I'm Human. You?

Written on 15 Aug 2014

Ok, it is that time of the year again. The time when every Tom, Dick, Harry and even William has a picture of the national flag displayed, has a redundant status message, or even writes a nondescript prose on how proud he is of the nation – The Independence Day week.

In India’s case, 67 years of Independence! Ah! What a feat to be proud of, right? But amidst all this I sit here and question what need there is to be ‘proud’ of. It is certain that almost everyone who reads the previous sentence would be thinking that this is yet another post that is going to vomit the socio-economic challenges India has been facing since independence.

Well, not quite. I completely agree that India’s history is truly grand, embellished with epic stories of great souls, art and heritage. But I’m here deliberating just the word ‘proud’ in a slightly linguistic context, as in where and when you can actually use the word precisely. Isn’t juxtaposing the words ‘proud’ and ‘country’ when one has not made any major contribution kind of asinine, though we seldom look at it that way?

Talking about patriotism with a negative undertone is considered an anathema, and I’m sure none in their right minds would venture into those dark waters. But I guess I would. Let me ask you how can you say you are proud of the combats your forefathers fought and of their valour in knocking off lions at close quarters? I’m completely and earnestly in consensus with the fact that they should be remembered and honoured for their achievements; but long afterwards – a tsunami, a gas tragedy, and a war later, how can you say YOU are proud of them? How can someone born decades after all that transpired feel the tingling sensation under your rib cage called pride? After all, none of us lifted even a little finger in their struggles for freedom, if I’m not mistaken!

Let alone, patriotism in such a context. How about patriotism as a singled out word? Let us revisit ‘The Pledge’ we were made to drone like robots everyday for 12 to 14 years.

“India is my country. All Indians are my brothers and sisters. I love my country and I am proud of its rich and varied culture….”

Come again, so why do we need to be proud of our rich and varied culture? Why should we – born in the 21st century AD of this supposedly 14 billion year old earth – be proud of a culture that evolved and snaked its way through 75,000 years? (I use the word snaked because slowly and slyly ‘our culture’ has insidiously seeped into this century and like a serpent ‘our culture’ has a venomous tongue, and lashes out at anyone and anything for supposed impudence in the name of ‘morality’) So why should we swell our chests in pride for an ‘accident of birth’? Just because we were born here, why on earth should we be smug about things that happened here at some point in time?

Is it the sense of belonging, the remote lineage purportedly ‘passed via blood’ that makes us think it is our prerogative to be proud? In that case are we proud of having a genetic predisposition for excessive hair fall, or excessive sweating? Or for inheriting a ‘fat gene’ which makes it compulsory to add on an extra inch of baby fat with every bite of Big Mac? If not, then why this?

It so happened that we were born in this part of the world, but why should we be proud of it? I fail to understand. Perhaps to inculcate the concept of patriotism, we have always been asked to BE proud from childhood itself (brainwashed? reminds me of the Nazis!) and hence we are. And we never really gave a second thought to it.

A few spot on, quirky lines a dear friend with similar thoughts shared about patriotism comes to my mind now –

“Did you know you are of a particular nationality because your forefathers ended up in that geographical location and adapted to the place due to lack of birth control measures and other past times they populated the area? In short, you are Indian because your forefathers decided to have some fun and stay here before they started using passports”. Come to think of it, is that reason enough to be proud of something? No personal effort of yours chipped in, and just because your nomadic great great grandfathers grew too cosy in their beanbags and were too lazy to pack up and leave from where they roamed in from!

The fact is if patriotism is kept under a microscope, at a grass-root level it is nothing but the basis of segregation. Demarcating what is ‘mine’ and what is ‘yours’. Bifurcating ‘us’ into ‘you’ and ‘me’. And don’t you think that thought right there is what has caused the whole world to wield weapons against each other. For no apparent reason at all, everyone wants a piece of the earth for themselves, to claim their own – forgetting the fact that the whole earth itself is our own. That feeling has been imbibed to such a deep dark point inside of us, that we don’t mind getting downright bloody and gory to grab it.

Is a piece of land which you are definitely not going to spirit away in your backpack when you die, worth dying for? (And who knows in your next life you might even be born on the other side and fight the same war! – From another school of thought) So isn’t this feeling of pride and patriotism on some levels selfishness and hence the harbinger of the world’s doom? I bet many would have a million arguments against what I said. Yes, I do agree that patriotism is an admirable thought, when you are pitted against opposing forces that are out to vanquish you.

But I keep thinking of a different realm, a different possibility – what if no child was foddered with the idea of patriotism and pride, what if no factions sprouted up because of that, what if everyone desired the good fortune of the other as much as they wish for themselves, what if you were able to transcend from the feelings of possession, what if every living being was your compatriot, what if you were a human first rather than an Indian, a German or a Palestinian… – may be the world would have been a brighter place and a safer haven to dwell in.

