Mind you, it is all in the mind!

We might be creatures of habit, but more than that, we are all creatures that are didactic, doling out imperatives at the slightest provocation or invitation. Frowning at my words? Well, has a day passed by without you either having uttered or having heard - “Mind your language! Mind it! Mind you, it is not just us, but…” you get the drift now?! Well, don’t mind me saying this, but I cannot let up this golden nah, ‘a million’ dollar opportunity to point out, we surely have double standards and are not fair when it comes to religion. 

Yes! Last year, the Tablighi issue (A Sunni Islamic Missionary gathering),  revolted and repelled us eliciting the staunchest abhorrence and justly so. At the height of an unprecedented pandemic, this gathering turns up in utter violation of all norms set by the police, and their subsequent behaviour, as reported by our media, is all the more deplorable. How then can we justify this latest gathering at Kumbh Mela(Hindu festival held once every 12 years and an annual gathering called Maagh Mela), of nearly a million folks, dunking themselves enmasse at Shahi Snan (Royal Bath, a ritual practiced at this religious gathering, Kumbh Mela) 1,2… maybe 3 happened too, but I have no information about that. Until the international media slammed this absolute disdain for safety and sense, the section which prides itself and hangs on every word from certain bearded bosses, went to the extent of claiming that the almighty himself is ensuring safety, moreover, every devotee gathered at the Kumbh has undergone tests, further, the much-abused river Ganga will wash away Covid et. al Seriously, if this were to be the case, what were we waiting for in this whole year, since last March? People could have been sent up to the river in batches, dunked in and emerged Covid-proof! The quickest vaccine drive ever! So much, that by now, our economy would have been soaring by ‘opening up this market’ for an international snan! It is only thanks to this international outrage, that the PM finally took some moments off his busy campaigning schedule to ‘suggest’ that at least now after the two ritualistic baths are done, the rest of the Kumbh can be symbolic! After nearly 2000 infections have been reported, one of the biggest Covid surges gripping the country, and the lakhs of people who have congregated will now return to their native places and for a change, the Mayor of Mumbai has wisely chided that these returnees will dole out Covid infections “like prasad” (Sacred food made and offered to God and subsequently to the devotees). Things have come to such a pass here, that lesser mortals like me, have to think twice or ten times and give up the will to live and then speak our proverbial mind! Well, mind you, we still are in a democracy, technically. 

If some of you are raising your eyes in skepticism, look around. Since the last 4 months there have been such hectic electoral campaigns and at least 4 states, starting from the southernmost states to those in the eastern part of India, have either just completed or have a few more phases of elections going on. This surely is a sign of our democracy thriving! Our hard working leaders have been giving such massive clarion calls relentlessly abusing, sorry, sharing their manifestos and promises to the voting public. Not content with outshouting and sloganeering, some have broken a leg or two (their own for a change!) in this honourable endeavour. They are berating the Election Commission for curtailing campaigning hours in the wake of rising infections, because each party and its high decibel leaders want the masses thronging at their political rallies. You cannot get Covid at such rallies, you see. You are gathered there for a purpose. Moreover, “practice social distancing and wear the masks please,” this has been standard advice by all these noble leaders, devoutely concerned about the voting multitudes. It is not their responsibility if the thousands that have gathered or been ‘gathered up’ are flouting these basic tenets. As far as they are concerned, they are addressing all the ones, living and ‘even the dead’ and solely for their well-being alone. 

Imagine putting in those long hours in the blazing April heat, enumerating the viles and wrongs of the ‘other party’. It takes a lot of research and excellent narration to pull it off. From poor souls honestly working their lives off in tea estates to beleaguered students wondering about their JEE exams, all are roped in this democratic exercise. Recently, I read in the newspapers that the Supreme Court has set guidelines on the permissible noise levels and use of sound systems. I am wondering if this can be applicable in the context of these high decibel elections too. I am sure that many of you would agree with me, that several leaders, the ones clad in white sarees to the ones with long flowing, newly grown beards, can all be heard by all near and far. If they are speaking in A constituency, by no stretch of imagination, those in all the adjoining constituencies of B, C and D might easily hear them without these voluminous microphones tearing up the ear drums. So, along with curtailing the hours of ‘appeal’ could the EC also withdraw the use of these explosive sound systems too, and at least spare the auditory sense, if not the common sense of our fellow citizens inhabiting the election zones? Or, are they actually immune to this high decibel, adept at drowning out the external cacophony and are able to tune into the melody playing in their heads, I wonder? 

