Ganesh and Mooshik in a suo motu case:

Ganesha reminisced about his ghostlighting into a Televised panel discussion, to reach his reluctant devotees.  The show was a block buster but did not enthuse the targeted devotees. Unable to keep staring at the wall any longer, he had done an about turn to watch the flow of traffic on the road.  \

Prior to that show time, Mooshik had lit another fire, hinting about on-line darshans and pujas. Why not he fight and quench this fire to expose and end this sham of online darshans and poojas? If he could save these gullible devotees, some of them might even visit his temples to augment the dwindling footfalls, why not?”

He pressed Mooshik to find a way to deal with these online businesses. Mooshik asked, “Why me?” Ganesha replied “Because, you have the ability to squeeze through tiny cracks and hop over hurdles. Now, go and find that crack!”. Ganesha’s words sounded like a whiplash. Fearing damage to his eardrums, Mooshik hastened to surf the devloknet, to find that crack and ways to hop over hurdles that he may encounter.

With Ganesha breathing over his neck, Mooshik tried to concentrate on the information that was rolling across the monitor at breakneck speed.  He struck gold as the scrolling suddenly stopped and names of two earthlings, kept flashing. This reminded him of the road side signals he was forced to watch, when a frustrated Ganesha had turned his back on his devotees.

Ganesha understood that the names flashing on the screen are the suitable proxy candidates to bring wide publicity to his current thinking. He asked, “Mooshik, can you contact them?”. Mooshik replied, “It is not that easy, probably we may have to meet with them personally. Then you can plant the seeds of your idea and allow them to germinate it. Let us see if the plant would bear fruits.”  Not to brook any further delay, Ganesh declared, “Let us move”

“Mooshik, is this the place? Looks very deserted.”

“Yes. That old building is where our persons of interest come to, after work, now and then. In all probability that is where they are right now.”

“Mooshik, how did you collect this information!”

“It wasn’t easy, with your heavy breathing on my neck. Moreover, these two do not have any outside presence.

“How do you know that?”

“They have no digital footprints on any social media. In this respect a poor, homeless person leaves a lot more crumbs to follow. As you wanted, I found this crack and let us slip through it. Why they meet here often is a long story and obviously you don’t have time for it.”

Ganesha wanted to rush inside but Moshik stopped him and said, “First make me invisible, as pet animals may not be allowed inside.”

“What about me?” asked Ganesha.

“Turn yourself into a normal person, problem gets solved.”

Inside the premises, Ganesha saw only two persons drinking something and talking to each other. One of them drank, from a strange looking plate. Mooshik identified, that person holding a saucer, as the judge. Ganesha nudged Mooshik and murmured, “Why did you not tell me beforehand that he is the judge?”

Mooshik murmured back, “Then you would not have had this surprise. The other person is a lawyer and they work together.”

“Then who is that disinterested looking, third person standing over there?"

 “Oh, he is the proprietor but hates the judge. That is another story, for which you have no time now.”

Cursing himself, Ganesha sat in one of the many vacant chairs, and drew the attention of the owner. For once, sporting a welcoming smile, the owner enquired, “What will you have?” Mooshik had not briefed him on what to do in such a situation. Ganesha replied, “Whatever those men are drinking.”  He nudged Mooshik in anger and hissed, “These two people look like unemployed persons and how dare you suggested them to execute my plan?”

Mooshik having had enough of nudges (the last one really hurt) and hissing calmly answered, “Talk to them and then you will appreciate my selection.”

With the drink on hand, Ganesha started to talk to himself, a little louder, so that the two gentlemen would hear it. The judge instantly became interested in the monologue coming from the only other person who was clumsily trying to pour some of the liquid into the saucer. Catching the drift of the subject matter, the judge signalled to his friend cum counsellor to pay attention to the off-line talk about on-line darshans.

Venturing forward, the judge spoke. “Excuse me sir, will you introduce yourself and elaborate on what is bothering you? By the way I am a judge in the nearby court and my friend here is a learned counsel.”

“My name is Gajakarn and I am upset with this on-line business of devotion.”

“Your name sounds a little odd, I mean, to my ears. I may have a solution for your problem.”

Ganesha could not believe his ears that this jobless looking judge, may have a readymade solution!

Without giving anyone a chance, the judge said, “Sir your oral mention is now a suo motu case and my learned friend here will be one of the counsels to argue it. Would you like to be a witness?”

This lightning speed decision of the judge, shocked Gajakarn, Mooshik and the counsellor.  Recovering quickly, the counsellor gently reminded the judge that complainants, witnesses or spectators are never allowed by him in his court.

“This being an interesting case, as an extraordinary exception I invite Mr. Gajakarn to attend the proceedings. Counsellor, as my nephew lacks  practice, he will stand in as the second counsel. NO. This is not nepotism but I am trying to strengthen our legal system.”

Not hearing anything about publicity, Gajakarn enquired, “Will the proceedings be televised? The judge negatived it and said, “Instead, I will give you a digital file. The T V channels will happily play the clip, after breaking news or if nothing is breaking at that time, they will call this as a breaking news, every hour on the hour. O K?”

Gajakarn wanted to let loose a derisive snort but reined in the impulse as it would give away his identity and bid good bye to his disguise. Sensing danger, Mooshik managed to convince Gajakarn, to accept the judge’s offer.

Next day, at the stroke of 8 AM, the honourable judge swept into the court, giving flight clearance to a layer of dust particles, and with a hint of swagger ascended to the bench. Counsellor-2 stood fidgeting, not knowing what to do - twiddle his thumbs or twirl his hair. Gajakarn sat in one of the many empty seats, sweet talking to the invisible Mooshik. The counsellors briefly glanced at Gajakarn wondering, why had he already started to talking to himself, once again!  

