Masks of Honour

May I tell you an old Indian story. There lived a very cruel king by name Virat Singh. All the people in the country feared this cruel ruler. The king had a dog called Jack, which he loved more than anything. One fateful morning Jack died. Virat Singh organized a ceremonial burial for the dog and the entire city was present at the royal cemetery. Virat Singh was very happy to see that his people love him so much. After a few days, Virat Singh died. The story tells us that no one from the city attended his funeral.

We know that the entire city came to see off the dog only because they feared Virat Singh. They pretended that they love Virat Singh. I’m of the opinion that not a human being, who hasn’t tried at least one mask in his/her whole life has crossed this world. A basic study over the masks we regularly use might reveal that the emotions we express and thoughts within never match. If we observe ourselves more carefully, we will be surprised to see the number of masks we wear each day. Perhaps we might not have appeared anywhere without masks. It could be because we are afraid to be natural by speaking what we think or doing what we say. Whom are we afraid of? The answer is certainly, ‘we ourselves’. Most surprising is the fact that each player thinks that he/she wears the best mask and nobody is going to break it. I remind my friends, the truth that every time we wear masks they are detected by some degree.

One fine day, Akbar lost his ring. Akbar told Birbal, “I have lost my ring. My father had given it to me as a gift. Please help me find it.”  Birbal said, ”Do not worry your Majesty, I will find your ring right now.” He said, ”Your Majesty, the ring is here in this court itself, it is with one of the courtier. The courtier who has a straw in his beard has your ring.”  The courtier who had the emperors ring was shocked and immediately moved his hand over his beard. Birbal noticed this act of the courtier. He immediately pointed towards the courtier and said, ”Please search this man. He has the emperors ring.”

How at peace each one would have been without masks? I don’t know. However I need not agree with those who argue that we need some masks every time. Anyway, the sale prices of masks also have gone up and fancy masks are very expensive these days because even the animals have begun using them. 

Joseph Mattappally