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............

Surmountablly Invincible !

Life is stunningly full of stupendous experiences. Once in a while, one goes through such. I am no different than the other nor am I indifferent to this worldliness.Well, these episodes ( I call them episodes as they come in short breaks after an interval of calm and quiet on the bunking front) are unique in themselves. It so happened the other day, on reaching school ( at the eleventh hour) I was rushing to be at the assembly grounds. On my run, I espied a head peeping through the little lane that passes between class 8-A and the chemistry lab.WHOA ! My steps turned like a homing device.Casually walking to that particular spot, a group of students ( about 11/12 of them) was observed, without a care in the world, casually standing there and gossiping. They saw and started walking to the main entrance near the library as if they were actually going to attend the assembly. On further scrutiny round the corner, another bunch of the skivvers were merrily discussing each others hair-styles, ( this seems the order of these days) and what not ! They were shunted to join the other late comers. The best part was that they all gave the same traditional lame excuses for not attending the assembly. Times have changed, but the excuses remain the same. This is what has been inherited from the seniors, ( and what a heritage ) I suppose ! Not taking any chances, a walk towards the cycle stand for seniors, found a few more. Anyhow, they were made to assemble in the grounds and they laughed their way  through a number of sit-ups. 

The next day the number was less. And then word got around that avoiding the assembly was not good for their health. Nonetheless, the XIth went one step further. They started parking their bicycles at the entrance of the senior school.And how they skipped the school ! This continued for a couple of days. The Princy warned them against doing that ! HA ! SO what ! The illegal parking continued unabated. Then fell the axe. The JMPs were called. Even they were sympathetic towards the antics of the pupils. The Princy wouldnt budge. The scene that followed was really funny. Along came a couple of recruits and carried the bicycles, locked or not, and disappeared down the road. The owners got the shock of their lives when they wanted to skivv from the school. Their escape vehicles were not anywhere to be found ! They reluctantly were expected to return to the classes. No ! No ! They sprawled out in the seniors' football field basking in the warmth of the sun with a 'wouldn't care attitude' plastered on their smug faces. No doubt the effect was superb. The little area near the small basketball court was clean as a whistle. NO bicycles !

All kids these days think they are invincible without realising that they are still in the learning stages and imbibing every day, day in and day out. They are not HE-MAN or masters of this world at present. No doubt their time will come, and come it will. Itis at that period in their lives that will be the ultimate litmus test for their capabilities and abilities. The accompanying doodles try to show that. What did you say ,the name  of the doodler? One o Well I shall mention it when I do get the information. Well, till next time. . . . . . . . .