New Delhi: The 45-day spectacle currently underway at Prayagraj, in Uttar Pradesh, is a trove of priceless stories. Mostly of our spiritual prowess, religious beliefs that have stood the test of times, and even the rich cultural history that Kumbh has become synonymous with. The Naga sadhus, for instance, have a storied past and a deep rooted heritage that cannot be encapsulated in an article; same goes with the historical significance attached to the Maha Kumbh mela in India. Although modern times have given it a date — in 1870 under British supervision — but the tradition itself dates back much further. There are some theorists who insist that it was King Harshavardhana who began the association of Kumbh Mela at Allahabad around 644 BC. While the jury is still out on the exact date of the first mela (organised or otherwise), it is more worthy for us to concentrate on the stories that have immortalised Kumbh for us.

We are not talking mythology alone, which also has many interesting anecdotal associations with the Kumbh, but we are speaking about the stories that have emerged from a time not so long ago.

One such incident that has come to the light is the ‘Kumbh Tax’ which was levied by the British during their rule in India. Apart from collecting revenue, and controlling religious fervour, what was the intent behind such a tax? Historians have not minced their words when they have strongly criticised this Colonial tactic. The British imposing a tax of Rs 1 (when the average salary of an Indian Hindu was Rs 8 at the time) on participation in the Kumbh Mela, has been viewed as an exploitation of religious practices and a means of asserting colonial control.

It was only in 1870 that the Britishers realised that a religious congregation, that too like with a magnitude of a........

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