Lockdown-4-Roorkee

Lockdown-4 

Go Green. Hip,hip hurrah! 

The district of Hardwar, Uttrakhand has been given the status of Green amidst the Covid-19 precautions and relaxations. The restricted freedom, bestowed on us beleagured citizens, is being celebrated albeit with caution. On the flip side there are areas in many states which are still under strict restrictions being given the RED ZONE tag. Soon, they too should be revelling, but if the restrictions are followed to the T. 

In the area that I live, in the home my ancestors made 150 years ago, along with my family, had to shut down completely. Although our houses are back to back with hardly any space in between, with everyone knowing everyone, it was difficult initially. However, the gravity of the situation , the handsome cane of the law and  the compulsion of survival, compelled all to fall in line. Initially, like little kids who are told to do this and do that, they revolted (which is a very normal reaction to authority) and took to the streets as if life was normal. The scenes that I witnessed were like something from the "Planet of the Apes", wherein Caesar, though caged longed for freedom even in the restricted area that he and his fellow apes were allowed in.https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2472384/all-the-planet-of-the-apes-movies-ranked 

Just imagine that! The peole failed to see the invisible domed cage enveloping the very lives of each. It was unthinkable that one is free yet freedom would be restricted. And how quickly humans adapted to it. Soon, streets were deserted and we were untouched so far by this endemic whilst all over the country infection was takeing it toll with many dying. Yet, to us, it seemed a far off thing. For, we felt secure and followed the norms in these extraordinary times, although, the news flashes on the idiot box  showed that the grim reaper was at work. 

There was no sirens wailing, no medical attendents looking like cosmonauts around us. This invokes to the mind the movie Contagion (2011). https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1598778/ .

The initial shock had worn off. The hasty and for-the-camera distribution of food packets had by now trickled down to nothing. The fact that such benevolence could not be sustained for long hit all of us, which no doubt, was bound to happen.  It appears that the locals had little problems to scream about. The brunt of the lockdown was felt by the migrant labour. Their condition was really bad. They are the ones who got sucked into the vortex of suffering: lack of work ,food and shlelter. On social media much is talked about, much is shared, But coming to brass tacks, we all did our bit in hwatever way we could, especially this month being Ramadan, in which, alms are given, food is distributed among the have-nots. 

Our district has been given the green status in this lockdown-4. This has had a effective affect on all here. Life is slowly, but surely limping back to narmalcy, Of course this will take some time though. Places of mass gatherings still remain closed. On the whole, work has started, restaurants have been allowed to make home delivery, barbers are back to work. The roads and streets are busy with a little traffic, shops are opening on alternate days. We are happy for us, but sad for those migrants. Let us all pray things will improve for them too!

How about you and your area? 

Stay Safe, Stay Healthy and Stay Blessed.

Till next time, 

Lockdown - The Fourth

A relevant topic in the media is the lockdown. Good or bad, this has affected us in as many ways as the colours of the rainbow. For many, it has been a tragic experience, for some a new way to make money and for others a stagnation. But the common thread which binds us all is the experience. The way our lives been been totally turned around, is new. A kaleidoscope of scenes in "I am Legend" flash across the mind. The lonely streets, buildings taken over by nature, the once concrete jungle vanishing under creepers, cement sidewalks peeped through by weeds and wild plants. Kudos to the imagination of the write/s, producer/s, directors who screened their vivid imagination for the world to see and ponder on!
If one sneeks around during the lockdown period (with a murmured prayer of not getting caught), one sees deserted dust strewn streets, silent bazaars, countering the vibrant picture drawn up by Sarojini Naidu in her classic poem In the Bazaars of Hyderabad. 

Deserted streets

Silence roams the streets, a calm permeates the air, hush-hush envelopes the structures. As I traversed the streets, once in a while, a shadow flits across a roof, a figure peeps through a window. Some brave enough to venture out of neccesity rush to an small open window of a house to buy something, keeping a watchful eye for the law keepers who roam the streets swinging the arm of the law, stricking those who dared to venture out. While treading cautiously, sometimes hiding under the arches and recesses of entrances of the closely packed houses which help in avoiding being noticed. I felt like one of the spies in those cloak and dagger movies, more like James Pond, 007.5 in the Magazine "MAD".

In need of a smoke, my eyes focused on a shop in the inner lanes and espied a wee nondiscript shop from which I occasionally bought my smokes. In reply to my soundless knock, a face peeped through a crack in the window, recognising me, handed the smokes to me. Paying him off , I moved.

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie.

On my return journey, I noticed something very peculiar. Something was missing from my vista. Hah! The Street Dogs! They were not out on the streets. Though this would be the best time for them, no annoying traffic, no interfering humans, absolute freedom. Normally, they could be seen near sweet meat shops, tea shops, wherever some kind soul gave them something to eat.  They have their regular hauntings. However, tripping along, I came across these dogs. A common expression is to live a dog's life; looking at these dogs, I wonder if many of us would want to really live this life!  With no one to feed them, none to shoo them off, left on their own, what better than to sleep it out during the day. The sounds of silence have hit them too.

