No Child's Play

It was just like any other day. The neighborhood that was quiet in the hot summer afternoon started bubbling with the lively chatter and laughter of kids. It was just like any other evening. The bigger kids came out with their bikes, scooters, bats and frisbees. Not-so-careful-about-appearance Mommies made their presence felt on the scene as the little ones trundled behind. Gently blowing breeze managed to bring down the temperatures a bit so it was a comfortable evening to play outside or to just loiter around.

'Hey, that's not how you throw the ball." A boy shouted. Another intervened in his support. Mommies looked and ignored as this was no serious matter. All the kids who were playing were wont to play their every single day. There wasn't a newcomer on the scene.

Arguments ensued, however. In the group of the bigger kids was one non-Indian child. I wish not to disclose the racial identity of that non-Indian child because of two reasons - One, I don't deem it necessary. Two, I do not want others to hold or form any prejudice for anyone whatsoever. So, the non-Indian child approached the Mommies and told him that the other kids were being rude to him and were singling him out. Then he said, " My mom doesn't like my playing with Indian kids. She asks me not to be around Indians."

This shocked me. I was speechless for a moment. My mind was looking for something right to say. I wanted to tell the little child that he was so young to be holding a prejudice of this kind in his heart. I wanted to tell him how utterly mistaken his mom was. But I did not want to belittle a mother in her child's eyes. So I was quiet.

Then I told him that it was not an appropriate statement to make. I explained to him in simple words that they were all children and no-body harbored any ill-feeling whatsoever for each other. It was momentary anger and if they talked the matter out, all would end well. He listened and so did the Indian kids. Apologies were exchanged and the play resumed.

But we Mommies were stunned. It was a shock that would take some time to get over with.

My heart felt sorry for the mom who was not just cultivating bias in her heart. She knowingly or otherwise, was starting to contaminate the pure heart of an innocent child. This world is already ailing, do we need any more diseases? I questioned myself.

I grieved in my heart, for what I had thought was a child's play could one day take an ugly form. I dreaded that.

As parents what is our first duty to our child? Is mere formal education enough? Giving them the opportunity to study in good schools and colleges, providing them good clothes to wear, healthy food to eat, a secure roof to live under - is that enough? Who will forfend the plague of prejudice from afflicting their lives? Who will nurture in them the qualities of fairness and equality? We try to save them from the 'bad' elements around us. We try to keep them away from violence in the media. Who will save them from our own faults? Who will shield them from our own turbulent mentalities?

Will it not be a colossal parenting failure if a strong foundation of an unbiased conscience is not laid?
What will we weep for when our kids flounder? Will we weep for our faults or their loss?

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Linking it to Day 7 of Write Tribe Festival of Words # 5

(Today is the last day of the seven-day Write Tribe Festival of Words # 5. It was my first time I tried posting every day in my blogging experience. I was able to post for seven consecutive days, and I tried to read and interact with most of the bloggers who had participated in this festival. In case I have missed you, I am sorry. All in all, the past week was very busy as I had my two kids who decided to fall sick on the very first day of the festival. But somehow, everything was managed and taken care of. With a sore back, and tired eyes, I also have a sense of satisfaction and utter joy. I wish to thank Corinne Rodrigues and all Write Tribers for encouraging me and making this a fruitful experience.)

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There is darkness all around. I try to burn a candle but the stormy winds blow it out. I try to burn another candle but it blows out too. I fear not. I quit not. I do not give up. There is something in me that says 'Have courage.." There is something in me that helps me 'see' through the hazy, foggy, obscure surroundings. The darker it gets, the steadier becomes my tread, the stronger becomes my 'sight'. No, I am not the one to surrender. I go on, and on and on. I fight. I fight the negativity inside me. I fight the forbidding gloominess around me. I fight. I fight without weapons. And then, as if it was a miracle, as if it was a dream, everything lights up. Luminescence wraps me in a gentle embrace. I feel elated, enlightened, victorious. I have defeated the dark forces within and without. I have won.

