Question arises about the exact definition of a ‘Gentleman’. Frank answer is I do not know. But what I know is that an English Gentleman is equivalent to Maryada Purushottam of Indians. He has every good quality. You can name any good quality… both has it! This comparison is metaphorical; not religiously metaphysical. I shall leave it at that.
Shaving every day is a quality of a gentleman. A gentleman must appear clean, well shaved and ready for the day. Show me one imaginary painting of bearded ‘Maryada Purushottam’? No such painting exists till date. Lord Rama is always well-shaved, rather very closely shaven. Please do not ask me what shaving blade or cream he had used! I am afraid, I do not know. Nor will I ever know. Nor will the Hindu world will ever agree with my knowing.
I understood further the importance of shaving through the English movies too. In the movie ‘She Played with Fire’ (1957) the main character in the movie refuses to stay over at a guest’s place as he did not bring the ‘Shaving Gear’. The main character and then top actor ‘Jack Hawking’s’ exhibited the quality of a Gentleman in that movie.
Similarly, in Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson’s 1993 movie ‘The Remains of the Day’ which is set in 1930s, the main character (played by Anthony Hopkins) accepts to stay overnight in a small guest room of a just-met host as ‘there is a soap and a razor’ available for use. I will never know all the qualities of a Gentleman, but I do not know that shaving every day is one of his many qualities. Every man who shaves is not a Gentleman. Please be warned.
My father-in-law Late Shri. Gurbakhsh Sing IFS used to shave every day. He used to say the day cannot begin without shaving and he would never feel ready unshaved. He shaved till 1st Jan 2020 – the last day of his existence on the planet Earth. He was a good & a very adorable gentleman.
My father Late Shri. Muthiam Reddy IPS never had a day without shaving. There were occasions where he had to shave twice. Shaving twice in a day was demanded by the nature occupation. My father never fully respected a man who missed shaving and men with beard. The habit of shaving continued till his last day. He felt sick, bad, not ready, if he missed shaving for a day during his 80s. He was a nice gentleman. He told me “Gopal I should be presentable even in death”. He was well clothed and shaved; seemed to be sleeping comfortably on his king-sized bed when he decided to start his long eternal journey on 24th March 2023.
I derived the habit of shaving every day from these great people. It takes less than 3 minutes to shave. I do not think my family or friends have ever seen me unshaved, till date. One of my own methods of getting well soon (from sickness) is to push myself to shave! Even as patient I should look so smart that the doctor who treats me must fall in love! No sir. I am not a gentleman. It is my aim in life to become a gentleman like my father and father-in-law. May their souls be blessed.
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