As a child, I often heard this phrase, “it is all in your mind”, “we have the power and ability to control our mind” etc. I saw a clever manifestation of this early this year, not only did he control his mind to adhere and comprehend ‘his truths’ but he exerted impeccable control over the minds of followers as well. Yes! That infamous storming of the Capitol Hill! This former President had ‘won’ the election in his mind, and he wanted to ensure that the rest of the American public collectively be mindful of that sole truth. In his mind, he was very clear that by exhorting his already charged-up supporters to show up in large numbers at the Capitol and by constantly egging them further with “they stole the elections”chant, is surely not incendiary at all. What transpired thereafter was a shock that beheld the world, but more shocking was that Trump did not face the consequences of his actions, whereas the law enforcement, his supporters, violators all of them did. Surely, they were unmindful of another age old wisdom, the rich and the powerful often get away, and they did nothing to control their own minds. 

Now, as you and I, both know that a far more insidious, centuries old pestilence that continues to plague our world, communities, professions and societies is the deep-seated gender bias. It is a mindset that is set on the sense of entitlement, power abuse and sheer cultivated callousness. If you are pretending that this is a third world problem, think again! If you are certain that this is an ailment in the hinterlands, think again! If you think that this is a problem that pervades and is pronounced among the lower sections, gosh, think again! The tragic and chilling assault and death of Sarah Everard in the UK, caused by an officer, to another officer sharing some of the pictures of her remains over whatsapp, what comes to the fore is the impunity with which the perpetrators operate. The most glorious examples of entitled males behaving in the most atrocious manner is ably demonstrated by none other than Donald Trump. His words, actions, interactions with female journalists and even with women in positions of power such as Nancy Pelosi, is far too evident and not just one unfortunate example of such repeated behaviour by many men from all walks of life and from all parts of the world. I had chanced upon a piece of conversation, wherein a very senior editor managing an international publication, brags to his wife that he ‘donates’ to women’s welfare every 8th March so he is a feminist! But, this same man, without wasting a breath warned her that she’d better return home in time as Delhi is unsafe and leave her other female friend behind, so that she can be attacked and can”go to hell”. He felt this was a fair retribution for his wife having walked out on him owing to her love for another female! In fact, last year, during the infamous “Boys Locker Room” case that came to light at the height of Covid, exposed what we all knew - the deep-seated misogyny, rape as a punishment that ought to be meted out to girls and women being openly discussed on a whatsapp group that constituted boys as young as 16 years, all hailing from affluent homes. Like most such high profile cases, the case has naturally been hushed up. But what was personally disturbing to me was a remark from another female friend of mine, an educator at that, who found the vilification of these boys rather objectionable and emphasised that primarily the girl in question, in that case, had ‘provoked’ the boys to speak of assault and the like. This is how deep-seated this mindset of patriarchy is! Well-ensconced among the affluent and the impoverished alike, practiced by the powerful and the powerless alike, condoned by the conservatives and the educated alike. Now, should we continue to endure this as a problem that is only in the mind, in the minds of the overly-sensitive, misguided feminists alone? 

What about the regimes and those political bosses who view criticism of their legislation and governance as sedition? Those that use the law as a weapon to muzzle and stifle dissent? Should we ignore their misdeeds and misgovernance as mere misunderstandings of our mind and delusionary mindset? Well, on a peaceful Sunday afternoon that is all set to usher in the cool evening breeze, sporting sunbirds, bulbuls and eurasian doves in the gardens and in the skies my mind is set on trading my life as a human to being a flighty feather that abounds the skies. No bracing for loud election campaigns, no worrying about delayed EMIs, no shuddering the lockdowns. Because, mind you, all the tumult is in the mind and if you practice mindfulness, perhaps none of these exist. 

- A G K

18 April 2021