I almost missed an opportunity to see a very dear friend . Not knowing for certain if I'll ever see this person adds to the misery .
I have never really been able to fathom all the hype the media creates about Pakistan and India .The recent addition of bringing in singers from there with TV programs using this effectively , further adds to the already created hype .
I am not saying that it isn't right to do these things . It is perhaps good in more than one way .
My only worry is that oddly enough we are forced to associate ourselves with the real emotions. We watch soppy movies and programmes about failed relationships , about winners , about India-Pakistan and we cry over it . We let ourselves believe that we are kind , generous,wonderful and loving people.
In the end...we ...in particular- this generation ,forgets and moves on to other worries and this is a never ending cycle .
I have always recognized the problems we face .. Maybe that is what keeps me far away from the land of indifference . Having said that I also don't know how to set about a real change ? Or is the notion of being a changemaker flawed in itself ?Is it another way to just get rid of the guilt ? Is there self interest in this as well?
I have often asked myself why we need a few Rang De Basantis and Chak Des to make us think , to make us want to be nice human beings?
Why does not this happen on its own without any external force asking us to think about it?
Anyone listening?
5 comments:
I will start to offer my views from the last para of your post. There is a word in English dictinory called 'Motivation'. It refers to the initiation,
direction, intensity and persistence of behavior. And right from the inception of human life on this planet, human beings are being motivated with someone or something. Hence its perfectly OK if we are being motivated by 'Rang de basantis' or 'Chak des'. Its nice,normal and absolutely rational to get motivated for thinking and becoming nice human beings!! You see..if it was possible to happen on its own then there could have been no problems. Infact then there was no need of even 'GOD'. Now coming to that much fussed about "India-Pakistan" debate...lets now open our eyes and view this under the light of practicality and current world scenario. There is no use of making emotional gestures and calling for brotherhood or some heartily relation or liking. We should understand and accept that both India and Pakistan are independent and 'nuclear' nations which are now interdependent on each other in many ways for mutual prosperity and growth. Efforts should be made to enable trouble free trade and economics between the 2 nations and appropriate measures should be taken to curb the ugly face of terrorism on the border. Singing songs and playing cricket is just 'fine' but not more than that. And 1 last comment: Whether its India or Pakistan...if there is any threat to any nation's integrity or security due to other in any form, its perfectly just to take appropriate actions against the other. No compromise on that....
Gaurav ,
Getting inspired is good . I have drawn inspiration from several people and incidents just like anyone else would .
I was talking about problems that stare at us each day of our lives. From a little boy asking for food to the lady next door who cleans the toilets at work....we all in some ways turn a blind eye to it ...and most of us end us saying 'it's all a big scam'!And then we go and watch a movie like Swades and a young boy selling water for 25p with 'yeh jo des hai tera' playing in the background brings tears to our eyes...I was talking about this.I hope you understand what I am trying to say.
About India-Pakistan...I agree with you. However there were many human bonds and ties that were broken because of that partition and many families were affected...we cannot forget the humane part of the story too...
I like to believe that we all are in some strange ways related to each other...and I feel nothing can be solved by killing and fighting...there has to be another way...only if it is given a chance.
Zaibi,
May be I have misinterpreted you on that 'inspiration' part. I was just not convinced by your this statement:
"I have often asked myself why we need a few Rang De Basantis and Chak Des to make us think , to make us want to be nice human beings?
Why does not this happen on its own without any external force asking us to think about it? "
Secondly, the problems you are talking about are real grave problems which require real applicable solutions. And these problems are not "discrete" in nature. These are a chain of problems which require a through understanding and a series of actions or steps. So there is no use of weeping after watching a little boy asking for 25p in Swades. The movie is rightly meant to inspire you. It does not mean to make you weep and forget. It intends you to collect yourself, think about your options and take some step (big or small) to play your part in its rectification.
Thirdly, we have crossed 60 odd years of partition now . A whole generation has changed. You just cant go on cribbing about the 'broken' bonds and ties and affected families. It was a deep scar at the very heart of whole nation...its true. But we have to move forward, taking a lesson from past mistakes. Right?
Last but not the least, u are absolutely right by saying that nothing can't be solved with fighting or killing. But there are certain circumstances where you have to lift the weapons. tell me another alternate for the "Kargil" issue ???
Can you???
I do agree that we need to forget , reconcile with the past and move forward .That holds true for any bad experience that you have.
Every war ...every fight kills people and that is what I was talking about when I had said that nothing can be solved by killing and fighting.
Kargil was something that was required because the status quo was broken then...it was rightly fixed. I agree with you but the basic problem that has been the root cause for the strained relationship between the two countries...still continues to linger...I was only trying to say that this cannot be solved by whatever that has been happening for the last few decades...
As thinking individuals I feel we must not carry these misgivings about the people across the border.Media does a wonderful job of promoting hatred and then does an equally better job of covering it up perfectly.We must not get swayed by everything we hear or watch.On the contrary we must help bridge gaps in our own small ways.
You might disagree but I believe we all can do things...how big or small it is...it doesn't matter as long as you do something...like we are doing right now...'discussing' :)
Now I feel we are on the same terms. :-)
This was exactly what I was trying to tell you (except that media part). I am completely positive about the fact that we all can make a change for good in a big or small way and we should try to "make it happen"(as we say in RBS).
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