A creepy invasion!

It was one of those days when sometimes, for no apparent reason anything goes right. The maids remained absent without any prior notice and while I was struggling precariously with manic morning demands, the neighbour came wearing sad expression of helplessness and pleaded me to baby-sit her two years old boy for half an hour. Her highness, conveniently returned at lunch time smiling hideously (I secretly wished at that very moment that a few murders were legally allowed!) When I went out, I didn't get a single green signal at any traffic point and none of my work got done. I soon realized, it was just not my day and rushed back home.

There I was; angry, upset, extremely tired, irritable and desperately in need to crash in my favorite chair and listen to some good music. When I entered my room, something bizarre happened that freaked me completely. There was a weirdo on my bed; scattering its legs around the pillows and cushions!! The distance between me and the cold blooded intruder was barely few feet. I became numb with panic while the creepy creature was basking on my bed; unaffected with my presence, bobbing its head, inflating its dewlap, puffing its body and its protruding scary eyes warning me, "Don’t mess with me, babe". It was evident, the Chameleon, had taken over my room and was in no mood to give up its new found fortress. 

When it changed its colour and made a surprisingly swift movement towards my dressing table, I shuddered incessantly and with clenched fist and smeared face I yelled (it was not even close to whisper actually)," Simi, run"! But I was too horrified, as if transfixed under some spell. It took me a while to get back to my "Zaansi ki raani" avatar. 

I wondered how the Chameleon got in my room and noticed an open window that is closer to the garden. The garden, with huge tress like Asoka, Mango, Badam (Terminalia catappa) Parijat, Frangipani serves as perfect tavern for many a tenements and is a melting pot for many alien creepy crawly empires. I have witnessed so many ongoing scuffles for survival from my bedroom window. Some creatures manage to scamper away before any bird or Chameleon reaches them. 

I gathered courage and after a few unsuccessful trials, managed to drive away the Chameleon. I laughed at myself for acting silly and giving myself that harrowing time when I could have easily kept calm and shooed away the creep at the very sight of it. Blame it on a childhood memory of experiencing the horror of watching a lizard tail on the floor, wriggling frantically despite being detached from its body, at a friend's house. Ever since, I go bonkers at the sight of any creepy crawly. 

I made myself a nice cup of coffee and went to my favourite spot- the window. The scary creature was on the Badam tree trunk, in a joyous mood as if playing hide and seek with me and saying,"gotcha"! I grabbed my camera and thought of capturing that naughty intruder. When I looked at it, I noticed what a colourful, beautiful creation God had made! I smiled and was happy for the first time during entire day.  

Durga Puja, Mishti Doi and some flavours of life!

I am fortunate to have had a childhood that was rich with exposure to different religions. When religious, geographical and cultural boundaries transcend and festivals are celebrated by different communities with gaiety and devotion, there is a beautiful, infectious energy in air! I just love to be soaked in that lovely energy, completely!  

Maa Durga, embodiment of Shakti, (strength) with Ganesha, Saraswati and Laxmi

Festivals provide amazing interludes from the daily grind and grant us joy of finding hope; which is becoming increasingly rare, in our urban, metropolitan existence that sometimes appears to be nothing but a cruel joke! These interludes are marvelous respite and often introduce me to new spaces of thinking; a delightful wandering that I truly revel. 

Symbol of victory of good over evil  

One of my favourite festivals is Durga puja. Despite the commercial aspect in festival celebrations; at Durga Puja, the major attraction for me is, witnessing remnants of tradition in form of "Dhunuchi naach" and watching dhakis (drummers) perform their art with great devotion. One more attraction is, of course, indulging in Mishti Doi and other Bengali sweets WITHOUT any iota of guilt! 

Traditional Dunuchi dancer performing his naach and the Dhakis

This year though, I could not go pandal hopping and had to be content with only one visit to Durga Puja. Albeit, I was immensely rewarded by the sheer confluence of varied images of life! I just let my senses fill congruent assortment of interesting hues of life, throbbing at the Puja pandal. There was ethereal beauty to all the chaos that was transpired every moment. So much was happening around that it was like moment to moment horizons reverberating with peaks, interspersed with incantation, creating fascinating splendour!  

Performers playing different traditional, musical  instruments 

The newly weds, young couples with newly born babies, middle aged people with children and extended family and friends and even old people, all connected in their earnest prayers and requests, in some divine way, rejoicing in worship. It was a treat watching women flaunting their traditional family heirlooms!

