Let's take the first step...

Last evening, I returned from a week long holiday that was spent without mobile, internet and television. The moment I logged in to internet and checked the newspapers, I could comprehend what a dramatic week it has been, on socio political front for India, courtesy, Mr.Anna Hazare, advocating "The Lok Pal Bill".

The avalanche of  invitations to join and support the cause of fighting corruption through joining groups, participate in group discussions, public meetings and lighting candles ( for God's sake, can we learn to be less filmy at least in our protests?) on social networking sites, was quite overwhelming. For a moment, I felt as if I missed out witnessing a historic moment of a major revolt Nation was so enthusiastically regaling!

The status messages, links, videos about Anna Hazare's hunger strike were not merely voices of silent desperation that found cathartic release. There was more to it. Suddenly, everyone was talking about denouncing corruption that has for many decades become part of our DNA ( it hurts to admit it, isn't it?). It is amazing how entire country seems to have united once again, that too, soon after the heart throbbing world cup cricket match.

What caused this kind of public support and euphoria? When I read comments on this issue from an interesting mix of people from diverse backgrounds, I realized what really clicked and connected the whole nation. Interesting and very compelling rational support the "fight against corruption" and our conscious instantly buys this idea so that we don't hold ourselves responsible for this deep rooted grime.

Let's look within. How many of us are not corrupt? Let's check our mindsets, our attitudes, our value system. We write status messages on social networking sites, tweet, write articles on blogs, blaming the politicians, system and the government and think our job is done. How convenient!

For any democracy, it is very important to have more voices out in open to question with erudite judgment as to what is wrong in the system and help create awareness. I have no moral right to comment on Mr. Hazare's objective in this entire episode. He has impressive track record when it comes to social contribution. However, I must admit, his strategic non violent manner and its timings are fascinating. No wonder, some people went over board and declared him the next Gandhi! (Are we REALLY so naive?!).

What India witnessed during last week was the glimpse of immense possibilities present in unity of its people. India has great legislation. All we need is judicious implementation. It is very fulfilling experience to see people of nation participating as one team. My only concern is that this "movement" against the bane of corruption prevailing in our society, does not die premature death. Am I sounding cynical?

I had read somewhere, "people get the government they deserve". If we are truly against corruption, let our actions convey it. No need to light candles. No need to criticize or blame anyone. Let's just do our bit. For a change, let's take that first step towards the "change" that we all are keen to see. Shall we?

Entertainment, a little different style!

Every time I drive down to a mall from where I shop regularly, my curiosity is intensified looking at one particular road side establishment. That place is very vibrant with colorful posters, invariably crowded and exhibits some strange scintillating energy! Last week, I had an interesting experience of getting a glance at that tiny, archaic microcosm, a perfect contrast with the swanky mall just about a few meters away down the road!

The establishment is a mini theater meant for only men, situated amidst densely populated slums and odd shops around it. Just when I was trying to figure out how and with whom to start conversation at that theater, the person selling tickets at the entrance noticed me with my camera. A namaste, accompanied with a smile always works wonderfully as icebreaker! As I started asking questions, people from the neighboring shops started to gather. Through the adjoining narrow maze of alleyways and winding dirty lanes, arrived excited group of barefoot women and children. Slowly, a big crowd thronged around, with curious smiles, showing eagerness to talk and pose for the camera! Some laughed at me, as I looked completely out of place in my designer wear.

Since the owner of the theater was not available, I was not allowed to click images from inside the theater. What I could learn, was that they were doing great business by running four shows every day, showing raunchy, B grade Hindi movies. For the customers (an eclectic mix of migrants from very lower financial strata, layered densely around the area), watching movies at this theater is cathartic release from the pressures of rampant mayhem, urban living subjects them to.

This theater is the place where the silent screams of their vanquished dreams are blocked temporarily. And spending ten rupees for that luxury sometimes becomes an absolute necessity. It is not only a source of entertainment for these people from diverse communities, but a melting pot, where they share bidis, paans and individual torments that connect them through pain and yet each one is alone in his fight of survival!

As the crowd grew bigger, it became a huge challenge to deal with people trying to get closer to me. I had to rush back to my car after taking some quick pictures. All these years, I have looked at such places a bit disdainfully. We often admire realistic depiction of life that is romanticized in movies. But when one observes reality with such proximity, it is a different experience all together! There are layers and layers to these "invisible" different worlds, swirling into myriad patterns of juxtaposing and coexisting in this effervescent city that exudes such aura of power and wealth!

The most amazing part of this entire experience was to find happy people with genuine smiles despite their dire conditions! The nonchalant way they go about their struggle everyday and the way they take chaos around them in their stride is truly inspirational!

The life I breathed here was uniquely different. Every time I pass through this road again, it would signify new meaning of life for me. Had I not gathered the courage to pay visit here, I would have been deprived of knowing an important slice of life that influences form, texture, body and soul of this vibrant city!

How we sometimes behave in digital society...

Few months back, I had interesting experience on Facebook. On a friend's wall, discussion about some issue  generated quite interest and many people started participating, expressing their views on the matter. Before anyone could even realize, the discussion took a different turn and escalated to personal attacks and mudslinging. There was complete breakdown of decency and like it happens in real life, deeply entrenched divides emerged and continuous attempts were made to vilify someone in particular.

