Song for the Seniors

After visiting the ‘home for the aged’ for quite a few times, and interacting with the so-called senior citizens, I feel that one of the greatest and most ominous curses of not only this civilization, but also of the entire human race, it is the practice of the home for the aged. Luckily in many cases, these homes truly home away from home, and if it is being looked after by nuns, one should thank one’s stars for such a privilege. But does our civilization require homes for the aged? Are not every individual is condemned to become aged at some time or other? Why do we not keep our aged with us at home, and hurry up to keep them as far away from their children as possible? I feel sad when I listen to the stories of these aged men and women, they have too many tears to shed than words to utter.

Take for example, this senior citizen, who even past his seventy fifth year, is as agile and normal as a forty year old! Today he came on an official work regarding an exhibition; he is allergic to the hot sun, and so preferred the evening hours to engage in some work, but his memory is as fresh as ever, and no one can ever think that such men should be relegated to homes. He would not like to go, for sure, but on our side it would be a cruel thing to send them much against their wish, to the homes for the aged. I do understand some of these homes have become yet another form of commercial centers, where people could mint money on the gullible filthy rich children, who want to get rid of their parents because they would only be burdens to their private life.

I have come across several senior men and women who contribute more to their families than their children; it is true, the aged men and women are more susceptible of age-related diseases and illnesses, and may require constant medical care; but if they are well taken care of, one may not come across people who are as caring and loving as these are. Traditional rural families cannot think of giving up the elderly, because they are not only precious assets to the community and families, but they are also the one’s, who direct the destiny of the communities. Their wisdom and knowledge is something that even the most erudite of the community cannot equal to. After about sixty, one’s life cycle reverses, and the elderly become like children, and that is why they also behave like little children.

I was not fortunate to live with my grandparents; both my maternal and paternal grandfathers expired quite early in life, one when I was about seven, another when I was some twelve years old; my paternal grandmother died after she began to live alone after the property was divided between the sons, and since our family was not close to her, we had very little feelings for her. However, I had fond feelings of my maternal grandmother who lived up to about 90 years, and had tender feelings for her; even when she could hardly see, she would try to cook for me, and she was so proud of her grandson that she would talk about him to all the people of the neighborhood. I felt what it means to have the affection of grandparents.

If only we realize that grandparents are the treasure house of not only traditional wisdom and knowledge, but also of love and concern for the family, they would be better treated by the present day generation. We might have long abolished the system of homes for the aged, and on the city highways and in trains we may not be able to see the senior citizens begging for food. If this is what we are subjecting our aged parents to, then worse things are in store for us, and it is time that we remedy the situation and bring back the aged to our homes, so that their footprints may sanctify our households, their voices may sweeten the air, their sight may colorize our vision, their touch may make soil into gold cakes, and life will not be the same when they are around. They are our treasure, and it is time that we honor them for what they are!

Return to Roots

Attending an enlightening lecture-cum-interaction with Prof Bharat Gupt on Natyasastra opened up several cupboards in my household I had never bothered to unlock and see what treasures lie over there. I was found asking myself this simple question: how is it that all these years I had not ventured to know and learn more about some of the rich traditions we had been beholding for several centuries. It is no wonder, we may not be aware of many of the rich treasures of our homeland, which have found home in the West, even with adequate copyright and intellectual rights. On the one hand I felt so proud to be part of this great land of cultures and religions, and on the other felt embarassed not knowing the intricacies that this great literature transpose!

It would be beyond the scope of this little blog to enter into some of the salient features of Natyasastra, but it would be worthwhile to highlight one or two key aspects which interested me. This great classic has been popularly known as the Fifth Veda (the other four being Rg, Yajur, Sama and Atharva, which had been appropriated by the Brahmins), meant for the hoi poploi, the aam janta, the nothing-special about people. Is it a generous gesture on the part of Bharat Muni to hand this treatise to the common people, as a consoling factor? Whatever critics say, one thing is for sure: this can be appropriated by any one, especially the non-Brahmin!

