My Name Is Ravana Read online

  With Kumbakarna’s words, everyone understood the seriousness of what was happening. One after the other Prahastha, Dushmukha, Vajradanushta, Nikumba (son of Kumbakarna) and Indrajith (my son) came forward and made their oaths that they would get their troops ready for the battle.

  It was Vibhishana’s turn and he walked slowly, came forward and struck an objection for the battle. He said, “It was our mistake, very clearly it was our mistake. It was Surpanaka who tried hurting Sita first and in defense, Lakshmana hurt our sister. It was Kara and Dushana who took the first steps towards battling with two men. Two men against thousands of armed men. Even the math here is so skewed. Once again, we forced those two men to fight. It is another thing that they wiped out our army and we lost so many lives. Fact is we forced Rama to fight us. We attacked first. It was your mistake my brother Ravana of abducting Sita. When the truth is on the other side, it is not fair on our part to war. It is not good for our people. I am once again sorry; my mind and soul does not agree with this. I cannot support this. Truth will always win. It was you my brother who taught me this and now you are on the other side. I stand by my learning. Be it you, my guru and brother, I still decline your orders. I prefer to stand by truth and I am going to Rama, your enemy.”

  I too roared at him and sent him away, insulting him further as he walked off. I wanted this to happen, because Vibhishana was well aware of how my kingdom and our army worked. His going away would help Rama and that means it would make battle harder for me; while at the same time it would help me gain divine eternity.

  So far so good. Everything as I expected. The one who forecasted my defeat would be accepted as the next King after my downfall without any hesitation by the public. That was Vibhishana. The one who supports Rama from this kingdom would be getting the kingdom as a token of respect and gratitude from Rama after the battle. That was again Vibhishana, my successor.

  MY LOVING ENEMY

  After Vibhishana walked out and everyone in the kingdom started intense prep for the battle, I felt like understanding my loving enemy’s strength.

  I sent Sardhu to spy. He took time to return but he came back with news that Vibhishana reached Rama and Rama had already declared him as the king of Lanka while Lakshmana performed the respective rituals. Sardhu also said that he could observe Rama’s army keenly and that the army that Ram had collected was huge and bigger than that of mine. He said that Rama’s army spread to approximately ten yojanas (ancient measurement) in all directions and was like an ocean of soldiers. Listening to him, Indrajith and rest of my men decided to arrange for the deadliest of weapons in enormous numbers.

  Sardhu continued, “It is not just an army my Lord; it looked like the entire world is beside that Rama. I saw men, monkeys, bears, squirrels, birds and all kinds of lives in his support. None of them are salaried soldiers like that of ours. All of them came in support of Rama with true admiration for the help he gave Sugreeva, a non-human. It is overwhelming to witness this my Lord.”

  I then decided to send one more spy, more closer to the opponent’s army, and selected Suka for the task. This time Suka went as messenger to Sugreeva and suggested that Sugreeva withdraw his support to Rama. Even as I attempted it, I did it knowing that it would be unsuccessful. The idea was that in the course of the meeting he would be able to observe more closely the strengths of the opponent.

  All the heads in my court dispersed, leaving me alone. Everything around me was quiet and calm. I started thinking again and again what Sardhu said. Not just men but all kinds of animals and birds to support Rama, that too out of love and for not any materialistic benefits. It was amazing to hear that. The Ultimate is really, really... the ultimate.

  I had a boon from Brahma that I would not be killed by any of these animals except Mankind. So, my destiny was confirmed. It was he, Rama, who was going to kill me. But how will my men fight this complex army? A man-to-man combat is one thing. Man fighting gorilla is different; just as fighting with an elephant and fighting with a bear is different. One can fight with hundred men at the same time, one can fight with hundred elephants at the same time and one can fight with hundred gorillas at the same time. But how does one fight all of them together! The strategy with each animal is different and there is no technique to handle all of them at the same time. How will any of my soldier handle this surprisingly complex combination of battalion. None of my men’s war field methods will work here.

  It is fated that I would lose this battle. Yet it would hardly be fun to go into battle without putting up a true fight. Not everyone will get a chance to fight with the Ultimate. I should find a way to make it more tough. My only niggling question was how did Rama manage to sync coordination between all these creatures, so quickly. How? How? And How?

  I pondered for a while. Then the answer hit me. Wah! Why didn’t I figure it out before?

  This was the very reason He and I came to earth: to teach mankind Good and Bad. How could I forget that? I did bad; He is doing good. He made all the animals understand the Good from his deeds with Sugreeva and by defeating Vaali. Those deeds of Rama made the world of all lives stand for good. If I die now, it would be proved that good always wins over bad; this world will know what is good and what is bad and my mission would be completed.

  This is the Ultimate’s ultimate mind game. But then, Bad’s defeat cannot be that bad. Rama had to be given a battle worthy of Rama. I would certainly try my level best to make the battle more and more tough to show how tough the bad was, even if it can’t stand against Good and Truth.

