On the 27th Parallel or Near About

There is a special corner of hell for people who make inane puns as conversation starters, and then write whole lot of text to justify that misadventure. With that pitiful excuse for an aphorism out of my creatively constipated constitution, let me be less obtuse, or try at least!

One of the recurring observations I have harped on, are the parallels in the popular stories, both within the story as well as between different stories. As one more usage of “parallels” is to denote latitude, I thought, why don’t we list down a few parallels, and attempt the number 27.2 (number I got when I G**g!e “latitude of my location”, why not!). If these parallels, supported by a few data points, tell us something about our culture (or what we would like it to be), what’s the harm?

We keep score. If a simple parallel, counted once. When a combined parallel (double/triple/four-set), less common, hence counted likewise – my score my rules 😉

Please note the names shall be thinly disguised whenever the stories are close to what now is more religion than story. You may guess, in the Comments Section, the accepted names mapping to the nom-de-plume’s I use below. I will neither correct you nor deny you!

SET 1: The Imported Fair(er) Bride: As a decidedly racist culture (we differentiate by shades of brown instead of between black, white or fuchsia) with about $450 million of market for fairness creams, it is not a stretch that the first parallel we talk of is connected to the “fair” colour.

In the “R”-story, we have the Second Wife of the Father Of The Hero (FOTH) who is brought from the far North – from the Land of Horses – known (then and now) for the fairer skin colour. We know that the first wife was gifted with higher melanin levels, as our Hero is quite the Tall, Dark and Handsome dude. And the 2nd wife is also the favourite wife. It is not mentioned this increase of amore was due to the skin colour. But it is not mentioned that it wasn’t!

The Parallel in the M-Story? In fact there are two of them.

One, the Grand Old Man (GOM) goes and defeats a Northern Kingdom for the Fair Maiden as the wife to… wait for it… Blind Elder Nephew (BEN) of his. The decidedly randy BEN spawns at least 102 progeny, with reportedly 101 on the Fair Abducted Blind-Folded Princess.

And then the Pale (Albino) Younger Nephew (PYN) of our GOM, first marries a princess who may have been slightly wheatish if not outright dark, though one of her nephews is the Dark/Blue Lord of Rakishness (DBLR). This PYN in fact “procures” for himself a beautiful and decidedly fair(er) wife from a Northern Kingdom. Again this 2nd Wife of PYN is the favourite one.

TIL: Parallels of the Imported Fair(er) Wife predates the Russian Mail Order Brides by centuries. Take that you Orange Fake Tanned One (OFTO)!

[SCORE R-STORY=1, M-STORY=2; COUNT 3]

SET 2: The Dutiful Son to Father’s Folly: In the Hofstede’s Cultural Dimension Theory (Google for it… or DuckDuckGo… or Bing), India scores highest on Power Distance – 77 compared to the world average of 56.5. This denotes the inherent respect for our elders or leaders. It definitely makes sense that the median age of a new (first time) PM of India is 64 years and 166 days.

In the R-Story the FOTH (refer Parallel Set 1) had promised the Favourite Wife of his of two boons in youthful exuberance. She calls in the favours and our Hero loses out on the pre-scheduled coronation and goes for an extended jungle picnic. And he goes as the Dutiful Son.

Not to be outdid the M-Story has at least two parallels.

First in the history lessons of the M-Story, there was a King Yayati who married the Daughter of the Preceptor of the Asuras as well as her Friend Turned Enemy Turned Servant who also was the Daughter of the King of Asuras. Now these wives of his gave him 5 sons (exact number is not important). The Eldest was called Yadu and the youngest was Puru. Now due to some misadventure the king was cursed with “premature” old age. Now this “prematurely” old guy goes to his grown-up sons and asks them to take up his old age instead. The Eldest Yadu says “Pfft” or words to that effect and refuses. So do the rest. Other than the youngest, Puru. Who agrees out of “filial” love. After a few years of “enjoyment”, Yayati returns the youth to Puru, AND makes him King over his 4 elder brothers as reward. And to top it pronounces that the eldest son Yadu would never be king nor any of his descendants will ever be kings. Important to note is that our DBLR (defined in Parallel Set 1) is one of the descendants of Yadu, and the Grand Old Man (GOM) was the last blood-related descendant of Puru.