The world today is moving at a break-neck speed to explore everything that is possible to harness the world's resources to the best way possible. Brain-drain has not yet become a problem that would disturb the developping nations, but the ancient traditions are slowly finding their place not in schools and colleges, but in archives of archaic manuscripts and museums. The great literature that had enlivened the literature and art of this great nation for several centuries has suddenly become a thing of the past, and we are looking for viable alternatives to replace them. Shame, shame! We have no qualms of conscience to bury alive living traditions, because we are not equipped to take a dip into them!

Some of the great literatures of the ancient India have been path-breaking in several fields, and many of the things that modern science and technology re discover have found mention in many of our scriptures, but who is there to really go through the palm leaves, scrolls to decipher the rich material that had been treasured for hundreds of years. If we ourselves bury these rich materials, then we shall be answerable to the future generations for burying living civilizations as a sign of our incapacity! It is time that we wake up, and unearth the scrolls and manuscripts which are fast eaten up by whiteants and moth! Who knows we may find remedy for many of the evils huanting the world in some of them.

But the responsibility to return to our roots lies with every one of the Indian citizen, who feels obliged to own up what has been our collective tradition, irrespective of culture, religion or language. If our children are taught to return to their roots, in the study of culture, language, literature and religion, then there would be less conflict and attempt from one section of people to assert their cultural hegemony. We do not need to swallow all that the ancient literature and scriptures teach us; we need to look at them critically, and study them at the particular socio-cultural context, and take them for what they are worth. But our lives will be quite different if only we take a close look at them, and shape our lives in the light of our discoveries!

Slumdogs to Skylarks

At last, many of the Indians are on the first page of most of the world's newspapers, and this time, not for something disgusting or horrifying, but noble and beautiful. Eight Oscar awards to Slumdog Millionaire has shaken the nation from its slumber, to reveal to the world that India is more than a land of snake-charmers and of hunger and thirst, where industry has not grown... The world has known India for all the reasons what it should not have been. Living in Philippines, for instance, Indians are looked down upon as people who are shrewd (thanks to the Gujaratis, who have a flourishing money-lending business), and know how to extract the most from the locals, and for Pinays India does not exist, all they know is Mumbai, what I used to call 'national ignorance'.

The picture is somewhat different in Europe; since there is a huge African population, often the Indians are grouped together with the Black, partly due to affinity due to color. For the West, the dark or brown skin is not something detestable, but something that need to be kept at a distance. Can eight Oscar awards change the most often distorted view of the great nation of cultures and religions in the eyes of the world fraternity? This is one question that I keep asking, even as the debate goes on if the movie is an Indian or a British one! Whether we like it or not, India has been put on the Oscar map, and it is there to stay, even if the future years do not find adequate talent to match the present generation!

The story of the Slumdog may come as a surprise to other nations, but to the Indians this movie has exactly the same kind of formula, with which most of the Indian films are made. The triumph of the underdog is one theme that is eternal in this land, because that give relief to the audience, even if it is only momentary, and takes them away from the humdrum reality that most of our men and women are forced to live. But the story is something that is too good to be true, and I only hope that the dalits and the marginalised tribals don't make futile efforts to reach the state of Jamaal in the film. Reasonable risks can bring in good results, and this film is a proof to it.

One of the most memorable moments at the Kodak Studio in California was the presence of the tiny-tots who made an integral part of the film; the early Jamaal and Salim and Latika are too good to be true, and they probably don't realize that they are part of history, and after a decade or two, they can share with the next generations that India is no less than any other nation in the world. We may be believing strongly in age-old customs and traditions, we may be worshipping cows, we may deny women their due religious rights and privileges, we may still believe in ploughing our lands with bulls, and worship trees and shrubs, like Tulsi... we may be superstitious, but we have a civilization which can show the path to the world in the years to come.

I do not want to float in the clouds, thinking and owning the success of one movie, which tells an imaginary story, well told and portrayed though; reality is what we need to believe in, and embrace whole-heartedly. I would like to pause for a while and own the land that I am born in, and accept her as she is, without attempting to force her change according to my whims and fancies. I would like to embrace her as A. R. Rahman attributed his success to his mother, and attribute all that I am and capable of to what this wonderful land of mine has given me. I am part of the great civilization, I am part and parcel of this great nation of varied cultures and religions, and it is only proper that I salute her saying "Jai ho" (hail)!