Where Gods Dwell: Folktales of India by Kusum Budhwar

Author:Kusum Budhwar [Budhwar, Kusum]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9788184752854
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2010-09-08T04:00:00+00:00

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Based on a story related to me by Ram Singh at Way Farer Retreat, Munsiyari, 2005

RAMOLA GATHAS

GANGU RAMOLA:

PRIDE AND PENALTY

The Ramola Gathas are a collection of stories that tell of the life and events of the Ramola clan, namely its founder Gangu and his sons Sidhwa and Budhwa. They also include the adventures of three brothers Dudh Kunwar, Brahmi Kunwar and Suraj Kunwar who were distantly related to the Ramolas. The time frame of these tales coincides with that of Lord Krishna’s life and times in Dwarka. In fact, Krishna is Dudh Kunwar and the other two are his elder brothers who were killed at birth by their wicked uncle Kansa.

Raja Gangu Ramola of Ramoligarh held sway over a considerable tract of land in the Himalayan region of Saim Mukhaim, now Garhwal. He was distantly related to Krishna of Gokul, being the maternal uncle of his mother, Devaki. The Ramola was a proud old man on account of the great wealth he possessed, including countless heads of cattle, gold, silver and other precious things. He dressed well, ate fine foods and lived in comfort. But this was not always so. In earlier days, Gangu was a mere herder possessing but a few heads of cattle. He was so poor that he had to take his livestock for sale to the plains himself.

Once, when away on such a trip, he visited his relatives in Gokul. Devaki and Vasudev were very happy to receive him and regaled him with tales of young Krishna’s feats and adventures. Gangu was disappointed at not being able to meet his grandnephew because by then Krishna had moved from Gokul and Mathura and was living in his newly built capital, Dwarka, on the western sea coast. Throughout his stay in Gokul, Gangu’s relatives talked of little else but the splendours of Dwarka.

Gangu felt a keen desire to visit Krishna and see the famed golden Dwarka for himself. So, instead to returning to Ramoligarh, he continued journeying until after many months he finally arrived at his destination. There he saw with disbelief the extraordinary prosperity of the city. Streets lined with beautiful trees, houses made of gold and encrusted with precious jewels, fountains, gardens, and marketplaces abounding with exotic wares. Of course, Krishna’s fabulous seven-storeyed palace with its magnificent halls of a hundred ornamental pillars simply took his breath away. Gangu was very impressed with all he saw and complimented his grandnephew profusely when they met.

Krishna’s seven young queens observed this meeting and were highly amused at the sight of Gangu. They tittered and laughed at his appearance, clapping their hands mockingly, and made remarks about his strange garb, dark complexion and wizened, weather-beaten face. They sniggered at his long beard and whiskers, his big rough hands and his feet with their long nails curved like talons. Some wondered aloud how he could be related to one as handsome as Krishna; some remarked that it was best his rough hands did not scrape their lord’s smooth skin.

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