Second, is the GOM himself. He was the illustrious son from the first wife (who may or may not have been the embodiment of a Celestial River) of a King whose name can be equated to Pacificus Atomus (PA). Now King PA gets all gaggity-gaggity about a Fisherwoman who was called alternatively the Fish Smelling One or the Far Smelling One. So the Young Grand Old Man (oxymoron is it!) shows the maturity his father does not (carrying the true blood of Puru) and renounces the throne as well as takes up the vow of Eternal Celibacy, to ensure his father can fulfil his feelings of gaggity-gaggity to fruction, to put it mildly.

TIL: Acceding to the rigorous demands of your superiors may or may not be GREAT for you or the team in the long run. So apply your judgement.

[SCORE: R-STORY: +1, M-STORY: +2; COUNT 6]

SET 3: Quieter/ Pacifist Elder Brother + Angrier/ Martial Younger Brother: When it comes to family planning, and specifically sibling-gap planning, our culture has not believed in spacing them. In fact this is further exacerbated in polygamous situations. And there are quite a few scholarly papers (supported by own observations) that support the fact that when a child becomes the elder sibling, he becomes the quieter more mature proto-guardian to the wilder and louder young ‘un.

In the R-Story, our Hero is the quieter, more mature, almost pacifist warrior whereas his younger siblings goes around cutting the noses of damsels on the slightest pretext, which causes a lot of trouble for our Hero. Just a quiet aside, there is a more sinister connotation of this “cutting the nose of a damsel on the slightest pretext” if you translate it to the vernacular and look at it in a particular way. Not suggesting anything! Just saying. Go ahead, click the Link. No Rick-Rolling, placekeeper for link to a post to explore this thread.

Again M-Story, has not one but a little more than two parallels.

First, the Dark/Blue Lord of Rakishness (DBLR) and his quiet Elder Brother. The Elder Brother is a strong leader on his own right. In fact he fulfils a more senior role in their city state. He is not just a good fighter but is good enough to be a teacher of martial arts. But he is first and foremost a pacifist. Doesn’t fight unless forced to. Whereas our DBLR goes around spreading the good word of the Fight of Righteousness. Even when not actually fighting in the Great War, he is in the thick of the war and the strategist of the ultimate victors. No cutting of noses, but romancer of many, and husband to quite a few.

Second, the Elder Brother TruthSayer Galore (EBTG) of the Furious Five progeny of PYN from Set 1, and the Second Brother Big Huge Humongous (BHH). While EBTG is pacifist to the level that in the War for his Right, major part of the strategy is to keep him away from the fight. And BHH goes around killing 100 of their cousins (of the 102 progeny of BEN from Set 1, one was a daughter and one joined the Furious Five before battle), and drinking their blood to good measure. Some super embellishment aside, this duo is the classic example of the Quiet Bade Bhaiya and Loud Chhote Bhai.

Another (let’s count it as 2/10th), is the other Elder Brother and Second Brother set but progeny of BEN instead of PYN. In fact the parallels between the two, I believe, must have been more but now hidden in the various layers of Victor-and-Loser-Washing of the M-story. There is a story in this, which I will share later. The Elder Son of BEN goes around making friends of the Son’s of Charioteer and Son’s of Preceptor, and is mostly gracious other than two specific incidents. The Second Son of BEN. He is another story. He is described in ways that if and when I say he went about cutting or trying to cut the noses of damsels, sometimes in a public place, your minds will go to the place and dastardly act you have been trying not to consider when I talked about the R-story parallel.

TIL: When your younger brother/ team member is over-aggressive, as the elder brother/ leader you may need to compensate for that.

[SCORE: R-Story: +2, M-Story: +4.2; COUNT 12.2]

SET 4: Younger Brother Rules As Some Rule Said the Elder Was Not Fit To Rule: When the dust settles, this set would be the set I remember as the one I should not have discussed. Our culture, like many other cultures follows primogeniture, i.e. the right of succession belongs to the first-born. Hence the deviance here is always mentioned with some strong reasons. Sometimes the reasons are laughable, or plainly rigged. But as a corollary of a high Power Distance score in the future 6D Hofstede Model, we follow rules, even if it doesn’t sound/ feel right!

