Christmas in Calcutta…

Why does Christmas in Calcutta always make my heart full to overflowing and fragile….?

I had the same overwhelming feeling yesterday when I went to St. Paul’s. The streets were crowded. Humans of all ages, from itty-bitty ones to elderly-very elderly ones were all out in shining, shimmering, festive gear. Calcutta too was all dressed up. Every footpath either had an array of mind-boggling refreshments, or an assortment of handmade Christmas knick knacks from reindeer hairbands to Santa caps, to add to the festive cheer. Not an inch of space was to be seen on the roads. It was like a large river of moving lights and people wanting to experience the magic of Christmas. And believe me, there was magic in the air. How else could one explain the crowds at bus stops and not a single child crying? Bus routes had been reorganized so that pedestrians could move around safely enjoying themselves. I did not see any trace of irritation on anyone’s face. Nor was there a sense of haste. Everyone was quite happily and peacefully moving around enjoying being out with friends and family. 

There wasn’t an inch of space in St.Paul’s either in the huge front yard or in the Church. And yet, there was no impatience on anyone’s face!!!! People moved in an orderly way to see the Nativity scene, and others walked around enjoying the very palpable Christmas atmosphere. 

On my way out, I saw something which made me catch my breath. A family was wheeling a stretcher bed with a lady on it. All the girls in the family were dressed up, makeup included, and the lady in the wheeled stretcher was also beautifully dressed and made-up. They were going to St. Paul’s. The crowd parted to let the family through, but noone looked pointedly either at the lady on the stretcher, or at any of the other family members. It was as if this was a common sight… an acceptance of all people regardless of… a celebration in which everyone was participating….

And this is why I LOVE Calcutta. Whether it is the Pujas, or Eid, or Christmas, everyone, but everyone is out to celebrate. I used the word celebrate because I want to stress that it was not just having fun, it was a recognition, acknowledgement, and honouring of the innate humanness of every Calcuttan regardless of the labels insecure, evil, and wily politicians try to divide us with… 

Why I love K-dramas and K-films…

I first heard about the Korean wave that was sweeping through Calcutta (my hometown) last year. I heard people swearing about K-dramas and films, Korean actors, Korean food, and everything Korean. I had never witnessed this kind of enthusiasm about anything ever…and so I decided to find out and explore this phenomenon that had so captured everyone’s imagination.

And now I am totally and completely hooked. 

I was tiring of the Western outlook on things, and the West-is-best way of life, and the Indian outlook was only getting worse by the day. The Korean wave, therefore, came as a breath of life as it were. 

K-drama - amazing take on all aspects of life. Each drama has a different approach to the issues and problems we face as human beings. Filmakers are not afraid to protray their society as it is, warts and all…this is so refreshing because no matter the country or the people, human problems and issues are the same. The outward sheen may be different, but deep down human beings are the same. Thus, I am finding the answers to many of my questions in K-dramas and films. 

Analysing why K-drama is so appealing, and yet so realistic, this is what has gone deep into my soul:

The people - there is definitely something very engaging about the people. The actors are all extremely well-groomed, and look very good. Obviously they pay a lot of attention to their personal care and appearance. They are smart and exceedingly well dressed and don’t have to wear skimpy revealing clothes in order to be noticed. Even their loose-fitting clothes are worn with style and ease. Whatever they wear, whether it is the hanyeos, or those who work in the shops and markets, or the professionals, or the corporate workers and honchos, or the homemakers, or the housekeepers and traders, or the armed forces, they are all beautifully turned out - understated elegance at its best. Regardless of occupation and social class, they are all trim and beautiful - and I purposely say beautiful for both women and men, because they really are so without losing even a bit of their femininity or masculinity….in fact their femininity and masculinity is very aesthetically pronounced… 

I stick with the films in Korean with subtitles in English because I feel that hearing the actor’s voice is hugely inportant in understanding the character as well as the film. Dubbing doesn’t either enhance the character the actor is playing, or the film…it’s like some disembodied voice floating around…. The subtitles are excellent and convey very accurately what the actor is feeling and trying to say. I feel the Korean language is flowing and colourful as well. Very evocative and beautiful. 

The cinematography is par excellence. Just the way the camera pans in on the character, or the surroundings, is unbelievable….and the message these shots convey enhance the emotion of the scene. In fact, sometimes the shot carries that particular part of the story more effectively than words…Even the play of light and shadow is fantastic.

The music - K-dramas use music very effectively. Korean music, both pop and classical is superlative. The use of their indigeous instruments creates a fantastic atmosphere. They use Western Classical Music too very effectively. Their choice of music takes their films and dramas to a whole new level. Out of this world!!

