Has it become so difficult to be happy? or even just optimistic?
In the days following the O-so-talked-about "India's Daughter", we have been engulfed by a sense of rage- at the government, at the system, at patriarchy, at men, at some women and unfortunately at anyone who talks well of anything!
I was chided yesterday for being cheerful. I am chided today for being optimistic. Mind you - I was taken in by the same rage - at the audacity of the defense lawyers, at their attitude that seemed to be not unique to criminals but rampant in our society. I shared the link to the leaked video on my facebook page, urging my friends to share it and take responsibility for being a part of the system that bred such criminals, a society that continued to breed the horribly chauvinistic attitude that women were dispensable. It made me angry and I made that very clear. And then I heard another side of the story as well- some said the real purpose of the documentary was to "put India in her place" and had nothing to do with the Nirbhaya case at all. The docu producers used money to get a sensational film out... and so on. I was not sure what to trust anymore. I know that not everything you hear in the media is true! And also that there are several stories that never make news! And I was if anything, confused, about what to believe and what not to.
But slowly One thing dawned on me -we were all up in arms but there was no good that was coming off it. I had been party to spreading this rage but had done little else to make things better. I went back to my facebook page and deleted the link.
And then came the arms-going-up about beef. And something else and something else and something else. While I believe that the paranoia that this 'Hindu' Government is going to come down on everyone who is not Hindu is ridiculous, a large section of educated Indians, irrespective of religious belief (or the lack of it) are giving in to the paranoia. And together with this paranoia has come a sense of disappointment and dejection and pessimism that things will never look up! And this political stand has engulfed all things in life- social, personal or casual. Why do we not see beyond it.
It does not matter anymore that for each person that commits a crime, there are 100 others that inspire and motivate us. Should it not matter more that there is a hawker in Delhi who earns 20 rs everyday and lives life king-size? Should it not matter that there are women from Kolkatta scaling the heights of Mount Everest despite being handicapped? Should it not matter to us that in peak hour traffic, the cops, the city of Chennai and its people made it possible for a donor heart to reach a patient in record time? Are you not left inspired when young girls from rural Karnataka are being educated to lead dignified self sufficient lives (have you seen the pride in their eyes?). Should it not matter that no matter how much it rains and pours and floods, people in Mumbai get to work on time? Does it not affect you that the villages in North east India are among the cleanest and friendliest in the world? Should it not matter that in every corner of our country there are people succeeding in life, living life with dignity and inspiring those around them? One man made sanitary napkins that were cheaper than rags. A transvestite has been teaching young kids of prostitutes in a school she built! The garbage dump near my school has been transformed into a parking lot.
In our angry attempt to 'raise our voices against injustice' many of us have lost the capability to comprehend. We want to scream before we can listen. We want to pass judgement before we can see. I agree that one cannot turn a blind eye to the problems around us, but let us also open our eyes to all the wonderful things. Look around you and I assure you that you will find cheer. And from this cheer will come energy to smile and in turn make another person (or animal or plant!) smile.
Take a moment to look at the laughter in the eyes of a child on a swing and chose to look away from someone cribbing. It will make a world of a difference- and the world WILL be a better place. No one got anywhere being a cynic; dance to a happy song or skip in the park down the lane, sing your favorite song or call a friend. It is in all these little things that the Universe teaches us to be grateful for our beautiful life. Teach your kids to be humble and grateful. They will not abuse. Teach them art. They will ascend beyond just being frustrated at the system. Teach them kalari or karate if there's a bully around- they won't get bullied because they can kick ass but because they will shrug the bully off with as little as a sharp gaze. Teach them to play with kids unlike them. They will embrace difference. Teach them to share their toys. They will spread happiness.
I cannot turn the clock backward, but there is a way forward- a long road of hope, happiness and laughter. It's easy to be happy and optimistic!
In the days following the O-so-talked-about "India's Daughter", we have been engulfed by a sense of rage- at the government, at the system, at patriarchy, at men, at some women and unfortunately at anyone who talks well of anything!
I was chided yesterday for being cheerful. I am chided today for being optimistic. Mind you - I was taken in by the same rage - at the audacity of the defense lawyers, at their attitude that seemed to be not unique to criminals but rampant in our society. I shared the link to the leaked video on my facebook page, urging my friends to share it and take responsibility for being a part of the system that bred such criminals, a society that continued to breed the horribly chauvinistic attitude that women were dispensable. It made me angry and I made that very clear. And then I heard another side of the story as well- some said the real purpose of the documentary was to "put India in her place" and had nothing to do with the Nirbhaya case at all. The docu producers used money to get a sensational film out... and so on. I was not sure what to trust anymore. I know that not everything you hear in the media is true! And also that there are several stories that never make news! And I was if anything, confused, about what to believe and what not to.
But slowly One thing dawned on me -we were all up in arms but there was no good that was coming off it. I had been party to spreading this rage but had done little else to make things better. I went back to my facebook page and deleted the link.
And then came the arms-going-up about beef. And something else and something else and something else. While I believe that the paranoia that this 'Hindu' Government is going to come down on everyone who is not Hindu is ridiculous, a large section of educated Indians, irrespective of religious belief (or the lack of it) are giving in to the paranoia. And together with this paranoia has come a sense of disappointment and dejection and pessimism that things will never look up! And this political stand has engulfed all things in life- social, personal or casual. Why do we not see beyond it.
It does not matter anymore that for each person that commits a crime, there are 100 others that inspire and motivate us. Should it not matter more that there is a hawker in Delhi who earns 20 rs everyday and lives life king-size? Should it not matter that there are women from Kolkatta scaling the heights of Mount Everest despite being handicapped? Should it not matter to us that in peak hour traffic, the cops, the city of Chennai and its people made it possible for a donor heart to reach a patient in record time? Are you not left inspired when young girls from rural Karnataka are being educated to lead dignified self sufficient lives (have you seen the pride in their eyes?). Should it not matter that no matter how much it rains and pours and floods, people in Mumbai get to work on time? Does it not affect you that the villages in North east India are among the cleanest and friendliest in the world? Should it not matter that in every corner of our country there are people succeeding in life, living life with dignity and inspiring those around them? One man made sanitary napkins that were cheaper than rags. A transvestite has been teaching young kids of prostitutes in a school she built! The garbage dump near my school has been transformed into a parking lot.
In our angry attempt to 'raise our voices against injustice' many of us have lost the capability to comprehend. We want to scream before we can listen. We want to pass judgement before we can see. I agree that one cannot turn a blind eye to the problems around us, but let us also open our eyes to all the wonderful things. Look around you and I assure you that you will find cheer. And from this cheer will come energy to smile and in turn make another person (or animal or plant!) smile.
Take a moment to look at the laughter in the eyes of a child on a swing and chose to look away from someone cribbing. It will make a world of a difference- and the world WILL be a better place. No one got anywhere being a cynic; dance to a happy song or skip in the park down the lane, sing your favorite song or call a friend. It is in all these little things that the Universe teaches us to be grateful for our beautiful life. Teach your kids to be humble and grateful. They will not abuse. Teach them art. They will ascend beyond just being frustrated at the system. Teach them kalari or karate if there's a bully around- they won't get bullied because they can kick ass but because they will shrug the bully off with as little as a sharp gaze. Teach them to play with kids unlike them. They will embrace difference. Teach them to share their toys. They will spread happiness.
I cannot turn the clock backward, but there is a way forward- a long road of hope, happiness and laughter. It's easy to be happy and optimistic!
Very good write up!
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