In the R-story, there are quite a few parallels this time (sadly?).

Firstly, there were the Two Kings of The “Ape”/“Forest” Men. The Elder of them was Stronger, More Popular, Abler and did I say Elder. Due to some misunderstanding the Younger claimed a right to throne, and when the Elder returned, he was naturally enraged and chased the Younger away. Then along come our Hero and his Brother, and they decide the Elder does not deserve to rule (as the younger had promised them help if they made him King), and kill him and set the Younger to throne. The reasons given to give this a semblance of propriety range from (a) They are not really human, hence rules of dealing with humans does not apply – so they can be killed, nay hunted with impunity; to (b) He coveted his brother’s wife hence deserved to die (and when he is killed HIS brother gets HIS wife as reward… pshaw).

Then there is the case of the Demon King of Ten Heads killed and his Younger Brother (who betrayed him as he was not on the path of “righteousness”) is made king after his demise.

There is another parallel in the R-Story, but we will leave it for some other time (when the possibility of lynching is less certain, maybe!).

In this SET, the M-Story parallels (as expected) are double in number when compared to R-Story.

First is the story we mentioned in SET 2. Puru became king instead of his four elder brothers (led by Yadu), as their father said so (being the most dutiful son). Not going in details to avoid repetition

Then there is the Grand Old Man letting go of his right of Primogeniture, as first a foolhardy warrior youth (who gave his life to defend the right to have his name) and then a sickly youth with problems of sexual nature (he died while cavorting with his two wife’s and yet died before they were with child) became undeserving Kings.

Interestingly the father of the Grand Old Man also should not have been King, as he was the youngest, but the eldest brother became a monk and gave up kingship (he was reportedly a leper hence wasn’t allowed as per the “rules”) and the second brother preferred to be the king of the kingdom of his maternal uncle.

Then the brief primogeniture mismatch when the Pale Younger Nephew (PYN) was made King instead of the Blind Elder Nephew (BEN). This may have been the seed of the Great War, as without this the Sons of BEN would be Kings, and the Furious Five would have had no claim to the throne.

TIL: Whenever someone is superseded based on rules/ decisions that are accepted if not appreciated, there is always a negative outcome. So buy-in’s may be a better way than “My Way or the Highway”.

[SCORE: R-Story: +2, M-Story: +4; COUNT 18.2]

SET 5: The Two Diasagreeing Brothers of the Loser – One Defects One Remains: This set/s of parallel is quite logical when you think of it. Just some play of names makes it quite interesting. Whenever there is a side to a conflict, there would always be a few who disagree. A few rank the disagreement above their group loyalty and defect, and a few rank loyalty above all and remain, and in case of defeat, die supporting a cause they don’t fully support.

Let me tell you a story of three brothers. No suspense, their side lost. The Elder Brother. The Charismatic and Strong One. Who believes in the correctness of his stand and stance. Two of his brothers disagree. First whose name (or moniker) means the One Who Has Big Ears, hence who listens to all sides. He disagrees with his Elder. He says so openly. But he is loyal to a fault. He dies supporting the right of his Eldest to be wrong. He dies before the Eldest. The Other. He is the brother who is the outsider as he is different from his other brother. His name means some one Terrible or Who is ready to fight. He disagrees with his Elder. Before the onset of conflict he walks away from his loyalty with his siblings and supports their opponents. After his siblings lose and are killed, this War Like One is entrusted with the upkeep of the land they fought for, while the opponents went away.

This story is repeated in M-Story and R-Story.

In R-Story there is Kumbhakarna and in M-Story there is Vikarna. They Hear. They Disagree. They remain Loyal. They Die in Battle.

In R-Story there is Vibhishana. Different from his brothers. An Outsider within his kin. He defects. He fights against his kin. The Eldest Loses. When the Dynamic Duo leave, he is made King. In M-Story there is Yuyutsu. Different from his brothers. Born of a different mother. An Outsider within his kin (called VaishyaPutra … I don’t think lovingly). He defects. He fights against his kin. The Eldest Loses. When the Furious Five leave for the Walk in Clouds, he is made Regent, with a child king.

