The Stateman – Borderless

By Devraj Singh Kalsi

It is a matter of joy that my existence in this world has been largely successful in proving my birth chart predictions wrong. This has now fossilized into my belief even though my mother held a different viewpoint. Ever since I got to read the prized booklet in my teenage years, I was disturbed about my life as an adult and my life span. I was classified as an early achiever of success scheduled to play a long innings. So, I planned to delay almost everything and become a late bloomer instead. Success earned late lasts longer was the guiding thought. Imagine a young fellow who was destined to get his hands on everything considered worth acquiring. Contrast these projections with his determination to put everything on hold, to express solidarity with millions of others who have to struggle very hard and for too long to finally become an achiever. Being stubborn to refuse what fate has ordained sounds crazy and suicidal but that was the rebellious streak that glowed like a firefly in my head during those days.

Wherever I found I was supposed to clock a win or hovered close to winning, I chose to withdraw, step back, or slow down to help another person in greater need of it. Such noble sacrifices were not included in my horoscope, but I gave no scope to destiny to remote control my life. After all, it did not include any career option of my choice and so the glowing tales of a ‘successful’ life meant little. While my mother was glad that the birth chart made it sound all good for me, a roller-coaster ride worth envying, she was upset that I was in a challenging mode, holding my will superior to what the astrologers had outlined in those few hand-written pages. I had some vital questions to raise and clarify doubts. When I expressed the desire to meet the astrologer who drafted my future at the time of my birth, she said he had departed from earth, leaving no scope for me to chase him for an explanation or seek a partial rewrite. There was no way I could convince myself that I was supposed to spend my entire life as per his forecast even though he foretold an abundance of material possessions and windfall gains.

Considering the prediction that I was going to be settled abroad around the age of thirty, I chose not to seek my fortune outside the country, believing that only the meritorious students deserve to go abroad for higher studies or only the highly educated get employed there. Nothing could materialise without the passport, so I delayed acquiring it in my early twenties. My singular focus was to ensure that I was academically unfit for the international job market. Although the extended family gave importance to settling abroad, and many relatives of my generation were upskilling themselves and secretly planning for the big break in the foreign lands, my lack of ambition stoked serious concerns as they concluded it quite abnormal that a young fellow does not dream of flying across continents. When they offered real life examples of how some of our relatives had a better, more ‘secure’ life and they were doing exceptionally well in Canada and Australia, I showed no interest in their immigration tales and chose to furnish a divergent viewpoint of domestic success being a greater challenge in an overpopulated job market.

The holidaying arriviste from New York – an architect of a brilliant career in the field of computers – was eager to know what I was pursuing as we were the branches of the same family tree. When I disclosed that I was into media studies, he was visibly relieved that I would not be seeking any favours like sponsorship, internship, scholarship, or referrals. He was expecting me to praise his global success but my lack of curiosity in his professional breakthroughs made him furious within. His arched eyebrows suggested an element of shock when I mentioned I had zero interest in shifting to a foreign country in search of greener pastures. He read it as my lack of self-confidence to compete globally. He suggested I should mingle with those friends who have a strong urge to move abroad and develop a similar expansive mindset instead of remaining a frog in the well, with those outdated ideas of roots keeping me stuck and decaying my potential. His words failed to stir me or change my outlook, and I maintained that staying local but thinking global was sufficient for me. There have been big achievers who never boarded a ship or a plane, yet they were recognised by the world over for their contributions.

Many friends were exploring opportunities abroad although they kept it as a closely guarded secret to reduce competition. My steadfast refusal to ape them was as source of disappointment, generating fears that the horoscope must have missed out some crucial details or the exact time of birth was recorded incorrectly – a difference of a minute or two possibly changed the entire calculation grid. That I had managed to raise questions on the accuracy of the birth chart was a big achievement, but my mother started scanning the newspaper classifieds for another experienced astrologer who could accurately read my palm and forehead and find out what the future had in store for me. I was sure that the excessive crisscrossing of lines and their lengths and breaks would confuse any seasoned palmist, making him lose patience to further read between the lines.

