GRATITUDE 

RAPPORT CHANGER PANDEMIC

 

               RAPPORT CHANGER PANDEMIC

 

Envisage September 2019. Could you have imagined staying at home for so long as we are doing today? Schools, markets, offices shut down. No air, road, or rail traffic. Would you have believed in maintaining social distancing, wearing masks while stepping out? At the beginning of the pandemic, everything seemed devastating, mind-boggling, and a nightmare. Slowly everyone started getting used to the new normal.

Pandemic has made us pause and rethink our priorities, particularly in relationships. It is an erudition. Any disturbance, isolation due to the crisis is preparing us to regulate and re-evaluate our lives to decipher which habit and relationships we want to embrace and which we want to abandon. Our resilience, optimism, and mindfulness will aid us in getting through this pandemic.

This exceptional social occurrence has had significant ramifications on our relations. Crisis experts maintain that in pandemic times, society gets exposed and it tears open the fabric of familiarity to divulge a new world. Relationships transform due to our existing situation. Social relations will improve or get worse is a question as we are social beings, and we need to meet people and communicate. Keep the channel of communication open with everyone around you, a prerequisite for a healthy living. Lockdown has either strengthened the families or has lead to stress and agony. The bond of the family and the individual strength plays a crucial role in this aspect. Families with a strong bond will emerge stronger. On the other hand, families with weaker bonds will disintegrate, resulting in conflict and abuse.

The pandemic has given rise to fear of disastrous possibilities. This haziness is scary with the uncertainty of the future. Meditation clears our cobwebs and comes to our aid in dealing with the stress. Healthy eating and exercise are equally important.

There is a sense of gratitude amongst people who have means of sustenance in these difficult times, are helping the needy in whatever ways they can.  Pandemic has given rise to a sense of community like never before. How people are going all out to help the needy is beyond imagination.

Working from home, online classes is the new normal. Most people have learned and adjusted to be at home with everyone 24/7 for long periods.

We are exploring our passions, prioritizing our dreams, goals, and health. Learning new hobbies or reviving old ones, spending quality time with the family playing board games, painting, etc. It is making us realize our capabilities and fulfill long lost aspirations.

The elderly who are staying alone have expanded their horizons. They have learned to connect with their friends and family through technology.

It is difficult for children to be in this time on online studying and interacting with friends and school virtually. It is the parent’s job to make it easier for them. Children are resilient and are wired to cope. The positive is that we can spend quality time with them.  I enjoy my daily cup of green tea with my teenage daughter  during a break in online classes. I feel we are connecting better and are enriching the connection.

We need to be connected with our core values and learn that it is okay to be disappointed. It is a litmus test; we will lose some relationships and gain some. Some will get bogged down with the stress. If they are worth keeping, they will come around. We have built good relationships with our neighbors and rekindled relationships with school mates. At times you become friends in extraordinary circumstances with the most unexpected people. For many, the pandemic has led to new bonds of friendship.

 It is a learning opportunity. We have to build our resilience and emerge tougher. We should be optimistic and remember better times will follow.

 

                     INTRIGUING PRAYAGRAJ

As our car entered the dust-laden, congested lanes of Prayagraj, it felt like any other old city at a first glance. But this is a mirage to the real city. As one explores it further, one sees the remnants and charm of rich history, the intricate designs of the churches, the fort, the old schools, the temples. The enthralling Sangam is a visual treat with its vast expanse of merging waters of the Ganga, the Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati. This city has a discernible rich past dating back to Ramayana with the ancient Akshayavat tree, the Ashoka Pillar, the Allahabad Fort, Khusro Bagh, Chandrashekhar Azad Park, and the Anand Bhavan. 

 

The ancient Havelis with impressively carved balconies, intricately designed temples, aesthetic churches are fascinating and inspire one to explore further. They speak of the glorious era gone by. These mute structures are emanating a time of yore. History lingers in the old houses like a long twilight, and the houses have aged with grace. Here the past is casually entwined with the present. The old and the new are so linked that they are living harmoniously. The ancient structures speak of the architecture, way of life, and tales of velour of the era gone by. The names of places like Dhobi Chauraha, Paltan Gali, Roshan Bagh, and Chowk speak about life lived a long time ago. 