On this Independence Day, I’m not going to say “Jai Hind”… Instead, I’m going with “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”!

Also on:

http://news.entecity.com/im-human-you-by-aarti-panikkar/

http://www.yentha.com/news/view/columns/#

To do list - SOLO TRIP - Check ✔

The view few mins post the flight take off was priceless.. Flying alongside the beach, I saw different tones of blue gelling into each other like in a painting; different shades of a colour merging at their peripheries to form one beautiful masterpiece... Looking at pale blue hues with beautiful music dancing in my ears, I could feel an elation that was almost orgasmic..  And in a matter of half an hour the flight crossed over from above the seas to land area, almost as if we just did a ‘Hanuman’ jump and suddenly plummeted into wisps of clouds that appeared out of nowhere making the aircraft feel like its bouncing inside a cotton candy bubble.. And then the land emerged, beautiful lush green terrain, and I must say, much greener than our land of coconut trees.. 

Having reached Colombo, all I could notice was that it resembles our Chennai and Bombay in its hussle-buzzle, but lacks the charm..  May be because the bus ride from airport to the city ended in a stretch of dirty roads flanked by run-down and dilapidated apartment buildings and busy markets with random items laid out in the open.. However, the tuk-tuk driver who dropped me off at Colombo railway station with his Sangakara-like smile and last minute quip “U’re verrry veautifful”, through his completely kaput English totally made up for all the filth that marred my first impression of the country.. :D

The long wait at Colombo railway station would have definitely made me lethargic had I not taken a Sri Lankan Airtel sim that had quite affordable calling and data rates. And meanwhile, the announcers kept me amused with their high pitched voices that had an uncanny semblance to the Bhagavad Gita reciters we see at Hindu funerals. That was quite a laugh! 

Though the train journey to Kandy was dirt cheap (since only 2nd class seats were available), it was bloody tiring due to the uncomfy crammed seat. And to top it, the tablet I took during the bus ride to fend off my affinity to create ‘puke trajectories’, totally screwed me over. I was feeling drained and fatigued to the point where I thought was not going to make it till Kandy. And that image kinda made me paranoid – first day alone in another country and there i’m lying on the floor of some dingy train!! So I somehow I tried to keep my attention averted with mental soliloquies filled with positive affirmations so that I don’t succumb to the weariness of my body. And after 3 hours that seemed like 30, I safely reached Kandy City hostel and the longest day of my trip came to a close.

Morning came and I found myself in the 1^st class compartment of train no. 1005 – the train to ‘Ella’. The seats and compartment were in stark contrast to the previous one; the compartment was spick-and-span, seats were push-back with plush blue upholstery. And they were ‘rotatable’; so according to the direction you are travelling, you can turn around the seats. As soon as I got on the train I noticed this weird looking guy loitering around; he saw that the seat next to me was vacant when the train started and sat there. In just about 5 mins time, the same paranoia I experienced the previous evening boomeranged in full force! The guy kept staring at me creepily and was leaning over to my side of the seat! I kept to my side hugging close to the window as if my dear life depended on it! Mommyyy!#$%!%^@%&*(<!! I screamed in my head, a thousand thought bubbles of ‘What-ifs’ followed in quick succession. Then like a ‘knight in black shining armour’, he arrived... Yes, The ‘Ticket Checker’!.. Incidentally wearing black blazer, black pants and black shoes! Well, that was the first time I ever got so super-gratified seeing a government official. I was positive that the ticket checker would kick his ass out since it was clear as daylight to me that the jerk wouldn’t be able to afford a 1^st class ticket. But the smart ass kept feigning and fumbling in his pockets and wallet and managed to scoot from the compartment to the next when the checker was busy with other passengers. I used this gap to find a seat next to a pleasant Sri Lankan guy, Tharindu, much to the dismay of the creepy guy who returned in a bit. Soon enough he got down at the next station, which made me wonder if his sole aim was to creep the hell out of me!?!

From that point on I sat back and savoured the splendour of the world famous train trail to its fullest. The nerve-wracking jerk of the train every time it started and stopped, views of  houses with STEEP pathways at almost 90 degrees, fully grown adults waving at the train like innocent children from sidewalks and crunchiest peanuts I ever tasted, all indeed made the journey interesting. But what made this, unarguably the best train journey of my life was the changing kaleidoscopic view outside. It seemed like we were moving through a movie set, with backdrops that kept altering on its own from time to time. Lush green meadows gave way to towering hills, deep dark tunnels opened up to smoky mist-filled river banks, gangs of tall trees stepped back for waterfalls that rushed past as if in a hurry and bottomless drop-dead valleys moved aside for perfectly manicured tea estates that magically appeared in the vicinity.. 

