The unwanted branches

Few meters from my home I find myself stuck in sort of a traffic jam,a rare occurrence on that road. My mind was quick to imagine few scenarios like some wrongly parked vehicle obstructing the traffic flow or an accident. As I trudged forward realized that my imagination was quiet of the mark and it was something else. Felled of tree branches were blocking a section of the road there by effecting the traffic flow. My initial assessment was that it was the effect of last night's heavy rain, until it stuck me that last night was more of a down pour sans strong wind. That was when I observed couple of man axing the branches of another tree few steps ahead. An oncoming procession helped me connect the dots, that its the start of the Vinayaka Nimarjan days.  

Cutting down the branches of trees which seem to obstruct the processions taken out during these days, especially with ever increasing size of the idols is something which has been a practice since long. It does seem to make sense that the effort is to allow a smoother passage and avoid any inconvenience to the procession and the general traffic as well. But this is where I have a problem. Trees might be the single most factor which contribute towards keeping the environment as the way it ought be, It does not sound so logical when one thinks these branches ( and in some cases , Trees ) to be removable obstacles to facilitate some thing which would be lasting a few days. It would not be until the next year that we would have these Nimarjan processions. Is it worth to fell of the branches ? it does take a lot of resources for the branches to develop and a re investment for the tree in growing back the branches , which in turn might be felled off in the future again for the very same reasons. 

It would be unreasonable on my part to blame the folks axing them down as their effort was more on to facilitate something to prevent a further problem. This has to be treated on a  larger scale. Can we not be more conscious of the environment and make an effort to see the idols can be on the smaller end so not to have these hazzles. I am pretty much sure that the size of the idol and the blessings are not in any direct proportion. While an awakening and cognizance towards the nature on an individual level is much appreciated , there is also a bigger role to be played by the administration to bring into effect the laws restricting on the size of the idols as well as to create an awareness campaign of developing sensitivity on these. 

Two lives which never nor meant to be "lived"

An inadvertent turn I took while starting off home from office, made me glance at the pavement where two kids were playing. Sort of familiar faces, but more familiar were the other two faces of their slightly elder siblings . Two faces which I ought be able to remember only from memory for I would never be able to see them again. A recent drowning incident took away the lives of those two elder siblings, guess they would be around 8 & 10 years old. Was that an accident ? I don't think so , for an accident is something which we don't expect to happen, but this tragedy has always been a question of "when" ? 

That particular spot on pavement, has always been a sore sight for me. A couple resides over there with their children since many a year, sort of becoming their fixed residence. I see these kids nearly everyday, especially the two elder ones. Sometimes I buy them breakfast or something else, sometimes give away some change and many a time shoo them away. Me shooing would not matter much to them as sooner or later they would find someone else to give in to their demands. Their innocent antics are sort of an amusement, which many other of my office mates out for their breaks would vouch for. The visual of the younger of two always pulling up his pants which never seem to stick to his waist, lingers in my mind. But every time I saw these kids, the callousness of their parents  in leaving them to the streets gets reflected. Their financial plight would have made them to leave these two kids to the streets but what bewilders me is they managed to have two more kids knowing very well that they would not be able to provide them with even the basics of life. The way these kids were set loose, the tragedy was always a time bomb ticking. On that fateful day the kids along with couple of other friends managed to go until the backwaters of Tankbund which is a couple of Kilometers away, for a swim. Not knowing how to swim they drowned in it. I just wonder, when would have their parents realized them missing ? or did they not even bother until the news reached them. 

Whenever I used to pass by the pavement along with my friend, we always had this question, does any one have a moral right of bringing a child into this world knowing the limits of they providing for them. I think, talking of moral right is a far fetched thought but at least basic common sense or for that matter the fear of bearing additional burden. The other aspect of this incident is that the administration was swift in putting up barriers at all access points to water sources in the area ( much appreciated) but what they seem to have missed is that a 8 and a 10 year old kid should not have been at that spot in the first place, they ideally should have been in a school. Do not know if this incident has provoked an action even in that direction. 

Who is accountable for the lives lost ? parents ? circumstances ? society which forced the circumstances ? lack of a support system for the under privileged ? Could I have done something better, seeing and knowing the plight of these kids for many a year ? 

Another thought troubles me as to what was the purpose of their lives ? they never got a decent chance to live ... were their lives ever meant to be lived ?

The saddest part of the whole thing,in-spite of the incident I see the other two siblings going around freely as was with their elder ones. 

Alas !!! Child Labour seems better....

Its been many an hour, but could not shake away the images from my thoughts....It was the regular evening break with my friend. As we were sipping tea and talking of things at work and other usual stuff, a kid pops up with a paper in his hand, mute and deaf, requesting for money. My personal rule  of not to encourage kids asking for alms, sort of  made me turn a blind eye to him, but my friend being of a more kinder nature gave him some coins and sent the kid, a bit happier, on his way. In no time a girl turns up, mute and deaf (acting ???), slightly elder than the kid and has another copy of the same paper, my dear friend obliged to pull up few coins for her, she would not accept it but in her own mute way signals for more money. Being a bit elder to the kid, she seems to know that the coins would not suffice. We sort of managed to send her away. Looking around, could see a bunch of kids with the paper in hand and asking for money from others who landed there for their evening break. As we started to make our way back into the office, the earlier kid turned up, with his request and my friend subtly reminding that we paid our dues to him, but the kid obviously in no mood to remember that. I tried to avoid and move away but the kid sort of clung on to me , continuing with his requests. I somehow manged to get clear past him. While I struggled physically to be away from that kid, deep within some cords sort of bonded to that guy. His persistence reminded me of my neighbor's kid who clings on to me with his persistent demands which many a time I give into. 