A Dhaki, in his traditional, vibrant  attire

I had to struggle to take photographs as there was so much crowd that many times I even got pushed but considering all the fun I had at the Puja and the mishti, it was worth it. When I returned, there was flood of positive feelings. All the chaos I had witnessed at the Puja had somehow transformed into euphonic whole and I was at complete peace with myself.

Dhaki, playing with religious fervour

Angels of lesser God

I was driving for a meeting, listening to music and planning things for the day in my mind and suddenly saw a child frantically running towards me amid the maddening traffic. He was waving at me, asking me to stop. I realized it was Ajay, one of the children whom I have befriended near D.N. Nagar traffic signal, Andheri. Despite the angry honking, I managed to stop the car by the road side. Within seconds, Ajay darted towards me gasping for breath. I sensed something different about him. The usual naughty smile and the chirpy demeanour, were missing and he looked sullen.

I asked him what was the matter but he was quiet, as if struggling to find words. When I put my hand across his shoulder, he held my hand, looked in my eyes and said, "didi, kaal ratri maza baap mela"(my father passed away last night). It was futile trying to pierce through cold horizons of his eyes. After a few moments of silence, with his fingers firmly entwined into mine, he narrated his experience of watching his father die before his eyes. I became numb with a lump in my throat and my foggy eyes were threatening to start avalanche of tears. How does one console a grief stricken child, barely ten, in such a condition?  

While Ajay was narrating his experience, I realized, for him his father- a drug peddler, was almost a non existent figure even while he was alive! It was barely a month when Ajay had lost his thick buddy, Ganesh and had shared that shocking news with me in similar manner. Ganesh, was like any other nine year old child; full of mischief, laughter and eyes brimming with hope. His ambition was to start business when he grew - have a "thela" (a road side shop) and be master of his own destiny. Sadly, he fell ill and within days, succumbed to the illness.

Most of the children, whom I have befriended, are victims of dysfunctional families, parental neglect, physical and/or sexual abuse, family substance abuse, violence and are settled with pavement community (living on sidewalks, in parks or empty plots) and are always at risk of catching disease, starvation and abuse. They struggle for survival alone despite having their families. Many are lost in this chaotic urban sprawl, a terrifying place for them to live.

In 2000, the government passed the Juvenile Justice Act, which outlines the rights of children and mandates the government to work with NGOs to address the problems of homeless children. There are many people working in this field and doing truly commendable work. But looking at the number of street children I wonder is it enough? 

I spent some time with Ajay, met his grieving mother and family at the roadside pavement and left for my meeting with heavy heart.  I felt terrible thinking about if I had done enough for Ganesh. Wasn't I guilty of feeling that I had done my job once I paid for his medicines? It is not practically possible to help every single child like Ganesh, in need. But had I been little more involved, perhaps I could have saved a life! And that thought is haunting me as I can't forget Ganesh's innocent face, the naked truth of vicious poverty. My heart is screaming silently. All I need is someone to hug me tight! Would God ever forgive me? 

Smelling roses

At times, life becomes very difficult to bear. No matter how content we might be with our respective life; the tragic incidents that have become everyday occurrences engulf us so deeply that one needs to strive hard to hold on to some semblance of optimism. Political unrest, terrorist attacks, earthquake, plane crash, road accidents, murders, scams ...how much can one take and still act as if nothing affects us really? At times, it is difficult to love life when we see so much pain and suffering around. 

Since last few days, I was making a conscious effort to avoid watching news on television,  reading newspapers or magazine or allow any negative news to affect me. Perhaps, I had reached a threshold point but God seemed to have realized it, as he keeps sending me signals that would help me revive my faith in goodness and appreciate all the blessings life has so generously bestowed upon me. 

  


Day before yesterday, I was driving on my usual route and at the traffic signal, a tiny toddler gifted me bunch of roses! " Didi, ye aapke liye" (for you, sister) he said, with a smile that could melt any soul and before I could even thank him, he sprinted back to his sister. Driving that day, was much pleasant experience thanks to the lovely fragrance of roses and the warmth attached to it that lingered on my mind and heart. Those kids could have easily sold those roses and earned some money for which they struggle so hard! The divinity of joy in their smiles; when they waved at me from across the road, their innocence and purity of their soul made me feel as if I met God! 

When I returned home that day, my inbox had a pleasant surprise! A dear friend had sent me a beautiful mail saying how much our friendship was valued. We always know that we are liked, respected and loved but sometimes it feels great to hear those words too! 

