Myth of El Dorado

The concept of El Dorado, as an elusive golden city, has led not only to numerous losses and killings by avarice-driven men and their followers, but has also continued to influence the global literary and artistic community. Voltaire, the French philosopher, who had penned his satirical novel 'Candide' in 1759, described the golden city as purely Utopian, which, however, was abandoned due to disillusionment with moral perfections

- NANDITA CHATTERJEE The writer is a development economist and commentator on economic and social affairs

Lately, I had an opportunity of viewing the latest OTT presentation on the much loved Paddington Brown Bear, "Paddington in Peru" (Paddington series 3). The bear who came from the "deep, dark jungles of Peru", found himself, after a whirl of circumstances, at Paddington station in London. The Brown family, who were passing by, took pity on the lost and lonely bear and sheltered him in their residence at 32, Windsor Gardens, naming him Paddington in the process.

The bear, with his trademark brown Bowler, blue overcoat and the ubiquitous marmalade sandwich tucked away below his hat, has since become a favourite of both young and adult readers as well as movie watchers all over the world.

In the latest screening of "Paddington in Peru", the bear goes in search of his missing Aunt Lucy and thereby begins his quest for the ever elusive El Dorado or the "country of fabulous riches and expectations". The movie ends with an unexpected twist, but it does teach us important lessons in our endless search for prosperity.

El Dorado is a Spanish legend, owing its origin to the folklore of Spanish colonists of the sixteenth century, in deference to a mythical king, the fabulously rich El Dorado, who was reputed to be covered in gold dust to be washed off in a sacred lake.

Many attempts have been made by the adventurous to reach the mythical El Dorado. In 1537, adventurer Gonzalo Quesada entered the territory of Muisca, presently located in Colombia, aspiring to plunder vast quantities of gold from the palaces and temples of the indigenous tribe of traditional goldsmiths. Lured by the plunder and being enamored of further discovery of the golden land, Quesada's quest was first followed up, although unsuccessfully, by his descendant, Antonio de Berrio.