Gentleman

Original text by Laxmi Prasad Devkota "भलादमी"

Translated by:  Biranchi Poudyal

Note –   I'm looking forward for comments and reviews from readers to improve this translation. Still working on it to make it better!

According to the principle of evolution, some races are going down while some are ascending up. Some want to perish while others strive to multiply and flourish. The mythical lion doesn't roar in today's Bharatbarsa, and the tiger is ruling the land. In such lingual-land, the accent is prone to be doomed.  Some words have become thin, and their ancient significance has faded away like an abandoned rusty antique.   The words like 'Pandit' and 'Guru' are also reflecting pale vibes.  Likewise, the meaning of the word "gentleman" has been misinterpreted in such a way that gentleness is often associated with idiosyncrasy and dress up.  These days gentleness doesn't illuminate inside the heart; rather, it's advertised via outer body appearances. The traditional clothes like Khadi and Kora can no longer make a gentleman; even home-made fabrics have also lost their aura in the modern age. The gentlemen of character are in the dark closet of the past, but the gentlemen of style and synthetic-fabric are walking with fragrance in the streets of Kathmandu. Time has changed the paradigm.  

Though the rate of currency has gone up, one can buy gentleness at a very low price from any tailor or fancy store. If you wish to be a gentleman, then go straight to the tailor and ask him to sew-cut your ugliness. Just spend some extra bucks, and you will be like a finely carved diamond. When you walk in the street with an ironed coat, a stick in hand, and when the tap of your shining shoes makes patting sound, then even the street dogs will recognize you. And they will not bark at you because of your gentleness. Even the dogs too are aware that barking suspiciously at gentleman is an insult.  There is nothing as encouraging as a tribute, and you can walk fearlessly with more energy. Such respect will add the cherry on top of your gentleness. The more stylish you are, the more agile you look. Then if you put on the goggle, the world seems nothing infront of your dashing gentleness. 

The academic credentials are usually kept safe inside the room, but the certificate of gentleness is always advertised through the body.  The dress is the first certificate of gentleness.  The flapping of silky handkerchief and fancy cap on the head indicates the first class division.  The trimmed hair and stylish mustache give the vibe of next-level achievement.  Likewise, the fine lashes of the eyebrows, the sublime redness in the lips, and cheeks indicate distinction marks on being a gentleman. A fine-looking black mole in the face and the faint aroma of perfume will surely spell the nose and eyes of pedestrians. Apart from that, the specialty of a gentleman is exposed through the art of walking, litheness, gestures, and speech.

Everyone poses such qualities after reaching a high level of gentleness. Like a rose, a gentleman should also have a fitting color, but some just try utter forced accent.  In order to distinguish themselves from the common people, the boneless tongue of a gentleman elegantly twist during every conversation.  Such a twist is also a stylistic way to furnish their gentleness.  Some gentlemen are renowned for unique complexions in their face.  Some have the habit of wiping nose with a silk handkerchief; its also a part of idiosyncrasy and a silky glimpse to attract social attention.  

Some gentlemen utter very unnatural laughter over the telephone, some laughter seems as if they are brought from sophisticated streets of a foreign land.  The opening of lips to give sweet smile with one golden tooth becomes a sign of courtesy in the street.   Some gentlemen are extremely humble, and such volume of humbleness adorns them like an ornament in tribal woman's ear.  Some are talkative; maybe someday, the certificate for Mastery in talkativeness will be issued by the university. Some are boasters who keep on talking about Europe and America. Someone likes to dominate others. But some are very understanding as if the seriousness of Socrates and the grace of scholarly expression are reflected in their face.  They speak very less, and the world cannot judge them. 

The law of attraction acts differently infront of a gentleman. An invisible magnet pulls you towards the gentleman, and you actually hesitant to call yourself a man as long as you stand under their shade. Your respect or admiration is automatically directed to them, and every word from their mouth feels like flawless truth.  You will not realize the original version of the truth unless you go fifty yards away from their charm.  Moreover, such gentleman power works more on women as opposite objects are attracted to each other according to the law of attraction. Gentleman is the living example of praise-lover as they always want others to be their worshipper. Gentleness worth nothing if there exists no eye to see them.  We decorate the god while worshipping, but gentleman adorns himself as the aesthetic of being dominant and celebrated is in the nature of a gentleman.  The act of showing cleverness is the essence of being a gentleman, and gentleness is the bizarre display of one's character.  

The world of a gentleman lies in outer appearance, and they seem parallel to the psychologist. The former is related to the visible world, and the latter's world is beyond the reach of eyes.  One shows the extend of physical eyes, whereas other shows the limit of mental eyes.  One is like insane to others.  One says, where is the joy of life? Eating, drinking, laughing, having fun is the right of the human being. Another says, "The world is needlessly wandering." I see miracles in both- the glory of starred sky and the greatness of inner morality.  These two are always in conflict; gentleness is the representation of materialism, and Nobility is the symbol of spiritualism. The truth lies in the middle.  

There are other subtle types of gentleness.  Those who see outside of themselves are also a kind of it, so superficiality is the brand mark of all gentlemen.  Gentlemen exist in the field of literature as well. When you start to emphasize on popularity and publicity, then you will also become a superficial poet or superficial writer.  Thoughts are a soul; words are body, and metaphors are ornaments. When you run after words and metaphors, you become a literary gentleman. The momentary praise of the people makes you feel greater, but the chest of bogus-saints is also decorated with bizarre ornaments. This former is an inner absurdity and later is outer. But no matter how colorful the gentleman is, the light coming out from inside the face of the naked holy man is more glorious.   Hey Gentleman! You are desperate to be famous, but you have to earn a name honestly like money. With your momentary grace, you will just roll in the eyes of people but never be able to reside in their hearts.  The moment you abandon inner insight and start searching outer beauty- you will be a superficial gentleman in the literary world.  Instead of powder, you may apply white on the face of a dark character; Instead of red lipstick, you may put on fake colors to become a gentleman.  

In the same way, there are many gentlemen in other areas too.  The priests who think of purification of the body rather than purification of the soul, a reader who remember words rather than meaning, a reformer who cares more about his own name than public welfare, a poet who writes a poem of sympathy after eating meat, a teacher who is expert in punishing rather than explaining, a servant who speaks more than working, the readers who laugh at others writing – All these are one among many kinds of the gentleman.