LAUGHTER IS TRULY A THERAPY

Jam-packed Tagore Theatre in the heart of the City Beautiful was ready for non-stop laughter thanks to the visiting eminent stand-up comedian. A family show with an enthusiastic audience, a mix of the elderly and the young, who have paid for the entertainment, speaks of the popular genre. Houseful attendance is a reality of the need for such shows where the feel-good sensation stays long after the finale. This show reminded me of the famed Punjabi Marasis of the olden days, who could get away with their mimicry and witty humour and who did not spare the rulers. In ancient Greek society, political and social satire entertained and educated the masses. Modern-day comedians convey subtle messages of social change in society. 

These humorists' sense of wit, scrutiny and the art of mimicry makes mundane funny and relatable. Their master card is making people laugh at their own expense. Most comedians place everyday characters in amusing situations, often picking up from the audience through wit and humour. Some crusaders in the garb of the comedians expect a well-versed audience whom they entertain through thought-provoking humour. 

The stand-up comedians talk about painful and not easily accessible topics by giving it a humorous angle. The absurdities and the confusion of our daily lives are handled funnily with a message. They inadvertently steer the path that is difficult to tread in routine conversations. It is a cathartic experience for the host who shares his weaknesses or shortcomings with a room full of strangers in the supporting environment. They pick on the audience and share their escapades to create a humorous atmosphere that keeps the audience in splits. The enterprising audience is encouraging; however, not everyone in the audience is game to the planned moments of impromptu interaction. They take it in the stride.

Satire is a relief mechanism that dispels stress and anxiety from our lives. Their passion for their craft makes the show engaging for their audience. They mock the powerful and find humorous angles to some of the darkest sides of life. Comedy, a business worldwide, is a form of self-expression as much as it is about connecting with an audience. Adhering to the boundaries of free speech and playing the role of the interrogator of social boundaries, the task is debatable. When they joke about their lived experience and be the butt of the joke themselves is taken well by the audience. 

Stand-up comedy is prone to be misunderstood by the uninitiated, but its rising popularity speaks of mature participants. The complex interplay of culture, politics, and history makes them relevant to the times. The biographical and observational stories are relatable, where the comedian speaks his mind, thus evoking a response through laughter and applause. 

This evolved art form is challenging and necessitates skill and technique to ace. The acts involve planning that we find relatable yet pleasurable. We laugh the loudest at the jokes we find relatable, wherein nuances of existence are made funny for us. The mimicry acts, the storyline and the ways of delivery are a sell-out. The keen observer in the comedian judges the audience in the first few minutes to provide non-stop laughter at the stipulated time. 

The new form of this genre also ridicules and exposes issues miring the society at large through jokes that may be relatively new to India; its antecedent in the form of marasis is age-old who could get with their mockery and did not spare even the rulers. We can regulate stress owing to Alpha generation comedians who insist laughter is medicine. The adrenaline, where the live comedy has us whooping in our seats, is addictive, and one looks forward to being at another one soon. 

                           GRATITUDE 

                         SUNSET SOIRÉE

           IS THERE HOPE IN SOLIDARITY?

Beti Padhai, but could not save her! Waking up to the horrendous news of a rape and murder of a woman doctor was shattering. The gruesome way she had been brutally raped and murdered speaks about how inhuman society has become. How long can men get away with such barbaric acts where even the beast will feel ashamed? What the doctor must have gone through when the monsters were ripping her modesty apart, and how come no one heard her cries? How can the workplace be so insecure for a working woman? Are these the signs of development and progress?These are some of the questions which come to mind. The life of this aspiring doctor was cut short by this rape and murder. Imagine the healers do not feel safe in their environment. 

The power of people took charge in the form of protests, angry young medics were on the street fighting for a safe environment. Protests encompassed both men and women gave hope for the solidarity as women deserve better. There was a time when it was easier to brush a rape case under the carpet and the victim was stigmatised. This is no longer the situation, society is moving on. The agonised and spontaneous response is forcing the authorities to take action. How long can women take the nonsense? When the power of people did get some results in the case of Nirbhya, there is a chance of something concrete coming out of the doctors around the country asking for justice. 

The same power brought about results at the time of Nirbhya a decade ago, where Criminal Law Act, also known as Nirbhaya Act strengthened penalties for sexual offences, introduced the death penalties for repeat rape offenders, and enhances provisions for the protection of survivors, including stricter definitions and punishments for crime such as rape and stalking. Due to the Juvenile Justice Act of 2015, after the Nirbhaya case, the age at high violent offences such as rape may be tried as adults was lowered from 18 to 16. 

The case being handled by the CBI and the Supreme Court of India’s decision to take suo motto cognisance of the case are steps in the right direction where the three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud has constituted a National Task Force led by senior medical professionals to formulate comprehensive safety protocol for healthcare workers across India. The action plan, according to SC must ensure the safety and well-being of medical professionals. Health Ministry too announces a series of measures to provide additional security to healthcare employees at the workplace. 

