Those Were Days! vis-à-vis Today. A walk down memory lane...

Bittu, wake up its time to get ready for school.

Me: Yes, 5minutes.

10minutes later…

Bittu, wake up, its getting late.

Me: yes, 2minutes more.

5minutes later…

Bitttuuuuuu!

Me: YES I got up.

Then getting ready, and going to school. The school prayer starts with joined hands. The class teacher starts attendance…”Yes, Madam”. Bell rings, hurray the class is over and for that 2mins break between periods the class turns into a vegetable market. Onion, Potato, Tomato and everything else seems to be selling. The 2^nd class starts…and this goes until lunch time. Mamaji (uncle) comes with a flask of hot milk & lunch. I was hungry. Lunch finishes. And then 15minutes of running & plying here and there. The 2^nd half resumes with a longing to get back home soon. The final bell……………..WOW! School is over, everyone is pumped up to go home. Mamaji arrives to pick me home. And here I was, one happy kid after the school.

Those were days! The beautiful primary school days.

Reaching home, changing in a jiffy and running to the field to play. Everyone was there waiting for each other and then the games starts. And what a variety, starting from Cricket to Gilli-danda to Kanche to Kho Kho to Aais Pais to Football to Pittoh to Patang Udana, anything you can name!

Dusk time and someone from the home comes calling, “Bittu come, its time”…yes you guessed it right, again the 5-minute-request ;) Finally, returning home with dirty cloths, why not? Stare from guardians, must have! It happens when you are child…child from every bit of your heart, mind & body.

Late evening….dinner & studying & television & preparing school bag for the next day. Finally a glass of milk & time to sleep. Zzzz.

Then came the High school days, a little grown up, going school alone, eating lunch by own & coming back on own too. Waking up on time and that means No more 5 minutes more requests L. After school is over coming back on my own, either early or a late by 10-15 minutes, because that was Ok then. Someone had grown up. Dirty cloths, not really. Even if it is sometimes, its ok, no stares from anyone.

The after school period was followed by Cricket, mostly. Cricket was one of the most loved games for all of us, and the days when it rained we had to have another game and did we have to think? NO! We can play football in water…eeshhhhhhhh….cloths all dirty but we used to love it, because we were all game. Then comes the Atchoo!…if you play in rain, you got to catch cold! But its ok too!

Those were days, really!

I remember on the result day in primary school, I used to be so excited that I will be called on stage to collect the annual result. My Nanaji, Mamaji will be there watching me from the crowd. And when the result is announced in reverse order, you have all the reasons to be the most happiest to be called last. God, that was the best feelings of the entire school life.

Monitoring the class, leading the school parade, taking parts in cultural programs, singing, acting, laughing…OMG! Those days will never come back.

Then came the college life, a college which I visited only 3 times or may be 4 in the entire 2 years. For collecting library card, depositing fee, filling up form & finally for collecting result. Previously every day school attendance was important, college changed that habit. One is a master of his own will, go or not go, even if you go you can hang out everywhere else but the class room. It was boring like hell. Things had changed. Nothing of that time is memorable; really, it was nothing more than a phase of growing up.

Then coming to Kolkata, getting into computer training classes....yes that was a lil fun, a lil…but it was not to last long either. It got over. First job…and then started the routine hours, routine life, routine thoughts. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy…made Ro too. 3.5+ year of dullness. And that’s enough reason to miss the childhood today. A phase of life when everything was free, everything was open, every mistake was acceptable because that was a phase of grow-‘ing’ & learn-‘ing’. Aha….now it’s ‘grown’ and ‘learnt’. And that means no mistakes, no irresponsible act, no childishness….Ahem.

Some vis-à-vis:

Previously I used to ask…”Mausi, tomorrow is Sunday, I can sleep a lil longer na?”. And that one extra hour of sleep on Sunday was relaxing, real relaxing. Now, no one to calls me, “Bittu wake up.” I can sleep as long as I want and as long as I can. But its relaxing a bit. It’s just a drag. And on the weekdays the “Bittu wake up” is converted into the alarm bell and the 5-minutes-more request into Snooze.

Previously a long vacation meant a real long one. One month of summer vacation, one month long just imagine. I used to go to my parents in Deoghar (yes I am brought up at my Nanaji’s place….that’s another story). And I used to enjoy the vacations like anything, never wishing it to get over. Now…vacations means Sat & Sun, which comes every week and it has become such a part of life that it has no such special longing for. It comes & it goes away. A one month vacation….its not even in dreams now.

