G : Gratitude #AtoZChallenge2020

Last week, in my post on Crazy people during lockdown, I had thanked people providing us essential services in these times. Many people subsequently wrote to me about the need of gratitude in this crisis situation. So I am keeping my post simple today. I will be practicing the most common but one of the most effective gratitude exercises - Journaling. I will write down few things which I am grateful for, especially grateful because these things help me to deal with the lockdown better. Here is my lockdown gratitude list:

1. I am grateful that, at this time, I have a job and I can provide for my family.

2. I am grateful that I have a ceiling on my head and a home where social distancing is possible in a comfortable manner.

3. I am grateful that I have family members, who help me deal with my anxieties. 

4. I am grateful that I have a roof top terrace, where I can go for a walk, get some fresh air and see the sun / moon

5. I am grateful for internet, because without it there would be no job, no entertainment and no online deliveries of groceries.

6. I am grateful that I have a three year old son, who makes me feel good with his happy antics, even when 'Work From Home'  hours exceed the acceptable norms. 

What are the things you are grateful for today? Do share with me in comments section!

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My theme for this year's #AtoZchallenge is Lock-down Blues. I intend to write and talk about how I deal with it, what it inspires me to read or watch or any aspect of it which fascinates me. You can read the theme reveal post here. 

Previous Challenges : Letter G

2017: Grandfather

2018: Glow-in-the-Dark

2019: God in Hindi Films / Bollywood

G : God in Hindi Films / Bollywood #AtoZChallenge 2019

God is everywhere in India! Not only in hearts and temples, but also in its marriages, deaths, rituals, opening ceremonies and of course in Hindi films. God is not only in our prayers and blessings, but also in our fights, arguments, riots, politics and of course in names of several production houses in Bollywood. (Balaji Telefilms, Shree Ashtvinayak Films etc.) God is known by different names, comes in varied forms, shapes & sizes and of course lends itself to Hindi films in myriad ways.

There are some definite films like PK and Oh My God! that talk about commercialization of religion and the tool it has become in hands of few people. Both take different routes though in its resolution. 

Then there are several films that are mythological stories about Hindu Gods, largely drawn from epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata. Jai Santoshi Maa released in 1975 was a great commercial hit. Interestingly these epics and films, humanizes Gods, that greatly enhances accessibility of Hinduism as a religion. 

Then there are Hindi films that present God as this supremely unifying secular force. Though God may not be playing a key role in such films. In Amar Akbar Anthony, a commercial potboiler, three brothers separated in childhood, are raised by people from different religions. Clearly God's role here was to further the money making ability of the movie by pandering to people from different faiths. As more than religion, the brothers' vocations played an important role in furthering the story. Interestingly it played on stereotypes of these religions without offending its viewers as world was simpler then. Like Christian Anthony was an alcohol guzzling, local flirtatious lout while Muslim Akbar was a tailor and a part-time qawaali singer. 

There are several films where God is not present, but film-makers present mothers and doctors as Gods. A dying hero will wake up with the touch of his mother. Or a mother will kill several bad guys in an action film and imagery given to her would be of Goddess Kali. This would lend legitimacy to her actions and almost deify her. Then doctors are also messengers of Gods, as they don't treat patients but perform miracles, as suggested by Hindi films. Though off-late Hindi films have made new villains out of the doctors. Watch Gabbar is Back or I to know what I mean. Either a cliche should die a hero or live long enough to become a villain. (Quote rehashed from The Dark Knight).

An evergreen cliche which I must mention and the one which is often used as a device to further the story in Hindi Films, is that 'God is a Deal'. God has to perform miracles and prove itself over and over again. When a doctor gives up in Hindi Films, he comes out of Operation Theater and uses an oft repeated phrase. "Inhe dawa nahi dua ki zaroorat hai! " (He doesn't need medicine. He needs prayers)

An iconic scene from film Deewar, is the best representation of this cliche. A mega hero, Amitabh Bachchan, who is shown as an atheist throughout the film, goes to a temple to challenge the God  (prays in gangsta style). He challenges The God to prove himself and save his dying mother. Watch the scene with subtitles below. 

Disclosure: I write this post from a hospital today. I had a surgery done in the morning and have written this post under the influence of medication and in a really uncomfortable seating position. The word "Challenge" in this challenge lives up-to its name today. Mujhe Dawa aur Dua dono ki zaroorat hai! (I need both medicine and prayers).

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My theme for this year's #AtoZchallenge is Hindi Film Industry / Bollywood cliches. You can read the theme reveal post here.

2017 Challenge Post from Letter G: Grandfather - A tribute post. Heartfelt! And insightful about an era gone by. Click here to read. 

2018 Challenge Post from Letter G: Glow-in-the-Dark - A fun post about an under utilized innovation. Click here to read. 

G : Glow-in-the-Dark #AtoZchallenge

Glow-in-the-Dark world is highly skewed towards fashion and apparel. Hair color, shoes, bling of any kind, clothes etc. etc.  Also this dark world is biased. Biased towards fairer sex. Most of the glow-in-the-Dark items are meant for women. Cosmetics just over do it.  Nail polish especially...

Don't underestimate the power of Glow-in-the-Dark innovation. The world has just trivialized it by using it for those things that don't have the ability to change the world.

For example, when man discovered fire, they did things with it. Things that harnessed its energy and destructive abilities. In the hands of a fashionista, fire would have been just used to cut hair, never realizing its full potential. (You don't believe me? Right! See the video. Now wipe that smirk off your face and read on.)