FAIMA deciding to call off the strike following positive directions from CJI and SC directing that no coercive action against the peaceful protestors and urging the protesting doctors to resume work are the steps in the right direction wherein the power of people is bearing results. The sliver of hope should not get lost in making it a political issue. Nothing should be able to override the dignity of women. Women deserve justice and do not want to be just treated as beneficiaries of free bus tickets. It is high time culprits are lynched in broad daylight so that another one will shiver before committing such a heinous crime. It scares not only the ones of the recent case but a warning for the future on anyone who dares to do it. 

At the same time, we have to address the underlying reasons.  Parents have to stop pampering a child just because he is a boy. Before saving our daughters, let us teach our sons equality from a young age and not spoil them as if they are extraordinary beings who are superior to the girls. From a young age boys have to know that if they make a mistake, they will be punished so that they do not get away with committing crimes when they grow up. 

                             WELLNESS IN WATER

You come home bone-weary after a stressful day at work, choose to go for a bath and return rejuvenated within minutes. That is the power of water. Healing with water is one of the most transformational methods. Mediating during a shower is restoring, cleansing and purifying as it renews us inside out. While taking a shower, concentrate on the feel of water and visualise the stress and anxiety stored in your body moving away and filling your being with relaxation. Water therapy is an ancient Ayurvedic technique. To remove the toxins, drinking water first thing in the morning is beneficial for your health as it not only cleanses it but also revamps metabolism and balances the lymphatic system. So why not embody it in your daily ritual and reap the purported benefits of the elixir of life?

Since the water element in nature mirrors the essence inside humans, water therapy can help shift any stagnant energy and raise vibration. Water is alive, it has memory. When one drinks it, every cell of the body gets enriched, the gut gets healthier, toxins get eliminated,  joints get lubricated and there are lesser chances of constipation. The best cure for heartburn for me is drinking L’eau on an empty stomach taking care that I drink it steadily to get solace from the acidity. Water manifestation is utilising this powerful element for healing with the right intent to let it release specific energy. When you drink it with gratitude and a positive mindset, you will  spot the metaphorical effect in your being. 

Water is essential, and an important aspect of survival. Assistance in heart function and kidney function are some of the important roles it plays in our wellness. Good skin and  fewer headaches are the residual effects of drinking enough of it. Hydration aids in temperature control of the body and can influence cognition where mild levels of dehydration can result in disruption in cognitive functioning. 

Swimming is a low-impact way to get fit without jolting your joints and bones. There are some pool exercises for older adults and injured people,  while others can also make it part of a high-intensity workout. Scientific studies have proven that walking for about half an hour near water brings about an instant change in our mood compared to walking in the concrete jungle. Environmental factors like clean air and more sunlight along with the psychological restorative effect of water make the blue spaces a choice for well being. Immersing oneself in the sight and sound of the sea is meditative as the movement and sound of water draw people inwards. 

In Japan “rui-katsu", 'tear seeking' is a service that provides support and a safe place for people to weep. Crying is healing, as you release stagnant and unpleasant energy through this process, even though our conditioning sees it as a weakness. Due to the predisposed cultural stigma attached to it, one grows up closed off accumulating stress. Self-denial and negative perceptions about crying stop people from expressing emotions. There are times when this is the only way your eyes speak when words cannot explain how broken your heart is in life. It is normal to have a meltdown, so cry it out and then refocus on where you are headed in life. However, this does not mean you start crying at the small provocation. Even tears of joy are purifying and uplifting for the spirit. 

The therapeutic effects of the blue space are associated with well-being as is the green space of nature. Stressed out people head to the hills but being near the sea, rivers canals etc is equally beneficial. While enjoying the outdoors near the water spaces, you reap the health benefits, the ebb and flow of sea tides, the cool water of a lake, a pond or a fountain can soothe anyone. Going for a walk in the rain can be invigorating. You feel a transition from reoccurring negative emotions to more peaceful ones when you sit and eye the horizon where you see yourself as a small being among the vast coastal space. You let go of the small things bothering you. How about going out and getting drenched in the rain, swimming in the sea, taking a shower or going under a waterfall to refresh yourself? For me, water is my happy place, calming, healing and rejuvenating. 

          WHEN THE  GENTLEMAN OFFICER LEAVES THIS WORLD….

A soldier and a saint, a man of integrity, a hard taskmaster, an empathetic, polite person for whom seva was Dharma has created a vacuum in his passing away, a vacuum difficult to fill. To appreciate the achievements and encourage the abilities of his subordinates came naturally to him. Earning laurels in the services where he headed the helm of extraordinary appointments did not stop him from staying on the path of seva as he did not think twice before cleaning the wounds of sick people, feeding the poor people on the congested roads of old Delhi, or would not bat an eyelid before picking up a broom to clean the dirty streets where poor people were being fed. The same person then moved on to an appointment at the UN Headquarters standing tall beside the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, as a Military Advisor in Peacekeeping Operations. The distinguished carrier did not go to the head of this senior officer of humble demeanour and polite nature who had also served as a Sector Commander with the UN Mission in Sierra Leone earlier. 

