MoonLight Square
May 2001 - New papers and media is abuzz with frenzied reports of the appearance of a strange monkey-like creature that was appearing at night and attacking people in the capital city Delhi. Eyewitness accounts were inconsistent but tended to describe the creature as about four feet tall,covered in thick black hair, with a metal helmet, metal claws, glowing red eyes and three buttons on its chest. Others, however, described the Monkey-man as having a more vulpine snout, and being up to eight feet tall, and muscular; it would leap from building to building like a parkour enthusiast. Still others have described it as a bandaged figure or as a helmeted thing.
The fearsome terror known as ' Kala Bandar ' ( Black Monkey ) was far from innocuous. Or so it was reported. It apparently attacked people, steals and caused the death of a few innocent people. The local news picked up on every move of the miscreant and loudly blared all its exploits.
Simran had enough of reporting the weather and penning obituaries of local deaths in the evening newspaper ' Dainik Darpan ' ( Daily Mirror ). She wanted something more adventurous, she wanted to be in the thick of a controversy or unearth some dark conspiracy. She wanted to do live coverage of dramatic events. After all she was in India and in the capital city at that ... how could there ever be dearth of drama ? The reports of ' Kala Bandar ' ignited her investigative pulse. She went to meet the sub editor who in turn took her to the Editor-in-Chief to discuss with him the possibility of a great story in the darkness of 'Chandni Chowk' ( Moonlight Square ). Talks were on about starting an E-newspaper too the Editor gave both the talks the go ahead - For Simran, a week in Chandni Chowk was the result.
Chandni Chowk is one of the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi, India. It is located close to Old Delhi Railway Station and the monumental Red Fort is located within the Chandni Chowk. Built in the 17th century ( 1650 CE ) by the Mughal Emperor of India Shah Jahan, and designed by his daughter Jahan Ara, the market which was square in shape , was once divided by canals (now closed) to reflect moonlight, and it remains one of India's largest wholesale markets. Walking through the ' gallis '( Narrow streets ) Simran was enamoured by the fact that even though choked by congestion Chandni Chowk had somehow retained its historical mangificence.
She managed to talk to the locals and arrange a week long stay at Ramgopal ji's house. The buzz spread around the walled city that a reporter was covering their life in Chandni Chowk. It Suited Simran just fine as it gave her accessibility and panic filled narratives. People were more than willing to share their stories. The first two days she heard all possible versions of the story .... People were attacked as they slept on their terraces under the star lit skies at night. The 'size' of the monkey and its ' descriptions ' varied. Normal considering that fact that no one had actually 'seen' the monkey man. Not even the so-called victims.
" His back was very Big ", said one. A Gorilla ? The attacks happened between 1 am and 3.30 am. Shihasuddin was apparently mauled by the creature and had to spend 2 weeks at home before he could resume duty at Ghaziabad. Simran was unable to meet him but his wife Anisa insisted she had seen the attacker. She kept rearranging her Saree and posing demurely before Simran and insisted that it had gleaming bulbs around its otherwise dark body. Sarla made the creature to be a gymnast of sorts who jumped 20 feet across terraces with grace and ease. Ramakanth an electronic genius , self proclaimed of course, corroborates Anisa's story- the two have been having an affair if the local whispers are to be believed. He theorizes that the Kala Bandar has an electrical circuit around his body - to zap his victims. He explains seriously and matter of factly to a group of people around him that " You will feel a tingling sensation throughout your body , followed by DEATH ". Gasps were heard from the group. Later that evening Bansilal had to be rushed to the hospital after being accidently zapped by a live wire. As the residents scramble to get him to the hospital, Simran is wonderstruck at the sights of the pocket roads being blocked because of an impromptu ceremony surrounding a cow in labour. Bansilal inspite of his stupor stretches from the stretcher he is being carried on to seek the belssings of the 'holy cow mother'. He survives. Other theories on the nature of the Monkey Man ranged from an Avatar of the Hindu God Hanuman, to an Indian version of Bigfoot. Special prayers were being held at temples to appease ' Hanuman Bhagwan ' ( Hanuman God ).
