A legend's beginning

Childhood dreams

Chapter 4  A legend's beginning

The motorcycle was a reconditioned Triumph model from some years back, but it was in good condition. As Peter maneuvered on the narrow mountain roads, he was amused at the way Neela had been so incredibly sharing in his manner. It was as if he had intuited in a sense Peter's own state of mind, in order to share the story of his upbringing in the mountains.

It could have been his relationship with Kozinsky, Peter told himself. As Neela related the events, Peter had been reordering the events in his own mind, creating in a sense an eye witness account of the story as it unfolded.

Indian legends tell the story of Little Krishna who grew up in a virtual paradise in a place that was referred to as Brindavan. The evil Kamsa, a king in those parts had ordered that Krishna be found and put to death because of an oracle that predicted that the King would be killed by Krishna.

Kamsa, as the metaphorical representation of greed, exemplified the identity of the individual who seeks self possession of the qualities of love in the self. Krishna, on the other hand symbolized the will to overcome greed and recultivate a collective sense of love.

Peter reflected on the possibility of engaging Neela as the case study subject. He had met with the other subjects recommended by the university but they lacked the simplicity of manner that Neela represented. Neela's account of his experiences was devoid of any egoistic embellishment.

In addition, both the subjects of the university's recommendations were practicing holy men in New Delhi. They each ran an ashram that catered to those who sought some guide in religious practices. Neela on the other hand didn't gain that level of sophistication in his understanding and related his outlook to a description of daily life as it unfolded in these parts.

It was curious how people related to these legends that deified the personality in the story. It often compared their own experiences, which were quite similar, and caused an overlapping of the identity of the individual and the cast personality in the story.

After a two day journey he arrived at Nanda Puram. He followed the map Neela had provided him and made it to Neela's parents home. He gave the letter of introduction from Gangothri, to Neela's father.

They agreed to put him up during his stay. He met Kozinsky the following day. He had married and was staying in his own house in the village.

He was anything but the way Neela had described him. He had sharp piercing eyes on a face that was carved out of rock. He spoke in a certain hurried sense with short outburst of breath that seemed to want to emphasize every comment he made as being true.

“Its what little boys do,” he said, referring to the days with Neela.

As Peter probed deeper into their early experiences, Kozinsky was initially cautious but relaxed a little in his management of his thoughts.

“We have to be concerned with the common good,” he said. “It's not simply a matter of what we want.”

“How was it like.....the separation from the family?” Peter asked gently.

It was obvious from Kozinsky's manner that it was the first time he had spoken about it to anyone.

“It's a little clearer when you are older,” he said. “There are children whose parents have died and go to live with someone else. It is the same.”

“How did you adjust to your new parents?”

“How is Neela doing?” he suddenly asked. His face had softened.

“He's fine,” answered Peter. “He seems to think that all the religious practices are a fake. That it is a matter of self understanding by the individual.”

Kozinsky's face broke into a crinkle as he laughed.

“He was always very confident about everything......very imaginative.” He paused to measure his words carefully. “We didn't know anything.....but we have to follow the advice of the elders.”

Peter reminded him about the parents.

“It was different,” he answered. “With your own parents you take things for granted, but with someone else you have to form a relationship, understand them and listen to what is being said. You stop dreaming.....and become more practical.”

“You missed your own parents,” Peter asked.

Kozinsky hesitated before answering. Then said,

“I was with my foster parents for 13 years, then I got married and moved away. I was permitted to visit my own parents after that.”

He continued after a pause. “Well....I had thought....okay, I was a little different....but my parents didn't seem to mind that I had become a little distant....I was surprised by that.”

Peter was taping the conversation for his notes. He checked the recorder to see if it was still running.

“Did the separation stop the illness in the village?” he asked.

“It's hard to say.” Kozinsky replied. “Eventually, the illness abated.” Then after a pause said, “ my father recovered.”

“Is there something you want to pass on to Neela. I'm seeing him again when I return.”

Kozinsky smiled before replying.

“Tell him not to be naughty with all the pretty girls in the city,” he said.

There were sitting on a bench at the back of Kozinsky's stone house. Beyond the house was the farm with rows of long beans, tomatoes and cucumber. Down the slope from where they were standing, the river ran haphazardly among the rocks. In the distance, the snow peaked mountains stood cold and bold in the noon day sun.

Peter took some snapshots. He thanked Kozinsky and made his way to the Shaman's house.