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The Flower Day

 March 21 is an absolutely unique day. Our blog would reveal its various significances one by one. Today let us look at its relevance as the flower day.

March 21 is seasonally central.  In the northern hemisphere, it augurs 'well', rather, augurs fragrantly and beautifully, the arrival of the spring season. In the cold climate, this recurrent blooming of life is most noteworthy. In fact, this rebirth is almost like a regular reassertion of life. 

Even in an India where not every nook n corner is covered with bitter cold monochromal snow, this reawakening of life is insistent, inevitably, though subtly. The 'Flame of Forest' flags, for instance, itself most wondrously even in the concrete jungle. 

Have you noticed how the pale pink n crimson bunches of the rangoon creeper make every evening in to a concert of fragrance and lovely shades of pink? In fact, around March 21, bloom very many fragrant flowers making each evening a symphony of scents that drowns the stale odours of a burgeoning metro. 

In fact, flowers, even the wild ones, are so beautiful that just one flower day on March 21 is not enough. Every day deserves to be a flower day. Why, so? Well, flowers are not just beautiful. That beauty, be it fascinating fragrances, be it mesmerising shapes, be it captivating colours n shades, be it soft n smooth textures, each has its own use for the growth of the plant/shrub/tree. True examples of beauty with brains, in brief!

My brother, Sanju, who has a green thumb, has this lovely balcony garden where nestle unbelievably beautiful flowers sharing with each other their uniquenesses. Whenever I go to his place, in the company of his most loving and lovely Tashu, the colourful beagle, i spend quite some time in this balcony full of blooms. Some h(e)avenly feel it is!

Flowers can make our typical city balconies with the inevitable washing machine and drying clothes in to a vista of gentle grandeur, right? Here at Mukund Nagar, we have this May Flower. A few drops of the first summer shower, and it bursts out most colourfully from the dry clods, like my colacasia who remembers without fail to bloom back circa March 21.

Flowers, in other words, are not just pretty. They are recurrent remembrances of the eternal aspect of life, forever blooming, however much the winter may try to wipe out every colour, each fragrance. May every day be the flower day, making it most meaningful!

Pratima@ At Mukund Nagar, we have the green champak. So difficult it is to locate its little flower whose colour and shape mimic the leaves. I keep on distributing its seeds so that its fragrance would freshen up the lives of all my acquaintances! Oh, yes, rather than bouquets, better to give seeds/plants as presents. What say?

Quote of the day:                                                        Says Theodore Roethke, "Deep in their roots, all flowers keep the light."

Word of the day: destination                                  Destination is the final place where someone or something is going, traveling, or being sent. It refers to the end point of a journey. A flower proves that progress is a beautiful journey, where the bud to bloom to fruit to seed cycle,  every stage is both a destination and a pilgrimage fostering life! 

The bestest friend

 The bestest friend of a daughter is most often her Dad. From the day she is born, he is the only man in her life who would never harm/hurt her, a role seconded by her brothers. Yet, for all children, baby-dom onwards, there is one special relationship which is pure love, best solace and sheer comfort zone. Yes, that is it, the grandparents. 

As for parents, they, too, are first time in to that unknown territory called parenthood. Often, hence, huge expectations they have, both from the brood and their own selves. As for grandparents, they would have withered all possible seasons of that much loved trouble called childhood, their own children's, of nieces', of nephews', of their friends', and so on. 

Not much bothers them as a result. Tempered by age and creaking knees, they are more tolerant, and less hell-bent on discipline. Strict they might have been with their own children. For grandchildren, they are love, affection, kindness, gentleness personified! 

A most beautiful relationship it is. A grandfather, the boss in his office, can stand in a queue for a bus because the grandson loves a bus ride. Why, he can even request the conductor to allow the child to ring the bell as the kiddo loves the 'tring, tring'. 

He can stand for hours near an excavation site because the bundle of joy in his arms loves the mechanical arm going up n down, digging the surface, piling up the soil. This most meaningless activity which even the machine might hate is joy for this sixty-something fellow 'coz the grandson finds it fascinating n fun!

They are generations apart. Yet they share very many activities n interests with the same joy n thrill, the bell in the temple, the running around in the garden, the daily walk to the temple, to the garden, even to the nursery school. Least concerned about who is listening to them, both are busy chatting away to glory with equal enthusiasm.

Both share the same t.v. serials, though often for differing reasons. When the grandparent misses some telecast, the kid loves recreating it in his own way, thus forging/bonding a sense of togetherness which binds them better than fevicol.

If the kid falls down, falls ill, is scolded by the over-driven parents, the go-to person is always the grandparents who are considerate, though their children might consider them (over)indulgent. The eldest and the youngest generations teach each other a lot, too, and both are ready to laugh off the mistakes. 