I refuse to let glow-in-the-dark phenomenon die on the ramp-walks and in late night parties. Here are some suggestions to let this innovation really help the mankind, especially the men. (pun intended)

1. Glow-in-the-Dark Western Closets / Toilet Seats: You can't expect men to pee in the dark without them knowing where to aim. Especially if they are drunk, which they often are. This will improve overall cleanliness of our surroundings.

2. Glow-in-the-Dark Mood Boards for Women: Men like simple communication. They like objective answers. If you are in the mood, show them the green mood board. If not, show the red one. It is their cue to get out of the bed, grab a beer and watch the football match on TV. Don't talk. They really don't listen ;-) This will help maintain domestic bliss. 

3. Glow-in-the-Dark Flip-flops, Mobile Chargers and pills box : Men are lazy. Period. Don't try to change them. So things they might need in the night regularly should be luminous as they won't bother to switch on the light. I have mentioned 3 things. But this category has immense possibilities for young entrepreneurs (I have thought of a name for this category - Nighttime Glow-in-the-Dark Knickknacks). This will help ensure that things remain the same way in the morning as they were before you slept off. You don't want him to take your OC pills or go to the toilet barefoot and bring the germs back to the bed.

4. Glow-in-the-Dark Snacks : Men are clumsy. In movie halls, lot of things are glow-in-the-dark type. Then why not food? (Of course some one has to work on the edible phosphors for it to work). If this breakthrough is achieved, there will be no more spills and they will not grab something inappropriate instead of popcorn. 

5. Glow-in-the-Dark Straps, Hooks & Zippers: If you were not convinced so far, this is the deal clincher. When you are being naughty between the sheets, isn't this a great feature to get things out of the way faster? This will help keep the spirit and other things up during the action.

So let us resolve to not let the world remain in the dark. Embrace the Glow-in-the-Dark. 😎😎😎

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My last year's challenge post from letter G was a heartfelt tribute to my grandfather. Read it here.

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My theme for this year's #AtoZchallenge is all about writing stories, anecdotes and observations from my life in form of easy to read listicles. You can read the theme reveal post here.

G: Grandfather

None of my grandparents are alive today. 

My maternal grandfather had passed away even before I was born, so I have no idea about him or what kind of person he was. 

I remember my childhood days spent in maternal grandmother's (naani) home. I was always naughty around her, pulling her leg, disturbing her in her chores and not letting her do her prayers in peace. But when I look back at those days, I feel she loved me a lot just like she loved all her other grandchildren. She left for the heavenly abode when I was in my teens. 

My daadi (paternal grandmother) was a domineering matriarch who ruled her house with an iron fist. In childhood, I used to stay away from her. She used to love the girls of the family more, so I wasn't always sure what her strictness meant. As I grew up, she grew weaker and I realised that old age is cruel. She died after long illness when I was twenty two. Her last few years were painful. I saw in her eyes love for me when she was on her death bed. Maybe because, we had started living separately and I had left home for work and used to visit her rarely. I don't know what was there inside her head. Maybe she didn't recognise me, as she was also suffering from memory loss during the last phase of her life. My best memories about her are related to food. She used to make best pinnis (famous punjabi sweets). Even my mother can't replicate that taste.

My grandfather inspires me the most. It was his death that made me realise the eventuality of life. He passed away very recently, a little over two years ago. He remained healthy till almost the end of his life. He had a body of a wrestler and led a very disciplined and regimented life. He used to wake up really early around 3 - 4 am. He used to make his own tea. He used to clean the street area outside our house. He used to go to Gurdwara (sikh temple) twice a day. And he kept working till his mind and body allowed him. His only source of entertainment was evening news and few shows like Chandrakanta and Alif Laila and that too after the advent of cable TV. 

He had a bad fall few years ago which made his movements restricted and he got dependent on others for his activities and I think that broke his spirit, otherwise, he would have lived even longer. I clearly remember hundreds of people turned up for his funeral. And everyone had nice things and inspiring stories about him to say. He had earned goodwill throughout his life.

He had come to India, post partition in 1947, from Pakistan and settled in Punjab. He did menial jobs and never shied away from manual labour and eventually not only established his own business but also took care of his large family. Today, his sons and all his brothers' families live a life of comfort because he worked hard. There are so many stories about him which my father and uncles narrate. But I want to talk about one particular aspect of his in this post. His humanity.

1984 was the start of the darkest period in history of post partition Punjab. (You can read about 1984 riots in Delhi, its aftermath and also what happened before it. I am not discussing the politics of it here). I was four years old then and at that age I didn't understand why there were so frequent curfews in the city. Also I didn't understand why there were always new people coming to our home. Always large quantities of food were prepared. For kids, it all seemed like party. Meeting new uncles and aunts frequently and playing with their kids. There was a room on the 1st floor of our house, where these guests used to stay. It was much later in life, when I discovered that these were the people who had come from Delhi post 1984 riots for their safety. They had come after losing everything. Their well settled lives, their earnings and treasures. They were now refugees in their own country. When my grandfather (whom we used to call Bade Papa) used to go to Gurdwara and he met such people, he brought them home, give them a place to stay and food, till they can settle in Ludhiana. Many such families are like our families today. They owe their well settled and rich lives today, partly to my grandfather. 

I can't imagine myself doing something like this. I think I am too practical (or selfish) to even attempt this kind of charity. I feel humanity is alive because of people like him. And I will not forget that my grandmother supported him in this and supported him when he came to India as a refugee himself.

Let us not forget the sacrifices made by them and made by all those who paid the price for our independence. They are the true fathers of our nation.