Happiness costs nothing!

A lot of us tend to think of happiness as something that is obtained with a substantial amount of input in the form of effort and persistence. And for some, happiness is associated with materialistic satisfaction. We live with this mentality till something strikes us really hard and we decide to look into our lives, and decode what true happiness is.

Recently, I went to a secondary BMC school as part of a college assignment. I went there to address the importance of health and hygiene. As a novice, I was ecstatic and also a bundle of nerves at the same time for, since as long back as i can remember, I have never been at the helm of a class. So the idea of going to a school as a grown-up and talking to the curious students, be it only for a few minutes, seemed enticing. A night before the visit, my brain went into overdrive, constantly contemplating what and how I should say what I eventually did. There are incidents when excitement takes over everything that is playing on your mind, and then there are incidents when nervous anxiety takes over everything. And here I was, oscillating between feeling nervous, not knowing how to go about the given task and excited about the whole episode seeming to be a fun experience. Just when this cloud of fog got created in my mind, I thought to myself, ''Relax, it's just an interactive session like any other. There is no need to make this appear like a monumental task.'' Sometimes one cannot help but fall prey to his/her habit of overthinking. Whoever quoted ''Old habits die hard,'' must be a wise man.

The time was 2:45 p.m when I reached the school located in D.N. Nagar. While I was waiting for a fellow friend who I partnered with on this project, I came to know there were five buildings in the school compound, each having a different medium of instruction. The one we entered was a Hindi-medium school. We first visited a class of 6th graders; and I was very pleased to be welcomed with raw warmth and cheerful smiles. Soon after, I asked the kids to introduce themselves and also mention what they wanted to become when they grew up. Two minutes into the introduction and the voices kept getting louder. One could not miss those sparkling eyes filled with big dreams and ambitions. No matter how poor/underprivileged these kids may be, but when it comes to having hopes and dreams, sky is the limit; and no amount of bias and discrimination that they are treated with can ever act as a barrier to their ability to set a limit to their dreams and ambitions. And it is in those very moments of nurturing big dreams, when everyone is equal and indiscriminate. There were some who harbored hopes of being scientists and doctors. There were a few others who wished to become successful pilots and engineers. Much to my surprise, there were quite a few who aimed to pursue non-academic goals and become good singers and dancers. The one common nod of approval that we got was that of commitment to graduating college. And that was indeed a pleasant sight. We also asked the future dancers and singers to perform for us. And that they happily did. The smiles that adorned everyone's faces while being part of this lovely session spelled pure joy.

On our way to another class, some kids who were shy of performing initially, came running to us and asked us to come back to their class to see them perform. The biggest delight presented itself when these kids came running behind, addressing me as 'teacher'. That was the time my happiness just got a new meaning. In the meanwhile, the recess bell had gone and there was chaos in the corridor with all the kids queuing up to get their daily meal served by the school staff. All the chatter and hush-hush talks among a few groups of children while devouring their meal made me reminiscent of my school days. As school kids we all want to grow up fast, not realizing that we are our happiest selves being children. Because, happiness is not an end product of any financial or social achievement. Infact, true happiness most commonly lies in things that are devoid of any materialistic associations. And these kids showed me just that!

Let bygones be bygones!

The intolerance debate is raging across the country and how! And all we need to know is creating a furore has become second nature to us. Is this what we have reduced ourselves to? I cannot help but ask, ''What is more intolerant: an unwarranted and gross over-reaction or having the right to freely express a standpoint in a democracy?'' Nonetheless, we have finally managed to set the tone for the country ringing.

Since childhood, we are taught to instill a forgiving nature. Contrary to what is perceived most often, forgiveness requires sheer strength of character. Difference, be it of any degree, occurs even at the most basic level. And hence, having a thought about the world's largest democracy that thrives on a static set of opinions and principles is futile. Being democratic and secular with the intent of sailing smoothly when it comes to co-existing with a billion other people is as good as aiming to reach for the moon in a car. It is impossible! We often forget that it is the dissent that forms the cornerstone of any democracy. In the times that we are living, for the sake of creating a conflict, saying somethings are just impossible to do is not surprising enough. When things become impossible, just then I choose to quote Napolean Bonaparte out of context and ask for his world renowned 'Nothing is impossible' to be objectified.' Should I find my voice in people of a similar pedigree, then the stamp of something really being intolerant is affixed, permanently. That's exactly how the things are proceeding, currently.

Just to set the record straight, we have tolerated far more unfathomable people and actions than the ones we have not. Should one get started with the detailing of all the things that went wrong in our country, a certain Bollywood actor's claims about intolerance would cease to get a mention. I am tempted into citing one of the biggest examples that mocks our idea of intolerance. Rahul Gandhi (I cringe while talking about him), the scion of a political dynasty, has helped us set a benchmark in achieving greater levels of tolerance everytime he makes a statement. Despite a public figure being a blot on all of us, we decide to look at the brighter of our system. Another shameful act that grabbed the eyeballs sometime back was the lynching of a man on the suspicion that he had consumed beef. By indulging in such acts of violence and disenfranchisement and by labeling Muslims to be anti the Indian culture,  we are leading ourselves to darker times ahead. The nation sulked over this malicious act for a couple of days before resuming back to normalcy. What was said towards the end is, ''Let bygones be bygones!''

We are a nation of over-enthusiastic people who border on religious fanaticism and hedonism in the name of patriotism. What kind of patriotism are we trying to refer to when we pelt stones at the houses of our cricketing icons everytime India lapses? As quick as we are in celebrating and worshipping our heroes, we are indeed quicker in setting their effigies to fire. Do we see patriotism in dividing our country with the help of caste politics? Is true patriotism only restricted to posing with a broomstick for social media to show our commitment to a clean India? If this is the case, then let us commit to going back and eliminating the bygones and not recreate history, come what may.