The Vedic Period (I)

 Bangalore: Saturday, November 19, 1988. 10:45pm
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Today’s episode of “Bharat Ek Khoj” directed by Shyam Benegal turned out to be a very dramatic one.

“History” is a response to the question of how things came to be the way they are. In order to arrive at this solution, Nehru set out to discover India for himself and for us. This exercise stimulated a ‘scientific temper’ in him and in due course of time induced it in us.

In today’s journey, Nehru, took us back to the days of the Indus Valley Civilization when there existed between them and the Sumerians a relationship built through trade. We journey with the natives and view their society. Culture, their habits and their fantastic trade policies.  Throughout the episode, Shyam Benegal takes us on this journey so adeptly, that we feel ourselves transported to that particular age. The setting, the direction and the characters who live through their roles are all so admirably presented that it incites us to think of the chain of events that has led history to our present.

Nehru does not tell us about days and dates while talking to us about history; but while dealing with it, he tells us about the basic characteristics that outshine that particular age or should we say that ‘moment’ which he depicts of that era.

I use the word ‘moment’ because every moment of ones life comes together to form a day, a year and finally we see the era by itself. Nehru, like Russell believed in living for the moment, though he did not remain indifferent to long-term planning.

Similary, in the depiction of Nehru’s Discovery of India, Shyam Benegal asks us to live for the ‘moment’, not the moment which belongs to the present, to our age, but the one that belongs to the past – to the age that he depicts and by doing so feeling with them.

It’s so important to feel another’s feelings, and no doubt, our senses feel the softness of the petals as well as bears up with the pricks of the thorn – of that lovely little rose that Nehru loved.