JUST IN GOOD HUMOUR (REFERENCE, BRAJENDRANATH SEAL)

JUST IN GOOD HUMOUR (REFERENCE, BRAJENDRANATH SEAL)

Abrahamic beard! People of the past were averse to shaving as is evidenced by photographs coming down to us from those bygone days. Perhaps, shaving technology, Gillette et al, have made shaving more common, although, Sikhs and Muslims continue to don a beard as scripturally enjoined unto them, the former by Guru Gobind Singhji as part of the Khalsa panth and the latter as part of the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad. Even Sri Ramakrishna donned it, though a shorter version of this long sported one here, that of philosopher Seal, for he (Sri Ramakrishna) used to have periodic shaving sessions with the barber at Dakshineshwar of which an account is chronicled in the Gospel during one of M's early visits to see the sage. Rammohan Roy is seen clean-shaven and so is Keshab Chandra Sen, but Devendranath Tagore and his illustrious poet son sported luxurious flowing beards nonetheless, and now PM Modi is carrying on with this grand tradition in physical apparel emulation. God bless the beard of hallowed memory and beard bless the man of sanctified upkeep of it! So, blessed be all, members of the bearded club!

Written by Sugata Bose