Why?

Indians love the word "why". Always want to ask that question, "Why this?, Why that?" etc. A close friend, long time back when we were learning Japanese, used to badger the Japanese teachers with his endless whys. Is this part of our national psyche? I'm not sure, but I had experiences that point to such proclivity even among the common man and not just intellectuals. Anyway, it definitely stimulates the brain and keeps you on your toes trying to figure out plausible answers.

I have been trying to set up my house, as tastelessly as I can, if you believe the local opinion and for that purpose, I met with the architect and his cohorts. I showed some hand-drawn designs of some shelves and a low table that I wanted to the carpenter. "Why do you need this?" he asked me. I was taken aback a bit and at a loss of words initially. Too much exposure to Japanese civility, I assume. A Japanese carpenter would have told me if it's structurally feasible, how much wood is needed, the cost and the date of delivery if he's doing it. Not this guy. He wanted to know "why" I need a low table like that.

Well, I might just steal one of those ugly, metal road dividers from the main street and put it on the table as an objet d'art or maybe put my collection of toilet plunges on it, if I had one. What do you care?, was the answer that came to my mind but what came out of the mouth was. "Probably I'll use it as a TV stand". He looked at me with pity as if I needed immediate psychiatric care. A "poor guy, went abroad, made some money, came back but lost his marbles there" kind of look. He made it plain to me that what I showed him doesn't fit in with his idea of a TV stand. Similar questioning was repeated for many other things, though the architect, mercifully, didn't try to impose his views on me that much.

The same thing happened at the customs clearance when I went to get my stuff. The customs officer wanted to know why I have this pumpkin-shaped cushion. This cushion, designed by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, doesn't serve any practical purpose but my wife likes it and that was the only reason I had it. And he wanted to know the why and what of it.

Incidentally, I have just started off on Amartya Sen's "The Argumentative Indian" and hope he explains about these tendencies and clears some of my other doubts too. At least, the title of the book gives hope.

Specifically, I was thinking of how Shah Jahan is said to have cut off the limbs of the guys who built Taj Mahal. Remember that it took 20-odd years to complete the building. While the main guys were invited from Persia and other places, there must have been some Indians in there who were making life difficult for the emperor.

Carpenter: Hey SJ, What did you say you want for that babe? A what?
Shah Jahan: A mausoleum.
Carpenter: Ha, ha, you must be out of your mind. By the way, how do you spell that?

Or

Architect: Yo Shah, what about the other gals in the harem?
Shah Jahan: What about them?
Architect: Nothing. Why don't you build something for them too, like a marble loo or something?

Shah Jahan must have gone crazy trying to get things done and I'm pretty sure he mutilated these guys just for pure and plain pleasure and not as the legend says about how he didn't want them to make another Taj, blah, blah. The Taj, after all, is not such a complex structure. All you need are enough moolah, marble and slaves (and an army, maybe). I fervently hope Mr. Sen touches on this subject in his book.

The election scene in Thiruvananthapuram is getting hotter. The Congress candidate is all smiles in the hope that the right-wing votes will flow to him. The Left is confident that DIC(K) will do the trick again. The Hindu right is looking to re-enact Ramayana or some other similar royal soap opera. Their candidate was seen in fancy dress, wearing a crown and holding a sceptre during his stump speech somewhere. Look out for Ram Rajya. "Yo Ram", yo Rome or is it yo rum?

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