of cabbages...and kings...

 

Yesterday, a cousin sent me a NY times video on the India-china race.

It showed a little corner of Bihar where there is no schooling, no health care and little change in the life of the people in spite of all the progress that India has made. The reporter compared this with far better conditions in rural China and opined that India would loose

out to China in the race for supremacy because of this lack of percolation of basic amenities to our poorest.

I found myself defending my country. Acknowledging the gaps and the lapses, but pointing out the ways and means in which social change is being affected. Not just by government agencies, but by ordinary people. Education cess, for example, which many people are happy to pay. And the Right to Information act which will make it possible for a tax payer to find out how the government used that education cess. I quoted the recent 'Lead India' campaign which brought many social activists into public view.

All well and good, but it left a glaring gap – what about me? What am I doing for this country I claim to love so much?

The time has come to talk of important things. Of kings...and queens...

 

There are women like me, in their late thirties and forties, who would be able to spare 3 – 4 hours a week. Women with good education, communication skills, experience and ability.

Women of privileged status, empowered, knowledgeable, well informed. Women who care.

 

I'm calling to all of you there – what can we do to make things better?

Anybody with ideas...put us to use.

 

No excuses, no whines, no rants or raves.

Just ideas please. And numbers. I'm calling to the Sisterhood – hey girls, how many of you are willing to be put to work?

Let's make a change...

 

the time has come...the walrus said...to talk of many things...of cabbages and kings...

 

 

littlethots2001

 

...of cabbages

 

and as always, life seems to me to be more about cabbages than anything else!

something inside has been nudging me – a miles-to-go-feeling. Strange, because for years now, the will to do has been transmuted into minding home hearth and babies! Now I find myself suddenly in a state of ferment, wanting to do...

cabbages. little things. Why not begin the day with 'good morning' instead of 'will you get up or else...!!!'

why not pick up the phone and call

parents, sister, brother or just sms

...thinking of you. Take the time

to look into your eyes in the mirror

say hello to yourself too...

make this day count: make someone

special feel special, take time

to read and copy down a bit of something

that moves you. Do just one thing

with enthusiasm and zest – need not

be huge – maybe just making the bed

or cooking one dish, polishing shoes

any of those humdrum chores you do

write a love letter, spend a moment

listening to that song that used to

bring on a smile to your face

or a tear to your eye...one little thing

to make this day worthwhile

I owe it to myself to take out just five

little minutes out of my life

 

we get so bored with the 'everydayness' of life that we end up doing things mechanically, just because they have to be done. We start hating the boring old chores. I'm trying to connect to that wonderful feeling when I first set up home...the first time I made the bed...the first time I cooked... it seemed wonderful, useful, important.

It still is. We just start taking it for granted and being taken for granted.

Ever heard anyone say –oh! I want to be a house wife when I grow up...

There's a reason the term 'homemaker' was coined.

Let's validate ourselves.

Let's instil a joy and pride in the seemingly 'little' (and hence worthless) things we do.

Let's make the little things special...

...the time has come...to talk of many things...cabbages and kings...