Monkeys of Kharkhoda

The Monkey band of Kharkhoda was unique. It was a complete world in itself. There were numerous monkeys in the village, so many that they could occupy all the terraces at any time.

There were some famous monkeys like the Hoth-kata, or the torn-lip monkey who was ferocious looking and the king of the violent group of monkeys. He was feared among all the monkey groups. He had ruled the monkeys by the sheer strength and violent power that he had. He was seldom seen, but one look at the Hoth-kata, and the person would have him in all his dreams that night, the dreams turning into a nightmare.

There were other monkeys like the Jolly-Banda, who was very friendly, used to play with the children without ever harming them. He was also the friend of the dog Hallaq-Kuttaq. A friendship between a dog and a monkey is rare, as the two species are seen as rivals. But the nature of the two was so alike – both were lovers of children, both loved to dance, both were really jolly. The Halli dance of Hallaq-Kuttaq and Jullu dance of Jolly-Banda, combined became a dance form called the Halli-Julla dance which became popular among the people, and was performed at all festivals.

As the monkeys were numerous, so are the tales of their encounters with the people.

One of the famous monkeys, was called Nakalchi-Lallu, or Mr. Imitator, he was fond of copying the people exactly. Once in the afternoon time, while Munna was shaving his beard on the terrace, N-L was sitting on the adjacent peepal tree and noticing very closely what Munna was doing. The moment Munna left, he took hold of the razor, and looking into the mirror shaved all the hair around his face - Wow! A clean shaved chocolaty monkey!

Once on another afternoon, Manu was painting something on the terrace. N-L came and sat very close to Manu without making any noise, He observed everything – Manu taking and arranging the big canvas, putting colors on the plate, dipping the brush in colors and water, and applying them on the canvas. They both sat like this for almost two hours, pin drop silence. As the sun slowly went down, falling on Manu’s painting, and then slowly as the afternoon turned into a colorful evening, Manu got up and noticed the monkey sitting Buddha-like in a lotus pose behind him, he was curiously surprised, and the monkey slowly went away to disappear in the trees nearby.

It has become popular in parts of Kharkhoda, that there is a monkey who paints, creates wonderful sculptures, makes garlands out of flowers. His artwork is seen at many places, but he himself is not seen. Manu likes to think in his heart that he is no one but Nakalchi-Lallu.

There are a few funny encounters of the people with the Monkeys that are popular. Once a notorious, troublesome monkey was taken into a room, covered in a blanket and beaten by Golhu. Another incident when Golhu was on the terrace alone flying kites, was surrounded by as many as ten Monkeys, and showing wonderful courage and martial art tricks, could beat all of them and emerge victorious. It is said that on that day he was helped by the God Hanuman himself, of whom Golhu was a devotee…

© Manan sheel.

Munna..

Munna Tauji was Manu’s uncle, his father’s elder brother. He was also Golhu’s father. A little very narrow street, covered by walls from both sides, that dissected from the Main Bazaar led to Munna’s house. There was a little shop just outside the main gate. Munna, like many others from the family was a tailor.

Manu remembers the time he spent with his Munna Tauji and Golhu as a very carefree time. Things were playful then. Heart ruled over mind. Little joys ruled over ambitions. When Manu was very little, his Tauji used to wrestle with him playfully on the bed. When Manu looks at the photographs from first birthday, which was celebrated as a big occasion, he finds only one picture in which he is crying (in others, he is just bewildered). In that picture, Munna Tauji is throwing him in the air. This crying is remembered by Manu as a mark of the playfulness, and carefree, roughly loving way of life, for which he was proud of. 

There were many people in Kharkhoda of whom Manu was fond of. But none of them was like his Munna Tauji. That infectious loud laugh, which could bring a King to shame, that radiant face, that person who loved Manu as much as his own children, was a presence for Manu, that was never filled with anything calculative or of the mind. Munna was poor financially, but when Manu demanded something, he could give that to Manu without any arguments with himself, and no one dared to argue. 

Manu never felt for his Munna Tauji in words. If someone would have asked him then, the top five persons he should name from Kharkhoda whom he was fond of, Munna Tauji’s name would not occur to him. Because he lived in that heart’s corner filled with so much wealth of real love, that to knock at that door wasn’t ever needed. 

When Manu went to study in college, when he was adjusting to a new life, when he was struggling with his own phantoms, in a foreign land, Munna’s health declined. He wasn’t too old, but his way of life caused a tumour in his brain. Manu was oblivious of all that and was never told of when Munna breathed his last, to let him pass his exams. 

Manu doesn’t remember Munna in words very often, but sometimes, when he is tired of the present day people – vultures, hyenas, hungry for ambitions – some tears somewhere, touch that heart’s corner, where a laughing, angelic face is seen behind a sewing machine. 

© Manan sheel.