Themes. I’ve seen so many films and dramas, and not once have I seen a theme repeated. They take the simplest of topics and weave a very probable story around it…so realistic, in fact, that one knows right away that this is not some con job, or somebody’s rambling. It could be a theme set in any historical period, it could be some very real social issue, it could be a theme worked out around a kitchen…a small pub or café or restaurant,  or showing life in a village….lives of ordinary people from various walks of life all living in a community, and the dynamics that naturally evolve…. I’ve never ever known that the surreal could be so integrated with the reality of daily life and yet I see this theme being treated so beautifully in K-dramas. It goes to the credit of Korean film makers that they are not afraid to show reality as it is without resorting to any gimmickry or whitewashing or foolish misrepresentations. And through the intensity of all of these, they are able to show the strength and beauty of the human mind and form. Unbelievably fantastic. I am so grateful that I am able to witness and see and learn so much not only about myself, but also about society, and about people in general…..

Romance. I totally totally totally love the way the love angle is treated in K-dramas and films. There is none of the jumping-into-bed-violent-sex, which is beyond hideous. Nor is there any kind of crudity or vulgarity. The ‘falling in love’ parts are sensitively and beautifully handled. In fact, the whole love theme with all the various angles is treated very, very aesthetically and tenderly in K-dramas and films. The feeling of protecting the loved one is genuinely caring and sensitive. This is, to my mind, beyond beautiful…

Emotions. Emotions are expressed very naturally in K-dramas and films, and they are very intense, but though emotions run high, we can watch, hear, and assimilate without being subjected to any crudity.  It could be the Confucian/Buddhist influence, but intense scenes are shown without resorting to vulgar language (especially the use of the f-word), nudity, undue violence, and drug addiction.

Since there is no rush and hurry in their dramas and they are not unnecessarily fast paced, one gets immersed in the storyline, and when the drama ends, one actually feels sad to say goodbye to the characters who had over the days become such a part of life, as it were…! 

More than anything, it is such a relief to be able to watch a film with friends and family without being enbarassed or temporarily turning the tv off. 

What a beautiful people, and what a wonderful country….I wish you always only the very best….

Continuing the thoughts…

in my last blog, I came across a post called ‘the danish way’, and I’d like to share them here:

In a world that can often feel chaotic, it’s important to find balance. Instead of aiming for perfection or constant happiness, wee should value the small moments that bring us connection and prsonal growth. Chasing perfection or endless happiness can be tiring. It’s better to accept that life can be challenging at times, and that it’s okay not to be perfect. The real treasures are found in the moments when we connect with others, enjoy the simple things in life, and grow as individuals by following our own unique paths. These moments give depth to our lives. 

Simple conversations…

I’ve learnt over the past few days, have a great deal to offer. I realized that there are days when I don’t talk at all other than maybe answer questions, or make a list of things I need around the house… but I seem to have completely given up talking — simple exchange of greetings, chatting before heading home from the gym, chatting with the vendor when I go to get vegetables, chatting with the gardener, and most of all chatting with my daughter…. I realized how silent my home is with everyone immersed in their work, or their reading, or doing their own thing, and I am as guilty of these… In the Kdramas, and the occasional Japanese movie I see, this is the one thing that struck me—how much they talk with each other. Nothing philosophical, or arcane, or of any great ‘value’…just chatting with each other, exchanging their thoughts, or ideas, or impressions….but what harmony it brings about…what a symphony of words and thoughts…and how beautiful is the feeling left behind after this sharing. It’s not always only high-faluting theories, or high-minded thoughts, or serious ideas. It’s also just talk about their homes, people they meet, food they eat or would like to eat, pretty flowers they see in a florist’s shop, the weather, things they have heard or read about….and a genuine interest in each other’s daily ordinary lives…. How enriching this is. Mind you, it is not gossip, though sometimes some threads may creep in….it is just sharing the daily events that happen, the book one is reading, something they got at the neighbourhood store… simple exchange of what’s on their minds. It was so wonderful to see how they chatted when having a meal…not only about the food, but about where they got the ingredients, or which store they shopped at, the recipe, their own versions of the dish, and the memories attached to the food they were eating. Real fellowship… it was not just a grab a bite and say a hello and a good bye, and a see you later kind of meal….it was real fellowship at a meal prepared by someone in the home. Another terrible fault I realized was how often we say the words ‘Oops I have to rush’, ‘ Gosh, look at the time! Got to go’, ‘I have to go now, but let’s meet up’… Is it really so difficult to put things aside for a bit and spend some time just chatting and catching up? And yet, when we do spend time — the relaxed kind of spending time, and not the rushing kind of spending time, how good it feels…What a beautiful, serene aura is created… what bonds are formed… what peace is generated…. 

A news item…

that is bothering me a lot…..

I read a news report on May 9, that India ‘inked an agreement on mobility which will allow 42,000 Indian workers to work in Israel in the fields of construction and nursing.’