With Rahman music soothing my ears, I stood by the door for long, just to take in the charismatic waves of nature’s magic in all its purity.. And, then it rained.. Rain, the most precious of nature’s enchanting tricks... I let the rain dance on my face, and it felt like every raindrop was budding open into a million more droplets making me feel explosions (and implosions) of bliss! So many random thoughts passed through me in that hour of staring right into the tenderness of nature, and every single one of them had clarity of an ice crystal, and i realised, the closer we get to nature, the dearer nature is to us, the more lucid we become...

The Ella railway station was a quaint little thing, right out of a dream! And the cottage I stayed in made me wish for a second if I were not actually alone. Well, mind u, just for a second ;) 

Moving on... Ravana falls in Ella was nothing more than what seemed like some loose-bladdered guy incessantly peeing from atop the hill. However, the walk up Little Adam’s Peak made my day or rather made my trip itself! The peace and calm I felt on the way up, walking among the trees and tall grass, deep valley over my shoulders, and the cool breeze playing tunes on my face was nothing like I had ever experienced before.. The realisation that I am never alone even for a second, the feeling of actually being part of this nature, settled in, making me feel at peace than ever before.

Ravana Falls

View from Little Adam's Peak

And I got a new friend towards the end of that walk, David – a Brit born man, who likes to call himself a French, now in Sri Lanka giving free language lessons to kids. We had a long conversation about one too many matters, laughed heartily at this Chinese guy who was squealing and bouncing his way to the top like an excited electron, and promised to keep in touch even after that evening. 

Meditating early morning with the mountains in front of you is something everyone should try at least once in their lifetime (ie, if you are the meditating type). Soul refreshing is not quite the word for it; well i guess u don’t quite have a word for the most precious of feelings.. u can only feel them, but never really describe.. 

Back in Kandy, I made some more new friends. Thisum, a Sri Lankan I met at the Kandy Temple of Tooth Relic, was kind enough to explain to me the history of the temple and along with other finer points related to Buddhism (of which I’m an ardent fan). I had such great time in the World Buddhist Museum, and made mental note on few Buddhist int'l destinations I must visit sometime.

Temple of Tooth Relic, Kandy

Inside temple of Tooth Relic

Audience Hall, Temple of Tooth Relic

The Museum of World Buddhism

                                                       

And I made friends with Anna, a Russian and Ted, an Australian whom I met at the hostel. We had dinner that night and exchanged stories and interesting trivia about our respective countries. Out of everything, they were mostly appalled at the concept of arranged marriages, and how people in our country give in to such a “barbaric” practice even in this century. I laughed at their horror and enlightened them with the fact that it was still a perfectly normal tradition here.

The next day I was off to Dambulle, and on the bus I think of the interesting people I made friends with in this brief period of time, n felt like I was getting richer with currencies of different countries, by every passing day. Dambulle Cave temple was on a hill that was accessible by steps. To greet me at the entrance were these mommy monkeys with their teeny weeny cute babies. Just outside the caves I sat for a while enjoying the powerfully lashing winds that almost took me flying with it.  

Dambulle Cave Temple 

And the caves, they were a wonder on their own. There were 5 caves built around 1^st century BC, the ceilings of which were painted with countless Buddha frescoes to form motifs. The caves had a total of more than 150 Buddha statues in different sizes and poses inside them. The helpful tuk tuk driver arranged by my bus driver came to pick me and drop me at the bus station, just like the drivers I met at Kandy and Ella.

Buddha - Sleeping Lion's posture

Inside Dambulle Caves

The Ancient City of Polonnaruwa was a treat to explore. Being amidst what remained of a city which is almost a 1000 years old got me kind of teleported in time. Standing in the King Nissankamala’s Council Chamber, I could literally visualise the grand ostentatious court, the courtiers and the king himself sitting majestically on the ‘Lion Throne’. 

                                                                         

Entrance to King Nissankamala’s Council Chamber 

Kumara Pokuna brought to my mind images of princesses and their maids wading in the water sharing juicy gossips on latest rumours and heartily laughing at discreet jokes on royal men. 

Kumara Pokuna

The Palace of King Parakramabahu was so tall in its structure (only 3 out of 7 storeys remain now), and I was thinking how the hell they managed to build it in an epoch when cranes and lifts were unheard and even unimaginable. 

King Parakramabahu's Royal Palace

The Hatadage, originally a 2 storeyed relic shrine built in just 60 hours, made me wonder why in the world is it not one among the wonders of the world! I saw more structures of such ilk, The Vatadage, Rankot Vehera, Gal Vihara, Nelum Pokuna – all, embodiments of ancient history with long-lost parables whisked away in chipped off mortar and bricks.