 

 Khusrau Bagh with its attractive walled gardens, ornate carvings, and the three sandstone mausoleums present an exquisite example of Mughal architecture. All Saints Church (Pathar Girija) built in the gothic style is a major tourist attraction.

 

Majestic Allahabad fort with a medieval architecture built by the Mughal emperor Akbar on the banks of Triveni is a sight to behold. The mesmerizing Yamuna and Ganga shining in the moonlight and the imposing fort standing like a guiding force is spellbinding. The whole atmosphere is gripping as it brings out the ingenuity and makes an ordinary person a poet. The tranquil atmosphere near the indestructible Akshayawat tree within the fort premises is meditative. It is comforting just to sit there and watch the flowing Ganga. The Fort also houses the Saraswati Kund, source of the river Saraswati. The imposing Ashoka Pillar, in the fort complex, is a testimony of the era gone by.

The world’s largest religious congregation, Kumbh Mela at the confluence of the Ganga, the Yamuna, and the Saraswati, is an occurrence in itself. The Mela is a mélange of religious activities. Shahi Snan at sunrise in Sangam is a mystical lifetime escapade with multitudes of people taking a holy dip. Ganga arti at sunset with lights and chanting is a surreal experience. The whole place has a kaleidoscopic magical aura. It is a visual treat to watch birds in the merging waters at Sangam.

 

This sacred city also has an extensive tradition of learning. Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Munshi Premchand, Suryakant Tripathi Nirala, Mahadevi Verma, Akbar Allahabadi, and many more writers, poets belonged to this city. Who can forget the famous Prime Ministers, Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, and Chander Shekhar? The ancient magnificent building of the University known as the Oxford of the East was a learning center and continues to so though not on the same scale as earlier. In the early morning, it is common sight to observe people sitting in tea shops relishing the piping hot tea along with the quintessential newspaper and discussing world affairs. One of the first English dailies in India, The Pioneer, was published from this city. Rudyard Kipling, the Nobel Laureate, worked at The Pioneer.

This city may have undergone a name change from Prayag to Allahabad to Prayagraj, but its character has remained the same.

With such rich history, no wonder Prayagraj has been important throughout history and continues to be so till today.

 

 

 

 

 

                                            GRATITUDE

                           

 

                 WALKING BENEDICTIONS

 “What a joy it is to feel the soft, springy earth under my feet once more, to follow grassy roads that lead to ferny brooks where I can bathe my fingers in a cataract of rippling notes, or to clamber over a stone wall into green fields that tumble and roll and climb in riotous gladness!” Helen Keller.

How true! While walking, one can revel in the true glory of nature, cherish the diverse colours of the sky, the splendor of the sea, the liveliness of flowers, and the grandeur of mountains.

 

 I started enjoying walking as a child during my summer vacation in Shimla and Kasauli. What a tremendous joy it is to hear the sweet songs of birds, see the soothing lush green foliage while out on a long walk in the hills! At that age, I never understood the benefits of walking and never bothered about it. It was just the sheer joy of discovering places leisurely on foot. I still reap the benefits of the seeds sown then, as I love to walk anywhere and any time of the day. When I was diagnosed with gastric reflux disease, walking benefited me more than any medicine.

 Apart from the utter joy of walking, it slows the aging process and increases the lifespan. It prevents the commencement of lifestyle diseases and helps an individual recuperate from diseases. Hippocrates rightly said, “Walking is a man’s best medicine.”  

Aristotle had most of his discussions while walking around Athens. For Bertrand Russell, prolific writer and thinker, walking was fundamental for his work. One can walk anywhere, any time and it is the simplest and easiest form of exercise for any age group. Walking briskly helps one accomplish advanced levels of fitness, leading to greater endurance and stamina. Muscles achieve greater definition, joints are lubricated and lung ability expands. All one needs is a pair of comfortable shoes and the will to step outside by putting one foot in front of the other. “Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it,” emphasizes Plato.

Several studies have confirmed the benefits of low intensity and high intensity walking. It helps in lowering bad cholesterol, raising good cholesterol, lowering blood pressure, reducing the risk of diabetes, managing one’s weight, improving one’s mood, and helping one become strong and fit. It increases the strength and density of bones and also prevents osteoporosis. Research has proven that when you walk, your foot’s impact on the ground sends pressure waves through the arteries that increase blood flow to the brain.

