19th September 2008….touch down of in laws in Kuwait….you can see elation, exhilaration, ecstasy, joy and jubilation…in the eyes, smile, body language when you see your child, parents and excitement to see and hold the little one in their hands….
It’s like life has come a full circle for them, in March Vidya landed in Chennai for Valaikappu and then traveled to Mumbai for Delivery. In May she delivered the baby and stayed with them for 2 months before she returned to Kuwait…so it’s great to be united to see how their child and grand child is doing once again…love flows in an unperturbed and seamless manner with the parents usually
My in-laws are traditional folks as my father in law is into வைதீகம்…briefly meaning someone who can perform “Nithya Karmas” through vedic recitations on behalf of someone who does not know, but obliged to perform these duties as a Brahmin. He usually wears only Dhoti in India, even if he has to go any place. So for him to wear a trouser and shirt at our insistence that this is a Middle East Country, so please oblige to the local cultural ethos being a Muslim Nation, was truly hard to digest, yet in the interest of children, he obliged. He bought black colored pant cloth and stitched them only for this purpose. He also wore a hat so that he can cover his குடுமி and நாமம். (To be honest, I am not an expert in the Hindu rituals and Vedic scriptures or I should say not even a novice in this aspect, so pardon my ignorance or misstatement, if any) and my mother in law wears only 9 yards traditional sari. She does not eat outside food and abstains from Onion and other masala items completely, the only exception being ice creams, she becomes a kid at the sight of it and melts like an ice cream itself. For them to travel out of India despite such restrictions, I must admit, is because of their eternal love for their children (they consider me as their own) and grand child. Such is the power of love and affection. It’s not to go abroad or visit a new place, but to be with their own and partake in the joys of spending time with the little one in his early formative years…is what grand parents ache for and as children we are duty bound to ensure that it happens….and to see the abundant glee and gaiety of wondrous moments is something that has to be treasured for a lifetime.
It is indeed painful that you cannot even practice your religion or beliefs “openly” just because it is a Muslim nation. Agreed it is not a democracy and people go there to earn money. So you have to obey the local rules and regulations. No questions about that, but then it also has a Government and can promulgate rules where they can provide some semblance of tolerance as sought in a democracy like India. I am not saying it is totally absent, but it is discreetly practiced and not openly with some sense of fear that there is a possibility of retribution is someone complaints to the Police. It can and has happened. Some folks in India speak of “Tolerance”…I would like to laugh at them….please step out of your country and find out what happens outside. And if you dare speak up…I can guarantee….either you will be behind bars, mauled badly or your tongue cut and thrown to the dogs…if they exist….In some countries that poor animal is a delicacy and you may not find one….and we cry that these poor animals are distraught because of the crackers we burst during Diwali. I agree but it is better than being culled and eaten as a delectable item. What happens to your tweets then….no sign of it….I guess you are one of those that carve up and eat those poor animals in a fancy designer place with a fork and knife and for which you fight for…in an online world….where no one exists….in reality…Let’s face the Truth…
I know I digressed completely….but I wanted to point out the fact that we Indians are truly tolerant wherever we live, we go…we adjust, accommodate and comply with the local customs, traditions, laws and regulations….likewise is not true all the time…even with resident Indians….apathy of Indian democracy.
Beautiful Life 