"So, your promise of building a better nation is this? Discussing how to throw a party?"
The next morning, Prashant and the Rajput uncle were boasting about their dance moves.
Suddenly, Manjulika's question startled them.
Originally, Prashant wanted to come up with strategies for ruling his domain. But he realised that it doesn't work in India.
Here, rulership is an incredibly loose term. With rulers having very little direct control over the subjects.
Parallel authority structures like temples, caste-councils, merchant guilds, and tribal systems co-exist in a single kingdom.
A ruler is not supposed to be the manifestation of iron will, but rather a protector of dharma, the natural order.
The usual metrics like size of territory, military might get backstage while moralistic character gets centre.
No one can answer "How large a territory Raja Bhoj ruled over?". But all sing praise to his generosity and patronage of the arts.
The best a ruler can do is to be a kind and protective figure.
That brought us to the current predicament.
Rajput uncle advised Prashant to host a celebration at the fort. Maybe a small festival in a temple, a fair in the marketplace, and a sports tournament.
Prashant gave his expert advice based on Bollywood to include a mass choreographed dance. Not by trained dancers, but a spontaneous celebration by all.
To his surprise, Rajput uncle was interested in this idea. He even claimed to be the best dancer of his age.
And that started the childish boasting contest between the boys.
"It was a serious discussion, till Rajput uncle bragged that his nagin-dance can captivate thousands.
But beyond that, I think the idea of celebration itself is correct. I can't go for census, education, or economic reform this soon."
"Continue."
"A bull race. Have peasants bring their favourite bull. We'll race them through a muddy field. The third place gets silver, the second gets gold, and the first gets my heartfelt congratulations."
"Be serious."
"Well, his idea is conceptually sound. The region has rice paddies. The bull race is a direct representation of the tiring work our cattle do during farming.
Plus, instead of giving away gold and silver, we should make them into horn tips, bells around their neck, and other jewellery." Rajput uncle chimed in.
Manjulika shot a glare and smiled. "Jewellery? Another Malika-e-husn?
Maybe the kingdom won't need a queen. We should let you be the honorary matriarch."
"Surely you jest. Although Arjuna once dressed as a woman in the Mahabharata. That was a one-off thing. I've no interest in this glorious duty."
"Sister, I've taken the oath of celibacy. So I'll reject this beauty.
But fine suggestion. Then let's give the winner diamond-tipped horns."
"Do you even know if it could be made?" Sister asked.
"Who knows? But it should be possible.
For all its failings, the caste system does create a large, specialised workforce.
Plus Goalkonda mine in Deccan produces most of the diamonds in the world. All that passes through our land towards Gujarat. From there, it's exported.
I bet there are thousands of people whose entire lives are about working with diamonds. I'll have those guilds furnish my order." Prashant gave a quick reply.
"It's as if you had planned this earlier." Ever wise, M noticed this.
"Well, I did. As I said, we are right on this lucrative trade route. My idea is to have a specialised industry propped up in my kingdom. It's less about making money but more about creating a culture shift."
"So, you want to change the world with a bull's jewellery?
Ambitious and delirious.
Perfect." Rajput uncle, for some reason, is always supporting Prashant's idea. Maybe he's really serious about having his nagin dance as the centrepiece of the celebration.
"Hear me.
Gunpowder is becoming a new paradigm in warfare.
Right now, we only use it for cannons. But soon soldiers will use it as their main weapon. Just like how spear is."
"That is preposterous!" Rajput uncle was about to launch a vehement protest, giving even more references to the Mahabharata. But M stopped him with a sharp glare.
"That's my point precisely. The traditional commanders won't buy this way of thinking.
Even if I arm a few thousand with guns in the army. The overall military thinking will still revolve around the idea of courage, chivalry, and restraint.
To tackle this, I will go the roundabout way. First, have some small guns made into exquisite fashion.
Adorn them with gems, gold, and many intricate patterns. Then have it as a prestigious gift among my noblemen." Prashant was about to continue, but M interrupted him.
"Noblemem? So Marx's of that night was all empty talk? When you're afraid of ghosts, call for Marx's help. But ignore him in normal time?"
"Fine, it's valued individuals.
Come on, sister! Don't be pedantic or naive.
No matter what kind of political structure I make, I will quickly become a pyramid.
Even in the USSR, there were nobles, just we don't call them that. Stalin was not an emperor, but he was still an authoritarian overlord.
Ideologies, labels don't matter, substance does."
"Granted, continue."
"So the luxury guns will be given as gifts.
Maybe even have some noble pastime of a contest of marksmanship. Who can shoot a coin in the air from 10m distance. Something like that.
Over time, make guns an object of familiarity. Best gifts are exquisite guns, and for normal soldier's having a basic one is considered a symbol of status."
"Plus, these are still inaccurate, small firearms. So assassination won't be a problem." M added with a creeping smile.
"Assassination will never be a problem for me. I'll push my constitution stat so high that even if the sun falls, I won't get hurt."
"Ah, your inner bureaucrat leaking through. Not caring about anything beyond own hide."
"Sister! Can we not discuss my hypocrisy in front of everyone?
Over time, I'll export these as luxury items. Why diamond, you asked?
I can create a luxury brand out of this. A diamond gun from the land of diamonds is more exclusive than one made in Venice.