Previously I used to wait for the 1^st week of every month to go to the news-stand and collect a copy of Champak/Nanhe Samrat/Suman Saurabh/Nandan. That 5/- or 10/- book meant the world of information & entertainment for the days to follow. Today it’s the e-subscription, e-book, e-magazine, e-news & e-paper that informs me ‘bout happenings all around. See even Champak has an online version. What else? I remember previously I was so much into watching television, that even while studying in the room it used to be running. Today, I hate to watch television that’s why I don’t keep one.

Previously going to movie in a theater used to come very rare, may be once a year or two. And the tempo used to rise from many days before it. Wow, I am going to a theater! But today I am sitting amongst 10-12 cinema halls in 1km radius from my place. And it causes no tempo. The 1 samosa & gold spot in the interval of previous days are replaced with a bunch of popcorn, packed chips, canned cola (diet one mind you), etc. More than what we expend on movie tickets, twice of that goes in the eating between interval today making movie becomes less important than the other stuffs around. The money has lost its value too.

Previously 1 Re. means 20 toffees or 1 packet of colored saunf (fennel seeds) or 2 orange icecreams or 6 puchkas (just imagine 6pcs. in 1Re.). These things today take lots of bucks, may be tens or hundreds, still it doesn’t taste the same. Not even a bit.

Previously we used to play Ludo, Saanp Sidhi and winning in those were much more pleasant than winning a lawn tennis match or motor biking. Clearing one level of Mario to get closer to queen was much more celebrating than finishing a game on Xbox/PS3. Winning in Business game was much more strategic than the Age of Empires or any multi player online game.

Previous we used to wait for a week to watch Rangoli/Chitrahaar on DD National channel. It was one of the only few musical programs of the week. Today, there are tens of music channels running 24x7. Previously the national channel (Doordarshan) used to start at a fixed time in the morning (if I remember correctly it was around 5am) till 12pm around once, then two hours of break with the most famous striped rainbow idle screen. That used to give some time to rest for us too. But today, there are no breaks, no interruptions and channels boast their 24x7 availability, unknowingly leaving us with no implicit breaks for other things. Previously a breaking news meant a highly important one, today every news is a breaking news.!

Previously lunch & dinner had special charm. I remember I used to quest for dishes at home. Plz plz plz make chaat today, how about idli-dosa, its been so long I haven’t tasted a cake please make it today Mausi, naan also! Now…everything is all around, in Shops, and its charmless. Nothing charms like before. Nothing tastes like before. Yes I miss my home, Yes I miss my family. But I can’t do anything else than missing, for life has changed.

Previously a birthday celebration meant the whole world’s blessings. Gathering of friends at home with Gifts (those were the most awaited things of the entire day), getting real birthday cards by snail mails (yes real, so real that you can touch & feel them), cutting cake with everyone clapping around…That is the real kind of celebration. But today, a birthday means few emails from friends, few sms-es, few scraps, few calls, an official happy birthday mail from your HR, ‘few’ colleagues coming and wishing you (obviously after reading the mail only)…that’s it! And in case you happen to throw a birthday party, its more of a get together to show off your attire & to talk everything else other than the reason of party. Where previous birthday parties were followed by opening of gifts most curiously, now its followed by paying the bills with a sigh.

Am I complaining my current life? Yes, I am. Because when I think of today everything looks cosmetic. But then…whats the use complaining? Because at the end of the day, you have got to live this only. That’s how the scenario is today. Never mind.

There are so so many other things I can mention b’coz the list is endless but I will end here by saying the following lines:

“Kahwa gail ladikaiyan ho tani humke bata da,

hum ta padi tohri paiyan ho tani humke bata da”.

It means “Please tell me where my childhood has gone, I beg you please tell me where my childhood has gone.” It’s a lovely Bhojpuri song, which drags you back into your childhood days. I know it’s not possible to go back into your sweet childhood days again, but you can definitely cheer your life with those lovely memories. I am trying too.

"ye daulat bhii le lo, ye shoharat bhii le lo
bhale chhiin lo mujhase merii javaanii
magar mujhako lautaa do bachapan kaa saavan
vo kaagaz kii kashtii, vo baarish kaa paanii"

A very famous gazal by Jagjit Singh, talking 'bout longing the childhood.

Below is an excerpt taken off my mail box and it’s absolutely correct. I know I know that reading it once/twice will make you miss your old days, but trust me its ok to miss those days & cry a lil. And yes, remember….“You are never grown up enough to be childish sometimes”.

With sweet memories in heart & its cool feelings in eyes.!