The locals carried torches and sticks and started to keep vigil at nights fearing attack by the elusive 'kala bandar'. One night people trapped a dog mistaking it for the monkey man. Day 3 at Chandni Chowk faced death by fear-psychosis. Anandi, wife of Mangal Singh fell down the stairs of their home as she rushed down hearing a false alarm of attack by 'kala bandar'. She was pregnant.Police Commissioner had earlier announced an award of Rs 50,000 for anyone who could provide concrete information on the Monkey Man. That gave people the licence to go hunting for the 'kala bandar'. An innocent motorist was apprehended and thrashed by the local youths following the announcement. The man was eventually rescued by the police who then withdrew the award. A pourquoi story that was doing its rounds in hushed tones was that the Kala Bandar had no paws. Its paws were metal. Its paws were chopped off a 100 years ago and preserved and kept by Sethji's family for years in a secure vault in their 'haveli' ( Palatioal Home ). The monkey's paws grants wishes that become true said Banno Begum. Sethji's ancestors had not used it for ages for they were well-to-do and didn't need anything more. But Sethji had greed unlike anyone before him. He tampered with fate's route and darkness fell upon his family. He walks around speaking incoherently. People avoid him she said. Now they are angry too for the monkey has come to take its revenge for its cut paw.
Day 5 brought in reports of 4 monkeys feasting at the canteen of the local police station. Simran's enquiry on why they were not chased brought out the retort " we don't want to be bitten ". Life in Chandi Chowk exposes Simran to sobering realities and warmth of the sense of community in the area. This was one place in the whole country untouched by religious intolerance.The Hindus , Muslims, Jains, Christians and Sikhs lived in harmony here and each had their major places of worship respected by the other. Co-existence was the norm and age old tradition. But that didn't they stepped out of their customs. Inter Religious marriages still flamed fury and nonacceptance. People chased their dreams and sometimes pushed and shoved to get there.
Day 6 and Simran wanders to Sethji's 'Haveli' and tries to talk to him. She has a long conversation with him and brings him to the centre market in the evening. At first no one is willing to listen to him and slowly they gather around to analyse his startling deduction. The reality of Kala Bandar is in fact the vices residing in the residents of Chandni Chowk. It is something the people have to fight within themselves. Simran has enough material for an engaging report on life in Chandni Chowk and its terror.
Day 8 and the Dainik Darpan had a story that read " Its a Man, Its a Monkey, Its ... " with a detailed report on the miscreant monkey and the impact on ordinary lives. The piece concluded with... " There is an imminent need to stir an awareness of minisculity of our being in the greater scheme of the universe. Instead of making ourselves the centre of the universe we ought to try and the universe the centre of our lives, thereby shifting the paradigm and creating a paradox where we contribute something greater than ourselves and thus feel most at peace with ourselves ".
( This has been my entry for Week 11 of Lj Idol - Friends and Rivals. As usual concrits and suggestions are welcome. The inspiration for the piece has been from Real Reports of Kala Bandar (Black Monkey) attacks around the city of Delhi in 2001 )
The fearsome terror known as ' Kala Bandar ' ( Black Monkey ) was far from innocuous. Or so it was reported. It apparently attacked people, steals and caused the death of a few innocent people. The local news picked up on every move of the miscreant and loudly blared all its exploits.
Simran had enough of reporting the weather and penning obituaries of local deaths in the evening newspaper ' Dainik Darpan ' ( Daily Mirror ). She wanted something more adventurous, she wanted to be in the thick of a controversy or unearth some dark conspiracy. She wanted to do live coverage of dramatic events. After all she was in India and in the capital city at that ... how could there ever be dearth of drama ? The reports of ' Kala Bandar ' ignited her investigative pulse. She went to meet the sub editor who in turn took her to the Editor-in-Chief to discuss with him the possibility of a great story in the darkness of 'Chandni Chowk' ( Moonlight Square ). Talks were on about starting an E-newspaper too the Editor gave both the talks the go ahead - For Simran, a week in Chandni Chowk was the result.
Chandni Chowk is one of the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi, India. It is located close to Old Delhi Railway Station and the monumental Red Fort is located within the Chandni Chowk. Built in the 17th century ( 1650 CE ) by the Mughal Emperor of India Shah Jahan, and designed by his daughter Jahan Ara, the market which was square in shape , was once divided by canals (now closed) to reflect moonlight, and it remains one of India's largest wholesale markets. Walking through the ' gallis '( Narrow streets ) Simran was enamoured by the fact that even though choked by congestion Chandni Chowk had somehow retained its historical mangificence.
She managed to talk to the locals and arrange a week long stay at Ramgopal ji's house. The buzz spread around the walled city that a reporter was covering their life in Chandni Chowk. It Suited Simran just fine as it gave her accessibility and panic filled narratives. People were more than willing to share their stories. The first two days she heard all possible versions of the story .... People were attacked as they slept on their terraces under the star lit skies at night. The 'size' of the monkey and its ' descriptions ' varied. Normal considering that fact that no one had actually 'seen' the monkey man. Not even the so-called victims.