Since my mother passed away, I don't like to visit hospitals as they remind me of some saddest memories of my life. But when I went to the hospital yesterday, it was for a different reason. I met a dedicated doctor and his team working hard  for creating awareness and treat patients of Spina Bifida. It feels so good to meet people who go out of their way to contribute and create some change. 

Such incidental encounters are constant reminders, what a privileged energy life is. Sometimes, life will play different tunes. At times, it will make us cry or even will silence us with tragic events and make us realize sheer absurdity that is much beyond our control. It depends on us whether we transform that silence into a magical melody that is infinitely precious and sing our songs or choose to be overpowered by it. Pain and happiness are the two sides of the same coin. We must learn to accept both realities in our stride and keep nurturing energies that hold potential of transformation. 

Life is the most precious gift. Accepting its various facets and keeping our focus on our blessings and living each day well, is the most sacred way of worshiping God. I think, we should never miss out on smelling roses!

Surviving terror attacks

My last week's article, "They did it again", generated some interesting responses on social networking sites where I share my link and I received a request from a regular reader of this blog, Dr.Pulak Parag. To quote his exact words, "Do suggest some practical solutions that a common man is able to offer. I am sure there are plenty of ways in which we can correct ourselves before we blame the government." 

True, we accuse the government for lack of comprehensive strategy, political will and spine to combat terrorism but there are so many ways in which we can contribute too, but don't! So, here are a few suggestions that can be considered and implemented and are very easy to follow. 

1) Accept terrorism as reality and not just events that we always read about in newspaper and watch on TV/net.

2) Be extra alert while travelling, renting properties, hiring people and  check the background of people with whom we deal in our personal/professional spheres.

3) Train ourselves to deal with unique challenges that arise at the time of terrorist attacks. Focus of the training should be, first aid training, basic security measure training,  learning survival skills...etc. Also, participate in spreading the awareness on how to save other lives at the time of such attacks.

  

4) NOT succumbing to the greed for the sake of money/convenience/favour/religious compulsions. Terrorists always depend on local support and typically, people who fall prey to terrorists' plans and end up helping them directly or indirectly are the ones who concede to such greed.

5) Be responsible and inform police about anything/anyone suspicious. It doesn't take much time to inform police (it is high time to get rid of the mindset of, "why get involved with police").

6)  Be responsible in passing news and exercise restrain which is crucial at such challenging times. 

7) Create teams of volunteers who are trained and skilled in handling the calamity and the aftermath, in every possible town/cities.

8) Keep numbers of hospitals /blood banks/ doctors accessible.

9) Making children and senior citizens aware and train them to face such events as they are very vulnerable in such times.

10) NOT be biased about any particular community in our actions, mindsets and behaviour.

11) Learning how NOT to be provoked by panic and provoke others with hysterical frustration and vulnerability. This is very important in minimizing further damage. Stop watching sensational news covering terrorists attack as it doesn't serve any purpose and over period of time, grows on our psyche. Instead, get the prerequisite information, think how we can contribute and do the needful. 

12) Always support local authority in maintaining law and order instead of hampering police work by flocking at the site of terrorist attack, as if it is some tourist spot!

13) Try to refrain from participating in any discussion that can lead to strong reactions/comments that propagate hatred for any country, community or society. Human kind has suffered immensely due to malevolent disease of hatred, prejudice and judgment. Strong emotions like hatred can breed alienation and division which can sometimes lead to terrorism.

14) Vote for the right candidate. It is inappropriate to think that all people in politics are bad. If you don't like the options available, help bring/support some good people in politics. We need educated, committed, capable and truly secular people in politics. Let's try to  do our bit instead of cribbing about corrupt politicians. Remember, it is us, who vote for them and bring them to power.

15) There are a very few people subscribing to terror but a whole big world completely AGAINST it and fighting to combat it. Should we be intimidated by terror and allow the terrorist to create fear; which is their basic purpose or REFUSE to give in and learn to deal with the agony, do the needful, move on and be stronger in our mind and spirits and unite to fight this global challenge? Think and make your choice.

I’m sure there is lot more we can do as citizens and I might have missed out on many things. Why don't you chime in your suggestions? Let's not forget that each single opportunity of us being saved from terrorist attack is a life's reminder that it is time to learn from our tragedies, grow, heal our wounds and face each new day with a smile and determination and make new beginnings.

Life is a very precious gift. Let us not take it for granted.