Thiruvananthapuram: Mahabali, the intellectuals say, has been trapped in a body that could not have belonged to him. A king who would have stood for equality and justice could not have been sluggish and there could not have been a ‘maha belly,’ they say.
So how would the legendary king have looked like? An activist from Thrissur, Davis Valarkkavu, posed the question to various artists and activists so that he could put together an exhibition.
A painting appeared in Swajanamithram magazine
“The attempt is not to identify a historically correct Mahabali. The information we have about Maveli is a medley of history, myths and stories,” he said.
He was looking at reinterpretations, but chose not to go for Maveli depicted in a bad light. “We know him as a king with wide acceptance. The only place where he is depicted as an evil character is Vamana Purana. Friends suggested that to protest against the stereotype, caricatures can be created. But this is no protest. What I am trying to create is a counter culture,” he said.
Some responded with pictures of interesting reinterpretations. In many, the king has a strapping body. “It is likely that he had wars to wage. He could not have had a potbelly,” said Davis.
Painting by Suresh Muttathil
In one caricature, Mahabali has a beard and is clothed in just a simple mundu. K.S. Subid, the activist who drew it, said, “we sing ‘manusharellarum onnu pole’ (everyone was equal). Then Maveli could not have dressed differently from others. I have drawn a small chain around his neck. But even that seems to be an extravagance,” he added.
The ‘Asura’ king looks more like a hardworking farmer, carrying a plough in his hand, with two buffaloes on his side. “Marathis also have a Mahabali. This one is based on that. A friend on Facebook had submitted it,” said Davis.
Davis started requesting his friends to contribute to the project a couple of years ago. However, he has collected only some 10 pictures. He has also kept an illustration by artist Namboothiri.
“This is a chance for the artists in the state to intervene in history. I will wait for another year and if there’s no response I will wind it up,” said Davis.