" His back was very Big ", said one. A Gorilla ? The attacks happened between 1 am and 3.30 am. Shihasuddin was apparently mauled by the creature and had to spend 2 weeks at home before he could resume duty at Ghaziabad. Simran was unable to meet him but his wife Anisa insisted she had seen the attacker. She kept rearranging her Saree and posing demurely before Simran and insisted that it had gleaming bulbs around its otherwise dark body. Sarla made the creature to be a gymnast of sorts who jumped 20 feet across terraces with grace and ease. Ramakanth an electronic genius , self proclaimed of course, corroborates Anisa's story- the two have been having an affair if the local whispers are to be believed. He theorizes that the Kala Bandar has an electrical circuit around his body - to zap his victims. He explains seriously and matter of factly to a group of people around him that " You will feel a tingling sensation throughout your body , followed by DEATH ". Gasps were heard from the group. Later that evening Bansilal had to be rushed to the hospital after being accidently zapped by a live wire. As the residents scramble to get him to the hospital, Simran is wonderstruck at the sights of the pocket roads being blocked because of an impromptu ceremony surrounding a cow in labour. Bansilal inspite of his stupor stretches from the stretcher he is being carried on to seek the belssings of the 'holy cow mother'. He survives. Other theories on the nature of the Monkey Man ranged from an Avatar of the Hindu God Hanuman, to an Indian version of Bigfoot. Special prayers were being held at temples to appease ' Hanuman Bhagwan ' ( Hanuman God ).
The locals carried torches and sticks and started to keep vigil at nights fearing attack by the elusive 'kala bandar'. One night people trapped a dog mistaking it for the monkey man. Day 3 at Chandni Chowk faced death by fear-psychosis. Anandi, wife of Mangal Singh fell down the stairs of their home as she rushed down hearing a false alarm of attack by 'kala bandar'. She was pregnant.Police Commissioner had earlier announced an award of Rs 50,000 for anyone who could provide concrete information on the Monkey Man. That gave people the licence to go hunting for the 'kala bandar'. An innocent motorist was apprehended and thrashed by the local youths following the announcement. The man was eventually rescued by the police who then withdrew the award. A pourquoi story that was doing its rounds in hushed tones was that the Kala Bandar had no paws. Its paws were metal. Its paws were chopped off a 100 years ago and preserved and kept by Sethji's family for years in a secure vault in their 'haveli' ( Palatioal Home ). The monkey's paws grants wishes that become true said Banno Begum. Sethji's ancestors had not used it for ages for they were well-to-do and didn't need anything more. But Sethji had greed unlike anyone before him. He tampered with fate's route and darkness fell upon his family. He walks around speaking incoherently. People avoid him she said. Now they are angry too for the monkey has come to take its revenge for its cut paw.
Day 5 brought in reports of 4 monkeys feasting at the canteen of the local police station. Simran's enquiry on why they were not chased brought out the retort " we don't want to be bitten ". Life in Chandi Chowk exposes Simran to sobering realities and warmth of the sense of community in the area. This was one place in the whole country untouched by religious intolerance.The Hindus , Muslims, Jains, Christians and Sikhs lived in harmony here and each had their major places of worship respected by the other. Co-existence was the norm and age old tradition. But that didn't they stepped out of their customs. Inter Religious marriages still flamed fury and nonacceptance. People chased their dreams and sometimes pushed and shoved to get there.
Day 6 and Simran wanders to Sethji's 'Haveli' and tries to talk to him. She has a long conversation with him and brings him to the centre market in the evening. At first no one is willing to listen to him and slowly they gather around to analyse his startling deduction. The reality of Kala Bandar is in fact the vices residing in the residents of Chandni Chowk. It is something the people have to fight within themselves. Simran has enough material for an engaging report on life in Chandni Chowk and its terror.
Day 8 and the Dainik Darpan had a story that read " Its a Man, Its a Monkey, Its ... " with a detailed report on the miscreant monkey and the impact on ordinary lives. The piece concluded with... " There is an imminent need to stir an awareness of minisculity of our being in the greater scheme of the universe. Instead of making ourselves the centre of the universe we ought to try and the universe the centre of our lives, thereby shifting the paradigm and creating a paradox where we contribute something greater than ourselves and thus feel most at peace with ourselves ".
( This has been my entry for Week 11 of Lj Idol - Friends and Rivals. As usual concrits and suggestions are welcome. The inspiration for the piece has been from Real Reports of Kala Bandar (Black Monkey) attacks around the city of Delhi in 2001 )