Vikram

Vikram had become a part of the lexicon after Chandrayan- ll, named after the father of Indian space programme, appropriately christened, though odds were heavily stacked against it succeeding in the first go. Some of us old timers would recall “Betal Pachhisi”, the tale of King Vikramaditya and Betal the spirit. Most of us were introduced to this story by ‘Chandamama’, a very popular children’s magazine those days. So the connection between Moon(Chandamama) and Vikram has a history. In fact there was a Sunday morning TV serial too where Arun Govil the celluloid Ram from Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan was King Vikramaditya and yesteryears character artist Sajjan was the Betal.

Each story or episode was essentially a part of the larger canvas, where Vikram was tasked to recover a corpse from a tree in the jungle, the spirit would thereafter narrate a story and ask him questions relating to the story with the condition that if he uttered a word, the corpse would return to the tree and if he did not answer the question despite knowing the answer, he(Vikram) would die. The stories were focused on the prevalent social norms and were tricky, leaving the reader curious and Vikram in a dilemma. But why I am narrating this tale here, well, it is the perseverance and determination of Vikram which stood out, every time the betal disappears with the corpse he would dutifully retrace his steps and again embark on the same journey.

Etymologically Vikram is essentially a Sanskrit word, with ‘Vi’ derived from Lord Vishnu and ‘kram’ meaning a stride/step, so a giant stride our Lunar probe Vikram indeed was. Lord Vishnu’s strides span not just the earth but the universe as a whole.

There have been other great warriors and valourous individuals who have lived upto the name of Vikram, Chandragupt Vikramaditya the Mauryan King was another illustrious one. The most recent one of course was Capt Vikram Batra,PVC (posthumous), “Shershah”, the King of Lions, as he was affectionately addressed by the troops. His bravery and courage is now part of the folklore, “Yeh Dil Mange More” was his response after the capture of Tiger Hill during Kargil War.

I am not sure whether all these names were also part of the consideration for naming Vikram, unlikely, as the name of Vikram Sarabhai himself was apt for this historic occasion. But looking back, ISRO could not have made a better choice…… So persist we did against all odds and emerged victorious, temporary setbacks mere spur us on for further glory.

Original Comments:

Surbhi (2019-09-08):
VIKRAM'S VALOR…VIGOR …& the VIBES it has spread all across ever since is a that of VICTORY…
YOU haVE brilliantly related it to the spirit that is connected to this name.

Col Jitendra Singh (2019-09-08):
You really have a nack of good observation and analysis. Well written on Vikram. Keep it up.

Col Pankaj Fotedar, VSM (Retd) (2019-09-08):
Sir, once more a great read. You transported me to childhood when every Sunday at 9:30PM, I would tune in to Radio Kashmir to listen to the series Vikram-Vetal in Kashmiri … Some real legendary Kashmiri artists rendered the voices. The one who rendered Vikram is hale and hearty while the one who rendered Vetaal passed away a few years ago. In comparison, I rate the Radio Kashmir rendition much better to the TV one .. may be I am biased ..
Much later, I read Vikram-Vetal story as Penguin English version of Katha Sarit Saagar of Somdev .. By the way, Katha Sarit Saagar has its roots in Kashmir and Vikram-Vetal forms a small portion of it … Katha Sarit Saagar is comparable to the famous Panchatantra, Jataka tales, etc ..
With some light at the end of the tunnel, I pray ISRO succeeds in reviving this Vikram …the hope is more, now that the orbiter has been able to click a thermal image of Vikram .. If that happens, 'Vikram' will prove true to its given name ..

KPM Das (2019-09-09):
Good read, comments are informative as well

Pradeep (2019-09-23):
An interesting connection between myth and modern objects of near eternal Indian conversation has been drawn by the author. Certainly the connect of team ISRO with Indian roots is strong and it iss ability of its leaders and the team India to think big which has played a huge role in the touch down of Vikram or Bikram… I want to sort of end this debate of Vikram vs Bikram..had it landed and obeyed orders it would have been called Vikram but the way it behaved wherein it vanished from the scene to reappear two days later I would rather call him modern Betal..

Bisht (2019-09-23):
Hi Suyash once again you are at your prolific best transporting me to Chandamama days in which I had read complete Mahabharata, Ramayana and Vetal Pachisi.Your connect with the mythology and modern science made a good read.Nice n keep it up..

VM (2019-09-24):
Your narration skills once again come to the fore in this piece.Great job of weaving the mythology, history and the present together…

Sunil Misra (2019-09-26):
Once again a very well written and inserting read….

Sunil Misra (2019-09-26):
Once again a very well written and interesting read….

Sameer (2019-09-27):
Enjoyed reading, recalling Chandamama days with Vikram Bettal stories. Relating mythology to once science fiction which almost became Reality was fabulous.

Lalit Kumar Bhatia (2020-01-04):
Thanks Suyash for the very interesting write up on Vikram/ Betal & connecting it with both the Lunar probe & Vikram Batra. Always looking forward to your posts. Thanks my dear.

Vasandani (2020-03-28):
Superb Suyash.

Vikram

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply