Symbolism and the Indian mindset !

We Indians have perfected some arts. There is nobody in the world, like us urban Indians, especially the Mumbaikars, who can thrive on speed. Or rather haste. We can make sense out of total cacophony, of noise, pollution, local trains, rickshawalas who refuse to come where we want to go etc. Conversely, we can also get completely lost in a peaceful, quiet and ordered environment, where we do not have to run behind time. Such is the life we lead where we choose to be on the move continuously. Think of the next plan before completing the current one. And this life of running to reach our every changing goals, and some times, running to even stay in the same place, has given rise to a form of symbolism that is distinctly Indian. Or even distinctly Mumbaikar. It is as much symbolism as hypocrisy, one can say. But giving the benefit of doubt to us, I would say it is just self-appeasment and self-satisfaction. Are you wondering whether I am just trying to make a fool out of you by weaving some random words together? If so, then picture this.


Traditionally, we Indians begin our day by bowing down to the Sun god, and end our day by chanting the prayers of some other God. Throughout the day, at various stipulated time intervals, we are traditionally supposed to offer obeisance to assorted deities. But the pace of our life does not allow us to indulge in such religious activities on a daily basis, forget sticking to the times. We could let go of them, but no. Our mindset doesn't allow these rituals to be cast aside, fearing the wrath of God almighty. And some times that of the elders in our family. So then, what does one do? One conveniently remembers to bow down before God before important exams, filling important documents, buying new appliances, certain festivals etc., not to forget the silver foil on the pedha, which is fasting on certain days. I seriously don't get the concept of apparently 'fasting' where in fact one consumes copious amounts of sabudana [sago] items and other sundry 'fasting' foods. We have collectively managed to reduce religions to a level of mere symbolism. The God fearing populace has succeeded in trivialising the Almighty. Ah what a blasphemy!


Moving on, literally, let us notice our own actions at the end of a long tiring day in college or after work, when we board a jam packed fast local and face atleast 30 minutes of commuting. We storm inside, tred on peoples' toes and more, 'book' a seat at the next station [if lucky] or go with the next best option i.e. sitting '4th seat' or even '5th seat'. [Some ultra thin people manage that to my never-ending amazement. Being blessed with a rather large proportion, I do not claim to do it.] What, one might wonder, does one achieve by touching just a tiny bit, some times mere centimeters of one's posterior to the hard wooden seat? In fact, the cramped position creates a more uncomfortable situation [and gives one muscular thighs] but the illusion of having sat down after a long day gives one as much mental satisfaction as plopping one's rear end firmly on a sofa. Again, symbolism at work here.


We don't show symbolism in any other thing as much as we show in that one necessary yet utterly hateful aspect of everyday life- cleaning. When done by others, it must be done to such perfections that even a speck of dirt must not be visible. But when one has to move one's own lazy *** to do it, one again resorts to symbolism. Observe the roadside stallwala dunking the dirty plates in a bucket full of even dirtier water and claiming them to be spick and span. Or your household help just swatting at the floor with a broom when she thinks no body is watching. Or even one's own behaviour in the lab of trying to achieve cleaning of the apparatus with least effort [that too after the lab assistant shouts at one], in a bid to get out fast. Lack of time, or the presumed lack of it, are the reasons given for the above actions.


The last example I would like to give is some thing close to the hearts of all those who are and have been students. Symbolism in punishment. Santosh Desai states in his book, and I heartily agree, that suspension is a form of punishment invented for the sole purpose of delaying any constructive action. Till now, I have not been able to come up with any answers as to how it has helped reform the erring individual or to correct his mistakes. By most people, and not just students, it is seen as merely a 'cooling period' which would erase their acts from public memory. Similarly, the punishment of 'writing lines' given in most schools is a mystery to me. Wasting precious paper, ink and ATP in writing the same lines over and over again seems to have no apparent benefit except excersize to the arm and a slight improvement in handwriting.


If you take a moment to think about it, I am sure you can come up with dozens of such examples from your life and surroundings. It will only serve to reinforce the fact that symbolism has crept in and started eating into our minds because we have become so wrapped up in our busy lives. I shudder to think of the inevitable day in the future, when living itself attains symbolic levels.