When I told my close friends that writing could be practiced from any part of the world, they argued that the opportunities to succeed in writing were non-existent within the country. The Western world offered a better life to mediocre writers as well. When my mother understood that creative pursuits were a priority for me, she tried to find some linkage with the birth chart once again. She did succeed in establishing a connection with writing and the business of iron. After all, books and newspapers began their printing journey with the use of metal in the early stages.

As the years passed by, she was convinced that her son would not move out of the city, forget leaving the country. Applying for a passport when it was well past the ‘right’ time to migrate was explained as a necessary step to ensure a holiday abroad though the vacation never materialised. Aside from some minor errors in calculations, she was unwilling to concede that the horoscope was fundamentally misleading. Just then a work-related opportunity in a neighbouring country arrived my way. When I refused to accept it, she was relieved that though late, the horoscope was right to suggest the professional breakthrough abroad and it was my decision to let it go. No more arguments on the accuracy of the birth chart as she felt quite victorious after a long phase of wait. An international opportunity gone waste gave a high of a different kind. My satisfaction that I was not crossing the border disappointed my mother, but I was happy to stay in my homeland.

That I was supposed to be a businessman according to the birth chart was another prediction that haunted me like a nightmare. I was keen to prove it incorrect. Those were the days when the self-employed or freelance professional tag was not in circulation so there were just two categories for astrologers to focus on. The iron business forecast consumed my energy as I feared I would end up being a scrap dealer instead of a global metal magnet. My confidence remained perpetually low, and the fundamental lack of ambition drove me insane. An overdose of humility and modesty stifled my voice to rise and shine.

When I told her about words being the complete world for me, she was happy the prediction was right. Words and books need paper and printing press, so my business of writing had the iron component in it. As per her assessment, the astrologer won despite my best attempts to prove him wrong. She gave a creative spin to those predictions and find some solid connection with my choices. Being published abroad meant it was going international and writing had metal and mettle associated with it. While I stayed happy with the conclusion that the astrologer was wrong, she stayed happy that the astrologer had predicted everything correct and things were unfolding in accordance with what the birth chart foretold.

Talking about life span, it is better to stay silent. I should not pose a challenge just to prove the astrologer wrong. Though I hated the long life he predicted for me as I wondered what I was supposed to do for so many decades, with each passing year now, I feel there is so much to achieve and the prediction gives solace that there is still enough time to fulfil my pending dreams as the journey began late due to my stubborn approach. Whenever I am doubtful about my future on this earth, I fish out the horoscope and read the short paragraph highlighting my long-life span and heave a sigh of relief.

Devraj Singh Kalsi works as a senior copywriter in Kolkata. His short stories and essays have been published in Deccan Herald, Tehelka, Kitaab, Earthen Lamp Journal, Assam Tribune, and The Statesman. Pal Motors is his first novel.

PLEASE NOTE: ARTICLES CAN ONLY BE REPRODUCED IN OTHER SITES WITH DUE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BORDERLESS JOURNAL

Click here to access the Borderless anthology, Monalisa No Longer Smiles

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By Devraj Singh Kalsi

Before setting up any new business, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats must be studied in detail. If the business involves trading in the commodity called faith, it is categorised as high risk. Where the stakes are high with a fantastic margin of profit, proper assessment of how contemporary dealers operate in the thriving, burgeoning market also becomes essential. With such pearls of wisdom forming the tapestry of my entrepreneurial necklace, I am confident that the time is just right to translate the long-cherished dream of becoming a popular godman with pan-India presence and acceptance, with multiple customers, oops, devotee touch-points, to deliver maximum satisfaction.

Finding a unique proposition, however, remains elusive, and without casting a magical spell on the masses the proposed venture cannot gather traction. Stiff competition in the fast-moving consumer category – with the faux cult and occult gurus mushrooming across the country – has rendered a creative challenge to package something inimitable and refreshing for the faith buds (read taste buds). Honestly, this plan was kept in abeyance in the hope that something clutter-breaking would emerge from my oversized head blessed with a tiny amount of grey matter. The post-pandemic world presents the right opportunity to attract the vulnerable poor and middle-class people besotted with the pursuit of happiness and predictable materialistic dreams.

