Hero: Born or made

The two news which have been featured in many of the print and visual media in the recent past have been the fight for survival by the Pakistani girl, Malala Yousufzai, after she had been shot by the Taliban for showing a determination to stand for her convictions; and the other is that of Ashok Khemka who has been unfortunately shunted from one posting to the other for doing what is his duty; being sincere to his job.

Both of them had the courage to stand for what they believed in, how many of us can say that for us. The attitude that we as a Nation have developed is that of 'chalta hai' (it's okay) as is seen and heard in a popular ad on the TV. 

From being a Nation who stood against the might of the British Empire (even if it was a delayed attempt) we have become a Nation of people who are ready to kowtow to any and everyone. Is it because of the long years our country had spent in servitude that we are unable to develop a backbone - a spine which can allow us to stand up for our rights; to demand with authority what rightfully belongs to us.

The attitude of 'chalta hai' has infected all parts of our society and life, from paying for a ticket in black to watch a movie, jumping a line to pay a bill, jumping traffic lights putting not self but other lives at risk, throwing garbage out of the car while on a highway.. all falls in the category of 'chalta hai' , and the person who tries to follow the norms is seen as a person from another planet... the poor soul has to bear many a brunt of jokes, be ready to be subjected to ridicule.

Few of the courageous souls are able to stay on the chosen path while may waver and fall by the side, joining the milling crowd of humanity to become one of the chorus singers of 'chalta hai'

What is it that separates the heroes from the crowd? Is it something which is inherited or is it due to the courage and conviction which is developed? 

If it was all in the genes, then would it not be possible for all the members of a family to be heroes, but how many of us have seen anything like that. It requires grit to give up the luxury of being able to satisfy the need of belonging that gnaws at the innards of a human. Often, the circumstances make heroes of people who are normal by forcing them to make a choice. The choice made determines the Hero.

In the case of Malala Yousufzai and Ashok Khemka it was the circumstances that made them Heroes, a source of inspiration for the rest of the mere mortals. The circumstances presented them with choices where they could have either given in or could have stood up and fight back. They chose the later, creating history along the way.

It is imperative that the spirit that both of them have shown is appreciated and is not forgotten once the headlines decide to move on to a new Hero.

Fear of the Unknown

We as humans are a race which likes to conquer the farthest corners of the universe, be without fear to face the unknown, face it with a courage that the unknown is forced down on its knees cowering with fear... that relentless and fearless our we, humans. Is it?

There are many a phenomena that the human mind still has to discover, analyse and understand, from why the structures of chloroplast and hemoglobin have an uncanny similarity, to the role the gene pool plays in the defining of a person (all topics for another day).

One phenomenon which has often caused a fear in the human psyche and has made many of us a bumbling idiot is the small talk with a stranger. We can talk for hours to people we have got to know over the years about the most inane of things, share the most personal of our life details with them; often not worrying whether the other person is still interested or not.

Most of us are able to chat up with strangers if it does not involve having a meaningful conversation. We can go and carry out a normal transaction at the newly opened neighborhood shop, sniffing at the air, trying to find out the value of the place for self on a day to day basis. But when the conversations and interactions are required for a social event, we tend to dry up fast with the topics to discuss. The 'safe topics' for conversations such as the weather, the headlines of the day, the latest movies, music etc. soon loose the sheen.

Why, why do we tend to remain all bottled up when we can extend a smile and a few words could make the person a friend from someone we had met somewhere? Is it because we fear to be judged, or is it because we fear that the other person may take something we say or do as an offence or is it more due to the fact that we would rather keep up the walls around us at any cost.

Often it is due to the walls we keep on building around us that make it difficult for us to have a human approach to the others. There are many a prejudices, the hurt, the guilt, the pangs of jealousy that we have faced at another time, another person that cause us to act in a certain manner. The walls that have grown as a result of a self-preservation mechanism that all organisms have, humans inclusive.

Yes, unfortunately, even when we tend to think of ourselves as the God's favored ones, we really are just part of a bigger scheme with a limited role in it.

The self -preservation or the vanity that humans have makes us fear the unknown.

If one observes a child,  it is seen that s(he) is not afraid of anything, loves to explore every nook and corner with glee. No fear. It is often the parents who put the fear in a child's heart, be it the fear of the dark (with warnings, there is a monster) or be it the fear of heights (be careful, you'll hurt yourself).

Why do we tend to do that? Is it because we want to save our child the pains that we had gone through growing up or is it because we want to known and seen as the perfect parent? Whatever it might be, we often end up scarring the child for life with our fears.

Once we are able to overcome this fear of the unknown, we would be able to break down the walls we build around us and would find it easier to be more trusting and forthcoming in our day to day life.