He managed to make a place in the hearts of the men he commanded and even with the youngsters who had not served with him, visible from the tributes which flooded the social media groups after his demise recently. A life of learning and growing for people who came in touch with him will stay long after he left this world. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations, and he will live on through the hard work of people who he mentored and guided during his lifetime. Apart from being a guide and mentor professionally and personally for us, he was a spiritual pathfinder where his seva bhav motivated us to tread the same path, thus changing our lives completely. His ways of living left an indelible impression on the lives of the people he interacted with in his lifetime. 

Whether in service or after retirement, such brave gentlemen of the forces impact the lives of the people they interact with and continue to do so after they depart from this world.  

The acts of bravery are far from few, and each one is a poignant tale of courage and patriotism. An incident comes to mind when one hears the story of a commanding officer who laid down his life protecting the nation fighting the insurgents. The life of this decorated officer, who volunteered to command the insurgency-laden area in Jammu and Kashmir, came to a standstill on that fateful day. Cry of Long Live amongst the sea of people in his native village, who had gathered there to pay their respects to the martyr, the josh in the air reminded me of the famous Hindi poem, 

“शहीदों की चिताओं पर जुड़ेंगे हर बरस मेले। 

वतन पर मरनेवालों का यही बाक़ी निशाँ होगा॥”

               

                      जगदंबा प्रसाद मिश्र 'हितैषी'

Amongst this sea of people were the faujis, some regiment ones, some senior officers and some course mates who came to pay their respect to the martyr apart from the whole village. His mother will not get her son back, but she will always have the back of these men in uniform. There is also no doubt that even his wife, left alone to be both parents to her children, will have unconditional support from the forced families. The heart-wrenching news has changed her life forever while her children are too young to understand the gravity of the grim situation. While walking behind the coffin amongst the sea of people, I felt we were all walking in the traditional slow march, a tribute to the fallen soldier. His six-year-old son donning a combat dress, saluting his father one last time, brought tears to our eyes. Oblivious to reality, he still sends voice messages on his father's mobile number, entreating him to return before going on a mission. This gentleman officer was deeply involved in the rehabilitation of strayed youth, empowering women and fostering a sense of community in the lives of people in those areas. His dedication to improving their lives extended beyond his military duties. 

These men in uniform impact the lives of people beyond the military arena and speak volumes about their towering personalities, their legacy continues to live forever.

             GRATITUDE FOR THE OVERWHELMING RESPONSE

        MOVING WIH THE MUSICAL TIMES

Sharp, 9 pm. The rap singer comes alive on the stage amidst the loud hooting of the fans. I agreed to escort my daughter to a concert but was a little apprehensive about enjoying a new genre of music. I find myself surrounded by the thundering beats, loud bling lights, rhythmic music and the electric vibration of the youth at a place where I was an odd entity. The vibrancy of the crowd in the backdrop of high-voltage music was surreal as I stood there watching them sing along and groove with the music. An hour long musical extravaganza, where I tried to understand the music and watch these youngsters losing themselves to the beats of the music, was worth the visit, an immersive experience that we will cherish forever. Concert music pleases the ear and nurtures the soul. On the way home, I was pinning for similar music which surprised my daughter. I often listen to the current songs, melodies of the 80s take my breath away, the pulse of my carefree youth.

My earliest memory is listening to Punjabi folk music as a kid that has passed on to my daughter who tuned in to it as a toddler, thus bridging the gap of not two but three generations through melody. My brother and I jived to the beats of Boney M and Michael Jackson and developed a keen ear for Mozart and Beethoven as well, thanks to our dad. 

The cultural scenario impacts the kind of music prevalent in those times. Every generation gravitates towards music that reflects their values as it is not only a form of entertainment but a form of expression too. It can be a common ground between two generations where the grandson rocks with the grandfather through their love for a common song, thus breaking down the stereotypical barriers. 

Mental health issues in the digitised world can be resolved through forging a connection with children through music. The jet-setting life of youth today, where any piece is available at the press of a button, has changed the way today’s youth listen to it. The audio notes are an escape from the digitised world of screens for them. A vast choice of personalised playlists with access to unending songs of today is different from our times when we had to get it recorded from the local musical store. But you cannot continue reminiscing about it and not move with the time and enjoy the easy access in the current times and appreciate its diversity. To understand your children better, it is good to listen to music of their choice. If you are not aware of the current scenario in music and wish to discard it for having no meaning, you will be a misfit at a party or wedding where usually current one plays. You have a choice to be part of the celebration and vibe with the youth or walk out and get glued to social media till the music stops, or find a link with it. It is good to keep yourself updated with the current musical scene and be relevant in these times. 

But when we are distressed, we gravitate towards the tracks of our times, our favourite ones that bring calm into our lives. Imagine listening to your favourite songs in a room and dancing like no one is watching, an exhilarating experience. 

The need to belong and connect is inherently human nature, so why not connect with your children through the powerful medium of music to enrich your lives? When it is time to bond, music is the natural source regardless of age. So why not do it and create a harmonious society? 

(PHOTOS FROM GOOGLE AND BY SANAH)