Setting up an organisation with crowds of devotees demands a big investment. It has to begin with purchasing a vast piece of land, preferably barren and cheap, and then turning it into a fertile ground to rake in the wealth. Approaching a bank to finance the project should deliver a positive outcome. The alternative is of course usurping a disputed land owned by farmers or an estate where the claims of ownership are being battled. Such a locale would be ideal to establish a commune. In case this fails to materialise, catching hold of a local politician to donate land for community service could do the trick. This land parcel could later be converted into a veritable godman’s cave where a substantial chunk of humanity gathers to pray and prey every day.

I am at a loss to generate catchy ideas to repackage and give a brand-new appeal. For that, I have to study other godmen who touch the key pain points first and then deliver effective solutions. They have hundreds of volunteers called sewadars who accord a warm welcome to all those who come – with stolen roses from the gardens of other people in the neighbourhood or bought dirt cheap from farmers when they start drooping. Even though I wish to exploit, it should not look like that – my aura should cover it all.

I have found one godman who calls himself a Living God and millions of devotees attend his preaching sessions just to catch a glimpse and touch the dust of his feet or his bullet-proof limousine. This smart chap wears impeccable white and promises all his devotees that he will come personally to escort them at the time of their death. This is a big idea that has sold well. Till now, only heard of religion spelling out the concept of heaven and hell where ordinary mortals have to go alone based on their actions. But this charming godman with a flowing white beard has made it super easy ostensibly with his promise of companionship on the last journey. He escorts the dead – and comes personally to receive them. Wow! Simply brilliant! Devotees feel special, privileged, and liberated. They know they will not be alone after death. This is a very attractive service that has brought him mega success.

Nobody likes to think about what happens in case the godman dies before his followers as he has special powers. They are assured there will be a Living Master to escort them at the time of death. The succession plan is active as the godman has appointed a successor to take over his intermediatory role, to have access to the vast coffers they have raised. This man will carry forward the business. At the time of death or just before the eternal sleep mode starts functioning, a note emerges from the bed or a cupboard, proclaiming the name of the savvy successor who appears smart enough to shoulder the responsibilities and also proceeds with the expansion plans on the anvil.

The assurance of royal treatment from the godman to liberate the dead appears a gripping idea but I wonder how many days one has to devote to this onerous job. With the pan-India presence of followers, this would become a burdensome task unless there are special teams appointed to perform it. Perhaps to streamline, to make it faster, the godman keeps his helicopter ready as he has to cover long distances to reach the dead and then escort them to their final destination or push them into the next life. Since death has no holiday and no fixed hour of arrival, the logistics factor needs to be borne in mind. If juniors are entrusted with this special task, then the godman loses appeal. This is one job he should perform personally to satisfy followers who believe the gospel truth that the godman himself will accompany to escort them post death. I am impressed with this special feature and would like to add it to the bouquet of my proposed offerings to ensure this does not remain the unique proposition of solely my competitor.

As a godman, one is self-styled but one has to be sure about the slew of plans one intends to launch. If the godman is lustful, then there are daily supplies of gullible women. He needs gun-toting guards or a private army to protect his honour while he dishonours the unsuspecting folks under his hypnotic influence. He could also extend supplies to his political contacts through the charities he runs, and nobody would suspect foul play for decades. He can dupe farmers and grab their land – use it for organic farming by making his resident followers toil on the land to grow crops. The godman can package and sell at a premium price to open another revenue source for the trust nobody distrusts. He can keep threatening to acquire more agricultural land and use political contacts to get the work done in exchange for a few favours like asking millions of his followers to vote for the political party of his choice.

He can parade his strength by inviting tall leaders to the commune who come in search of a vote bank. He can add more people from powerful positions who have abused power all their life and they can be showcased to convince more followers that the powerful are also meditation addicts seeking salvation just like them. With corrupt celebrities and VIPs roaming around, the common believers are convinced that this is the best place to ensure a good departure.

When a common man sees a respected personality falling at the feet of a godman then he is reassured. So, I would need to have such a network that impresses new entrants to my cabal, signing up for salvation. I should offer some relief package to retired public servants or other debauched professionals from various fields who have taken up this spiritual path for the well-being of their impure souls. I need to have their impressive testimonials to scale up the membership drive. Though it might sound unethical but only the successful survive. I should focus on embalming bereaved hearts. Hard-hitting stories cast a spell when these are narrated with tearful eyes. An atmosphere of divinity is created with a vast amount of healing energy building up in the space left by grief.