Within blink of an eye the members of one particular group ( bunch of "educated" people) derided the person they had decided to target, with scornful disdain in most bizarre manner. What followed the next few weeks reflected complete loss of grip of most essential spirit of basic humanness. The experience, actually turned out to be quite an expose' on a most disturbing facet of human behaviour in digital world.

One of the challenges of being on a social networking sites is, whatever one writes or posts is interpreted and  processed in a unique way by people who have access to the information. Since our "buddies" on such sites need not always be people whom we know really well, the communication is generally restricted to written word. Typically, perceptions are based on individual beliefs, mindset, attitude, understanding and even one’s emotional state while filtering the content one has access to.

One person may laugh at something which the other might find vulgar and feel very uncomfortable. A curious soul  may find something motivational while the other might be utterly confused and bored reading it. We all are uniquely different. It is interesting to notice how we interpret, process, react and lable!

Experience has taught me to get past the fluff  and get to the real issue : attitudes, behaviour, mindsets and  reactions of people who cross my path in this digital society. Sometimes one needs to have overdose of composure in one's survival kit! Whether we wish to get offended, learn or change, is entirely our choice. It takes all kinds of people to make this world and virtual world is no different. One needs to be very practical, realistic and intelligent about when, how and in whom we trust. It took me quite some time, experiences and observation of social networking sites, to realize it. I am still learning.

I have been very fortunate to have met some of the finest human beings on virtual world. The journey so far, has helped me garner the strength to push the parameters of learning through treasures of life experience my friends have shared with me. Each day is filled with surprises, laughter, joy, renewed compatibility and camaraderie. Some days present some experiences that snaps something within. But I look at them as lessons, essential to evolve and grow.  I embrace each day anticipating new experiences and always find interesting, beautiful layers of life and human nature unfold before me. One of the reasons, why I love being part of the digital society.

Morning glory...

It feels great to resume my early morning, "time with nature" sessions at the garden in the building where I live.  I am enthralled with surreal morning! Experiencing wonderful potpourri of divine fragrances (wet earth - courtesy dew drops, Madhumalati, Parijat, Champa, Ratrani and Mogra flowers, hypnotizing my senses), witnessing ebbing of starlight across the sky, being enticed with cool breeze and just when I am engulfed with its soothing touch, single cadence of tender rays slowly announce arrival of a new morning!

Watching the very first few rays of Sun split into light is divine experience! Tender rays of morning, very gently awaken world from the luscious texture of night. The trees that stand like silent sentinels, come to life. Mist is lifted subtly. Sometimes, breeze bustles through branches and there is a quiet chirp from a bird's nest. An amazingly synchronized dance of leaves begins. A few remnants of clinging leaves quiver, trying to hold on to fleeting moments of hope.

On the ground, carpet of dried leaves and flowers keep changing its a mesmerizing abstracts with the help of Sun rays. Renewal of life glimmers and oscillates to every single cell, creating lovely energy. Flowers and  leaves glisten with myriad hues and forms.

I am prepared to face new day and all that it brings along. I return home, enchanted every morning, by this  ethereal world and start playing my favourite classical music. The wind chimes flirt with the breeze and create a melody to beckon the new day.

Each morning I awaken to the splendour of mystic and magnetic morning!!!  I retreat within and find myself born anew! 

" Unto dust you shall return "

" Remember O Man, you are dust and unto dust you shall return. "

 ( Genesis 319)

Since last few days, while watching mother Nature's fury in Japan and the devastation it has caused, I have felt very humbled. Entire world has been grief stricken, watching shocking news of earthquake and Tsunami in Japan. How ephemeral everything we take for granted is! Death, at such a scale and tragedy of this magnitude are brutal reminders that must be embedded to save the moment of ultimate truth about life from its tragic destiny of transient epiphany.

I have recently experienced what death really means by losing one of the most important person in my life. Past two months have been emotionally extremely traumatic for me and my family. I lost my mother last month. What happened a month before she passed away was a completely unknown domain in my life experience, till then. Death, has completely different significance when we lose our loved one! There is a small corner in my heart that is emotionally still wobbly after mom's demise and it successfully hides (or so, I like to believe) behind my tough exterior.  

While I was engrossed with mom's hospitalization and ultimate, inevitable death, life planned some new lessons for me. I was shattered by the tough challenge life suddenly compelled me to face, sulking silently, asking God why he had been so unfair to my mother (after all, she didn't deserve to suffer like that!). During mom's hospitalization, I observed myriad sides of life which were disturbing and was taken aback by life's perfect sense of timing in imparting interesting perspectives about some harsh realities.

I came across some cases that pushed me to realize insignificance of my pain and question myself if I was truly entitled to complain at all. I met a man in very critical condition, who was hospitalized by his son and was later completely abandoned! There was a case of a woman, from a remote village who lost her baby during delivery and was denied possession of  her baby because she wasn't in condition to pay her hospital bill. Someone was suffering precariously due to chronic neglect and callousness towards life and some were very young to suffer or experience pain, life had destined for them.

Endless cases of heart wrenching reality and countless lessons were right before my eyes and how could I complain about God being unfair? Far too often we are engrossed in our tiny bubbles of existence and fail to have vision beyond it. Sadly, we realize what a true gift life is, only when we are faced with some loss or tragedy.

After watching latest news about Japan and the horrific scenes of loss and pain I am unable to sleep peacefully. If my mom's loss has created so much void and made me feel as if a BIG part of me has died, what must be people of Japan going through? I shudder to think. All I wish to do is pray for them and be thankful for all the blessings God has generously bestowed upon me.