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Indira David is the author of the Rajasthani folktale A Strange Wrestling Match. The tale reminds us that no matter how fortunate we may be, one should not be boastful and arrogant.
A Strange Wrestling Match is about an invincible wrestler called Vijay who always boasted about things. But eventually, the habit puts him in a difficult situation. He claimed he is not afraid of ghosts and would beat one if he encounters one. So, someone informs him about the ghost and the Haunted Desert. His habit of boasting now made him unable to say no.
As a result, Vijay travels to the desert where he meets a ghost. Vijay defeats the ghost through psychology, not strength. After failing to murder Vijay, the ghost becomes afraid of him and runs away leaving his stolen treasure behind. Most of the riches were restored to their original owners by Vijay Singh.
Vijay Singh was a big, strong wrestler who enjoyed boasting. He once boasted in the marketplace that he wasn't frightened of ghosts and would give one a lesson if encountered. One of them told him that he could easily find a ghost if he walked alone through the Haunted Desert at night. Vijay Singh understood his boasting now got him into trouble. He made an effort to dismiss the story by claiming it was a fairytale but when an admirer of his provided him instructions to the jungle, he was stuck. The haunted desert robbed and murdered travellers. The whole village gathered that evening to say goodbye to Vijay Singh. A strange old woman gave Vijay Singh a package right before he left. The package included an egg and a lump of salt. Upon entering the Haunted Desert, Vijay Singh heard a voice calling his name. The voice said he is Natwar, a friend of Vijay, and would show him the way through the desert. It was really dark, but Vijay Singh boldly called back and asked Natwar to show himself.
Like any skilled wrestler, Vijay Singh wanted to evaluate his opponent. When Natwar showed up next to him, Vijay Singh looked him in the ghost's eye and told him he is just a lying ghost. He said he came to see a ghost and now he had seen a ghost, he could go home. The ghost was shocked; people usually get scared when they see him. He was puzzled by Vijay Singh's calmness. Natwar then questioned Vijay Singh about his desire to encounter a ghost, to which Vijay Singh answered sarcastically that Natwar was useless and incapable of reading a human mind. Vijay confessed to Natwar that he was fed up with fighting men and wanted to take on a ghost instead. Natwar was startled but he told Vijay that he didn't seem strong. Vijay reminded Natwar that looks might be deceiving. Vijay expressed his readiness to show the ghost his strength.
Vijay Singh gave a rock to the ghost and said it was full of liquid. He advised him to squeeze it tightly. The ghost attempted with both hands, and his focus was drawn away from Vijay. Vijay pulled an egg from his pocket. He grabbed the rock from the ghost and squeezed it. The breaking eggshells and golden yolk provided the impression of a stone being crushed. Now, Vijay Singh handed the ghost another stone, instructing him to crumble it and get salt. The ghost gave it another go. Vijay had already taken the salt lump into his palm in the meanwhile. Vijay casually crumbled the stone as the ghost gave it to him. In reality, Vijay crushed the salt lump while letting the stone fall into the sand. The ghost, according to Vijay Singh, was a weakling and an unworthy foe. Impressed by Vijay Singh's strength, the ghost didn't want to fight him.
The ghost now made the decision to deceive Vijay Singh and accepted his defeat. He advised Vijay Singh to spend the night at his home and depart the next morning. Vijay Singh agreed, but only if the ghost would come with him the next day so he could show him to the villagers as a trophy. While taking Vijay home the ghost was secretly planning to kill Vijay Singh. Vijay was given a lot of milk and dry fruits by the ghost. He then took him to a comfortable bed where he could rest. Vijay knew the ghost was trying to make him sleep. Vijay remained awake till the ghost began to snore. Vijay then placed the bolster in the middle of the bed and draped it with a blanket to resemble a sleeping man. Vijay himself hid in a shadowy space and waited. The ghost arrived just before dawn and used a heavy club to strike what he believed to be Vijay Singh's skull. He thought he had murdered Vijay Singh without hearing a scream. He hit six more times with his club before returning to his sofa to sleep.
At this point, Vijay returned to bed silently. He moaned and sat up. He lamented the presence of insects to the ghost. He said to the ghost that he slept peacefully until seven bug wings flapped and woke him. The ghost ran away in a panic, leaving his stolen treasure behind. Most of the riches were restored to their original owners by Vijay Singh. Thanking the old lady, he married her granddaughter. In the Haunted Desert, no traveller was ever again disturbed.
The tutorial ends on the note that unwanted boasting may lead us to trouble. Additionally, reminding that not everything can be conquered via strength but rather with bravery and an open mind.
Q1. Who was Vijay Singh? What did he look like?
Ans: Vijay Singh was a well-known Wrestler. It was difficult to win against him. He had powerful arms and broad shoulders. He seemed to be a giant as he was tall.
Q2. This pahalwan had but one shortcoming. What was that?
Ans: One flaw of Vijay Singh was his tendency to boast. He wanted to fight a ghost so he could teach it a lesson.
Q3. How did Vijay Singh feel when he was told to go to the Haunted Deserts?
Ans: When Vijay Singh was told about the Haunted Desert and the ghost, he was scared. The idea of battling a ghost caused his heart to skip a beat or two.
Q4. Who really helped Vijay Singh in defeating the ghost? How?
Ans: Vijay Singh really did get help from an old woman to fight the ghost. She handed him a packet containing an egg and a piece of salt. He used them to trick the ghost.
Q5. Was it really a ghost who Vijay Singh fooled? Who do you think it was?
Ans: No, the story cannot be true. The ghost of a person cannot be seen by anybody. Ghosts do not have a home or cave. It does not loot the riches or need any money. It doesn't panic and flee. The ghost in the tale was really just a dacoit who murder and killed the wealthy.
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