Posted:
Dear Moontide (what else are you, with a hint of all the spices of God's own country, and not just mint?)
I waited an hour, after first laughing myself to tears over this - which undoubtedly spared me a good bit of GenTeal drops for the disobliging nayan- but since you have not returned, and another claimant is breathing down my neck for the laptop, here goes.
Basically, my response is summed up in one question.Where were you all these weeks after June 30? If you had exerted yourself to similar effect - and as a fellow worshipper at the shrine of the immortal Plum, you could not have failed to do so - think of how much fun we could have had together!
You must have seen my Mughal-e-Azam theory in my last but one post; I did not really think the CVs would go for it,but it would have been fun, and I am glad at least you picked up that ball and ran with it.
The dry run theory for the Anarkali chundiyaana is priceless, except that this lot of masons would have passed on to the Great House of the Masonic (not Freemasons, be it noted) Fraternity in the hereafter by the time Sheku arrived and grew to the least possible age of having lafdas with baandis (Charles II of England probably holds the record of having a kid when he was just 15)š. Perhaps they would have passed on this esoteric expertise to their offspring, just in case the Shahenshah were to need it in his later years?
the Jalal-Jodha-Moti-Abdul permutation would have drawn a small smile of approval from the Master himself, though a discreet one, for he was notoriously reticent in the matter of detailing assorted impulses in the solar plexus, or indeed anywhere else. .
Finally, as for the proper/prescribed position for the wallee, they should have had manual written out neatly on one of those silken scrolls, to be read out in due and proper form before the exercise began. Songs should not be part of it - the lugubrious Motibai looks besuri, and then it would cruel and unusual punishment for the masons as well!š
The economy angle would not have entered into the calculations, as it would hardly have been a bulk exercise with the built in economies of scale!
As for the folly of that whole Corpse in the Kitchen complete with that impeccably penned epistle on a fancy piece of fabric, do go back and see my Questions of the Day in that post. It was beyond ridiculous, and I would, like you, prefer to assume that Jalal had the brains to look thru it. But what of Jodha? What were her Grandmaster (there is no feminine for this in chess) quality grey cells doing?
Once again, thanks for brightening up my morning.
Affectionately,
Shyamala
I waited an hour, after first laughing myself to tears over this - which undoubtedly spared me a good bit of GenTeal drops for the disobliging nayan- but since you have not returned, and another claimant is breathing down my neck for the laptop, here goes.
Basically, my response is summed up in one question.Where were you all these weeks after June 30? If you had exerted yourself to similar effect - and as a fellow worshipper at the shrine of the immortal Plum, you could not have failed to do so - think of how much fun we could have had together!
You must have seen my Mughal-e-Azam theory in my last but one post; I did not really think the CVs would go for it,but it would have been fun, and I am glad at least you picked up that ball and ran with it.
The dry run theory for the Anarkali chundiyaana is priceless, except that this lot of masons would have passed on to the Great House of the Masonic (not Freemasons, be it noted) Fraternity in the hereafter by the time Sheku arrived and grew to the least possible age of having lafdas with baandis (Charles II of England probably holds the record of having a kid when he was just 15)š. Perhaps they would have passed on this esoteric expertise to their offspring, just in case the Shahenshah were to need it in his later years?
the Jalal-Jodha-Moti-Abdul permutation would have drawn a small smile of approval from the Master himself, though a discreet one, for he was notoriously reticent in the matter of detailing assorted impulses in the solar plexus, or indeed anywhere else. .
Finally, as for the proper/prescribed position for the wallee, they should have had manual written out neatly on one of those silken scrolls, to be read out in due and proper form before the exercise began. Songs should not be part of it - the lugubrious Motibai looks besuri, and then it would cruel and unusual punishment for the masons as well!š
The economy angle would not have entered into the calculations, as it would hardly have been a bulk exercise with the built in economies of scale!
As for the folly of that whole Corpse in the Kitchen complete with that impeccably penned epistle on a fancy piece of fabric, do go back and see my Questions of the Day in that post. It was beyond ridiculous, and I would, like you, prefer to assume that Jalal had the brains to look thru it. But what of Jodha? What were her Grandmaster (there is no feminine for this in chess) quality grey cells doing?
Once again, thanks for brightening up my morning.
