Trishanku - Utopian World

Being a desi and a bhakt (follower) I was determined to write the story in the setting of Indian fictional world. Luckily for me I had heard about Trishanku's world the one created by the temperamental Vishwamitra. But not much was known about this world except that Trishanku lived there upside down like a Batman. I decided to pick up that thread in the mythology and weave it in today's context of the New India.

Readers of my stories would know by now I have a special friendship with Shiva. It all began on the 5th August, 2019 when Shiva got lonely and luckily found a mobile phone left behind by a bhakt. He called randomly and reached out to my number. Since then our friendship had blossomed.

I decided to call Shiva and made several requests for him to fulfil. Firstly, I had told him to ask the King Trishanku to open up his world for the termites from the New India. Shiva asked what really happened that I am asking for the Trishanku's world to be opened up. I told Shiva, in New India only the bhakts can prosper. If you were not a bhakt you might as well belong to the termites. It was a matter of time officials would be knocking at my door and ask not only for my birth certificate but also my grandfather's one. The State threatens that they will put us in the detention centre, but I rather prefer the Trishanku world. Shiva nodded understandingly. He said he had no issues about the first request.

Then I said you please ask your bhakt Ravana to lend his pushpaka vimana to transport us. The pushpaka vimana will have to make several trips as there are plenty of Indians who would end up in the category of termites. Shiva got astounded by this request. "what Raju, do you believe in this myth of the vimana?" I said "why not? By the way, Srilankan government had proof that this vimana did exist. I rather believe in the Ravana than Ram as I don't want to be banished for fourteen years." And if I may add global citizens would be given a one-way ticket to the Trishanku world. Shiva then acceded to the second request as well.

Upon arrival and completing immigration formalities they would be quarantined to get rid of all kinds of viruses especially the 3 Cs: corona, communal and casteism and allowed entry into Trishanku world.

Thirdly, I am requesting to ask Vishwakarma the architect of the mythic world to help us design Trishanku world for our comfort. "That should not be any problem" said Shiva.

Fourthly, please ask Dr Ambedkar to draft a constitution for us. While doing he must consult us so that the errors committed in drafting the Indian one does not get repeated. The constitution has to be clearly committed to secularism, equality, fraternity and there should not be any room for caste, creed or any such division in the humanity. Shiva said 'hmm' understandingly and said request granted.4

Then he asked me what is your understanding of this Trishanku world. I started singing the John Lennon's song Imagine.

Imagine there no countries

It isn't hard to do

Nothing to kill or die for

And no religion too

Imagine all the people living life in peace.

Shiva was mighty impressed. What else? he asked. I said we would live by the Gandhi's belief that the world has got everything for everyone's need but not even for one-person greed. "That was a good principle to follow" agreed Shiva.

I also said that I have in mind the 20% principle. What was that? Asked Shiva. I am yet to think through this but 20% was the excess of anything permissible. For example, I said entrepreneurs can flourish in the Trishanku world provided they don't make more than 20% profit. Citizens would have to adhere to their ideal body mass index (BMI) and in certain circumstances would be allowed 20% excess weight. Shiva chuckled hearing this. So, he said "you want lean and fit citizens, not a bad idea since it saves a lot of health expense related to being over- weight.

I continued that the cities should be so designed that dwellings, offices, educational institutions were all at a walking distance. Such a network of cities would be self-managed. There would be elected councils for governance. The need for transportation should be minimized except in medical emergencies. Intercity transportation would be possible through public transport. All cities would grow their own food and food-processing would be minimized. There would not be common places of worship for all citizens irrespective of religions they follow. Religion is a private affair to be dealt at one's own home. Trishanku world would not permit caste names as surnames and there would be no ownership but long lease of homes. We would also do away with police and judges and have people's watch and court to curb crime and dispense justice. Holiday destinations would be accessible to all citizens. The idea was to have happiness as the main index like in Bhutan. This world would lead a sustainable life in all sense of the word.

"It all sounds so good" commented Shiva. Any final request he had asked. I said I need your Pashupathas Astra for 24*7 protection all through the year as we don't plan to have any weapons for protection or attack. Granted said Shiva and then he added in turn that he too had a request to make. I said "Shiva, you making a request, that was so funny." Shiva then said "your world already sounds good. Please allocate a small mountain cave for me to reside and meditate." "Request granted," I said laughingly.