  THE LEGENDARY STRUCTURE

  Something that I couldn’t understand at this point in time was that how would this massive and complex opponent army reach Lanka which is almost one hundred amadas away with no land connectivity. Undoubtedly not everyone out there had similar strengths to that of Hanuman and even if some of them had such capabilities, it would be confined to finger-countable numbers. Not just me, none of us in Lanka were able to guess the way this army would reach us. I was an expert in Vimana Sastra (Aeronautical Science) and I knew for sure that there is no existing technology to air lift such massive numbers.

  Rama and myself, both of us had missile technology, similar to the ones your mankind has now. I had to start thinking from my opponent’s point of view. Perhaps the attack would be from air; maybe in the form of missiles. Or would they may come in number of Vimanas (aircrafts) directly? I kept a team of people ready and scanning the skies day and night.

  Then, all of a sudden, I got information from my northern coast guards that they were able to see a bridge being constructed at a distance; and that the bridge was getting constructed at unbelievably rapid speed. If this was true then our troops had little time to move towards to northern parts of the island.

  I need to buy some time, so I quickly ordered my army to make the battlefield possibly at the southernmost tip of the island. This would help my men find some time in getting prepared. I also asked my women to relocate Sita for the time being to somewhere in Asoka Vanam itself.

  All through my rapid orders my mind wondered how Rama was able to build a bridge on the sea. This was the sea; not a small stream or river. I demanded more information. A bridge on the sea was beyond my expectations. One that was being raised beyond calculated speed, even more fascinating.

  I got the news that it was Nala, an excellent civil engineer’s idea to build the bridge and the same was executed under the wish of Rama and the governance of Sugreeva. Nala came up with the technology to construct a bridge at rapid speed and simultaneously progression of the army towards the island. His engineering excellence and teamwork made them cover close to one third of the distance on sea in just two days. On the third day they were able to reach a little more than half the distance and other two days were all they needed for the balance two quarters.

  It was amazing; really impressive. Sections of this legendary structure are still visible out there on the sea between both the lands. You... hai you...! You should see this at l
east once in your lifetime with your naked eyes.

  Let me digress from my story and talk to you, my dear reader for a while. You mankind have the tendency to neglect your own history for some temporary materialistic benefits. But in that course of time, you do not realise that you lose certain great knowledge acquired by your own ancestors. You tend to reinvent the same old invention. Take this legendary bridge made by Nala, later known to the world as Rama Setu (Rama’s Bridge) as example. Like in your world today, many inventions take birth in military custody. Likewise Nala made this extraordinary civil engineering available to you mankind few thousand years ago. But you tend to forget all that and started re-inventing similar technology to build Palm Islands in Dubai and extensions of coastal cities like Singapore and Colombo. If your men had not forgotten the technology our generation gave, you might have made much better things now instead of re-inventing the same old things. At least now look back into your own history and that will help you succeed in the future more effectively.

  CALL FOR COMPROMISE

  One day Suka came running in saying, My Lord, they identified me as a spy and not a messenger. I was under Sugreeva’s custody all this while. My Lord, my Lord, Rama’s army has already entered Lanka. Rama is ready for war. We should be ready. We have no time.”

  He barely caught his breath, when another guard came running and said “Lankaadeeshwara! Lankaadeeshwara! Emergency! Emergency! An army of vanaras have entered the island. They surround us. There is not even a single tree anywhere in the horizon that doesn’t have vanara on it. All trees, every bit of land and all lakes are now under vanara custody. Many more vanaras are still crossing that new bridge on the sea. It is only the main court of Lanka and our military base and Asoka Vanam that is not infiltrated. All of us are confused and need your guidance.”

  I wanted to know what Rama’s next steps were and so asked Suka and Sara once again to try infiltrate the opponent’s troop to spy on their activities and to keep reporting from time to time. Suka was scared as he had already been caught before. They both decided to go in the form of vanaras with the help of the magic learnt during their military training. Poor Suka and Saras forgot that my brother Vibhishana was on the other side and their tricks would not work in front of him.

  They entered the opponent’s troop as vanaras and, with no delay, Vibhishana caught them. Sugreeva and everyone in the troop were about to kill both Suka and Sara. Rama interfered, stopped the vanaras and said to the spies, “Don’t worry, I will not kill you now. As Ravana said, go around, see our strength, weapons and capabilities. I suggest you tell your king to hand over Sita and surrender immediately. If he does so, I will forgive him even at this point in time. Else ask him to be prepared for the combat.”

