Virtually Emotional

We hail from the time when we have been pampered by family, surrounded by relatives' tender and care, neighbours' affection, and what not. Gradually nuclearity took over the feelings under the pressure of better living.

Technology compressed time and space, yet diluted human relations, as every access has a cost now. But it gimmicked its own limitations by itself. So, if one can't afford to travel overseas to visit a friend, or can't make a long distance call, can pay onetime for internet, preferably an unlimited plan and stay connected virtually. Pictures posted on Facebook and Instagram does not really let anyone miss the aging of a beloved. Feel the care in the voice and gesture by making a Skype call. No issues if you are not keeping track of the dates, fb would remind you of the birthdays and anniversaries. Internet suggests human interactions too: how to propose, what to gift, what to speak in the first date.. etc.

SMSes have a newer version too. Not only one can just text, but now also check whether the text has been read or not by the 'Seen' feature of Fb and the 'blue ticks' of WhatsApp, which though has both good and bad consequences. This doesn't stop here. To intense the feeling of nostalgia one used to get by looking through the old pictures, Facebook has come up with the cool feature of reminding one everyday the significance of the day in the past years: who met whom, what happened.. everything! Infact like hyper-reality takes over reality, we have hyper-concern now, or a reminded concern. Chains of earthquakes shook the Northern India and Nepal, and Fb searched for you who all among your 'fb' friends are located at the affected areas and also checked their safety for you.

Seems what the virtual world snatched from us, it's trying to compensate all , but its own way, virtually. So, no matter how much one prefers to stay busy, one can remain carefree too, as we have apps to take care of the emotional crap, on our behalf.

"Technology would one day overpower human interactions!" - Albert Einstein. 

Ur Lens for Dilli

PEEP INTO THE PAST:

1. Nehru Museum

Gandhi Exhibition @NEHRU PLANETARIUM

I initially went to Nehru planetarium. And realized there is another facet to it: the library and the Nehru Museum. Nehru's house, and every artifact possesses his memories.

 Read the letters of the colonial times by Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru, and also Gandhi and Gokhale at the Gandhi Exhibition on the 1st Floor.

2. Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial, Janpath

This one was my personal favorite. It got me goosebumps when I saw the small steel glass Shastriji's wife used to drink milk from. As she'd promised Shastriji of taking care of herself, when he was in jail and the family was going through crisis.

3. Indira Gandhi Memorial

I was taken aback when I saw the torn bloodshed saree of her and the pavement where she was shot. It is still so intact as if a film running in my sub-conscious mind. Being a viewer, I desperately wanted the climax to be changed!

4. Humayun Tomb

When mind needs peace to 'think creative', such monuments definitely work. While walking around it made me think: if I had born hundred years ago as a human, I perhaps was part of this architecture, the lifestyle!

The must have Coconut Juice at HUMAYUN TOMB

HUMAYUN TOMB

5. India Gate

Walking close to the Amar Jyoti and the structure where all the martyrs names are inscribed, shakes the patriotic conscience.

6. Delite, Daryaganj

DELITE Cinema Photo Gallery, Daryaganj

 Delite is one of the oldest movie theater. Unlike other movie theaters, it still has the upper and lower stall and the magnificent balcony. Being made in the old times, the infrastructure is so strong, that the balcony that can accommodate about 300 people is only resting upon two side support and no middle pillars. Things have much changed though, but thanks to the gentle food vendor, I could still trace the marks of history: The marble-stone at the entrance hasn't changed yet ever since the theater was built. The photo gallery at the first floor takes back in the history with pictures of the late founder with the first President and PM as well as the classic actors who have visited the theater. The vintage chandeliers soothes the nostalgia.

 Watching a movie with the crowd that does all the hooting and all was a helluva experience. It made me realize that we are not alone watching the movie: such an ultimate fun that I might prefer it again over a multiplex, but for decent movies only. Since the tickets cost as cheap as Rs. 80, one can't watch all sort of movies here, because of the crowd that comes in. I was in fact warned by many friends to not to go there, but I am glad I took the chance; as a precaution, with a male pal though.

 The best time to watch a movie is the 6.30 pm show, neither too early nor too late, plus when you come out at around 9-ish, the unusual yet busy old Delhi street is amazing to stare at. I would recommend everyone to experience it once, since we never know when would this era vanish too with the advancing modernization.

7. Jantar Mantar

 Like me if anyone else is curious to know how our forefathers managed without a clock, this place can be of great help.

Do the Disabled lack Ability or Abled have Disability?

I just saw an old man sitting alone at a roadside with his tools. Its post noon, yet he is hopeful that someone would come to appoint him, for some work at their house. Either he would get paid a half-day now, or he would have to keep coming daily until he fulfills the promise of few pennies that he must has been making everyday to his family.

 Everyday is a struggle for fitting our incompetency in the void, which is starving for perfection; in the world where ideally nobody is supposed to be perfect. Yet who cares of the increasing numbers in cases of depression or stress, nervous breakdowns, or the worse: suicides.

Amidst all these, we forget to think of the strata coexisting in our society with a significant percentage: the disabled, often called as differently-abled, for the sympathetic encouragement though. Shonali Bose's 'Margarita with a Straw' is a beautifully woven film where she has narrated every aspect of such lives that is although so common, yet or infact, hence gets unnoticed. One-hour and forty minutes to feel handful of the life. The film deals with all, not missing anything that I can think of. And the ending is the best justice that can be done to this film, and may be applicable for anybody. 'Until one can stay happy with oneself, can respect oneself: can expect others to do so too."

 The system now has developed the consciousness to provide the disabled the right to rub shoulders with others. Families continuously put in efforts to make them independent, so that even they can 'live' after them. But sadly, we do not yet have an infrastructure to give them access to go everywhere they wish to go. Perhaps because our narrow mindedness can't expect them to have a normal social life, forget about them hitting the bars, consume hard drinks, and dance (atleast move with the beats). Forget the society, ironically the families themselves haven't yet accepted their 'normal' desires completely. They have reluctance to take them out to avoid the hassle of handling them, slowing the pace, the continuous stare and the questions that follow.

 The last thing their caretakers can think of is getting them married. The search revolves around in perhaps looking for a disabled or someone who is economically weak, or can be settled in exchange of a handsome dowry. Sail the boat towards the edge and get rid of it. Not their fault- how many of us would love to marry them if ever a connection develops, putting the disability at a side? Those who still choose to discriminate, are they really sure that a disability can never hit a 'normal' individual anytime in life?

The discrimination affects their self-esteem, which nobody cares for. As per the society, they don't need motivation, but sympathy! How many advertisements that we see, have employed handicaps in the lead?

 As such individuals are taken care like a kid in their houses, the larger context of their lives often gets wiped off from their families' mind: their sexuality. How many of us have ever confronted of them acquiring a sexual desire, to flirt, feel intimate, to masturbate or to even have a 'natural' sex. I intentionally added 'natural' to signify how their non-denial or weakness can be an advantage to those who get enjoyment in exploiting.  If finding a partner for them has been a task, imagine how would we deal with the ones with different 'sexual' orientation- that perhaps is another disease for our society. So if we are not ready to deal with our own constructed apprehensions, whom should we consider as abled and whom as disabled? Since the system has already categorized who are 'disabled', what I can think of to categorize people with such mentality is 'SICK'.

I plead everyone to watch the movie, think about it, and post opinions and feedback (if any).