Rapture

the state I am in these days. If someone was to ask me the reason I might not be able to explain in words. Is it a state of mind? Am I in a happy place these days? Or are these the after-effects of the dosage of valium that I took to numb the pain due to a sudden neck spasm!!

The world looks a little less gray, green appears a little more vibrant hue of green.

The rain seems more happy, no sad songs to accompany the downpour. The walks in the rain are less contemplative, observing the raindrops sliding down the leaves to join the eagerly waiting puddle at the bottom of the tree is a priority.

The songs sound more melodious, a spring in the step, ready to do an impromptu jig in the market on hearing the familiar lyrics!

There is a sense of calm, a feeling of being at peace. The feeling that conveys the oneness with the without and within; insinuates at a kinship which is just beginning to unfold... and No.. I am not loosing my marbles!! Am not talking through my hat!

A consciousness of vitality of self, of the self being harmonious with the macrocosm.

Good / Evil

Good and evil are often taken to be two counter views and are believed not to co-exist. This unfortunately is a very simplistic outlook to a problem which has often confounded humans from times immemorial. The most evil of us are also known to show kindness towards the ones we like; even the most hardened criminal shows empathy for his or her kin. 

Good and evil are two sides of the same coin. Good cannot exist without the evil, evil cannot exist without the good. When we try and separate the two terms so as to make them independent of each-other, these loose the identity. According to the Vedanta philosophers, the difference between good and evil is not so much as of the 'kind' but more of the 'degree' (something which is similar to the difference between light and darkness, which in turn are often cited as an example for differentiating between good and evil... when there is absence of light, darkness is said to exist)

Something which appears to be good to one person may seem like evil to another or what appears to be good in one situation may be evil in another. Water, the giver of life can turn destructive and destroy everything in its path, if its energy is not harnessed. 

Who determines what is good and what is evil? Good and evil are determined by us, our minds; if it fulfills our needs and makes us feel satisfied, it is said to be good. If it is unable to do any good for us, it is termed as evil. It becomes essential for us to look at the 'big picture' or the 'whole picture' before we define something as good or evil. All of us are capable of both good and evil. 

All the religions of the world have varying definitions for the concepts of good and evil. According to Buddhism, good is the fundamental nature of enlightenment or the freedom which results from the knowledge of 'self'; evil is the delusion which human minds and hearts face causing a negation of the potential for enlightenment and suffering for self and others. 

According to the Hindu mythology, Lord Siva, had drunk the poison (which is meant to represent the evil of the world) in order to bring back the good in the world. Lord Siva is said to be the lord of death and destruction... but without the death can there be birth.. without destruction can there be synergy... No, without one the other is incomplete. Similarly, good and evil co-exist in nature.... the meek looking sparrow feeds on the insects.. making it evil? 

While Hitler has been disgraced as the most foul evil to walk the Earth, Asoka (a famed Indian king) has been celebrated as a great hero. The difference between the two... while former had not repented for his actions, the latter had... so is repentance is the key difference between good and evil.
I think not. The difference lies in realization and taking the responsibility of the actions taken. 

Raoul - Part 12

Earlier

Lyana looked at Raoul, hoping for a solution to spring to her mind which would help them out of the mess. She tried to speak, spread her hands and raising her shoulders shrugged indicating that she was out of any ideas or thoughts. Raoul looked at her with a pained expression, they both spoke at almost the same instant, 'Let's sleep on the problem, and may be we can reach some consensus.'

Morning the next day was not a cheerful one for both of them as the night before had been spent tossing and turning. Swollen eyed and irritated they both looked at each other across the dining table sipping on the morning cup of java.

Raising his eyes inquiringly Raoul asked Lyana, 'Well! any thoughts since I am out of these just like my cup of coffee.' Lyana smiled at the humour Raoul was trying to inject into the situation, after pondering fro some time, she spoke, 'Let's go and talk to him, I can't think of anything else.'

Nodding his head in agreement, Raoul quickly got dressed and after getting the kids ready for school, they both paid a much-needed visit to Lyana's cousin. The house was situated on the outskirts of the city, n area which at one time had shown promises of being a source of hope for the population and had caused a mad rush of humanity to the area, which had been due to the boom in the economy of the time. As soon as economy showed signs of slipping into an abyss, people who had invested in the hopes of building a future full of riches found themselves looking at their empty hands.

They all tried to hang onto the hope of a better tomorrow, grew bitter with a government which had shown them the promised land and had abandoned them to the market. They all moved out leaving the desolate houses waiting for their owners to come back. The buildings stood waiting, unmoving, giving in to the vagaries of the time, loosing their fight to stay cheerful, became areas of nefarious activities, welcoming whoever came to populate them, wishing that the occupants would restore them to their pristine level, surrendering to their defeat.

