The sea (a parable)

A group of young and old had gathered ashore the sea. They had never seen the sea before, only read and heard about it. Soon a discussion followed. One who had neither read nor heard much simply exclaimed at the marvellous sight before him: “vow! What a vast expanse of water. Who can ever measure it?” Another who was well-versed with books on sea rushed into impress by his erudition, “oh, you seem to be quite ignorant. Actually, quite a few have ventured but two among these, truly bravest among them tried to sail across the entire sea. Of these only one returned after ten long years. And of the other, one knows not the fate whether he was drowned or drifted to some friendly or hostile isle”.

Surprised by his knowledge one turned to ask: ”is it true that the sea has many riches in its store?”

“I don’t know exactly what riches the sea has”, replied another eager to join the conversation and contribute his bit as well, “but I have heard through word of mouth that there are some rare jewels in its depths”

“And some dangerous creatures as well”, said another unable to resist, “the kind of which we do not see on land or near the shores”.

And the knowledge able man again: ”oh he is talking of sharks and whales”.
“And mermaids too”, said one who was simple and full of wonder among them. And he added with a solemn religion tone, “And these mermaids can grant you boons of many kinds and pearls and riches if you would pray to them.” A knowledgeable scientist whose scientific books had not mentioned anything about mermaids and boons strongly ridiculed these stories as fiction and imaginations.

Soon the group of men divided into two camps. One was with the scientist and argued against the mermaids and boons. The other was with the simple credulous man who joined him even to pray to the mermaids for these treasures. This religious man had learnt a few incantations from his grandfather written in some sacred text thousands of years old. This grandfather himself who had never seen a mermaid or even the sea and died a penniless man had in turn learnt this formula from his great grand father who in turn from his great grand father and so on and so forth.

While all this was going on, a third group broke away from both and tried to philosophically reason out about the sea and its various possibilities. These again divided into several sects and sub-sects, some argued that the sea had nothing in its depths since they could see nothing, neither whales and sharks nor mermaids and pearls. He felt this speculations was a waste of time. All that the sea has are some fishes and turtles and all that one can know and needs to know is how to ply a boat on the waves and how to cast a net to catch the fish and crabs and prawns. Others ridiculed the shallowness of this group who could see nothing beyond the tip of their nose and immediate utility. Still others simply said “ Lets stop arguing and just enjoy this lovely sight and the beautiful sunrise”. All however agreed on one thing that none knows fully about the sea and none an ever know. Even they doubted if the story of the lone sailor crossing the sea itself was not a hoax. Yet none would venture to find out lest they met the unknown fate of the other sailor. A known insecurity is better than an unknown certainty, they thought.

And as they thus debated and discussed some tired and weary of the stories and philosophy of theories and dogmas of proofs and doubts of arguments and counter-arguments of joy and the wonder and fear of the dangerous waves slept off. The others too followed these to the world of dreams with familiar lands and faces love. Some dreamt of the roaring sea and the storms that sweep the surface. Yet others dreamt of unknown far off isles inhibited by strange and unknown people.

But one youth among them kept awake, Unknown to others he was building a boat whole night. And when the sun rose and there was daybreak once again nothing had changed in the life of these men except for him who was young in spirit. Unseen to the eyes of those left behind on the shore he had sailed off to the delight of danger with faith and courage as his companions. They saw him not again and pondered over his fate. But the youth had gone far into the deeps gathering pearls and delighted playing with storm with the lightning stars as his guide. When the winds blew softly, he conversed with mermaids who informed him to keep clean of the dangerous waters and hostile isles. And as he moved on pressed by a need in his soul, a hope stole through the heart of those left behind. A hope that the storms can be weathered and the rough waves tamed and the great sea conquered.

Alok Pandey