Ro

----------------

When Gulli-Danda & Kanche (marbles) were more popular than cricket.
When we always had friends to play aais-paais (I Spy), chhepan-chhepai
& pitthoo anytime ... When we desperately waited for 'Yeh Jo Hai
Jindagi' (Doordarshan serial)
When chitrahaar, vikram-baitaal, Dada Daadi Ki Kahaniyaan were so fulfilling.
When there was just one Tv in every five houses and...
When Bisleris were not sold in the trains and we were worrying if papas will get back into the train in time or not when they were getting down at stations to fill up the water bottle ...
When we were going to bed by 9.00pm sharp except for the 'Yeh Jo Hai Jindagi' day ...
When Holis & Diwalis meant mostly hand-made pakwaans and sweets and moms seeking our help while preparing them ...
When Maths teachers were not worried of our Mummies and papas while slapping/beating us ...
When we were exchanging comics and stamps and Chacha-Chaudaris & Billus were our heroes ...
When we were in Nanihaals every summer and loved flying kites and plucking and eating unripe mangoes and leechies ...
When one movie every Sunday evening on television was more than asked for and 'ek do teen chaar' and 'Rajani' inspired us ...
When 50 paisa meant at least 10 toffees ...
When left over pages of the last years notebooks were used for rough work or even fair work ...
When 'Chelpark' and 'Natraaj' were encouraged against 'Reynolds
& family' ...
When the first rain meant getting drenched and playing in water and mud and making 'kaagaj ki kishtis' ...
When there were no phones to tell friends that we will be at their homes at six in the evening ...
When our parents always had 15 paise blue colored 'Antardesis' and 5 paise machli wale stamps at home ...
When we remembered tens of jokes and were not finding 'ice-cream & papa' type jokes foolish enough to stop us from laughing ...
When we were not seeing patakhes on Diwalis and gulaals on
Holis as air and noise polluting or allergic agents ...
The list can be endless ...
On the serious note I would like to summarize with ...
When we were using our hearts more than our brains, even for scientifically brainy activities like 'thinking' and 'deciding' ...
When we were crying and laughing more often, more openly and more sincerely ..
When we were enjoying our present more than worrying about our future ...
When being emotional was not synonymous to being weak ...
When sharing worries and happiness didn't mean getting vulnerable to the listener ...
When blacks and whites were the favorite colors instead of greys ...
When journeys also were important and not just the destinations ...
When life was a passenger's sleeper giving enough time and opportunity to enjoy the sceneries from its open and transparent glass windows instead of some
super fast's second ac with its curtained, closed and dark windows ...
I really miss them…don't You?

Everyone deserves a Smile. Cause one Today!

Smiling is contagious,

you catch it like the flu,

When someone smiled at me today,

I started smiling too.

I passed around the corner,

and someone saw my grin,

When he smiled I realized,

I'd passed it on to him.

I thought about that smile,

then I realized its worth,

A single smile, just like mine,

could travel round the earth.

So, if you feel a smile begin,

don't leave it undetected,

Let's start an epidemic quick

and get the world infected!!!
- - -

This post is for those unlucky people who are out there 'just living their life everyday' or I can say, 'waiting for the death to touch them'. It sounds loud, but the reality is even louder.

Every day when we walk out on the road, running step by step with everyone...somewhere 'besides' the crowd is one of those people waiting for others to feed. There is one such kid trying to attract people by hitting the ground with one hand and raising the other for someone to fill. There is one such person with missing limbs lying on the ground and calling people by shivering his body continuously. There is one mother with her toddler on the lap trying to collect enough money for eating so that she can breastfeed. People call them 'The Beggars'. I dissent. Can we better call them "The Needies"?

We shall be thankful to god for blessing us with at least that much so that we can keep ourselves up & running. We shall be happy that we have a family and we can support it. We shall be happy that at the end of the day when we go to the bed our stomachs are full. We shall be thankful that we don't worry every night 'bout how will we stand the next day without any food in reserve, without a shelter on the head and without any cloths on the body. We are heavenly blessed.

But then there are people who are not blessed the same way. They are under-privileged and most of the time ill behaved too. It's a phenomenon that at times when there is one needy person on our doors we tend to close it with force, yelling at the needy not to come again as if s/he committed a big crime by knocking. When there is someone tapping on our car window, we pretend not to give any attention and wishing him/her to move away. When there is a fund raising for the needies/the-flood-affected/the-natural-calamity-affected we alibi for running low on finances. Who is asking you your entire fortune? All that is expected from you is a small help, a very nominal help; and for the needies...it can make their day!

