Earphones propped in their destined place, I aligned my head
at a perfect 45 degree to amuse myself with the scenery outside. The bus was
beginning its ascent on a flyover in Ghaziabad, and what was going to be a
chasm below had some beautiful vegetation(alright, I agree, there were just
some trees, but I was trying my best to
enjoy nature). Suddenly, below there, came a man dressed in immaculate white
and walked towards the trees enthusiastically. Ah! I thought, overjoyed, one
amongst the brotherhood of nature-lovers, and he turns a swift 180 degrees and
widens his legs. I realize I have had my bit of enjoying mother-nature.
People of India, for ages have given utmost importance to cleansing of mind, body and soul, and at least this tradition is going to be handed safely to the next generation; though the type of cleansing has undergone a genetic mutation of sorts. From bathing at 4 to bathing 4 walls at once whilst you cleanse your innards, getting rid of that mucous dangling in your throat or of that rotten dal and sabzi that might have filled your refrigerator with divine fragrance; the mode of cleanliness is insignificant. The basic fundamental is that the home and heart should be clean, for public places let the municipal corporation bang their heads, or pinch their noses for that matter. India, as we have known has a rich and varied cultural heritage. From architectural marvels, to breathtakingly beautiful paintings, when we look back upon our past we can hold up our heads high with pride and admiration. The generations to come might have a different version to this altogether. Instead of paintings by Raja Ravi Verma, a man would be showing his creation to his offspring. “Look son, that artistic red spot there was splashed by your grandfather as he devoured a paan benaras waala. And that wall yonder, the rich brown color to it was imparted by your grandmother’s amazing chemically reactive delicacies.” “Daddy those red-green spots on that wall..Who created them?” “That, my child was your maternal grandfather who had tuberculosis”.
People of India, for ages have given utmost importance to cleansing of mind, body and soul, and at least this tradition is going to be handed safely to the next generation; though the type of cleansing has undergone a genetic mutation of sorts. From bathing at 4 to bathing 4 walls at once whilst you cleanse your innards, getting rid of that mucous dangling in your throat or of that rotten dal and sabzi that might have filled your refrigerator with divine fragrance; the mode of cleanliness is insignificant. The basic fundamental is that the home and heart should be clean, for public places let the municipal corporation bang their heads, or pinch their noses for that matter. India, as we have known has a rich and varied cultural heritage. From architectural marvels, to breathtakingly beautiful paintings, when we look back upon our past we can hold up our heads high with pride and admiration. The generations to come might have a different version to this altogether. Instead of paintings by Raja Ravi Verma, a man would be showing his creation to his offspring. “Look son, that artistic red spot there was splashed by your grandfather as he devoured a paan benaras waala. And that wall yonder, the rich brown color to it was imparted by your grandmother’s amazing chemically reactive delicacies.” “Daddy those red-green spots on that wall..Who created them?” “That, my child was your maternal grandfather who had tuberculosis”.
One must not forget to credit the litterbugs for their contribution in the world of reality adventure sports. From dodging kachra thrown from the first floor lady, anticipating chewing gums
stuck at varied locations like the hand rail in elevators, inside desks in
class rooms, in cinema halls; in the same manner as you would dodge bullets and
anticipate hidden bombs, litterbugs are always ready to give you some
adrenaline rush plus the litter. In fact, this sport has become such an
integral part of my life that my dear neck has learnt a whole lot of yogic
angles, when it tries to save its purity
from the fountain of spit emanating from the window seat of a nearby bus. One
must not forget their contribution to science as well. In the first classes of
chemistry, when teaching their subjects of ammonia, what example do the
teacher’s often give? Well of course, they say, go and pass by any wall well
drenched and there you will find the first hand odor of ammonia.
Just like there are never enough words to describe great
actions; there are never plenty words to describe the glory of litterbugs. I am
very sure that the litterbugs in your lives must have also left indelible
impressions in the album of your life. After all as they say, get the best-out-of waste.
