We all are exploring our identity be it the past, present or its projection in the future. There is an untapped and intriguing story embedded in all of us. We all lean on the past for our existence today and look forward to a future.
I grew up playing in the laps of grand parents, uncles and aunts. We shared our personal spaces with cousins and never complained. Every season was special because it was either time to make Pickles (Mango, Lemon or green chillies, or mixed Vegetable etc etc) or Papad or vermicelli or potato chips. It was like celebrations and heralding the arrival of new season or just an excuse to call all the relatives and neighbours to pitch in with their special tips or comments on the process and in the end to be rewarded with ample portion to take home. But today I see Swiggy or Zomato has become food and celebration is eating it while watching Netflix or scrolling Instagram. This unfortunately has become way of life.
I think about how the average young adult and teens seems to be private in public, but public in private—meaning technology has isolated us when we are around people. Everyone is glued to the screen either texting or scrolling messages from a person who is not around. So much for being social animal. Yet so many of us share most about ourselves on social media and react to every comment or like with huge rush of adrenaline. My privacy.
I grew up studying in English medium school. But we always spoke our mother tongue even if the medium of instruction was supposed to be english for English, Science or Mathematics. English for me was meant to be spoken only in the English period, only if the teacher insisted. Students who could speak English fluently were considered to be exceptional and were given preference. But did anybody care. Subsequently I joined Indian Defence Forces where we were more British than Britishers. The customs and traditions which they had imposed on us as rulers were gladly protected and followed still after decades of independence. We would celebrate Christmas officially in the Officers’ Mess but would not have any official function on either Independence Day or Republic Day. Because it was not part of tradition taught to us by Britishers. So much for secularism or independence.
Be it Valentines’ day or Halloween, initially I could not understand them and all the fuss around them in India. But we were consistently bombarded, either we were part of it or were a looser. I could not connect with them like I did with Deepawali or Holi or Dushehara. People are scared of things they don’t understand. I realised much later that this was noise I was hearing and I could choose to stop listening and ignoring the media which was sold off to western things or ways. Some time I feel I need to educate my countryfolk but relied it was not my job. Most importantly, I had the freedom to choose.
Our history has been written by people who conquered us. Our governance, policies and education system is influenced by centuries of occupation. But sooner or later the secrets of wisdom – Yoga, Ayurveda, Upanishads, Vedas and ancient philosophy will be revealed to its own people and land. Sometimes, I feel ashamed of centuries of occupation of this sacred land by so many invaders. Amidst my confusion I understand each event brought changes in culture, traditions, food and language. I try to honour them as they are part of my past and something which can not be changed. They are part of me and my identity. I’ve found that to truly honour all pieces of my identity, I must be willing to accept every aspect of my ancestry. I don’t need to reject it. I am allowed to be everything all at once. At the end of the day, I am still simply and perfectly me.
Culture, food, language and religion is not rigid or static but it always transcending and absorbing and evolving. They are very subtle. No one can claim to understand or grasp them.
*समय पुराना था*
तन ढँकने को कपड़े न थे,
फिर भी लोग तन ढँकने का
प्रयास करते थे ।
आज कपड़ों के भंडार हैं,
फिर भी तन दिखाने का
प्रयास करते हैं
*समाज सभ्य जो हो गया हैं ।*
*समय पुराना था*, आवागमन
के साधन कम थे।
फिर भी लोग परिजनों से
मिला करते थे।
आज आवागमन के
साधनों की भरमार है।
फिर भी लोग न मिलने के
बहाने बनाते हैं ।
*समाज सभ्य जो हो गया हैं ।*
*समय पुराना था*,
घर की बेटी, पूरे गाँव की बेटी होती थी।
आज की बेटी पड़ोसी से ही असुरक्षित हैं ।
*समाज सभ्य जो हो गया हैं ।*
*समय पुराना था*, लोग
नगर-मोहल्ले के बुजुर्गों का
हालचाल पूछते थे ।
आज माँ-बाप तक को
वृद्धाश्रम में डाल देते हैं ।
*समाज सभ्य जो हो गया हैं ।*
*समय पुराना था*,
खिलौनों की कमी थी ।
फिर भी मोहल्ले भर के बच्चों के
साथ खेला करते थे ।
आज खिलौनों की भरमार है,
पर बच्चे मोबाइल की जकड़ में बंद हैं ।
*समाज सभ्य जो हो गया हैं ।*
*समय पुराना था*,
गली-मोहल्ले के पशुओं
तक को रोटी दी जाती थी ।
आज पड़ोसी के बच्चे भी
भूखे सो जाते हैं ।
*समाज सभ्य जो हो गया हैं ।*
*समय पुराना था*,
पड़ौसी के घर मे आए
रिश्तेदार का भी पूरा
परिचय पूछ लेते थे ।
आज तो पड़ोसी का नाम तक नहीं जानते ।
*समाज सभ्य जो हो गया हैं ।*
Each year World Heritage Day is commemorated on April 18 to spread awareness about preserving the history, diversity, and vulnerability of world heritage sites and monuments. This special day marks an understanding of our rich culture and traditions that are worth conserving. The day is celebrated to convey an important message to the younger generations to carry forward our legacy and safeguard our culture. It also intends to recognize the efforts of all people like architects, engineers, geographers, civil engineers, artists and archaeologists, who contribute towards conserving the heritage.
