To My Mind in these Testing Times

Where have we landed, my dear mind, my dear self…?

A picture, a vision of respite from the mechanical rush of life always loomed in my mind, and I aspired to it. This rush at times, vaguely reminded me of the way in which certain electrical appliances heat up with immense sound and movement when they are started. However, now, when such a moment of an abrupt stop has suddenly come or befallen on all of us, I realise that silence and confinement can be very taxing and disturbing in certain circumstances. The present situation is unprecedented and most unnatural. Existence seems to have been reduced to merely an effort to drag through a day and also to give a meaning to one’s 24 hours; one’s life, one’s very existence.

You face a dire need to justify yourself, your time, everything. The reason is simple- A mark of fruitfulness needs to be put on all the above-mentioned entities if one is to keep going. The weight of these times reminds me of the picture of a farmer working with a wooden plough in a field. A whole web of unwanted rubbish thoughts make one a prisoner, where one bit of rubbish leads to another . Other psychological issues cannot be ignored- anxiety, vagueness, irritability, boredom, disinterest, sleeplessness , loss of appetite, and a lot more. Added to that is the overall environment of these times…full of communal strife of every kind . fake information, distortion of history and substantial grudge even against major historical figures who are the eternal assets of India, severe neglect of the weaker sections, who get even weaker because of this, etc. I should add it is not only neglect but also effort to deny their issues. These above problems extract extra effort to remain untouched by such pollution, which in turn complicates the scenario.

All this combined, children and teenagers especially vulnerable; their case, as you know, in the Indian society is a different saga, altogether.

However, this has taught manifestly that there is an innate desire for freedom in what is called a human being, and that she has a far deeper existence, value, quest and identity, and whatever else you may call it. The value of ‘human touch’ and emotions has perhaps, become much more evident than ever before. Humans are social is most clearly evident and felt by all. This situation has also given us a chance to improve ourselves, and perhaps, most importantly, do what we have missed or neglected doing otherwise, and spending time with ourselves. Loopholes in the system as a whole, have also come out in one of the most stark ever, in the history of India.

However, instances bringing out the ‘ inherent goodness’ of human beings have also abounded in this crisis, on a very large ,and according to some an unprecedented scale.

I know that the agony is too big to be lessened by talking, and is actually very difficult even to talk about. It is precisely due to this that I find it extremely difficult to write this letter to you, myself.

I know also and have experienced that it is naturally easier said than or understood in a situation like the present one. Why have I written all this dry stuff ? Simply, because I wanted to talk to you, my mind, connect with you, give a brief, even if clumsy sketch of things, calm and soothe you, and vent myself out in these testing times. I wanted to give some solace and courage while making you gently understand that we have to bravely and successfully come out of this phase; and that the world has seen worse times, so we have to face it. I wish lots of hope and courage to you always.

Your friend who is inseparably with you.

by- Hiranya Bhargavi