It is often the despair and hopelessness that lurks inside us that shatters us, defeats us, becomes the cause of our undoing. We resign before our own fears. We withdraw because our thoughts become our enemies.

But people who are resilient, people who rise above the commonplace, are people made different by their inner strength. It is as if a light shines inside them. That light is the light of persistence, of faith, of belief in one's own abilities. 

Think of a butterfly who sticks to a petal and even the harshest of winds is unable to move it. Is it just the physical strength of the tiny butterfly? No, it is it's unwavering belief in itself that helps her battle the raging winds.

Think of a child who builds a tower of blocks. The tower crumbles. The child builds again. It falls down once more. The child does not stop. He still builds it. Isn't it the the force of persistence that keeps the child motivated? As we grow, we lose that persistence and become edgy on our first failure.

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Think of the great leaders of the world who inspired others to stand up for their cause, to defend their rights, to defeat the wrongs in the society. Think of Gandhi, the frail Indian leader, whose sheer mental strength and determination led thousands out of their homes and spearheaded the country's movement for independence. Think of Stephen Hawking, the world-famous physicist whose disabilities deterred him not and his findings in the field of science and his book The Brief History of Time has made him a timeless hero for all. Beethoven's deafness in now way hindered his exceptional musical skills. 

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One might say that they were great people. But don't we meet great people everyday? Aren't those people great who can smile in adversity? Isn't that father great who despite his painful illness smiles and gives a thumbs up to his children so that they don't despair? Isn't that mother great who eggs on her child who is physically or mentally disabled? Isn't that teacher great who pushes his weakest student and helps him inculcate a belief in himself? Isn't that friend great who despite your failures, motivates you to give it one more try? Isn't that person great who takes the courage to suppress her own sorrows, so that she can wipe the tears off your face?

Greatness is something that spreads cheer, hope and faith. Greatness is something that we all are made of. It is only upon us to discover it. Greatness is in the heart that is receptive, that is full of love. When we discover that well of love within us, we bathe in that well and cleanse ourselves from thoughts that bind us. Greatness is in the persistence, in the will that refuses to succumb to harsh circumstances. 

I want to pen down my thoughts through the medium of a poem I have written.

जब मैं तुम जितना लम्बा हो जाऊंगा 

मम्मी तब क्या बड़ा मैं बन जाऊँगा 

मैं हंसती हूँ सुन यह बात 

कद-काठी से नहीं बनेगा 

उम्र से भी कुछ हो न पाएगा 

बड़ा बनेगा अच्छे मन से 

जब तू खुशियां बिखराएगा 

जीवन नदी के जैसा है 

रिश्ते उनमें बहती कश्ती 

जितना सहज रहेगा तू 

उतनी ही कश्ती आएंगी 

अहंकार और क्रोध से जब 

नदी में तूफ़ान आएगा 

कश्ती खुद को संभाल कहीं 

दूर निकल जाएंगी 

तू अहंकार से लड़ना बेटा 

क्रोध को ठंडा कर देना 

भावनाओं के भंवर से जब तू 

बाहर निकल के आएगा 

तू उस दिन बड़ा बन जाएगा 

जब हाथ बढ़ा के मदद करेगा 

दुःख के आंसू पोंछेगा 

निःस्वार्थ भाव निष्कपट हृदय से

निश्छल प्रेम तू बाटेंगा 

हार नहीं मानेगा चाहे कितना ही श्रम करना हो 

डग-मग पथ पर अडिग रहेगा 

नैतिकता ना छोड़ेगा 

खुद पर दृढ़ विश्वास रखेगा 

जब उथला  सम्मान ना चाहेगा 

तू उस दिन बड़ा बन जाएगा .....

Hope we all discover the greatness within us!

This post is written in response #madeofgreat campaign being organized by Tata Motors. Linking it to http://madeofgreat.tatamotors.com/   


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