  Suka and Sara’s came and explained what all happened, adding, “My Lord, hope you remember Devendra, the King of Gods... you and your son Meghanath had defeated him long back. Your son was titled as Indrajith after this victory, hope you remember that. My Lord, that war against Indra was very tough. You had won it because you have the boon from Brahma. In this case Rama, Lakshmana, your brother Vibhishana and Sugreeva each one of them are equal to one Indra. You know that Rama and Lakshmana are more dangerous, their weapons are well advanced and they are humans. Though you consider humans as weak, remember that your boon from your great grandfather Brahma doesn’t cover your protection from humans. We feel that these men have come only to kill you. We do whatever you say, we follow your command my Lord but it is our sincere suggestion for a compromise. Rama seems to be a great man of wisdom. He sent his messenger Hanuman for compromise before and even now at this stage he has extended mercy to you. It is upto you to take the decision now.”

  I smiled at them like the way that day Sri Hari smiled at me and Vijaya when Sanakananda Kumaras came to see him. It was not the final combat, it was only a final test before graduation and it was my duty to perform as best as I could. The best in Badness, that is.

  Rama was just a human then. He did not know that he was an incarnation of my Lord Sri Maha Vishnu. He was about to fight with me just as a human, like you and all around you, could.

  Rama, a single person, just a single person. All he had, was great wisdom, education and strong sense of truth and goodness. These qualities alone made that single man into the man with great and complex army. And now, in spite of the entire army that single man was going to kill me. That is the power of standing for truth and goodness.

  Unfortunately, many among you modern men and women today do not realise this and commit suicide to end your life for silly reasons like: my dad scolded me, I failed at school or in a competitive exam, my love got rejected etc. Remember, this is not the right way. No god accepts this and if you do so, take my word, you will be born again and again and will be facing similar situations repeatedly, till you learn to accept the reality, work for the better, overcome difficulties and learn how to lead life in truth and goodness. Even Rama felt like committing suicide when I abducted Sita but he didn’t do that. He accepted it and started working on how to overcome the situation. Now he was facing me, the most powerful on this planet. That is the power of human will and you must not let it go down.

  THE OTHER WAY ROUND

  I told Suka and Sara that compromise is out of question and moved them to top positions, where they could survey the opponent’s army at a vantage point.

  While we are watching the army Sara pointed at Neela, Angadha (son of Vali), Hanuman, Nala, Swathada, Kumudha, Rambhu and Saraba and said that each of them had immense power to neutralise our battalions in no time.

  This time I sent, Mahodhara and Sardhu to spy on the opponent’s timings. I particularly asked that I need the timing of when Rama, Lakshmana and most of the army takes rest and sleep. I asked them to do so for a purpose that they don’t know at that time and assumed it for some attack during Rama’s sleep time. They returned with a vague report saying that spying on Rama’s team was impossible and that too when Vibhishana was on the other side. I internally felt like hugging Vibhishana for his great support extended to Rama.

  A weird plan struck me. I know that I am going to fail in this but I have decided that on route I will certainly make an attempt to show humanity highest of evilness known to mankind.

  I thought of defeating Rama in a crooked way. I called Vidyujihna, my creative mascot designer for cultural shows, and asked him to make a fake head of Rama.

  My intention was to show this to Sita and say that Rama died in the battlefield. It was evil. It was cruel. While she wept, I would offer her to reconsider her decision. Would she want to lead a happy life in Lanka?

  When the head was ready, I asked my women to bring Sita to the place where “Rama’s head” was placed by Vidyujihna on a shield. Seeing it Sita wailed. Suddenly, I could not bear to hear her cry. Yet I managed to put a cruel laughing face and went away from the place. On my way out I saw Sarama, Vibhishana’s wife hurrying. I was relieved! I knew Sarama would console Sita as she knew Vidyujihna’s creations well. I also knew that Sarama wanted my defeat as her husband was fighting for Rama.

  What you should understand here is that Sita did not accept my offer even after the successful attempt of convincing her that Rama is dead. That was her stand for love, truth and goodness. Had she not stood there for true love, Rama might have lost in the battle; for if Sita had been convinced to stay back in Lanka, there would be no point in Rama waging war.

  At this point I felt as if the whole world was filling with goodness and the only leftover minute black dot was me. I became confidence that this planet would surely remember the journey of Rama as Ramayanam till its last breath.

  MY MOTHER’S VERDICT AND MINE

  My mother along with two of my old and senior ministers, Avigdha and Malyavantha were waiting at my palace by the time I reached there. I took blessing from my mother and organized hospitality to the ministers. That done, I asked them the purpose of their visit.

  Malyavantha said, “Dear Ravana, we are aware of wha
t is happening in the kingdom. Your mother, the two of us and all the citizens have been upset due to the declaration of war. With my experience would say that war should be the last option; it is what you do when there is no scope of any further dialogue or compromise between both the parties. In your case, it was only you reluctant for discussions or compromise, the other side had sent a clear message with your own men for compromise. I suggest you think once again before taking the final step.”

  I listened and calmly turned to face Avigdha. He said, “Yes Ravana, what Malyavantha said is correct. We still have a chance to avoid the battle. If the battle happens, winning or losing is secondary. Fact is that many of our men too will die, many of our children will lose their fathers, many of our resources get destroyed and many of our establishments will collapse. Please think on these lines as well.”