“Moonchen hon to Nathhulal ji jaisi!” Amitabh fans would recall this dialogue from “Sharabi” film, where Amitabh praises Mukri’s moustaches in these words, although he himself was sans any growth on the upper lip, clean shaven. Isn’t it surprising that moustaches which are synonymous with masculinity have been out of favour with the images of our Gods, whether it is Maryada Purushottam Sri Ram, Lord Krishna, or Lord Vishnu, even Adi Yogi Shiva despite his unkempt hair and the snake around his neck chose to remain without the whiskers. Our demi-gods the Bollywood stars and models have also chosen to remain clean shaven except when they have been essaying the role of dacoits and villains.
Rajputs considered the moustaches as their pride and even a single follicle carried tremendous value. History is replete with examples when the Rajput’s moustaches were accepted as a guarantee. Even today the blue blooded Rajputs will rather die than shed their prized moustaches. If I am not wrong the Guiness Book of World Record also acknowledges the longest moustaches of a Rajput, “An Indian man currently holds the Guinness World Record for the longest moustache – which is 18.5 FEET LONG. Ram Singh, from Jaipur in Rajasthan state, India, proudly holds the Guinness World Record for the longest moustache with his impressive 18.5 foot long facial hair.” ( just confirmed from the web!) In the Rajput regiment in Indian Army, moustaches maintenance also entitled its owner an allowance for its upkeep.
Since femininity is defined by absence of facial hair of any kind, it is no wonder that their presence is associated with masculinity. So the onset of puberty is eagerly awaited by kids, the appearance of the first few strands are an undeniable proof that you have crossed the Rubicon and can’t just be brushed aside as a mere kid.
“To sport or not to” with due apologies to the Bard, is the quintessential dilemma of the youngsters on the threshold of adolescence. Although in our family, the menfolk were all clean shaven types,but our generation somehow were unanimous and all siblings and cousins decided to proudly sport them, feeling manly. Unfortunately the first place where we had to part with them was in NDA, the very epitome of masculinity; the training academy for the armed forces. In a matter of seconds with just a few strokes of the razor, the bright smart youngster was reduced to a pansy. What a tragedy, but the intent was to make us realise the importance of these whiskers, so one had to clear the drill square test to earn the right to be a “man” ! Naturally, without the moustaches one was forbidden to venture anywhere beyond the four walls of the campus. Incentives can’t get any better! So gradually the spirits started to soar with the tash sprouting back ……and we were strutting around the Main Street on the Sunday liberties, smartly attired in our crew cuts proudly twirling our painstakingly earned moustaches!
Moustaches have been very loyal and have stayed on as the years went by, the hair on the scalp proved very treacherous by parting company even before we had officially joined the middle ages. Our stints in high altitude areas with balaclavas for protection turned out to be more of a “bal-niklava” just expediting the inevitable. But our moustaches have weathered all such storms except that they have greyed. Some of us suddenly were gripped with insecurity of age catching up, colouring the hair and shedding the whiskers in our quest for perennial youthful looks, least realising the disappearance of moustaches covered up under the garb of a “shaving accident” merely reduced them to be christened “Vrihanalla”. In Mahabharat Arjuna having been cursed to an year as a transgender by Urvashi, assumed this name and taught song and dance in the Matsya kingdon during the last one year of their exile. So the earlier one makes peace with the receding hairline and grey moustaches, the better. I think these have only added to our persona, at least I would like to believe that(!)
Thanks to Abhinandan, moustaches have made a come back and not one of those creeping in variety but a grand one, his handle-bars were an instant hit with the girls. Boys naturally rediscovered this simple attribute which could have their girlfriends swooning. Here is hoping the youngsters catch the bug, shed their unkempt neanderthal beards and be gentlemanly….