The area was now a safe haven for the floating population which is shirked by the larger society. Lyana's cousin had made a voluntary choice of becoming a part of the floating population in the idealistic dream of trying to uplift them. A dream which had often been the cause of much grief to his parents and family.

It was to this area that Raoul and Lyana had planned to go. They were both hoping that the fears gnawing at their insides would be baseless and they would not have to be the ones carrying the news which would cause more grief to the family.

Raoul - Part 11

Earlier
After sometime, Lyana called out to Raoul, ' Would you please stop moving around? It is very disturbing to say the least'. Raoul looked at her and replied, 'I'll be gone for a few minutes, would come back soon'. Lyana gave him a quizzical glance and asked him, 'Where are you off to?' Let's sit, try and work it out.' Raoul sighed and responded, 'I need to give both of us some breathing time. I'll be back and I promise... nothing stupid', ending the sentence with a half-hearted smile.

Lyana stood looking at the retreating back of Raoul. This was the first time in their marriage tat Raoul had walked out of the house during a confrontation.

Lyana sat down and thought hard about the day. Suddenly she realised that her cousin had borrowed the car for some time tat day telling her that it was an emergency which required that the car be utilized since the cousin's own car was in the garage. Since this had been something which was commonplace between the two of them, Lyana had happily agreed.

The cousin had returned the car after about two hours, specifically mentioning that the car's tank had been refilled, since it had seen too much mileage for the day. Lyana had taken it as part of the general inane conversations often shared by people in order to explain themselves and had not given it much importance.
She knew her cousin to have idealistic inclinations but had never imagined that it could ever translate into a criminalised approach to things.

Of late, for sure, their conversations had tended to get heated with her cousin loosing the cool and venting all the pent up frustrations for opportunities lost on the government. According to her cousin, all the problems being faced by the native of the country could e resolved if only the Government was more sympathetic. Their local culture and values were being degraded in the name of becoming modern and living up with the times.

Lyana was still going over the conversations between herself and the cousin when Raoul entered. He appeared calm and and at peace with himself. Lyana looked at him and asked her to sit down next to her. Raoul sat down, looked at her, Lyana spoke, 'It might have been possible that the car was indeed used in the attempted heist. It had been taken by my cousin for a short while, which had become a few hours. I did not pay much heed since I was busy with my friend and given the traffic these days, it did not seem out of place.'

Raoul leaped up from his seat, digging out his phone from the pocket. He was about the punch the speed-dial, when Lyana stopped him, 'If my cousin was involved, calling up to confirm would only result in being more conscious on the cousin's part. And, if it turns out to be not the case, we might just end up loosing a good friend.'

He gave it some thought, and kept the phone on the table in front. Spreading his hands, he questioned her, 'Okay, so what do you suggest?'

.....to be continued....

Raoul - Part 10

Earlier
Lyana stared at Raoul, all the colour drained from her face. She stood gaping at him. Raoul finally lost his battle against his anger and had features which were in a contrast to Lyana's. His eye were blazing and seemed to be boring through Lyana.

Lyana could not think of anything to speak of which would help her to understand what Raoul had been implying at. Regaining her composure after a long time, she asked Raoul, 'What do you mean my car was the get-away vehicle? Do you even understand the implications of what you are saying? You are accusing me of something which I have no knowledge of!!'

Raoul spread his hands and said, 'I am saying what I have got to know. There is a story I have been working  upon and I found out that the car used belonged to us. All I want to know is, how much is your involvement in everything.'

Raoul thought to himself, 'I had never thought that my mystery/ adventure story is going to turn into a family drama... ' Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he looked at Lyana for an answer.

Their eyes were locked for a long time, each trying to make sense of what was happening and not succeeding. Finally Lyana asked, 'When did this so called incident happen which somehow involves me?' 

Raoul was relieved, he had always known that Lyana could not do anything like this, but he still had to be sure that he had been right in the choices he had made. Raoul told her that it had been a couple of days back, the same day that she had asked for Amelia to look after the kids.

Lyana tried to recall the events of that day and what she had been doing that day. She concentrated on recalling the minutest of details, which given the tendency of her forgetting what she had for breakfast, was indeed a difficult task. Her brain worked over-time trying to re-play a movie of the day's events.

Raoul paced in the room, feeling it difficult to stay calm any more. After about five minutes of waiting he said, 'And... what have you been able to recall by now.' Lyana looked at him and relied with a surprised and hurt look, which conveyed that she did not expect Raoul to behave as he was.

Raoul recoiled from the look and told her to take her time and continued with his restless pacing.

..... to be continued...Raoul-11