2020 March

March, 2020

#Ham Honge Kamayab #We shall overcome – Together. Strangely for the first time ever, human race is in it together – not as a group but as individuals. Unfathomable. Unimaginable. Unnerving. Eerie. Sci-fi movie type. Together we stand, Divided we fall – yes, we all “stand together at a distance” to fight against COVID-19, a miniscule, dreaded virus that has brought the whole world to a standstill that has never been seen in history before ! If we are divided in our purpose and “come together” crossing the Lakshman Rekha, we are sure to fail and fall. Let’s continue to honour the “social distancing” norms even as we bridge the “emotional distancing” and help each other tide over this apocalypse. Much has been shared about the family bonds growing during this crisis, thanks to the forced lockdown and #WFH (Work From Home). Managing all on our own, we have come to realise the value of every single person who contributes in our life – maid, sweeper, driver, gardener, office peon, security, grocer, delivery boy, electrician, plumber, spouse, children, office colleagues, even the boss….the list goes on. The eternal truth that man is a gregarious being and cannot live in isolation is dawning upon all of us like never before.Each of us are interdependent on the other, irrespective of the function and status. ‘Social distancing’ is highlighting ‘interdependency’ – what an oxymoron-like situation !

I may be pardoned for talking about my Cancer days now but I am tempted to share a few life lessons from that experience where I was home-bound for months but pulled though successfully:

Positive energy from within and the universe – a crisis brings out the best in us. Let us use the positive energy within us and spread it as much as possible.
Milestone approach – When the journey is long, break it up into milestone activities.
Live for the moment – Enjoy the small things. This too shall pass.
Accept the situation and adapt – Ordinary things taken for granted become special. Sudden changes shake you up. Create a different daily routine to tackle.
Believe in yourself and your own power – both as an individual and as a society. Unleash the indomitable spirit hidden somewhere deep within. Lets fight this together !
Strategise right in the beginning – a few countries have done it. Others haven’t and we are seeing the devastating difference.
Stay calm and safe – No ‘why us’, ‘why now’ questions – we humans know how we have exploited Mother Nature and her other ‘children’. It is a sort of ‘reclaim action’. Stay calm, staysafe.
Be prepared for ‘side-kicks’ – Journey is long. Despite strategizing, be prepared for shocks and encountering ‘side-kicks’. Learn to deal with them.
Trust and delegate – most critical for WFH. Take everyone into confidence. You are not as
important as you think. Life goes on, perhaps even better without you !
Practise social media distancing – along with social distancing. Avoid fake news and fear-mongering.
Build immunity – through physical activity and mental strength. Relax and rejuvenate.
People are the greatest assets – Take care of employees, customers, vendors, friends & family.

#Let’s be ‘alone together’ ! #Hum honge kamayab !! #Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, We shall overcome !!!

March, 2020

Hi Folks

Last month, on an impulse decision over a phone call, 3 of us ladies, bought tickets to watch a mega Kannada play called “Malegallali Madhumagalu” (Brides of the Mountains). A 9 hour, night long play set in Malnad (Karnataka) 200 years ago, staged in the rustic settings of Karnataka Kalagrama in Jnanabharathi, Bangalore University across 4 different stages with both artists and audience moving to a new setting every 2 hours in the open air theatre. A theatrical adaption of the renowned Jnanapeeta award winner Kuvempu’s novel of the same name, the play had characters played by artists from across India who didn’t ‘act’ – they lived and breathed their characters making it surreal and breathtaking. Whew ! the experience was mind-blowing.

The period drama mirrored the changes happening in the then society such as advent of coffee drinking, conversion to other religion, introduction of bicycle, introduction of English medium schools etc. But what was most telling was the pathetic treatment of women back then in our so-called ‘women-revering society’. It was an eye-opener which stabbed at my heart deeply, stirred me movingly and at times angered me nauseatingly. Women (an embodiment of Shakthi or power) were no better than the household cattle – ready to be traded with older men for money, prohibited from living a life of their own choice, beaten for loving someone, killed for defying age-old customs, eyed by lustful men – both married and unmarried – with women themselves as active accomplices. All depicting how vulnerable, insecure, helpless & dependant women were back then – thanks to lack of education and financial independence, though they were smart and intelligent. The brilliant magnum opus made the entire village come alive and with it lay bare the plight of the women of different ages across different strata of the society.

Not that no such situation exists now. Not that nothing has changed either. Of course, over the generations, women have protested, women have fought back, women have suffered, women have endured, women have rebelled, women have battled, women have won, women are empowered, women are leading and women are successful ! Even as we continue to hear and read about brutal rapes, harassment, domestic violence, exploitation, lack of opportunities, gaps in wage-parity, societal discrimination, corporate snubs et al, stunning success stories are galore !! Women’s Education has led to financial independence, health and hygiene which has led to great societal transformation. A lot has changed. A lot is yet to change !!

On 8th March, 2020, on the eve of International Women’s Day, I had the good opportunity to share my thoughts on the local radio, FM Rainbow 101.3 :

Building a professional career along with balancing personal life is like a marathon run – need loads of stamina. Build it up well.
Say YES to an opportunity if you get one. Women generally have self-doubt and tend to be low on self-confidence. Don’t doubt your capabilities. Take it up.
Dont try to be a ‘perfect woman’. Take care of your health which may suffer if you stretch and fall into the ‘perfect woman syndrome’.
Create and nurture a support system before the need for it arises. Will help you be ready for any kind of responsibility.
Ask for help when required. Nothing can ever be achieved alone. People-power empowers.

The above tips are from my personal experience and are true for both men and women. Go ahead, read and add a few more to spruce it up.