Amidst the gathering of literateurs, authors, academicians and some old Anglo-Indian couples among others, the 66 year old awarded author Irwin Allan Sealy elicited focus on Akbar the man, rather than the king, at Raj Bhawan where he was invited by the State Governor to discuss about his latest work, “Zeladinus”. The book begins with a scene outside the gatehouse of Jodha Bai’s palace in Fatehpur Sikri and in the haze appears the ghost of Akbar who unveils the secrets to the writer Sealy. He enacted in words, the same scenario at Raj Bhawan while talking to the eminent people gathered from the neighbouring towns of Dehradun and Mussoorie.
Through a presentation he showed the portrait of modern Akbar wearing Nike shoes and holding a music system in one hand. Appreciated by the noted writer Nayantara Sehgal, Sealy created interest about this Mughal emperor who has occupied a favored position among various writers of fiction and non-fiction from times of his reign. Reciting a poem from the book, ‘Why not now’ he touches the chord of the people’s hearts on the issue of India-Pakistan’s ever strained relationship.
The Governor Krishan Kant Paul quoted from his award winning book, Trotter Nama and The Everest Hotel and presented him a memento in his honour.
In a humorous vein the writer explains the reason why he chose “Zeladinus” as the title for the book. He says the narrator is unable to pronounce Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar which and thus he says “Zeladinus”. Setting it up as a masque, Sealy gives dramatic effect to his words while quoting from the book. One felt like being transported to the royal courts as must have been in those days, said one of the listeners.
His plot of the prose cum poetic novel develops a story of romance, adventure, past and present that carries the emperor to the India-Pakistan border for a stunning climax. The backdrop of the novel is set in Fatehpur Sikri. Always at praise for emperor Akbar, Sealy refers to Akbar as the first Muslim emperor who accorded same status to Hindus as to Christians, Jews and also respected non-Islamic religions. He appreciates him saying, “He is perhaps the only Islamic emperor who had depicted lord Ram and Sita on the silver coin. No Islamic King in the world would have done it.” The gold and silver mohurs issued by him depicted the image of Hindu Gods Ram and Sita in Nagari script.
The eminent author Nayantara Sehgal complimented him opining, “I can say that Allan has brought a book on Akbar at a time when Mughal history is being wiped out from Indian text books. Writing this book he has done a great work.” His old time school friend David Hilton, founder of Hilton School recollected memories of the old school days when they were studying together.
Reading out the poem from the book where he talks about the immigrants from Pakistan and India, he concludes “Border is a line of peace,” hinting at the plight of lovers for whom geographical boundaries do not matter. Sealy retells story of Akbar not as a historic figure but a person who helps a hapless lover who is refused a visa to visit Pakistan on a quest to meet his beloved across the border.
Notably, very much attached to the city of Dehradun where he resides, Sealy has collected some stones from the erstwhile east canal which used to flow in the city and had a road named after it, and made a crescent shaped bench in his house where it is written – “In memoriam EC”.
