The Fountainhead
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I got a chance finally to catch up few of the episodes and dunno what to say. Last few weeks have been very frustrating work wise and watching these episodes have added to my gloom. Bheeshma vadh, Abhi vadh all are purely devoid of any logic.
Not in a mood for OS but just happened to see a post from sadhana_pr talking about Fountainhead and that did bring a smile tomy face. Fountainhead has been my most favorite book and Howard Roark my favorite fictional hero. I plan to write few tidbits about him. This is not meant to be funny OS nor it is meant to be any pseudo-intellectual ramblings. These are few muddled thoughts.
One fine Sunday afternoon, I was going through some of old collections of my dad and happened to find a thick, jaded book with ugly stains. It was actually a time for a quick nap after heavy meal of Poori, potato curry and mango-pulp. I layed down on bed and decided to use this book as a quick catalyst to get some sound sleep. Only a couple of pages into Fountainhead and I knew I was reading something extraordinary. The sleep deserted me and next couple of days were most enjoyable days of my life.
Howard Roark is truly a hero. A true protagonist, egoist, supremely confident in his own ability, intelligent, logical, extremely skillful, perfectionist,(Even Amir Khaan can get complex), satisfied in himself and his work.
Even after being a genius architect who has indebted society with his masterful structures, he is always treated as an outcast, his abilities doubted, and often feared and opposed. The world at large unable to sustain his brilliance tried to pull him down to level of mediocrity to make him one of "them", second, third rate well meaning parasites.
While author, Ayn Rand was obsessed to portray a hero of uncompromising nature and supreme talent in his/her respective field, I was drawn equally to his spiritual side of things. This is a guy who is "full of himself" and not Saajid Khan type. He naturally believes in himself and immersed in his own work and his own self like a true yogi.
A steadfast, unswerving Howard, smilingly, dispassionately ignores entire world ganging up against him. This world includes his true love, self-doubting Dominique who also tries to sabotage his enterprise "out of sheer love" but he accepts all without a single provocation as if none exists.
I was instantly attracted to this dispassionate trait of a Karmayogi in him. In one of the best scenes.. Toohey, main villain, admirer of Howard's work and also his greatest enemy, completely destroys Howard's business and then proudly admits to Howard that it was all his doing and asks him what he now thinks about him half expecting scathing, bitter remarks and curses.
Puzzled Howard, nonchalantly says.. "But I dont think of you." This is said in a child like simplicity and innocence and not meant to be a vengeful, hurtful remark and I always wonder how a person can develop such equanimity.
There is something in this simplicity which also reminds me of Nana Patekar of Yugpurush. In one scene, his shrewd, cruel uncle asks for his signature on few documents which will give him sole rights to his vast property. Nana in a child like manner, signs document without even looking. When his friend asks him to atleast review documents before signing, he simply says.."All this belongs to my uncle.. He is mine too. I dont want anything. Let him have it if he wants. I am hungry now." A subtle hint to Tolstoy's story of six feet land. His uncle feeling ashamed tears the document.
This also reminds me of a story from Bill Gates. Bill Gates was fond of burger from Mandaly Bay which cost whopping 1000$ and always recommened his other billionaire friends. One day he noticed another guy with net worth not more than ONLY a million also devouring the same burger and realised that ultimately man with a million could have same bodily pleasures as a billionaire.
Peter is a childhood "friend" of Howard, is a glib talker, always trying to please others, never assuming responsibility of his own life. I find in him a sad story of a person succumbing to all sorts of temptations, vasaanas, frailty of mind.
Dominique represents a self-doubting ladylove and goes through self-generated sufferings till she finally sheds fears to brave the world. In some respects, she is not different from Neo of Matrix. She truly represents a story of commoner to divinity.
Ayn Rand demonstrated "practical application" of her theories of Fountainhead in her next book "The Atlas Shrugged" and just like StarBharat Abhivadh, it was an epic failure. While good in bits and pieces, her hero Rearden never rose to heights of Howard.
The main problem being Rearden and other "talented saviours of the world" expected gratitude, appreciation from society.(even abject surrender) They wanted to prove to the world that the world is nothing if not for their brilliance and expertise and hence this expectation causes these great heroes severe trauma.
This is where Howard outshines. He follows Chinmayananda swami's advice.."Do not keep key to your happiness in anyone else's pockets." He is happy, contented within himself. Ayn Rand tried to base her own life on this practical application and it was a sad sad story. Hellen Mirrer has done a splendid job portraying her character.
I was always interested to see this great novel on celluloid and the movie was a disaster. Funnily, the movie Atlas Shrugged turned out to be a better depiction and I am awaiting third final installment, especially to see John Galt in the torture chamber. That happens to be be my most favorite scene of the book.
John Galt, a brilliant physicist is kidnapped to get his secrets and is tortured with a new electrical device, designed by one of his brilliant students. The device passes precise electric current through John Galt's body to accentuate sufferings many folds and John Galt is soon writhing in pain while mentally admiring brilliance of his student. When machine breaks down, John is pained more to see such briliant work going to waste. John himself fixes the problem fully aware that it will be used on him again. This is one instance similar to Howard of a man, immersed in himself.
I compare him with grammarian Panini. A ferocious tiger unexpectedly arrived and while students ran helter-skelter in fear, he was thinking of composition of word "Vyaaghra" steadily gazing at the tiger.
Sorry just wanted to blurt out few things to feel better. I know I am all over place. If someone asks me what is the point of this post, all I can do is shrug my shoulders in resignation and say "Who is John Galt anyway ?"
Edited by Cotswolds - 11 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