The judge banged his gavel and spoke, “First of all, the housekeeping issues. We are on record. This is a suo motu case based on an oral mention. The two pro bono counsellors are present to argue the case. As a special gesture, the entire proceedings will be videographed. The lone spectator is reminded of three things. One he will remain silent during the arguments and if he has any point, it should be whispered to one of the counsellors and not to the court. Two, the court will make available the entire recording including the pronounced observations/judgement. Three, the spectator is free to use the video in any manner fit for the purpose for which Mr. Gajakarn had made the oral mention.” 

Counsellor-1 had never heard such a longwinded speech on housekeeping matters. The judge had just created a record of sort, unintentionally. Counsellor-2 had half a mind to choose another profession rather than trying to understand, what the learned judge, who is also his uncle, had just said. Now, he understood why relatives avoided the judge in family gatherings. Unmindful of all this, the judge glanced at the clock and announced a brief recess. 

Reconvening, the judge ordered the matter of on-line darshans be taken up first. He permitted one of the counsels to argue the matter. Looking at Gajakarn, he warned “During the arguments, you will remain calm or otherwise be ready to face the contempt of this court.” Mooshik got a painful pinch as a token of Gajkaran’s anger. 

Counsellor1: May it please the court, I strongly object to this practice.

Judge: On what grounds?

Counsello1: Darshan as a ritual has elaborate rules about where, when, how and by whom…

Counsellor2: (interrupting) Uncle, may I approach the bench? 

Judge: (Becoming annoyed) stared at his nephew and shouted, “Counsellor you are almost on the line for a contempt of court ruling. The only relationship here is between the law and the matter being argued. No need to approach the bench, stay and say what you wished to state.” 

Counsellor2: The “where, when and how were applicable at those times, when idols of deities remained only in temples. Nowadays, replicas of those deities could be seen in many houses. Moreover, framed images of deities are adoring the walls and hang as calendars.” 

Counsellor1: Judge, in all these cases, there exists a personal connection between deities and devotees. The attention and concentration, while standing in front of these substitutes at home, is almost …. 

Judge: Then why are you objecting to online darshans? 

Counsellor2: (interrupting) Judge, probably my friend does not have a T V at home! 

Judge tried to hide his smile. Gajakarn wondered what was funny in this. Counseelor1 got busy planning an oral ambush on Counsellor2, at the appropriate time. 

Counsellor1: During on-line darshan, the on screen faces of deities have to compete with smartphones held on hands or a sports channel playing in the background, to get an occasional glimpse from the devotee. The deities have to move over and give screen time to the pundits gathered in the sanctum sanctorum. The mind-to-deity interaction turns out to be an extrusion of images through the T V screen. This is online darshan. Probably, the other counsel likes to watch only extruded faces! 

The judge liked this jibe at his nephew, Gajakarn vainly tried to suppress his giggles which rocked Mooshik like tremors. To end the drama, judge addressed the counsellors, “If there are no more arguments, move on to the next matter – online pooja” 

Counsellor2: In the sanctum sanctorum, only the priest performs the pooja. I hope my friend agrees with me that this practice is rooted in tradition. In today’s fast-paced world, let us be happy that elaborate poojas are still being performed, at home by trained priests, though as an exclusive event. The poojas at Temples are for the benefit of  larger public.

Counsellor1: Judge, the learned counsel is like a person expecting to receive a letter which is neither written nor posted.

Judge: Meaning?

Counsellor1: At temples and at homes the priest performs and, standing in queue or sitting on the floor, the devotees participate. Here is the direct connection. In the case of online pooja, the priest performs and the devotees are  kilometers away, attentive or inattentive. Connection is through a network provider.

Counsellor2: Still there is a connection, my lord.

Counsellor1: Judge, have you ever heard of fruits of pooja or darshan being wire-transferred? What happens when the network goes down? Maybe, my learned counsellor, who expects to receive an un-written and un-posted letter, knows!  I rest my arguments for on-line darshan and on-line poojas. They are not like money that can be wire-transferred to the devotees.

All of a sudden, the judge dashed out like a bullet train and vanished into his chamber. The counsellors, Gajakarn and Mooshik were taken aback by this sudden departure. A few moments later, the judge, huffing and puffing, returned to the bench. With a sheepish grin announced, “I had to quell a sudden internal rebellion.” 

The counsellors understood the code and closed their mouths to prevent giggling. Gajakarn and Mooshik had no clue about what has happened. A confused Mooshik blurred out, “What happened judge?”  

Embarrassed, the judge banged the gavel and threatened the invisible Mooshik with a jail time for contempt of court. The counsellors intervened and the judge suddenly remembering about some personal works announced, “Judgement at 8 A. M tomorrow. Court is adjourned.” 

“Tradition is a time-tested procedure. Comfort and wire-transfer violate tradition. With so many named deities around, all with similar powers, is it not better to visit any deity and perform any pooja, like any time anywhere A T M?  Is there a better comfort than this?

This court is either accused of judicial activism or blamed for being a lame-duck institution. To tread lightly on the sensitivities of the referred matter, it is the considered opinion of this court, that tradition anywhere any time basis is better than comfort and wire-transfer transactions.”

Banging the gavel, the judge announced, “Adjourned.”

Gajakarn expected an earthshattering judgement. Visibly disappointed with this tepid-water legalese, Gajakarn instructed Mooshik, “Send a copy of this judgement to all the deities, with this warning. If anyone of the trio - judge and counsellors, approach for a favour, request them to deal with the trio, using the same confusing legalese the judge had used in his so-called judgement.  Don’t forget to attach photos of the trio, for positive identification.”