Affectionately,
Shyamala
Originally posted by: Moontide
Dear Shyamala (plain vanilla with a hint of mint),
Thank God the eye has recovered enough to churn out two awesomes within less than 24 hrs šNow to business...I will definitely put forward my two ashrafi/mohar bit on the scenario at hand.But before I proceed, and may be add a fresh reply there, I want to touch upon l'affaire Farman.As one, whose impressionable years were shaped by that Badshah amongst Butlers..a cert J and the investigative spirit nurtured by the likes of the Woosters and the Psmiths, I in this particular affaire have a few Qs. It has disturbed me since as a freshman out of cradle I had lain first eyes on Akbar, who was in his mature years then and a great deal GREAT..err than his two subsequent versions.Its a Q re this particular deewar mein chunwana process.My first ask is, was there a set pattern/norm/adab/tehzeeb/niyam for taking position when getting masoned in?Q2. Was there a strict masonistic code for building this wall around a live being (mostly women it seems during Akbar's reign)?I will clarify my asks later in this post. First, my views...See, it is obvious from all intents and purposes that Jalal was using Motibai's (some how calling her plain Moti gives me visions of Bharti Singh) case as an Adham sent chance for honing and perfecting his walling up blueprint. He, with his doorandeshi was laying the foundations so to speak for ensuring a far more exhalted and eternal place in folklore and Bollywood history for himself. He was preparing well and in advance for the Fairy-tale of Shekhu and Anarkali.Having grown up on the road...he knew his masons would find it much easier to mask in that secret passage within the walls if they had prior experience of the whole thing.For a passage there would have been for sure, had Jodha not head butted the process mid way. I'm sure Jalal, the keeper of an entire Harem is not that unaware to Adham's obsessions. He could not have missed out on his muh-bola big bro's heavy pantings every time Motibai was so much as mentioned. Someone so attuned and alert to the surroundings as he, is bound to have noticed the saucer transformation and directional inclination of his bro's eyes during his Shaadi with Jodha.Also as an astute twenty year old, he would have known, Motibai having sworn on Jodha's head would not lie, not to mention the laughable letter that in the pretext of saving her honour gives her away in the most significant terms possible. Also a shepherd/commoner like the dead man in question being literate and in possession of fine stationery of such silken quality would have rankled that much touted Brain.So no, Jalal was not for a moment deceived by Mahamanga's elaborate ruse.But he perceived it as a chance! A gem of an opportunity to finally cause that Break-up between Jodha and her Moti. For every time these two hugged as they did at the slightest pretext, Jalal would suffer a sensation of pinpricks in a region Nor-easterly to his solar plexus. The feeling would soon turn into a full blown deep depression sending rushes of bloods to his famous head which inevitably led his feet to Jodha followed by subsequent thunderstorms with much lightning and teeth gnashing thrown in. And after having traded threats he would come back to his chambers each time feeling more defeated and pinprickly than before.Tale of how Jodha had diffused a burning Motibai never sat well with him. Then much to Jalal's chargin Motibai accompanied her to Agra, tending to her every need and sharing her bedchambers... rights that should rightfully have been his, Jodha's Shohar Jalal's. Yet he was turned into a mere helpless looker on while Motibai and Jodha's bond grew stronger. Then on the day of judgement, Jodha coming out of Purdah only for Motibai's sake and hugging her and making her swear on her head was perhaps the proverbial last straw.So Jalal decided to wall his enemy in.Now you may ask why would he then have the passage built?Well it was his first opportunity of finding out what looked good on the drawing board would turn out well in actuality when history and Anarkali called.Secondly, he wanted Motibai out of Agra and into the charms of Abdul (I know I'm breaking a few hearts here. But truth must be told). Knowing Motibai's caring nature, Jalal was confident she would flip for the witty, smart but differently abled Abdul. Also when trading secrets about his attraction for Jodha, he had come to know of the layout of the region Nor-easterly to Abdul's solar plexus. He knew an object throbbed therein for Motibai.Thirdly and most importantly, he did not want Jodha to pine away the rest of her life for her beloved Moti. The walled in section, had it actually contained Motibai's remains, would have become some kind of memorial for Jodha to cry buckets on for the next few decades and Jalal would have had no chance of settling the matter of the pinpricks ever. History would then never be made. But Jalal with his devilish cunning intended to, on a later date make an elaborate exhibition of team Motibai-Abdul in front of Jodha. Jalal believed, seeing Motibai transferring allegiance to Abdul would make Jodha tear up in all sense. He, Jalal would then act the perfect Baba Mustafa and sew her torn parts into a whole and win her over permanently.So there!Now coming back to my questions.1. was there a set pattern/norm/adab/tehzeeb/niyam for taking position when getting masoned in?I mean, First Motibai and then Anarkali both stood in the middle of the under construction wall like a centre piece, one singing love peons the other murmuring her last apologies to Jodha in very similar fashion. I was wondering, why stand? Especially when the masons have already taken their measurements and commenced construction. Would not sitting down save energy and be a lot less tiresome? Also why entertain the people burying you alive by songs and orations? Have to admit, the mind boggles!!2. Was there a strict masonistic code for building this wall around a live being (mostly women it seems during Akbar's reign)?See in both instances you had the Masons going for a complex technique of construction. I must say I have seen a few walls being built during my life and it has always been a process of brick laying that starts ground upwards and continues thus. But Both with Motibai and Anarkali I have found, they would construct the front facade up till neck level then go to the top and start moving downwards till only one brick breath of distance remains between the ascending and descending sections. That brick width would level exactly with the teared up hapless eyes of the walled in. then they would commence work from two sides and the last brick would be placed right in front of those eyes shutting out lookers on's view completely.This I find a very intriguing technique of construction. Something that has been lost to the ravels of time. Also I have always wondered, when did they construct the roof? I mean four walls make a minar all right. But to stuff the light out of someone...as beautifully and eloquently described by Mahamanga...you would need to close the hatch too, wouldn't you? So did they use the rod and concrete theme of modern architecture or had wooden beams overlain with tiles or what other technique?Must say it was a lot of money used for puffing out one life.Wouldn't it have been much economic to have a reference wall like the main Prison boundary or something. Make the wallee stand in front..chains and all. Then have the wallers construct left right and front with slanting sections meeting the reference wall at the back?Leaving you to ponder...and threatening to come back againLove,Moontide š
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