Words lose meanings in our contemporary World. This is a tragic truth prevailing across the World. Everything for the sake of formality. Most of us are aware of it, in a Globalized, Liberalized World, we all wear masks. Social etiquette is here to stay. We don’t know whether wishes like Merry X’mas, Happy NewYear, Many Many happy returns of the day, whether these wishes are genuine from the bottom of our hearts, sometimes we ask ourselves.
One minute or second after the stroke of 12’O’clock midnight, the whole World erupt in joy, with all pomp and pageantry, everyone conveys happy and prosperous NewYear wishes to each other. Are we happy or expecting happiness? We human-beings living on the edge of a turbulent hypocritical, terror-struck World. Add to these the Global financial melt-down and slowly spreading recession, poverty, impoverishments, ethnic wars raging with all ferocity resulting in the death of crores of innocent civilians for no fault of theirs. Many flee their homes and native land and end up as refugees at any comparatively peaceful area in tents. Anytime, anything can happen in this World, quite unexpectedly. Putting life at risk NGOs are engaged 24x7 to provide food, clothes and building tents for millions.
NewYear day brought before us or welcomed us, with the mind-chilling serial bomb explosions in Guwahati- Assam, allegedly by ULFA (United Liberation Front Of Assam) killing five innocent people and injuring many. A happy newyear, ie 2009, welcomed us all. Our present Home Minister, P.Chidambaram had in a sense, a providential escape from the blasts, as the blasts occurred just before his arrival in Assam. He was scheduled to pass through the streets where the IED (Improvised Explosive Devices) were hidden by alleged ULFA militants.
Outside India, in our neighbouring country of SriLanka the ethnic strife spreading like wild-fire with the Tamil militants (LTTE) fleeing to safer places fearing the army assault. In their struggle for existence while frantically running away, most civilians lose their lives due to lack of food and occasional bombings by the SriLankan forces and fatigue -both mental and physical. Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of the nation is determined to flush out LTTE militants who find safety in bunkers including Velupillai Prabhakaran. While writing this piece, SriLankan forces with determination and confidence, are heading to Mullaithive, killing hundreds of human lives and wounding a lot of them. With the successful capture of Killinochi, which the LTTE claim the defacto capital of Tamil Elam, the government and the soldiers are upbeat.
In West-Asia, Gaza strip is surrounded by Israeli soldiers, the Ground offensive already started there also approximately five hundred civilians killed, with Hamas militants launching rockets in to the Israelian territory, thus whole West-Asia caught in inferno. Most nations across the World are trying earnestly to end the genocide, even brought the subject to United Nations and appealed for calmness, tried to pass a resolution to condemn the war between Israeli soldiers and Hamas. UN Secretary General Ban-Ki-Moon, the so-called supreme authority’s repeated pleas to have a cease-fire agreement at the earliest, fell on deaf ears with USA as always, siding with Israel. USA had never condemned Israel and moreover encouraged and provided the intimate nation with all logistical support. ‘Happy NewYear’ chanting is still reverberating across the World.
On NewYear day, early in the morning, woke up from the bed, sent sms’ to friends and relatives, called some of them getting in return the same happy and prosperous newyear wishes and sms’. At least for a few minutes the picture of a turbulent World disappeared from the mind and the usual customary greetings continued for a brief spell.
Only one person, he is one of my intimate friends took exception to my greetings. Anyhow some lighter moments made both of us happy. The Chief Manager of a bank has to wear a mask in front of his customers, many of them business tycoons, rushing in to wish him happy newyear.
I called him at about 9’O’clock in the morning. Our friendship is so many years old, and therefore I can utilize my freedom if possible with an authoritative tone. “Hello Good morning Jameskutty and wish you a happy and prosperous newyear.”
“Surendran, you are also getting formal. What happy year,you mean. Actually tell me what is the difference between yesterday and today? Tell me- I burst into laughter and beaming a smile , I told him.
“Yesterday is yesterday..Today is today.. That’s all”
“Frankly speaking, I hate this formality of wishing Merry Christmas, Happy Newyear and all such absurd things.”
“Let me know one thing. You are the Chief Manager of a bank. Many customers, both poor and rich, the rich will come to your cabin today(the poor never wear masks) to wish you a happy Newyear with a mechanized smile. You will have to get up from your seat and show maximum politeness and respect, shake hands with each of them. Won’t you respond to them when they wish you and keep a pensive mood, sitting like a detached monk?- my friend remained silent for one or two seconds.
“I will have to respond. I have to wear a mask. I think in our World, all human-beings are hypocrites. We are all helpless Baba, helpless. Anyhow I don’t want to be a hypocrite in my approach to you. I can’t and I won’t. The old rebels are still hiding in our mind. Let us be the same old rebels”.
I came to the conclusion that 2009 is going to be an extension of 2008 which was an eventful one. We must learn to live with it…
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