Soon the grandchildren grow up. Their interests begin to shift gears, leaving that innocent island called childhood far far behind, while the other n better half of this equation keep on (a)waiting their return like a port to which ships no longer sail, like a sidey station where super fast trains never halt, like a beautiful ruin singing paeans to a glory, to an era long lost!

Pratima@As this is the week devoted to grandparents, especially to grannies, hence this ode to a lovely n loving relationship. Sad are the kids whose mothers consciously send them to a creche just to emotionally harass, ill-treat, and thus teach a lesson to the in-laws! Consciously cut off from a treasure trove of togetherness to which there are very few exceptions, such children develop a host of problems later.

Quote of the day:                                   .                    "Grandparents have silver in hair, but sheer gold in their hearts." 

Word of the day: ancestry                                          Ancestry refers to a person’s line of descent, representing the family origin, lineage, and the ancestors (parents, grandparents, etc.) from whom follows the biological descent. It defines one’s heritage, bloodline, and inherited characteristics, often tracing back through multiple generations. 

Special!

 Special is this day. The very nature seems to be celebrating it. Even in the urban area, you can hear the nature's musician heralding it. Yes, it is the koel singing. Why, the fragrance of the mangoes ripening is unmistakable. No smell of the war infested petrol/diesel/gas can obstruct it.

The spring is in the very air! Indeed! Whether, or not, you want to "be Indian, become Indian" the currently hip way which frowns on the January 1 celebrations, Padwa pulls you in to its naturally vibrant magic. 

It is a festival of all the five senses. It satiates all of them to the fill. Look at the sense of taste, for instance. The customary neem chutney, the very first eat of the auspicious day, mixes in every possible taste, bitter, pungent, salty, sweet, sour, and so on. Thus begins the tasteful day  (and the new year on a healthy note) to satiate our taste buds with the Padwa special amrkhand (a unique mix of the shrikhand and the season special mangoes) or juicy gulab jamuns, not to forget the veggie rich pulaw. This beginning of the new year is the ultimate! Proves time and again that never late is no new beginning!

How can you ever forget the sugar gathi that decorate the special pooja full of all that is purest, earnest and fragrant? No wonder, just as the Gregorian New Year matters, this samvatsar special beginning, auspiciously inaugurates the happy feel of a new beginning. 

Pratima@This Padwa, March 19, is also Aai's birth anniversary. Adds a unique affection filled feel to a full day, to be spent as much as possible in the company of my brothers, as per Aai's loving wishes! 

Quote of the day:                                                        "No matter how hard the past, you can always begin anew," says Gautam Budhdha.

Word of the day: Outset                                           Outset refers to the very beginning, the first stage. 

On the Eve of the New Year

 Yes, on March 19 is the Padwa this year. Hence 18/3 is the last day of last year. The lost year, in a way! Why? Well, roughly from March, 2025 to today, there has been a march past of very many unhappy events, right? 

Why repeat them? As it is, the on-going war has vitiated the ambience enough! Why add to it a few more sighs, right? Instead, let us list a few positivities possibly!

Yesterday, for instance, I heard the Chief Minister say that the Agri Uni is experimenting on, and managed to create and test,  seeds that can withstand the crazy climate changes in the era of environmental deterioration the world over. 

Similarly, there was this news that the Pune MP would host an exhibition of the 'desi', native brand of cows. Of course, despite the hurtful comments below this announcement, it is heartening to know that local animals, local trees are prioritised. In such a change are rooted real answers to environmental stability. 

The 'Flame of the Forest', for instance, is very beautiful. Unlike the native brand of trees, however, it cannot stop soil erosion though. Slowly, the process leads to desertification, which, anyways, huge urbanisation and hence heavy concretisation are hastening! 'Local to global', in brief, need not be a political stance. It is an existential choice.

Like the NCL attempt to create an alternative fuel source. Like the trial to separate the oxygen molecule and create a flame out of water. Such creations could, like the solar energy, lessen our dependence on 'other'     're-souces'! Self-sufficient is indeed independent!

Pratima@March 18 is Papa's birth anniversary. Vinoba Bhave once said, "there are some great souls who never attained the much deserved far n wide fame. They yet are the real stalwarts." Papa indeed was one of such  stupendous souls. Following forever his honest to the core, humane footsteps full of humility is the real tribute to him.

Quote of the day:                                                          "Our history is a living history, that has throbbed, withstood and survived many centuries of sacrifice. Now it comes forward again with strength. The seeds, dormant for such a long time, break out today with some uncertainty, although they germinate in a world that is at present characterized by confusion and uncertainty,” asserts Rigoberta Menchú, a South American Nobel Peace Prize winning activist from Guatemala.

Word of the day: endemic                                       Endemic shows the relevance of the local! Endemic, unlike the world wide pandemic,  means a disease that is always present in a population within a geographic area, typically year-round.

Mercy?!?

 Aruna Shanbaug. One of the most tragic cases in the Indian criminal records. She was a beautiful, committed nurse with an absolutely fit n fine life literally lined up for her. A stupid fool's lurid lust and macabre anger ruined that possibility positively, and forever.