To my mind, this is a terrible tragedy. Our young men are going as construction workers because the country has denied them a good education, training in skills, and the opportunity to work and earn their livelihood in our own land. These people learn their work on the job and excel in it because a foreign country will not accept anything substandard. They work with discipline, decipher challenging tasks and construct the most amazing buildings. I have seen the miracles our labour force has created in the Gulf States. And now they are being offered jobs in Israel. 

But we, in our own land, cannot offer our young and able these opportunities. 

Their whole life will be spent abroad, in poverty and loneliness so that they can support their families here and ensure that their children get the opportunities they were denied. They keep just a small portion of their salaries and send the rest back home. They live, often 3 or 4, if not more, to a room. They come home once in two or three years to see their parents aged and dying, their wives and children as strangers. A short holiday when they work to build a home for their families, or do the things that need to be done, and then it is time to go back. It is the money that they remit here that keeps the country going - our politicians in comfort for doing nothing, our pathetic and broken systems struggling as patch-up jobs. 

Today’s paper talks about the shortage of nurses in PGIMER, a premium research hospital in Chandigarh.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/nurses-strike-at-pgi-puts-resident-doctors-on-toes/story-QejeMljZFE0wlEUfNbLheO_amp.html

There is a severe shortage of nurses in the whole country and we are sending them abroad where they will struggle, and sacrifice, but will be able to send money home for their families to live respectably, at least. We cannot train those who apply for nursing in the best practices of medicine, nor can we offer them jobs with good salaries….and yet I have seen how premier hospitals abroad vie to get Indian nurses to work in their hospitals simply because they are so good…so efficient, and skilled…

We too need skilled workers and nurses in our country for our own growth and healthcare. 

We feel proud when Macron communicates with the PM, and Biden invites the PM on a State visit…..It is not as if these heads of countries do not know the tragedy that is a reality for most Indians…but they want to trade….and part of that trade agreement is sending labour abroad….. and ethics be damned…

It looks like our main, possibly only export is our people….. Instead of using our human wealth in our country, we are sending them away to build other countries, while we remain in blinding poverty with no hope of any kind of healthcare for the common man. 

Why do we rush around…

Are 14 hours not enough for us, if we keep 10 hours for sleep and rest? 

We must be doing something wrong if we cannot spare a few minutes at the end of the day to think on the good thing or things that happened, or indulge ourselves with a few minutes of solitude in which we can put our feet up and relax with a glass of wine to think back on all that happened.

The worst statements ever are ‘I’m so busy’, and ‘There’s so much to do every day’….  And others in the same vein. Not talking about procrastinating, though some tasks are better done, or trashed, upon holding for a day or two. The truth is that we lose out on a lot when we try to rush through things. Worst is that we often make mistakes which we then have to go back to rectify. Would it then, not have been better if we had approached each task slowly and with care to begin with? Think about it—how many tasks do we go back to redo in a day? How many do we do at one go? How many do we take the time to prep for, instead of diving headlong into it? Do we take the time to enjoy and savour the mid-morning cup of coffee or tea? 

We often dive headlong into a day straight from bed and go on in the same rushed pace because we think that is what is expected of us if we are working adults…and this includes homemakers. If we are not doing something, then we are doing something wrong…we are failing somewhere. If we are not talking heavy office or store jargon all the time, then we are not doing justice to our work….by rushing around and mouthing heavy, complicated words, we are showing the world how busy we are. We need to be seen constantly sending and receiving msgs and mails to show we don’t have even a single spare moment. We need to be on the phone if we are not on the computer….because we are ‘so busy’. 

Taking the time to enjoy a coffee, having a proper meal, sitting and catching up with a friend, calling a loved one, talking about simple ordinary daily things, spending an easy happy hour with our loved ones, giving our children and families the best of our time and energy…. Are these a ‘waste of time’? It seems like it since we rush through them without savouring them. However, believe me, if we take time out for things that mean something to us, or take time to be with those who are precious to us, or give ourselves time to be with ourselves, we will get all the tasks assigned for the day, done…and done well. Believe me. This works. And you will not wake up ragged, and go to sleep ragged, with a feeling of being incompetent or burnt out…

A wonderful statement…

to live by:

Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day.

~ Rebecka Peterson

Be grateful, we are reminded at least twenty tines a day….but we rarely stop to say the words ‘Thank you’. Or, we say it in a rushed way, because we are rushing off to do/complete the next task in a rushed way, because there are other tasks lined up which we have to rush around to finish before the day is over. This is not being thankful for blessings received, it is not being grateful. However, if we consciously create a space for ourselves at the end of the day when we can look back on the day and find the good in it, we will be able to actually see the good thing/things that happened and say our Thank you properly. This is gratitude and this brings with it its own blessing…