TIL: When you disagree with your team, there are two ways to handle it. You may disagree yet remain loyal to the the team; i.e. let loyalty define you. Or you may move to where your principles take you; i.e. let your initiative define you! Neither of these is Right or Wrong. It is a decision you have to take yourself.

[SCORE: R-Story: +2, M-Story: +2; COUNT 22.2]

SET 6: The Team – A Handsome Prince, The Eldest Brother, The Second Brother and The Supreme Archer: This is limited to the M-Story, as on both sides were a well matched team of 4. A Prince from a Land Away from Here. Who adorned his headgear with a bird feather. Related to the side by marriage of his sister. The one who won became known for his rakish good looks and the one who lost was painted ugly. The Elder Brother who believed in His Right, and that he was right. The Second Brother known for his loyalty, sometimes disagreeing with the Eldest but defined by his loyalty and his violence. And the Supreme Archer. Who – win or lose – remains one of the good guys. As he was good at what he did. Note to self: Be good at what you do… people somehow believe you are in Good in whatever you say/do/stand-for. Even if they disagree. Or cut off your head.

As we have already counted the Elder and Second Brother in SET 3, we will only count the Handsome Prince and the Supreme Archer for the score in this Set.

This is the first parallel I have posted in detail on this platform. Read it here if you haven’t, yet!

TIL: The Winner’s write the tale. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the Loser’s were wrong or even different. So if we get to learn something from the losers, we should!

[SCORE: R-Story: 0, M-Story: +2; COUNT 24.2]

SET 7: Three Mother’s – Set of Brother’s – Son/s of the Third Important but not Leaders: This along with Set 4, I hope is carved on my online epitaph if (when?) I meet an untimely end. (Joking… or am I?).

Let me tell you another short story-ette. There were Three Women. Two Haughty Queens and the Third Woman. For some reason the Queens were not “blessed” with male progeny. Then by the grace of god, and blessings of a learned man of God, related to the ruling family, the two Queens each is blessed with a Glorious Son. And knowingly/unknowingly so is the Third Woman. There were palace intrigues and what-not. The Son’s of Both the Haughty Queens get a chance to the throne. But never the son/s of the Third Woman. He/They remain able and loyal supporter of whoever is the King. All the brother’s from different mothers love each other. Or do they?

In R-Story. The Eldest Queen is known by the name of her father’s kingdom. The Second Queen is also known by the name of her brother’s kingdom. The Third Woman is known as the Friendly One. They all three are blessed by the grace of a Learned Man of God. Husband to the daughter – some say the daughter of the First Queen, some say the daughter of the First Queen’s sibling. The Eldest Queen’s son is supposed to be King, but due to some situation is passed over for the son of the Favorite Queen. But after a few Years the Son of the Eldest Queen is King again. The son/s of the Third Woman never get to be King/s.

The Third Woman angle of the R-story shall be given a more detailed look later. Placekeeper for a later post to explore this thread!

In the M-Story, the First and the Second Queen are widowed before being with child. The Third Woman is a servant. Either never named or just called the Persevering One. They all are blessed by the grace of a Learned Man of God. Son born out of wedlock of the mother of the posthumous King. The First Queen’s son is supposed to be King, but due to some situation is passed over for the son of the Second Queen. But after a few Years the Son of the First Queen is King again. The son of the Third Woman never gets to be King.

TIL: If you don’t get your position clear and your reputation strong, your progeny/ team members suffer. Don’t be the Third Woman. The Friendly One or The Persevering One.

[SCORE: Let’s count this as +3 for the three queens (though it can be counted as more) and get it over with. COUNT: 27.2]

POST SCRIPT: I know I have crammed a lot of stories in a single post. A few stories shall be explored in details later. I will see if I can do a more detailed cross referencing by editing this post later.

POST POST SCRIPT: This is just a peek at the parallels in story telling. The parallels between just two epic stories. The parallels are mind-numbingly numerous when we include more. Is it cross-pollination of ideas? Or parallel evolution of the stories? Or does History repeat itself in fact as well as fiction? Or are we in the Matrix and this is a glitch? INDIA wants to know!! Or at least one Indian does 😉

POST POST POST SCRIPT: Nothing to say! I just wanted to write POST POST POST SCRIPT! Apologies for the strangeness 😀