Oninao is a fictional tale. It offers a critical view of Western and Arab culture and shares ideas and concepts of a philosophical nature.
Oninao offers up the Bishnoi culture and its core principles as a vision of a possible different world.
The story begins with the terrible massacre of the 363 Bishnoi in 1730, a true historical fact. It thus starts by indirectly establishing the principles and values of the Bishnoi culture.
The Bishnoi have been protecting all forms of life, including living trees, since the 15th century. Even when it costs them their own lives.
ॐ This is the value they hold most dear: protecting all life, including trees. ॐ
In 1730, Amrita Devi and her three daughters sacrifice their own lives to protect the trees from the Maharaja’s woodcutters. Their sacrifices are followed by those of 359 other Bishnoi.
ॐ It is the largest ecological rebellion of our civilization.ॐ
In this fictional story, Oninao has escaped the massacre. He is known as “the one with blue eyes, white skin and red feet.” His feet are forever marked by the tears of blood shed on them by his mother, Baghu Bai, Amrita Devi’s third daughter, just before she too sacrifices herself.
He carries with him all the pain of the sacrifices non-violent people have made to protect life.
And Oninao becomes the ambassador of Bishnoi culture to those from other lands, especially the English. The English culture of the 18th century is a mirror of our current Western culture.
In this story, I see three main things:
- The incredible infinite love between a mother and her child: even the death of Baghu Bai during the massacre ordered by Maharaja Ajit Singh cannot destroy the bond between them.
- Colourful characters who embody their cultures and are inhabited by their joyful or destructive emotions.
- A search for meaning: Oninao searches for the meaning of life, love and friendship... and he’s not the only one. Zanam, the little African man who has renounced his origins, also ponders these things.
