By Bobo Khuraijam
Mother is ashamed in front of her friends. Ashamed of the long hair her son has nurtured. She wishes her son not to come out of the room whenever her friends pay a visit. Her concern looks more pronounce just the day before the arrival of the full moon, which would shine above the bamboo groove on the eastern periphery of the eenkhol. Her friends would gather for the Purnima Marup without fail. An adult son with a long hair, – what a mess in the family. Is something seriously wrong with her son? Long hair means a sign of decisive waywardness; a son who is unabashed of going beyond the norms of short hair, which looks unkempt, both in appearance and upbringing. If her son steps out of the room her friends would certainly notice him. Questions and counter questions would bombard mother with little mercy. Mother is alarmed weather she could escape from the barrage or become a victim in her own courtyard, all because of her son’s long hair. In the initial days her explanation was that the son was engaged in a role of a film. The role requires a character with long hair. It has been strictly advised by the director not to cut the hair until the shooting gets done. Come what may – blockade or general strike. Hmm… the explanation sounds saleable. “What about the moustache and the goatee grown sparsely above the fair and lovely skin”? Even a dozy observant would asked. That is an imperative question which is never easy to escape. Well, that too, part of the character. Many a full moon have come and gone. Mother has become uncomfortable to stick to the same explanation over a long period of time; perhaps, too long, with the hair and time.
SCKEPTICALLY: There are also possibilities of the son to be a member of the UFO. That is when the son is happy riding a bicycle, with the hair tied unruffled at the occiput. A missing black uniform regrettably prevented that stamp too. Yet, the appearance still summons speculation of whether the son has puritanical position on religion. When did hair and moustache become religious motif? We don’t know. Sardarji brethren do have a unique pattern of religious ‘appearance’, which is unparalleled. But as far as we know, the valley dwellers do not have sam and koi regulation like them in a very strict sense. One can be a believer of the pre Vaisnavite faith with or without it. The son wearing all white entering a sankirtan maandop, with the emblematic chandon on the nose to offer a bhakti has a beauty in itself. Of course with the long hair and koi, the palla would not miss a snooping glance while prostrating. Does the son look like an UFO Vaisnavite to him? Please ask them.
SOCIAL DEBT: With the current season crowded with marriage and nahut- nareng, the son is also honored to be invited by friends to such ceremonies. Friends who cannot meet often get an opportunity to mingle around. Some friends would comment that the son’s hair and koi looks perfect on him. Even much better than any other look. They would suggest him not to cut it anymore. Some friends would conjure up watts of surprise that they failed to recognize him. What a way the son has changed. Two other friends, who are considered as champion of all sensibilities (they remained unchallenged till date) shared their piece of priceless gyan to the son. Without sounding diplomatic or overtly wise, though they are, they declared that the son should cut his hair. They professed that the son should consider their resolution keeping into consideration of the family members. Some friends also shared their intellectual skepticism with the son. They would inquire whether their friend has taken any vow within the rubric of a personal nirvana. Or is it a creative representation of an idea demanding an academic investigation. Is it a de-constructionist idea of a hair stylization? The elder members of the family who hosted the ceremony also shared their pangs of identity conflict. They did not recognize the son who used to frequent their residence since the college and school days. They said they would fail to greet him if they happen to meet on the road.
NOT IN THE END: Number of long hair is a minority in the town. More so with moustache and goatee included, complimented by a Humber cycle. The minority is not endangered in any way; they share a healthy camaraderie with their peer group. Those who are not known to each other, by name or anything, they would exchange a fleeting look. Greeting with unsaid words: hello, comrade! And for those who are familiar with each other, they would share hairy wisdom. The kind of shampoo they use, which are the best conditioning available, kinds of hairband which are sympathetic to the hair. Is dandruff a problem? How to cope with the hair fall? Female folks would envy their wisdom. Where have all the poets and lyricist gone who used to portray the beauty of long hair with exuberance? Why are they silent? We long to hear from you.
FOOTNOTE: the dream of a shopping mall over an old school, RDS, has been put to a halt by an order. Leipung Ningthou reminds, “bhaap ki dolaan toina saganu, lairik ningthina tammu”.