 Our thought process becomes clear and we have an opportunity to rediscover ourselves.  “I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown; for going out, I found, I was really going in.” John Muir

Walking is linked to better cognitive function amongst individuals and helps in keeping the brain young and attentive. A walk in the countryside reduces stress, anxiety, and keeps depression at bay. It is a sure cure for a short temper. Frequent walkers experience an enhanced level of cheerfulness with the surge of dopamine. It is calming to stroll with friends enjoying nature and its wonders, dicovering and exploring places. Walking with umbrellas in the drizzling rain and enjoying a rainy day picnic will surely take the fatigue out of anyone. One sleeps better after a long walk, which helps energy to soar in turn prepares us to face the challenges of modern life.

 

 

 The creative process of any kind is enhanced by walking. Friedrich Nietzsche, a German philosopher rightly says, “All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking,”

The creative juices start flowing after a good walk and one can reap the benefits immediately. This has been proved by various studies that creative levels were consistently higher for those walking compared to those sitting.

 So, “The sum of the whole is this: walk and be happy; walk and be healthy. The best way to lengthen out our days is to walk steadily and with a purpose,” Charles Dickens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

             Bonds of a Grandma

 

 A little ray of sunshine, filled with happiness and love, is a grandmother. One of the most sacred bonds is the bond with the grandmother which remains the same across generations. I am sure each one of us will have amazing experiences related to our grandmothers. I had one such incredible connection with my Dadi.

 Bhabhi Ji (affectionately called), my grandmother, with a frail yet sturdy frame, had a luminous face, like a holy glow of the morning light. She drew her strength from Gurbani. The grind of hard life had taught her to empathize and be a strength to all. She was never tired of helping. She managed to live through difficult financial times and the biggest of partition without any brooding. She held the family together with her unconditional love and never forced her ideas on anyone. Her charisma and her gentle nature pulled everyone to her. She had the sheen of pure joy and happiness. Both young and old enjoyed her company.  We as her grandchildren longed for her company and enjoyed sharing our daily experiences with her. She never talked ill about anyone. In her spare time, she and my mom read out from the religious inspirational books. She was the best friend my mother ever had.  

She was articulate, read the Punjabi newspaper fully, and discussed world affairs with her journalist son. She had the forte of telling a story, without being patronizing, quietly weaving the magic in between. The inspirational stories about Sikh gurus told by her stayed with me which I enjoyed passing on to my daughter as an heirloom.

 She loved to read and followed Guru Granth Sahib’s teachings in her own life which she passed on to her atheist son and us grandchildren very well. Her practicality of imbibing the teachings to daily life was so good that we as grandchildren followed the teachings without being taught as a subject.

I have soothing memories of holding my grandmother’s hand walking with her to the Gurudwara for Guru Nanak Dev’s birthday celebrations, along with my teenage friends. All the food in the Gurudwara was cooked, served, and cleaned by volunteers peacefully and we had so much fun doing the seva. On wintry mornings we were woken up by the slow rhythmic singing of the Prabhat Pheries a few days before Gurpurab. It was a superb way to begin our day and we looked forward to it every morning.

 My grandmother was way ahead of her time. Cooking for her was all about nutrition. Bhabhi Ji used to cook food in a Sagli, a flat bottomed thick brass vessel, to preserve the vitamins and in turn enhancing the flavor. This was coming from a lady who was homeschooled. She pleasantly taught us to eat less than our hunger. Chopping fresh vegetables for cooking until the very end was her relaxing time. She felt worthy of eating breakfast only after chopping vegetables and picking up fallen leaves from the garden as that was her morning exercise.

 

 She had a broad outlook towards life as she never differentiated between me and my brother.  I felt pampered at times when on my brother’s birthday; I was given a gift first. If he was given a scooter to go to college, my father was ordered to get me a scooter right away.

 

Simplicity and balance in eating and life devoid of any lassitude were imbibed by sheer observation. Eating seasonal and healthy food, being passionate about your interests, and staying motivated were lessons well learned. Till today, my brother and I go back to her teachings, to find answers to our present-day troubles.

 

 Just thinking about her, all the blissful memories of my childhood have traveled to me from a great distance, to rejuvenate my soul. I will always miss her but sense her presence guiding me through life’s ups and downs.

She was a saint in the garb of an ordinary mortal.