Shyam Verma is a common and passable name IN India. Almost every fifth person in India has a name associated with Lord Krishna. “Shyam” is a Sanskrit-based masculine name meaning “dark” or “black.” Thus, Shyam symbolizes the divine dark complexion of Lord Krishna in Hinduism. This name can take different forms such as Syam, Ghanashyam, Shyamasundar (the beautiful dark one), and Radhey Shyam. This is the meaning of “Shyam.” No other religion has gods who are dark or black in color (verna) except Hinduism. Almost all Hindu gods are Shyam—dark in complexion. It could be a “BLACK BEAUTY” for the west; but here in the east the color Shyam (and the name too) is revered.
Shyam leaves his footprints wherever he goes. People remember him and wish him well. A decade-long association, built on trust and implicit faith, has made him an unforgettable man. Shyam is a man who loves to live and lives to love. Have you ever heard of a man who loves to live and lives to love? Allow me to tell you the fascinating story of an interesting common man. Shyam is so common that this very commonness makes him rare. He is a unique creation of Brahma.
Shyam Verma or Shyam Verna? Probably he is both—the only difference lies in the letter “m” and “n”! The Shyam I am talking about looks very common. People from Uttar Pradesh think he hails from UP; to Biharis, he appears as one of their own; and to South Indians, he is a Madrasi. The difference between Verma and Verna is this: whereas Verma is a surname or caste in the social fabric; Verna (from a Sanskrit root) means “color.” He is like water—he fits into any context. As I told you, he is a common man, with a common name and a common verna. He is common only up to this point – till he opens his mouth. He is a multilingual. Fluent in English, Hindi, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, Haryanvi… and please allow me to rest – I cannot list all the languages he knows! Otherwise, I will be rewriting the 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India once again! Do you know the 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India recognizes Nepali as one of its languages? Well, Shyam is too fluent in it too!
I never asked him what he studied. A few people who are associated with him whisper that he is a professor of English, while some believe that he is an IAS officer. But I know him to be a good human being. Why am I writing about this common man? Had R.K. Laxman, the cartoonist of India, known Shyam Verma, he would not have gone to great lengths to invent a common man in his world-famous cartoons. I am writing about Shyam because I have never thanked him for all that he has been doing for my family and me. Not that I want to thank him through this post – let the debt of gratitude remain with me forever! Having said this, I promise to thank him whenever he treats me to delicious ‘samosas’ at the Pahalwan Dhaba.
If you want to find a salesman who can sell a refrigerator to Eskimos, you may contact Shyam. By the way, have you ever cooked biryani with whiskey? Shyam has. Thus, he is beyond MasterChef India, Farah Ki Dawat, or Khana Khazana. Yet, he loves dal, roti, and a cup of tea. A very uncommonly common man—and in his commonness lies his uniqueness. He is a go-getter, a taskmaster.
Shyam is too emotional, and his emotions define him. He has seen life and has traveled in every imaginable luxury car and tasted every luxury! Yet, to him, these luxuries mean nothing – they are merely meaningless toys. He loves nature, and a walk in the park is far more precious to him than a five-star vehicle. While traveling in the high mountains in search of myself, along with photographer Mr. Pushan Vij, Shyam asked me to suggest an epitaph summarizing his vibrant life. Having reflected seriously, I said the best would be “Shyam’s Shaam,” where Shaam in Hindustani means “evening.” Shyam smiled, his eyes sparkled. May the Almighty bless you with long life and may you continue to leave inerasable memories in the hearts of all.
About the Author
Dr. K. Raja Gopal Reddy is a seasoned internationally qualified Insurance professional. What you are reading here, may not answer all the questions we have, but has the absolute power of asking unsettling questions which increase the interest in the strange world, and show the contradictory wonders lying just below the surface of the commonest things of life. Look at this disturbing but beautiful thought of Friedrich Nietzsche “God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him”. Dr. Reddy can be reached at: raja66gopal@gmail.com