Can't we stop smoking for a day and use the same for someone's meal for a day? Can't we spend a lil less on tobacco for someone's warmth in the winter? Can't we skip a cup of coffee in a swish cafe just to stop someone from crying out of starvation? And then when there is a celebrity show, when there is a cricket/tennis/football match, when there is a cozy late night dance party we don't give a damn to think twice before nodding, "Count me In, I am all game!". I understand it's important for you too, I understand you want to live & enjoy your life, you have full right too...but what's the harm if you can make someone at least live, let alone enjoy, few moments?

If every one of us starts helping the needies in one's own possible way, we can make world a better place to live. Start with "Help 1 person every day" routine and you will see the difference. Not just that the one you helped will bless you or will make your day with his/her smile every time you pass by but you yourself will feel proud the entire day. Just give a try, I am sure you will feel good. We can spend a hundred bucks for just 2-3 hours of pleasure by going to movies; can't we spend just a couple of bucks for a day long pleasant feeling also?

And remember, Helping is not only in the form of money. There are people who need love & affection more than money. Because this will make them feel valued, make them feel proud. You can help them heal their miseries by being a bandage sometimes.

Merriam-Webster defines 'Needy' as:

1 : being in want : poverty-stricken

2 : marked by want of affection, attention, or emotional support

Hope you can understand that need comes in various ways, forms & volumes.

Don't we see so many small children wandering on the street everyday? What do you think the future has for them? No education, not enough cloths on the body, half eaten and full starving, wounded & beaten. Can't you just help one?

And you don't need to ask "All is fine, but how do I start with?". You don't need to ask anyone how to help others. If you want you can start with the routine: "The first needy person I see every day, I will help him/her in any way I can." Isn't that easy? And if you want to be a part of a larger group who does that, there are many NGOs you can get attached to.

I am also in a lil touch (though virtually, not physically) with one such NGO called "Neev". They are mostly into helping the little children in and around Kokata. They prefer calling the children "Flowers", ain’t it true? And then there is another one I was talking to, it's named "Janhit Foundation". They are into Child helpline, Water Conservation, Water quality maintenance, sustainable agriculture, violation of human rights, environmental education, etc.

I know the images above are heart paining and they will continue to be such until we start willing to make a change, in one’s small way. And if we do, the world will smile together, see:

Everyone loves to be loved and needs to be needed. How True!

So, What are you waiting for, won't you like to cause a smile today?

A Martyr Dies in The Ear - The Epilogue

This continues my last post A Martyr Dies in The Ear.

Lacy was alive!

Yes. Last night as I was trying the home made therapies, things changed. I had poured some Mustard oil and after 2 hours of it tried with an ear bud to see if I can drag her dead body (as perceived). But I couldn’t. The ear was paining so much that I could not try more. The ear felt sick. I got strained. I thought, "Why me"? I was getting tensed.

Then I warmed a bucket full of water. Once it was lukewarm hot, I got up my place with a lil heavy heart, water bucket in my hand. Felt like I am going for a war and the bucket in my hand is the only ammunition I have to fight the enemies with. I held the faith that things will improve. But how can it? I wasn’t an ENT myself!

I took a mug full of water, tilt my head left and started to pour slowly. My heart was praying. I continued. I heard a ripple. Voila! I couldn’t believe my eyes. She dropped into the bucket and she was Alive. Was she?

For a second I thought that it’s some other fly, I looked around; there was nothing else but silence. I don’t have such insects at my place. Even when this incident happened last night, I was at one of my relative’s place.

I was sitting there, as one dumbfounded person, thinking of the stupidity of taking this carelessly. What if she was an insect with stings? What if she had bit me? What if she had crawled into my brain via my ear drums? What if she had multiplied herself? Phew! All the scary feelings came in a fraction of second and I was all wide eyes, frozen.

Lacy was fluttering her wings in the bucket, trying to come out. She couldn’t fly, she was inept. I tried to take her out on my finger. I could. There she was, resting on my finger silently. She wasn’t moving. I whispered to her, “Hello there! Can you hear me?” No one replied. I tried to shake her gently, she was unmoved. She had died, for the second time. And this time it was for sure.

For few seconds I thanked God to keep one innocent creature alive. Though, I was more worried seeing her alive than what I was when she was there dancing in my ears. May be she was so handicapped by the warm water the other night that she lost the energy to move, let alone dance. She was scared, she didn’t move for almost 18 hours. At 11pm last night she could come out. Thanks to me, thanks to the old age therapies and thanks to Google. May be she knew that she is going to die, and this was her one last wish before death…wish to see the world with her eyes for the last time. And as soon as her wish was met, she died in peace. God bless her soul, she was a real fighter, a Martyr indeed.

And then I could sleep well last night. One sound sleep after such a long time!

I am all happy ears, once again! :)