It’s that time of the Year Again…

Surprisingly not many asked that dreaded question yesterday at the low key New Year ‘party’ I attended yesterday. Low key for a lot of reasons, though I would like to think that the Mumbai terrorist attack was what put a dampener on the festivities. Who am I trying to fool? Our apathy has reached such abysmal depths of shame that Thanksgiving Day parties were going on full swing on 27th November . I know I attended one too. But I at least chose to wear black.

What was it that we were so thankful about? That we were not in Mumbai at the Taj/Trident/Oberoi on that accursed day? That none of our close kith or kin were on that list of blood and smoke? If I remember right it wasn’t even the hottest topic of discussion. They were talking about the decorated bird on the table and the intricacies of roasting a turkey.

The other topic was the upcoming Christmas day celebration coming up at the Mallu organization here. There I did try to breach the male ranks to reach the board members and suggested that we at least observe a ‘two-minute-silence-prayer’ routine before the program started in memory of those who lost their lives. Hey we lost one of ours too… a promising young man named Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan. Bear with me, I devoutly believe that all those lives lost were ours, but tried the Major’s name to gain leverage for my idea.

“Hmm, we shall definitely consider the idea. Thanks for the suggestion.” Ah, a nice way of saying no, I know. Atleast that was better than the other response I got. “ Idea Kollaam. But the situation is not right. It’s a celebration. We cannot bring this in and spoil the mood…” . I was aghast. Where was the enthusiasm with which I was sure my idea would be greeted? (oh well, yeah I had visions of being thanked for my great idea….”oh! wonderful! That is such a nice thought. Why, none of us even thought of it. You are so patriotic….” . ok none of that happened.) Anyway, I was really struck by the desperation with which people tried to ignore it.

And why wasn’t the situation right? Here we were, a big bunch of Indians, far away from home, gathering a few days after a horrific attack on the country, wasn’t it the perfect occasion to express solidarity with our homeland? Were we not morally bound to acknowledge the sacrifice of lives? Should that not have been the first thing on everybody’s minds? Moreover, in my book, a celebration was always a time to remember those that were not with us, those that did not make it. A time to celebrate their lives too.

And ‘spoiling the mood’??????????!!!!!!!

Excuse me! All these onam and Christmas ‘celebrations’ are surefire recipes for disasters anyway. Friendships are broken ever year over ‘prime time’ programs, song selections, rehearsal schedules, boys/girls groups and what not. Moods were going to go awry anyway. Whether the moods of people with such trivial issues were worth considering is a matter of opinion.

So at the end of it I was left totally disgusted with everyone, most of all with myself. I was part of that apathetic bunch too. Why are we all so happy to remain in our own safe cocoons? When are we going to start caring? What wake up call did we need to show some empathy?
Anyway that brings me back to the quest ion I was asked. “Have I made any New Year resolutions?”

Well, I have made one, one which I hope I will stick to through the year. Nope, its not to lose 30 pounds in two months , not that I shall organize my closets and cupboards, not even that I shall hereafter leave the kitchen clean and sparkling every night unlike the ‘yudhdhakkalam’ I leave behind every night.

All I resolved and promised myself was that I would write everyday. Whether I felt like it or not, whether it sounded good or bad. Whether I post what I write or publish it or just let it languish in some oblivious corner of my hard disk. In sadness and joy, in health and sickness, for richer or poorer, I’ve decided to stay true and truly wedded to the only thing I think I can do- write. A minimum of 500 words a day. Let me see if I can do it. If I can, I’ll keep you posted. :)