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I saw a line of migrant workers make their way to their homes, despite the lockdown. That's when I realised the privilege I had- of living with my family.
I saw a line of migrant workers make their way to their homes, despite the lockdown. That’s when I realised the privilege I had- of living with my family.
As I stepped out for putting the clothes on the clothesline, I passed a casual look at the deserted Sohna Road. In that fraction of a second, something caught my attention. From my multi-storeyed condominium – stream of tiny beings walking.
Marching in unison, with nothing or a bundle of essentials sitting atop their head. With their small petite bodies, they looked like a colony of ants, marching for the home-run. And along with them smaller bobbing bodies.
The string seemed endless. I wondered in this lockdown, what on earth were they doing out on the road. When even birds are horror-struck at the dead silence of the urban spaces they flutter in.
Just then, I saw a WhatsApp message which explained, what I call the ‘Long march.’ They were the migrant daily wage workers, who in these times, were abandoned by their employers. And the tiny bobbing bodies were their famished, undernourished children. The kids flapped their slippers against the erupted volcano like streets of Gurgaon, following their parents.
Due to the uncertain and ambiguous nature of the current situation, they have nowhere to look for hope, except their hamlets. And sooner than I would have imagined, they were on the news. There were pictures of crowded bus terminals, sobbing families and other similar horrors.
However, humanity seemed to rise and several people put up kiosks of food and water for these poor souls treading back home. I feel these are the fearless people who brave the lockdown and walk the long distances to be with their loved ones. Wouldn’t it console them to see their parents, hear their children laugh and have the reassurance of their partners? My househelp told me about a friend of hers who walked three days to reach his village. Though he was quarantined, he feels safer now that he is at home.
It is time to thank our stars, that we are home, safe and secure. That we didn’t have to travel so many miles, just to have the comfort and safety of home. It may not be easy, being anchored at home, especially when most of us are always up and about.
In our own houses, we have no ‘me corner.’ And often, we can’t take peaceful work calls. In our own reigns we don’t know where the help kept the essential stuff. We don’t know how to talk to and what to talk about with our own families! And we have more gadgets in the house than people. In our private precincts, our eyes may pop out due to the excessive screen time. But at least, we are together.
This brings me to the smallest unit- our homes and families. Trying times are the bonding times. We are comforted, reassured, and relieved to see our loved ones safe and secure.
And until then, the roads are calm. The malls are sleeping. Markets are silent. Clubs are still. Schools are lull. But homes and hearths are buzzing with laughter, chatter and occasional silence. The balconies are the new DJ console and dance floor. Sometimes they even double up as bars. And all the dust laden board games can breathe some fresh air.
Husbands are cooking in the kitchen. Wives are mopping the floor. Children are making the beds. There is a satisfying calm in the house but there is stifled noise in this silence.
My daughter says we are caged like Rapunzel and Corona is the evil witch. But my son says it is like we are living a Hollywood Sci-fi and Corona is the Green Goblin. Both the analogies provide virtual entertainment to me. Lest, not to forget the mythological angle by the PM. Lockdown is as sacrosanct as the lakshaman rekha, of the Ramayana.
In the meantime, animals are having a Raahgirir moment. Civet cat was spotted on the now silent roads of Mumbai. Leopard like animal was spotted in the now lull Chandigarh.
As far Gurgaon, for my man and I, we are already at the climax of this virtual entertainment. We are unsure, uncertain, ambivalent and precarious. Because, picture abhi baaki hai mere dost.
Two weeks to the finale. Until then, be safe and stay within the lakshaman Rekha.
A version of this was earlier published here.
Picture credits: YouTube
Entangled in balls of yarn; origins unknown...With a blunt pencil, the quintessential machine and the cacophony; hope to knit a flying carpet and steer the magic carpet around… Yours truly, Slave Of Words read more...
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People say that women are the greatest enemies of women. I vehemently disagree. It is the patriarchal mindset that makes women believe in the wrong ideology.
The entire world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. It should be a joyful day, but unfortunately, not all women are entitled to this privilege, as violence against women is at its peak. The experience of oppression pushes many women to choose freedom. As far as patriotism is concerned, feminism is not a cup of tea in this society.
What happens when a woman decides to stand up for herself? Does this world easily accept the decisions of women in this society? What inspires them to be free of the clutches of the oppression that women have faced for ages? Most of the time, women do not get the chance to decide for themselves. Their lives are always at the mercy of someone, which can be their parents, siblings, husband, or children.
In some cases, women do not feel the need to make any decisions. They are taught to obey the patriarchal system, which makes them believe that they are right. In my family, I was never taught to make decisions on my own. It was always my parents who bought dresses and all that I needed.
14 years after her last feature film Dhobi Ghat, storyteller extraordinaire comes up with her new film, Laapataa Ladies, a must watch.
*Some spoilers alert*
Every religion around the world dictates terms to women. The onus is always on women to be ‘modest’ and cover their faces and bodies so men can’t be “tempted”, rather than on men to keep their eyes where they belong and behave like civilized beings. So much so that even rape has been excused on the grounds of women eating chowmein or ‘men will be men’. I think the best Hindi movie retort to this unwanted advice on ‘akeli ladki khuli tijori ki tarah hoti hai’ (an alone woman is like an open jewellery box) came from Geet in Jab We Met – Kya aap gyan dene ke paise lete hain kyonki chillar nahin hain mere paas.
The premise of Laapataa Ladies is beautifully simple – two brides clad in the ghunghat that covers their identity get mixed up on a train. Within this Russian Doll, you get a comedy of errors, a story of getting lost, a commentary on patriarchy’s attitude towards women, a mystery, and a tale of finding oneself, all in one. Done with a mostly light touch that has you laughing and nodding along.
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