underworld Dons or lucky winners of huge lotteries. Well, we drew our own conclusions as the neighbours moved in and out.
There were other taboos… on where one came from or were going to. Certain places were taboo while we were in school. There was a line drawn, which youngsters were not to cross. Even the simple village paan shop usually patronised by the village elders. The boys of my age group (6-14) were not allowed anywhere near the shop. Even an accidental discovery of our presence led to some severe caning at home. The logic of such a violent reaction was that it was just one step away from those despicable addictions like tobacco and liquor, and worse. All these conclusions were drawn from misinformation, rumours and suspicion.
A policeman may have just taken a casual round of the village and being tired, halted in front of your house for some shade and rest. This was enough to set off rumours that the police were seen inside your house, some seen carrying suitcases filled with gems from king Solomon’s mines! Within an hour all types of rumours would be floating around! The same would be the case if you were seen coming out of a police station. It will be wise to study a recent judgment of the Punjab and Haryana High Court stating that merely being called to the police station regarding a complaint did not amount to criminal defamation. But how many of us pay attention to such information?
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V. Gangadhar
The writer is a well-known satirist. [/column]