Tens of thousands of these will be sent to nobles all around the world. I've no interest in conquering land beyond, but I'm all in for economic integration.
India doesn't lack wealth; it lacks mobility.
Everyone here is so comfortable in their place that society will stagnate one day." Prashant gave a serious speech about the future. Conveniently, to make everyone forget about his self-preserving nature.
"Then why gun? Won't a piece of jewellery be better? Ask for advice from senior Malika-e-Husn here. Also, why diamond alone? Why not gold, silver?"
"Why gun? Technology growth relies on continuous tinkering with methods of production.
Even if I gave you the blueprints for a perfect gun, it might not work that well. Maybe the original design didn't factor in humidity here, or the metallurgy process, or the palm size of intended users.
The only way to perfect anything is to constantly improve.
Plus, we can't make an entire gun from a diamond. It's still iron, wood, and maybe steel. So it's a collaboration among caste members of jwellers, smiths, and carpenters.
Social interaction will reduce mental barriers, leading to a hopefully more fluid society.
Then these groups will come up with solutions across domains. A jeweller might point out a simpler way to make a gun barrel.
A smith will think about how to improve the performance of wooden parts under shock and high temperatures after firing the gun."
"Then what about jewellery?
Although I'm not an expert, I can tell you about 783 types of daily ornaments needed by a respectable warrior." Uncle pitched in, now more comfortable with the idea of having a gun. Most probably, it's essential ornament number 784 in his daily makeup.
"Are you even listening to yourself?
Don't show off your opulent lifestyle. All know you are a member of a prestigious clan.
As for why no jewellery?
Well, it's still the 16th century. We don't know enough about all major civilisations to know if gifting an earring to a noble"man" is considered a breach of etiquette.
Plus, does a Hindu artisan making a cross out of a diamond disrespect Christians?
In India, gifting a katyar (short dagger) is a sign of royal favour. Even poets receive it.
I'm pretty sure others will think we're sending an aggressive gesture if we gift that.
A gun, on the other hand, is a functional thing. Like watches. It is high-end enough that commoners won't buy one, so it satisfies nobles' vanity, too.
It is a masculine gesture. So even at worst, the other party will issue a challenge using the same guns.
Now tell me, oh noble Rajput warrior. Are you saying you're afraid of a duel? Is that what Mahabharata taught you?"
"Don't think I'm gullible enough to fall for that twisted logic.
The Indian education system might be lacking in many aspects, but logic is our strong suit.
Dharma-sabha are not religious councils; we don't discuss which god is correct. We ask if god and the rest of the world are distinct.
For two thousand years, we continued the debate. In the end, we agreed that it seems to be unity.
Aham Brahmasmi. (Everything is one.)
And if that is considered true, then we proved that ahimsa (non-violence against other creatures) is not a moral stance, but a logical one.
If you and a deer are part of the same paramatma (ultimate entity), then harming a deer is the same as harming oneself.
And so a large population of India adheres to vegetarianism, not out of God's command but as a way of life.
And those educated in logic know how to debate about it."
"Be that as it may be.
But do you think, if framed this way, I'll get support from people on my pet-project?"
Prashant still asked, nothing matters to him as long as it furthers his goal.
Ideology, traditions are just tools to be manipulated. It's just that he uses gentler methods.
"Yes. They'll. I'll convey a discussion during our festival day." Uncle conceded.
"I don't understand. Why do you even need a discussion?
You are the ruler, why behave so democratically?" M asked to see if he is really genuine of heart or just another eccentricity.
"Well, it does allow me to dodge responsibility if things go wrong.
Plus, I genuinely feel that India is much appreciative of a leader who asks for opinions rather than orders from the top.
Muhammad bin Tughlaq is a cautionary tale. No matter how brilliant a ruler you are, you need to understand ground reality for your reforms to actually work as intended."
"Well, that's fine by me. I'll comfort Chandramukhi that you have been working hard under my guidance. So who is going to dance at the centre during the festival?"
Both Prashant and Rajput uncle raised their hand simultaneously.
"Traitor! And here, I was thinking, why have you been so supportive of my ideas?
No, I get the prestigious spot. Dance was my idea.
You go and be a referee for the bull race."
"Prince, haven't you learned to respect the elderly?"
"Uncle, you want to do a nagin-dance. What respect do you want?"
"You know nothing but Ganpati-dance. That belongs to the crowd category. Not the stage."
"Wait, wait!
So, in the morning, you two idiots were discussing this?
Do you even know how to dance?" M asked.
"Dancing is simple. Single mantra." Prashant said.
"Loud music and proud moves!" Both self-righteous fools said in unison.
"I pity the ground.
What about music? Are you going to sing too?
Shall we ask if Jayendra has Tansen's talent?"
"Nah, sister. I got this. Just have a band of 50 dhols and drums. Have them choreograph rapid beats.
I'll copy Nashik-Dholas it is.
If it works for Ganpati festival, Independence Day, and college fest, then why not here?
But sister, can you make it rain that day? What's a Bollywood dance without one?"
"Whatever. As for rain, don't worry, I'll handle it. I cover the sky in this land."
M left the boys to work out the crucial part. Chuckling at how Chandramukhi will react later. She is both a classical dancer and the one asking Prashant to be serious about ruling the kingdom.
And now the little guy is testing her tolerance for both.