My search for good ideas has led me to another godman who promises the complete transfer of sins. I’d heard of forgiveness for sinners and a general acceptance of such people, but this godman says no one need bear the burden of sins throughout their life as he is ready to accept all their sins, no matter how vast, major or filthy. This has rendered him popular as the masses love the idea of living guilt-free. They can pass on their past sins with the knowledge they can continue sinning and then transfer more sins to the godman. This is what the public expects to hear from God who disappoints by saying that everyone is responsible for their own sins. Afterall, there is this one godman who is ready to bear the entire burden and with this prime promise he shows immense potential to lure believers as the direct sin transfer scheme catches the imagination of the masses.

Although we all are sinners, we do not know how to wash our sins. We go for a dip or a confession, but this godman boldly invites sinners to come and register their names and get lifetime freedom from the guilt of accumulated sins. Besides, there is no need to set forth on any pilgrimage for atonement. Seek subscription and transfer sins to the godman’s account. It is a real innovation. I would like to add this to the list of key offerings. Well, bundling up of such strengths should make an irresistible fusion.

Leading godmen offer secret mantras to practice in isolation or or smear ash on the face – some offer exclusive mumbo-jumbo to baptize in this fashion so that they do not reveal it even if all their devotees have been blessed with the same code. In contrast, my package should be such that it gives maximum comfort to the mind, body, and soul. I should not talk of conquering the ego but show multiple ways to magnify it, show them routes to reach seven to nine heavens, and gain super sensory experiences – all during one lifetime. Since I target people from all religions to give up religion and follow me as a godman, I need to evolve into a cult figure to command attention and start building the base on the foundation of their frustration with existing religions. It is quite a challenge for any godman to shake them up from deep within – shake their roots of traditional faith and turn them into blind devotees.

Even though as a godman, I could fail to get their undivided devotion, I am willing to share their belief in gods and goddesses. But when it comes to choosing a godman, I should be the first and obvious choice. Devotees need to keep my photos in their wallets or wear it in a locket. I could play with their minds and be a good psychologist, reading their desires with perfection. I should be perceived as their sole saviour. Though as a godman I could run the risk of being exposed or shot at by rivals or crazy folks, I need to have an escape route ready in case there is a stampede. I must have followers in foreign lands to help me set up my base, buy islands for me, and help me escape in case of any emergency. When I challenge God, as a godman I should not depend on his mercy.

Since godmen are getting embroiled in controversies and getting a bad perception, I should be ready to be the new avatar. Some are out of the country, and some are languishing inside prisons so there is a great scope to enter this industry. Even though they all claim innocence after committing financial and sexual frauds, their popularity wanes as their claim of being framed with dubious intentions – just as gods had to suffer agony and brickbats for the common public – does not cut much ice. I should work with the mission that believers do not need to travel beyond two miles to find my ashram. I should have my branches sprouting all around. With big expansion plans, I must begin the journey like a corporate behemoth and corrode the fundamentals of faith for my landslide profit.

As a godman, my strategy should be to convert one member of a family first and entrust him with the job of bringing others to the fold. The multiplier effect could grow the numbers. But I need to sit back and draw up at least three solid points to allure devotees. A fusion of cutting-edge ideas would make devotees assured they are all super intelligent beings for choosing me as the logical and ultimate choice.

If I can add science and logic in the mixture of faith in a clever manner, I can have the educated queue up as well. This topping would convert rationalists into believers. Instead of trying to convert them from their religion, I should offer them the scope to continue with their choice. I should focus on the vast groups of non-believers.

My research shows the burden of modern living is reducing the number of non-believers steadily. I need scientific-tempered preachers in my fold. We could deliver sense by making sure the journey of life is showcased as the most important one. Let me toss some ideas in that direction to emerge as a godman with a halo of human, super-human qualities. If divine justice ever trod my way, I would merely have to prove gods are losing out in popularity to godmen and therefore they have united to conspire against us, thus gaining back more sympathies and following. I would be unconquerable!

PLEASE NOTE: ARTICLES CAN ONLY BE REPRODUCED IN OTHER SITES WITH DUE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BORDERLESS JOURNAL

Click here to access the Borderless anthology, Monalisa No Longer Smiles

Click here to access Monalisa No Longer Smiles on Kindle Amazon International