Due to the severe strangulation, she went in to a deep coma from which she never ever woke up. Except for her colleague nurses, all supports vanished in to thin air. She 'lived' in that vegetative state for forty-one years. Pinky Virani, a journalist, wrote not only a book on the injustice thus heaped on her due to a ridiculous fool's cheap behaviour, but Virani also filed a writ for Aruna Shanbaug's right to dignified death. 

In 2011 was passed a landmark judgement allowing passive euthanasia, that is, disconnecting all support systems of a comatose patient, long sustained on life support systems. Aruna was not allowed that dignity though, as Virani was a third party, and had no right to demand such an order.

Yet due to the plea on her behalf, mercy killing became a raging debate resulting in the 'passive euthanasia' right to a dignified death of a comatose patient on life support systems for a very long period.

Active euthanasia, in the form of a lethal injection, is still not legally valid in India. A living will which expresses the legal desire to end one's life is doubtful and debatable even today. 

Some small mercy indeed! Let me explain why I think so. During my Ph. D. days, I freelanced with 'The New Indian Express' initially, later followed by the 'Newstime' of the 'Eenadu' group, while writing intermittently for 'The Hindu' and a portal. I wrote an extensive article in the NIE on this theme. 

Both the legal and the medical fraternities whom I interviewed for this article  agreed with me that in an India, bursting at the seams, the elderly abuse would be terrible if such a legality were to exist, just like the 'living will' notion might.

My argument was also that women would be the target of this law, especially if 'will'ful, or otherwise, property was the terrible temptation. Old, ignorant, illiterate persons, especially women, would thus be at the receiving end, if legally the innocent ' right' were allowed en masse. None can predict how quasi-religious groups would at such times pressurise under the spiritual garb!

Right now, passive euthanasia is allowed, but only under the strict observation of the court. Recently, the issue yet again came to limelight, despite the war in the Middle East, due to the Harshit Rana case. He, too, was in a vegetative state, a comatose case for more than a decade.

Sad to even read the parents' anguish. The tearful family's final farewell to him at the AIMS doorstep where passive euthanasia would be administered belies their dedicated care of him for more than a decade. A near and dear one's death is never merely dry legality. It is a maelstrom that shakes the roots of existence.  May none thus suffer!

Pratima@ The worst nightmare on this earth is parents having to suffer their child's demise. Every death is terrible. Yet a parent having to suffer that terrible loss is impossible even to imagine. Hope stupid fools committing suicide due to flimsy reasons would understand that. Much worse is the obsession with some online game such as 'pubg', or whatever! Internet gaming, like every other obsession, is a horror which must not be allowed to claim young lives, and to heap horrible harm on families!

Targetting Talent

 From within the Bollywood music industry come two deeply disappointing news items. Both deal with dissatisfaction with the status quo. Arijit Singh has decided to distance himself from the industry. 

The reason is the terrible petty politicking which he has hinted at. When substandard people are promoted due to their proximity to the powerful, the creative souls sure suffer suffocation, as the subterrenean message is loud and clear; namely, "a substitute is available! Who cares for so-called standards/quality?" 

Shreya Ghoshal is the other name who, too, refuses to lip-sync on stage. Nothing can be more offensive to a talented person, when/if targeted technologically. Most often, technology is mere repetition, especially in India. Most of the Indian software industry, too, for instance, is mere application, not creation, right?

Being able to use a software needs no brains. If the flowchart is available, with a little regular practice, anyone is fluent at technology, sans the "t" of the talent. Why, babies manage bots and apps these days! Why use technology to glorify the sub-standard? That is the question!

Incidentally, if such, such are the conditions in the 'industry' called popular music, imagine the plight of the talented, without the PR and/or connections, in the classical music ambit! As it is, so limited is the audience here that established artists prefer playing to the gallery! 

To get a stage to perform on is tough without the purse strings being loose or without being a pawn in the power games behind the dazzle. Imagine in such a scenario the plight of the committed artist in the later stage of his/her life, given the ageism horribly rampant in the midst of our society.

Is the social media a solution? 'Yes and no, may be', 'oui et non, peut être', as the Frenchies put it. The audience here is shallow, too; prefers, hence, dazzle, while being fickle, as fingers flit faithlessly past many videos n messages, right? 

Solution, if any? Slowly but surely build from scratch, if necessary, a caring clout. Use it to sustain self and the others equally talented in need of a break. Sustain soulful survival, in brief!

Pratima@ Targetted, talent always finds worthy solutions, without cheap compromises. Adaptation to circumstances, intelligently but sensitively, is the solution, right?

Quote of the day:                                                       "When you appreciate talent, you inspire excellence." Anonymous.

Word of the day: Indefatigable.                              Indefatigable indicates someone who is untiring, relentless, and persists in tasks without getting discouraged, characterized by constant effort and total dedication.