Hypocrisy of Indian Society

India is well assumed to be a land of culture and tolerance basis its secular orientation and having a rich lineage of various religions and cultures. While with moving times, with higher level of education and growing standard of living, one would think, people to become more empowered and open minded. Unfortunately, the country is struggling to maintain a balance with changing mores. The divide is seen more in rural and semi-urban setups. People need to appreciate that being modern and being cultured can exist side by side.

Culture is demonstrated by how you behave with others, your respect for other living beings including animals and how good a human being you are irrespective of whether you are wearing a saree or a short skirt. There is a dress code for an occasion and one must adhere to it, be it a male or a female. The need of the hour is to respect people for not what they wear or their partying habits but for who they are.

Indian society is also hypocritical in so many ways! On one hand hoi polloi look down on girls because of their skimpy clothes, but if they go back in time they would find that many a mythological and historical characters (who are supposed to be the icons of virtue), wear the skimpiest of dresses! Talking about sex is taboo, while the country is the land of Kamasutra, the bible of all sex books. We even have many archaelogilicaly acclaimed temples which openly depict the various sexual positions! Sadhus indulging in orgies when they preach otherwise and appear so pious. We blame the West for our culture going haywire, little realizing that it makes us look like dumb sheep. We are not without mind, and we can take our own rational decisions. Frankly speaking, I look up to the Western society simply because they let their people be for what they are. There is no undue societal pressure, no preaching and if there is a certain style of life which people want to lead, they can pursue unless they are causing any harm to people around them, as their personal choice without being judged upon. Understanding the quote "you be and let others be" was never so critical before.

Another reason why India is digressing from its culture is because of the sudden rise in the average income levels. Nouveau riche show reckless behavior and feel that with expensive clothes, cars and jewelleries combined with habits of, smoking and drinking they become more cultured. While, being rich is not a crime, nor is smoking or drinking, but it is to be realized that these are not the only things that make you a cultured or a respected person. It has to come with an open mind, a more refined way of looking at things, being more empathetic towards others. At the same time, these habits of drinking and smoking should also not be a yard stick for judging a person. This huge gap in understanding the word “modern” is a serious flaw in our society.

The day we bridge this gap and look beyond the selfish opportunist religious view/opinions and the khap panchayats who try to rule our mind, we shall emerge as the true power. I am sure, I am not the only one waiting for the sun to rise on that evolved India and praying that it happens soon.

Travelling Feet

I am here, i am there
I feel like my wings are on fire

Crazy, impulsive and mad,
I cant stifle a smile,am so glad

Glad to be on the road
Being pulled to the nature's abode

With a handful of clothes and a heart full of hope,
Wandering about, seeking places to elope

Travelling with my widened eyes,
Scuttling after a pretty butterfly as it flies,

Hopping from field to hill and hill to field,
Not wanting to know what result it will yield

A nice book in my brown sling bag
Music plugged to the ears, I enjoy my fag

Lying under the bright moonlit sky,
Drinking ale and munching on a chicken fry!

So here i come, the untrodden paths,
Open your arms to welcome a travelling psychopath!

A walk through Rose's mind (Titanic)

Standing on the edge, clutching the iron rails, i stood trying to take the plunge into the iced cold water. My heart was beating so fast that i thought it was audible above the propellers.

Of course, I should do it. This is it. I can't live this life that has been so carefully and meticulously chalked out for me. Haha, yes.. my life their design. It had all the money and the security that a woman would die for. Racing fiercely ahead of me, while i powerlessly try to catch up.

Wind was beginning to howl now pushing the strands of hair into my ear and onto my face. Irritating. I was getting goose bumps not because of the thought of my impending fall, but because of the cold. At least that's what i would like to think.

I didn't notice him at first. Standing and watching me, for god damn how long. Did I just see a faint smile play on his face when i so perilously am dangling from the rails! Ignore and concentrate, tells my mind. He spoke as he removed his jacket. He was talking something about the water being cold and water pricking into the skin like knives. That caught my attention. Surely, he is exaggerating but i could feel my skin almost going through that pain. I squirmed. He held out his hand to help me. He had an easy charm and a positive aura. Hesitantly, i took it, he smelled of smoke.

We looked at each other and smiled. Yes, there is hope and another day.

piece of heaven

Between the hills, it stands
Brazen and solo, donning a bright red hat

Dews spread upon it, glistening in the sun,
And strong bricks providing the unfaltering support

Lurking amongst the sky kissing trees,
You provide a haven which looks so enticing

Hugging the flowing cotton clouds,
Not shivering, not complaining, you smile

The grey cloak you wear seems forbidding,
But it does not worry me, cos you are mine

Smuggling in your warm lap, i loosen up and stretch
Ready to welcome another day as the horizon turns red

Pearls of water drops on my hair,
The most precious jewellery am happy to possess

Luring me, you have me chained to your stony prison,
content and gleeful, this is where i have found my piece of heaven

Dream on!

Musing on a hot summer mundane day,

That will I ever get the courage to stray

Stray away from the milling crowd,

into the wild, a place not so loud

Amidst the nature, is where my soul is,

grappling with reality, trapped and sad it is

in fear, that I may never live the life I dream,

am filled with a conviction that it will unfold,

no matter how impossible it may now seem

 

Like a river, I am flowing away,

taking in every second, I ride and sway,

feeling the twinkling stars above me,

taxing my days, for a clearer path to see

 

Dream on dream on, is what the little girl in me says,

its not too far, its just going at its own sweet pace,

tenacious and strong, I succumb to the future,

as long as it takes me beneath the shadows of the nature. 

The View

She let out a sigh of relief. She had finally time to herself, done with all her chores. A day she had been waiting for, ever since she heard about the phenomenon in this new place they had moved into. She had limited time in hand until they return from the village. Washing her hand and face, without any further delay, she headed towards it. What started as a hurried walk soon broke into a run. She ran as she had never before afraid to miss it: Her white knee length dress hugging her against the wind, her brown long tresses bouncing behind. Careful, not to fall, her feet carried her through the green meadows towards the light. Finally it opened up, the tall unending mountains surrounded by lush green brooding forests. She stopped; it indeed seemed like the end of the world. The deep gorge laying between them irritated her, she wanted to go as near to the mountains as she could. She would find a way, she thought determinedly. She sat down at the end of the cliff, legs dangling aware of the danger below. She smiled. She felt free among them. Slowly she took out her smoke, she needed it to transcend into the other world. A world without fear and ties, a world just like her. The setting sun looked beautiful amongst the smoke haze. Yes, she had chosen the right time to come. She always preferred the dusk to the dawn. The sky looked like a painter’s board, the color palette changing with every stroke of the brush. As she looked at the sun, she could not help but wonder how similar they both are. Emanating light, drawing others to their brightness and unrestrained energy and burning them as they come closer. She wanted to end like the sun also, giving light and burning inside as long as it takes before the taking the final dip to the oblivion. She realized her smoke was long over and it had begun to get dark. She stood up, grudgingly but pleased and started her way back, only to return soon.