The Wall Doodle!

The world is a wow place. And to see with seeing eyes is very rewarding. Having returned home, I swayed myself to open the bank of photographs I have; treasured momeries stored for life. Among them I found this very interesting doodle on the wall of the classroom of the school I was teaching in. These walls have a depth of meaning and gives away the mental status of the doodler at the time when his/her thoughts vented themselves onto to the ever enticing wall. Rarely, have I seen such use of the walls of the classroom. It seems it was a trend. 

Rumi, the great Persian poet says: "Listen to silence. It has much to say."

So long! 

Till we meet again............

The Smartphone!

I am back!. Having left the DPS, Bhagalpur in 2019, I finally came back to my roots. It was saddening as well as exhiliriating. To finally come back home! with technology evolving, I was able to keep stock of my 9 years of memory at the school with me. The smartphone is really one of the better gifts of this contribution of  the inventors.

And these past two months have been an experience no one would have thought possible. With the lockdown, I could not stay idle ( somehow I cannot sit doing 'nothing') and the ease of excess to the internet made keeping busy a good prospect.

I had been advised (free, of course) to begin a youtube channel, but somehow or the other, I really didn't get down to it. But the thought had been somewhere at the back of my mind. So, I started on my journey of searching for sound, video editing software. This took quite sometime. And, then the camera, for recording. A lot of hairpulling, going through umpteen of sites, advertisements --- thus passed many more days. And THEN, I happened to come across this  video explaining how I could use the smartphone as a webcam! Voila! Then remained a recording software. Luck was smiling, it seemed. I discovered OBS, a studio with which so much could be achieved. Shazam! I started making videos......

The Wall

With all this advances, my mind also dwells on an age old habit of doodling. Many varients space the world in offices, in schools and even in government offices. One of interest is that on the walls, like this one, on the left, spray painted. And that too on the wall of my son's room. It was his passion those days. He had left pratically no wall without his signature doodles! They were unique and addded funkiness to his otherwise sober room. Moving onto another surface, very common in schools is the doodling on the desks. Some are very interesting like the one just below. It is interesting to note that the English literature book is opn, yet the artist ( I call these doodlers artists) doddles in Hindi! And what! Very intriguing and interesting. 

The Desk

It seems no surface is safe from the artist who has spent time adding his/her art, especially on school desks, which is thought as a free canvas to let their espressions run riot!

The world misses a lot of these artistic expression for want of notice.

In the words of Albert Einstein:"Creativity is contagious. Pass it on!"

Till next time (it will be soon), stay safe, stay healthy and stay blessed!

What a Life!

The past few months have been quite hectic. With the opening of a new Delhi Public School at Greater Ranchi and shuttling between Bhagalpur and Ranchi, really put me off rails for a short time. starting a new school was quite an experience for me. Nevertheless, another experience in this life before it is cut short. I realized that keeping oneself involved and thus busy keeps one in good health and updated with the world around; added to this, a positive mind and attitude works wonders.

The Geography lesson tinged with love.

And such is life. Nonetheless, when one changes place of residence or work, one experiences all the hiccups of settling down. However, one aspect remains the same. The People. The nature of people doesn't change, irrespective of language, colour of skin, region. They possess the same characteristics as would be found anywhere in our country, India. But then, it all depends on your attitude towards others. Courtesy and thought for the other play an important role in bonding with your new surroundings, even then we have The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
This reminds me of an aged person who shares my office. He is such a cribber. Always finding faults with everything around him. He practically pollutes the whole working environment of the office. So much so, after using the loo, he refuses to flush it. What a character, over 80 years, stooped back, slow as a tortoise........ but work he must. As a very senior citizen, we have no option but to keep out of his way and pray that at no time a confrontation should arise, for, it is against my education and culture that I be rude or discourteous to a senior citizen. You may think I am old fashioned, but no. It is the education at home and in the schools that has inbred this attitude in me, which in the present time of strife and rage in the youth, it is required to be inculcated in them.

AH! Fame and Love.
Who is so base as not to desire.

How is the youth of today so different in attitude and thinking from us of the generation of the 50s/60s? Teaching has opened many venues of observation, one of which is that parents are so busy raking in the moolah, they forget the finer aspects of passing on the moral values to the kids. A small observation would clear my point. On my journey to school, the vehicle had stopped at a red light. From the opposite direction came a two wheeler with a kid behind the male rider. The two wheeler was guided in the wrong lane, crossed the red signal and speeded down the road. Both the riders we re without helmets. What will the kid pick up from this action of the elder male (possibly his dad). So, in our actions the message is clearly conveyed to the kids. This is how we behave so irresponsibly, without a second thought to the far reaching affect of our actions.
The image alongside, represents the aspirations of the doodler. His/her text book was no hindrance to script his desire at the time of doodling. The strong lines, the beautiful design interwoven with alphabets with a special meaning for the artist. This happens when the lecture one is attending is more on the boring side.
Until next time. Take care and stay blessed.