Vatadage

                                                             

Rankot Vehera

Hatadage

The road to Sigiriya was through this narrow path with jungle on both sides. On the way I saw this delightful monkey with its tail straight up in the air in the shape of a curled umbrella handle, who charmed me taking strides that seemed like Olympic long jump and high jump combined. Sigiriya was this palace of King Kashyapa (fabled to be King Kubera’s from Ramayana) on top of a HUGE rock... well, 1200 steps!

Sigiriya Rock - View from the royal gardens

Steps at the base of the rock

Steps around the rock to climb up

Though excruciatingly exhausting, the view on top was breathtaking and totally worth the hike.. The view from high among the clouds.. clouds that seem like they were dipping down with every passing breeze, making you want to stretch your hands and touch them.. Down below swarming dark green flora in 360 degrees as far as your eyes could stretch and meditative peace that unfurls your mind, slows you down to a point from where you feel you don’t wanna return, ever..

Palace -  On top of Sigiriya 

The friendly tuk tuk driver took me around Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya, was with me the whole day just like the drivers I met at Kandy and Ella, and even called up to find out if i safely reached Trincomalee at night.. a gesture you could never imagine coming from an Indian cab/auto driver. That is something that I noticed in Sri Lankans in general. We feel so pleasant and warm with how extremely helpful and well-natured they are, be it the locals, the taxi drivers, the shop keepers or even Govt officials. (In India, normally the emotion we mostly associate govt officials to, is the overwhelming unpleasant feeling when welcomed with nods, grunts and totally untoward rude remarks at bill payment counters.)

Trincomalee was more or less this ramshackle of a beach town, with a beautiful island that it proudly professes to be its part; like a passable-looking shell carries a prized pearl in its belly. Pigeon Island had remarkable looking white broken corals on the beach.The waves were jade green and looked amorphous, like a million half-scoops of a jelly dessert. 

Broken Corals on the beach

Pigeon Island National Park

Till date the only undersea images I had seen were in Discovery documentaries. But Snorkelling in Pigeon Island pushed open a whole new world of marvel. The reefs and the gorgeous fishes in different colours and sizes – the black and yellow patterned one, the teal and bright green shiny looking one, and the fully black spherical one that looked like a big black ball, all were true specimens of nature’s enigma. I noticed one particular fish which was multicoloured and its visage brilliantly resplendent. All other fishes were teeming around, as if battling for the coveted position next to her! I’m sure she is the queen bee of that school of fishes, with all males vying for even just a suggestive look ;) Wading through the water among these tiny beauties, I slowed down and imbibed the subtleties of ’em wondrous creatures, in my head inadvertently assuming the role of a mermaid!

                      

All Snorkelled up!

                                                            

On the long train journey back to Colombo, I sat staring outside the window and memories of someone dear, someone long lost, someone who faded into eternity, hit me like flashes of lightening.. Tears slowly tumbled down like faltering steps.. And then I paused.. Looking at the passing trees, their leaves fluttering and I felt like it was him waving... And then it started seeping in... He is right here with us.. He has always been with us... The flowers blooming is him smiling... The wind patting my cheek is him kissing... The ocean waves hitting the shores is him whispering... The stars shining is him winking... His signature wink, which unveils his one-of-a-kind dimple below the eye! I know he is not really gone.. If u look into the heart of the universe, u can feel him... here... and everywhere...

This time I was gonna be in Colombo for 2 nights. A tuk tuk driver called ‘Mash’ was with me the whole day; took me around all the shopping places in Colombo – Majestic City, Odels, Pettah street market etc. Roaming around one whole day in Colombo made me take a U-turn in my stance about the city. It was not at all unkempt like I mistakenly perceived during the brief stint at the beginning of the trip. The city is extremely well-maintained, clean roads without heavy traffic. At the end of the day the guy amazed me by asking only the meter fee though I did tip him with a waiting charge. And while I was giving the 1000 Rupee note, I noticed that the quality of their currencies was so poor (the money value less as well); but I guess it doesn't really matter since the high quality of the people’s hearts made up for the low quality of their money.

Taking off from Colombo with Rahman's magical voice calming my ears singing “Vellaipookkal” (which was quite coincidental as it is a song depicting the political unrest that prevailed in SL), I could feel my skin 10 shades darker, and mind 1000 times richer. 

I have touched down in many an airport, but I’m yet to see another airport with such beautiful landing view as Trivandrum – with Arabian sea on one side and a copious array of coconut trees on the other. And every time I land in Trivandrum, when the wheels hit the ground, there is a sense of belonging that reverberates from the bottom of my heart.

One precious take-home from this trip is – Mindfulness; to slow down and notice the nuances of the nature, people, actions... to diligently imbibe the beauty of everything around us... to not just look, but actually start SEEING things... Made me see the world from a new pair of eyes... And I’ve realised how opulent nature is, and that to savour its grandeur with my renewed vigour is like washing down pure capsules of euphoria.