This made me wonder, if the the innocent and persistent demanding made me remember my neighbor's kid and made me strike a chord with this guy, why did it not make me give in to the demands ? Why did not I feel to at least pull up some coins and give it to him ? I many a time go out of my way getting things for the neighbor's kid , there is some non-explainable happiness that one gets when a kid is happy , especially because of you . I believe that is where the answer lies. Irrespective of what I do or how much ever I give this kid, that would never bring this guy the proportional happiness or cheer that I manage to bring out in my neighbor's kid every time i turn up with a chocolate bar or something. 

The way these kids went about with their thing amused me. The younger ones going about with it as more of a play, and the slightly elder ones a more business oriented approach. One thing  which seems to be common is their Innocence, albeit various levels of it. Level of innocence being indirectly proportional to the experience they seem to carry. On one hand is the innocence of my neighbor's kid which exploits me to give into his demands and other is the innocence which gets exploited for the demands of those greedy lurking in the dark shadows extending that darkness into the lives of these kids.
Long back I wrote on child labor, about a kid who seems to be losing out on his childhood working at a tea stall. But when I look at these kids the earlier one's life seems to be in a better situation, at least he works for his family and whatever he manages to earn goes for himself and his kin.On contrary what about these kids ? whose burden are they carrying ? whose sin are they paying for ?
This is where the evil of child labour seems better !!!!

India - A work of assimilation !!

Nationalism has a tricky paradox to it. On one side it seems to offer a unified definition and identity while on the other, narrowing the scope of a much wider national character. Unless tread carefully it is quite prone for nationalistic spirit to take a narrower view. A recent trend albeit not a new one but something which found a renewed brazenness is to redefine nationalism, more specific a redefinition of " what is Indian ?" Alas it seems to be the narrower one. Diversity is one of the most ominous attribute anyone would associate with India, so it does sound a bit appalling when a narrowed version of it surfaces.
History, especially modern history is replete with nations forming on ethnic lines . India in its attempt to free itself from the colonial rule also managed to gain an unified national identity , and due credit ought to go to those great leaders who so craftily managed to inculcate a nationalistic spirit but also ensured it was not a narrower one but envisioned a diverse nation true to what India has been all through its long history. It is so truly said the people of India are so much a mixed stock that it is very tough to trace back a single ethnic origin. Surprisingly enough India also happens to be the only culture where any common Indian of present age can so effortlessly connect and has an understanding of the Ancient India of yore. (Basham says, the same cannot be be said of other ancient civilizations eg. Egypt )
So, now the question arises as to what is it that enables the idea of India to be diverse and yet manages to find a singular connect to the past ? As Nehru, states in "Discovery of India", notices, India has been a culture of assimilation. Wave after wave of people have entered India, few finding a new home, few other purely to conquer but the bounty of character that this nation has that it was able to assimilate them. With this assimilating history spread across thousands of years that it does sound queer to zone out something of the present nation only to be Indian and something else as alien. It becomes a real tough task to pinpoint a time in History at which one identifies as to be a true representation of a period which defines as being Indian and anything after that to be alien. Even if we rule out Islam & Christianity ( Based on the attempted new definition ) as not being Indian, one is still left with quite a labyrinth to maneuver his way. If we talk about something originated on this side of Indus to be the standard, what do we say of the Aryans ? In spite of Sangh & Co fringe elements insistence of Aryans having Indian origin, enough evidences are found wherein the homeland of Aryans is said to be Central Eurasia. Why does not Buddhism & Jainism, two clear product of Indian thought does not seem to be part of the so called pseudo nationalist's renewed zeal. If the Geographical extent is based, Buddhist thought, for example seems to be more Indian than Aryan culture. Was Hinduism , that we talk of now, practiced by the people of Indus Valley Civilization ? in all probability it was not , since it was much prior to Vedic culture. So those who want us Indians to go back to origins , shouldn't they be looking at that period and might be the still unknown and not excavated ancient  antiquity of people of this land.
Wonder those who speak of Hinduism , have any understanding of it they in reality mean by it.  If they refer Hinduism to be a socio - cultural way and tall claims are being recounted of the greatness of India's past and its achievements , why isn't there a look back at those multitudes of outcasts treated as untouchables for thousands of years, the most heinous crime humanity can impose on humanity ? If the emergence of Islam or Christianity is treated to be breaking the social fabric, why don't we talk of all the persecutions bestowed upon each other in the name of various Gods of Hindu pantheon, example can be said of the struggle between the Shivites and Vishnavites of which there is enough of bloodied history on record. The evil of caste system which forms the integral psyche of an Indian. If a case is made of Hinduism as a religion,why doesn't the fringe groups which make a fuss of movies like OMG & PK , realize that the great modern day reviver of Aryan Ideology  , Swami Dayanada Saraswati himself was against Idol Worship. Do they realize Adi Shankarachrya's Advaita speaks about finding God within self, not in blind ritual at some temple ? If Vedas are to be the cornerstone, should not Lord Indra be the most revered GOD ? because he is the supreme deity in the Vedas and of the Vedic people. Our Vedic ancestors do not even have a knowledge of the Supreme Hindu trinity of Brahma , Vishnu & Shiva , so where do these three come into picture , if they were not at the origin of Indian spiritual thought ? a product of much later manifestation of our thought.
One cannot just be cherry picking all the good things and showcase a grand image of something, That can never be a truer definition. To all the great upholders of  your version of India and Hinduism, please define what you stand for first and then we can talk of integrating rest into your thought.
The beauty of India has been it diversity, the freedom  and the broad minded character, let us not narrow it.  The only way around is looking forward, grow correct , accept new thought, try correct the evils that existed and move on. Let the assimilation of thought, culture and faith continue as it has been for thousands of years.