Standing Ovation

A few days back
I was watching Mary Kom with family. Movie was average with a few inspiring moments, but what charmed me more was the behaviour of the audience in the theater.

As the movie was ending, showing Mary Kom as the winner of the championship, and standing on the dais, gracefully accepting the gold medal, the movie plays the National Anthem of India. I was sitting in the rearmost seat so I could see all of the audience, at least by their dark figure.

So there was a person who had stood up even before the Anthem was played. I thought the movie is ending so he must be leaving a little early to avoid the exiting crowd hussle. But he was only standing!

Then the National Anthem played and I was reluctant to stand up, a little concerned of fun that my brother and sister would make of me, like the lone standing guy. So I was sitting. Then I saw another guy around 10 seats away from the standing one straightening his knees. And then a wave started. 2 more stood up, then 4-5 more, then suddenly, all stood up. My brother sitting beside me, murmured ‘oh sabko uthna padega kya ? (oh do we all have to stand up ?’ So we were among the few last ones to stand. This all happened in a matter of 4-5 seconds. How a single man standing up in a front row reminded the others to pay respect to something which does not affect their daily lives from a close distance, but which has become a collective conscience of a group, so strong now that a single man can influence 200 more just on behalf of that thing, and that too without saying a word.

A light of patriotism is brightening in every heart here. It is encouraging. The clutches of self before service are loosening, even if still tight for many. It was not that the crowd was giving standing ovation to Mary Kom for winning and making our country proud. In my eyes, the people gave standing ovation to themselves, keeping the Indian Pride alive and beaming even in the darkness of the hall.

Happy New Year!

One year ended and a new one started. But to Nazma, the transition was irrelevant as was the border between India and Pakistan.

She had left Pakistan in search of better life in India. 40 years ago, the rangers were not as alert and harsh as they are today. She crossed the border with her kids after giving a small bribe to the rangers. Nothing more had thrilled her more than the new life that was about to start in her new country. The only possible upset was that her husband did not leave his place. She was alone in the new country.

Since then, a lot happened and a lot changed. One of her kids got killed in a mine blast. Her vision had also started developing some troubles. Her life had certainly become better monetarily as her handmade woolens had gained repute of international status, but that was not what she desired now.

Irfan, her third kid, her youngest and dearest kid had been living with his father and she wanted to meet him now. Nazma had sensed that she is not going to live for more time now. The old age will not let her travel much with time. Her shop was running well and was looked after by her son, who had sensed his mother's intention of going to Pakistan. Since then, he had locked Nazma in her own house. If she had to go, she would have to do it alone and also after leaving her child in India.

New year celebrations in Kashmir do not happen that often but this year, a little glamour could be seen as a reputed star had shown his generosity to the residents of the valley. Irfan had accidentally left Nazma's door open in urgency of watching the show. Nazma took no time and left with 4 layers of woolens and a bottle of milk.

She still remembered the path and nothing had changed for her. She realised she had become 40 years old Nazma again. Her journey to Pakistan, back to meet her son had started. Through the jungles and open rivers, she knew how to cross them, just that her body was not as robust as it was last time.

Rangers have not seen her until now. She has been going steadily. Her vision and age, both have just got better mystically. her new year has started with a journey with now expectations but with only a goal dearest to her heart. The journey itself has brought back life into her. How it will end, neither she would now, nor would she like to waste her time on it. She, 80 year old woman, is walking as speedily as possible to see the child she left.