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| Colours of Spring. Somewhere in the Chhota Nagpur Plateau Circa 2025. |
Flowers and new leaves aren’t the only smell that permeates through the room. There’s a hint of freshly-cut grass, the new flowers on mango trees, cattle and a faint presence of something being cooked in a tandoor. Somewhere, someone is probably getting married before the summers come down in full wrath.
In this part of the country, the transition from winter to summer is abrupt and rather rude. In fact, winter merely exists here. But whatever it is, I accept it. I’d happily take a few weeks of not having to worry about the humid, warm weather that occupies the larger part of the calendar.
I’ve always maintained that to enjoy spring in India, one must head to the hills. Or the Northern Plains, for that matter. I remember the time spent in Amritsar with great fondness. The slow peeling of the quilt, then the blanket and finally the topsheet goes away. A very rhythmic transfer of power between seasons. The plants and trees take their sweet time to grow new buds, nurture them to the point of flowering, and the dull grey days of the winter melt into colour, energy and happiness. Happiness for everyone but students. Those poor souls have to miss partaking in the splendour of spring to prepare for their examinations!
To their benefit, spring lazily stretches into late March and early April in pockets of the Northern Indian plains. (It certainly did so when I was in school.) So, after the end of their examinations, they do have some time to bask in its glory.
After the end of my exams, I used to read books, enjoy the cool breeze, eat a ton of punjabi tadka (Haldiram’s) and play GTA Vice City/Project IGI/CS1.6. Quite simply, the best time of the year. I wonder if kids these days get to enjoy this at all. Surely, reels can’t be so entertaining that people forget what the outdoors feel like.
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This year, Spring has been marked with geopolitical upheaval, war(s) and a trailer into what the summer might hold. By all means, this is an Arab Spring.
Anyone who remembers high school-level physics probably knows that when a spring is pressed and then released, it has no option but to release that built-up potential. Much of our social, geopolitical and economic problems can be explained with the help of this. A cycle of oppression persists for a long time. It builds rage. It powers frustration. It builds anger and hatred. And at the slightest chance, when the spring is released, it releases all these pent-up emotions of oppression in a kinetic fashion. What happens in its aftermath is anybody’s guess!
I feel happy for the men, and specifically, women and also fear an even harsher crackdown being imposed on them if they’re not successful in achieving their freedom. I hope they usher in the joy of spring and regain their honour, respect and liberty. They’ve seen a long, arduous and horrific winter for far too long. After all, isn’t that what all men and women have a right to?
What worries me is the reaction of a certain section of the population. I know some of them personally, and never have I seen them post so many stories/statuses/tweets about the Indian victims of terrorism. Though it is widely known, I am taken aback each time. Any wise person would have the same reaction, in my opinion. When you have men and women and children of that country rejoicing in this, why are some people in India, who haven't even travelled outside of their state, acting in the way they've done?
This has caused trouble in India and will continue to do so as demographics change. What's funny is that Indian leftists and self-professed seculars are pouring tributes for that man. As I've always maintained, there's nothing Indian, nothing liberal and nothing 'left' of the Indian Left-Liberals. Let's save this rant for the other blog.
I wish they made it easier for people like me to identify with these 'tags'. Alas, they continue to bask in the red glow of their hypocrisy.
One thing we can be certain of is that someone from Iran is going to use this humiliation to rise to the highest ranks. Or someone from the ranks that survive is going to use this as a cornerstone to gather more power. Most dictators, such as Hitler, Mussolini, etc., have used humiliation by a foreign power as an anchor point to rally the masses behind them and restore 'lost glory'. I suspect this will end the same way unless a swift transfer of power is undertaken. Because the regime still controls the monopoly of violence, and there are no boots on the ground, this seems unlikely. Even if in a few months the brave people of that country manage to secure freedom, the risk of another totalitarian regime will be low but never zero. All in all, this theatre of war hasn't yet seen its climax. My only suggestion would be to take in the scientists/defence tech people from the regime and use their expertise like the US and USSR did with German scientists. The world must brace for a long Arab 'Spring'.
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The city I'm in currently will be slapped hard by summer any day now. The increasing instances of monkeys climbing into people's kitchens and leaving balcony taps open is sign that it's coming soon.
I'm already getting wafts of dry scorched soil in the afternoon. The shade does offer some respite, but that's not going to last long.
The palash, amaltas(Golden Shower), krishnachura(Gulmohar), and Jacaranda are some trees that are a treat to the eyes in the hot, unforgiving summer months. Hopefully, the Kalbaisakhi will not disappoint and bring down the mercury a little bit. A final pitstop before we wait for monsoons.
For my parting words, I leave you with two Persian poems. One of them is by Saadi.
Another one is misattributed to many. Although these were written long ago, the essence of the poem still remains intact and pure.
“..Human beings are members of a whole,
In creation of one essence and soul.
If one member is afflicted with pain,
Other members uneasy will remain.
If you have no sympathy for human pain,
The name of human you cannot retain..”– Bani Adam (Children of Adam), Saadi Shirazi
"If I tell of the sorrow of my heart, I am afraid it will burn my tongue. If I keep it in my heart, I am afraid it will burn me from the inside. If I let it out, I am afraid it will burn the whole world. So I let my sorrow stay inside."
– A thoughtful Persian.
For recommendations:
1. Song: Annie’s Song by John Denver
2. Book: I am about to start ‘Distinction’ by Pierre Bourdieu I also suggest everyone to read Arun Shourie's 'Eminent Historians: Their Technology, Their Line, Their Fraud'. The way Indian politics is moving, I won't be surprised if one of his books is banned in the near future. Smart ones would know which book I'm talking about.
3. Sitcom/Movies: Dhurandhar(liked a bollywood movie after a long long time)
P.S. This is the unedited, raw draft that I originally wrote. Haven’t had the time to edit it, so typos might be there.
Also, the Hindi blog will be uploaded in 2-3 business days.
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