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Continued
from yesterday's instalment
 The conversation that follows the assembling of the monkeys that went south under Angada, in mount Mahendra is full of ideas that cloud the minds of a frustrated lot. ‘There is no point in returning to Kishkindha now. We have exceeded the time limit specified for us to return.’ “The time appointed by Sugriva having expired now, it is but proper for us, all the monkeys, to sit down without food awaiting death. Vehement by nature and (now) established in authority, Sugriva would never forgive us all if we approach him as offenders. And in default of any news about Sita, he will surely make short work of us. Therefore, it is desirable (for us) to have recourse to fasting for death this very day, bidding adieu to our progeny and wife and also our wealth and homes.” (Valmiki Ramayana, Kishkindha Kanda, Canto LIII, Sloka 13-15)
At this point of time one sees Angada coming out with all kinds of unkind and even unfair allegations against Sugriva. “How does he know what is right, by whom, evil minded as he is, the opening of the cave was closed even though he had been enjoined by his brother - while the latter was going to meet his enemy for an encounter to guard the entrance?” (Ibid, Canto LV, Sloka 4)
‘How does he know that it was Vali who was killed by Mayavi? Why should he have closed the cavern?’ And how can we expect any kind of piety or sympathy from him? He would not spare us. It is therefore not safe for us to return to Kishkindha now. Though these sound like feelings nursed in his heart unknown to others, there is no evidence to prove in the subsequent scenes till the very end of Ramayana, that these feelings were deep-seated in his heart. It appears therefore that these were born out of the frustration of the moment.
“Angada denounced Sugriva not only for base treachery to his brother Vali, but for black ingratitude to his sworn ally, Rama,” observes Rt. Hon’ble Srinivasa Sastriyar and cites the following portion from Angada’s attack. “Whose good offices will he remember (with gratitude), by whom (even) the highly illustrious Sri Rama - (a scion of Raghu) - who had been accepted as a friend (by clasping the hand) in the name of truth and who had rendered good offices to him - was put out of the mind?” (Ibid, Sloka 5)
 Sugriva conveniently forgot to organise the army as promised to go in search of Sita, accuses Angada. ‘He did so not because he realised his moral responsibility to do so. But because of his fear for the wrath of Lakshmana.’ Now, we know what Angada is coming out with is not right. Sastriyar says, “Here Angada was wrong, as we have seen, Rama and Lakshmana came to know the truth about what Sugriva ha done to assemble the monkey hosts and apologised to Sugriva. But Angada was not willing so to excuse him and he was quite wrong.” Sugriva organised the army much before that and it was in fact Angada who assisted Nila in organising the forces.
Valmiki plays strongly on the ways to which people are driven when stalked by fear of failure. If I have the faintest of feelings of failure, I immediately start accusing whoever is available closest to me. And he portrays Angada falling a victim to this mindset.
That is the only occasion when Angada is seen frustrated and indulges in vain accusations. A dark patch in a bright personality.
More follows...
Hari Krishnan
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