"It seems very pretty," she said, "but it's rather hard to understand."
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Saturday, October 21, 2006
Diwali post redux
Just linking to this post I wrote a couple of years ago, about a childhood incident that got me disillusioned with Diwali. It felt strange and a little embarrassing to reread it. (That often happens with the stuff you’ve written a long time ago – you look at it again and wonder how you could ever have been so earnest and so transparent about your feelings. I suppose it helped that back then a total of four people were reading this blog!) Even so, I think it holds up okay, so here it is again…
Eep..the pet thing. This time last year I was trying to squeeze under my desk with Sab so I could comfort her (this never worked, she'd still be trembling) and so this year diwali has moved from merely annoying to painful.
A tad over the top, maybe? Everyday we live a life that a lot of people cant. Its not just diwali. So can you stop living life just cos what seems a necessity to you is a luxury to someone else OR vice versa? It sounds more like a glib excuse for not celebrating diwali. Dil pe mat le :)
Why, oh why didnt I find you earlier? Y'know like Alcott (was it Alcott?) said "she is too fond of books and that turned her brain". That's how I feel!!! So many books so little time and you make them ALL sound like must-reads!!!! *feeling slightly sheepish for sounding absurdly melodramatic, slinks away to mutter bitterly in a corner "so many books so little time" * :p
Everyday we live a life that a lot of people cant. Its not just diwali.
Revealed: that's true, of course. So can you just accept the post as an account of a personal experience that helped an 11-year-old directly confront this reality for the first time? Also, the fact remains that "special" occasions like Diwali do make the gulf between people even more obvious.
And yes, of course it's a nice excuse for not celebrating the thing as well :D
Of course I can accept it:) (come from a long line of very accepting folk ;). And its true that the difference is more startling during festivals. AND its your blog:p. Was just offering an opinion. Kinda tired of finding myself feeling guilty for being born where I was and to who I was (should that be whom?). I fully realise how lucky I was and count my blessings everyday but I guess the guilt gets to you in the end which is why I made that (mildly, dare I say?) critical comment :). Remarkably perspicacious 11 year old, werent we?
I read you pretty regularly (you write fabulously, btw:))and take your reviews pretty seriously. I don't usually post comments because I feel silly(no reason why) but I just want to say that you're a nice, nice person and this post was really touching to read- something very similar happened to me recently, and I know Exactly what you mean.
I thought it used to be good to be earnest and transparent about one's feelings!
ReplyDeletewhy so defensive?
why not? *bristles defensively at being accused of defensiveness*
ReplyDeleteEep..the pet thing. This time last year I was trying to squeeze under my desk with Sab so I could comfort her (this never worked, she'd still be trembling) and so this year diwali has moved from merely annoying to painful.
ReplyDeleteA tad over the top, maybe? Everyday we live a life that a lot of people cant. Its not just diwali. So can you stop living life just cos what seems a necessity to you is a luxury to someone else OR vice versa? It sounds more like a glib excuse for not celebrating diwali. Dil pe mat le :)
ReplyDeleteWhy, oh why didnt I find you earlier? Y'know like Alcott (was it Alcott?) said "she is too fond of books and that turned her brain". That's how I feel!!! So many books so little time and you make them ALL sound like must-reads!!!! *feeling slightly sheepish for sounding absurdly melodramatic, slinks away to mutter bitterly in a corner "so many books so little time" * :p
ReplyDeleteEveryday we live a life that a lot of people cant. Its not just diwali.
ReplyDeleteRevealed: that's true, of course. So can you just accept the post as an account of a personal experience that helped an 11-year-old directly confront this reality for the first time? Also, the fact remains that "special" occasions like Diwali do make the gulf between people even more obvious.
And yes, of course it's a nice excuse for not celebrating the thing as well :D
Of course I can accept it:) (come from a long line of very accepting folk ;). And its true that the difference is more startling during festivals. AND its your blog:p. Was just offering an opinion. Kinda tired of finding myself feeling guilty for being born where I was and to who I was (should that be whom?). I fully realise how lucky I was and count my blessings everyday but I guess the guilt gets to you in the end which is why I made that (mildly, dare I say?) critical comment :). Remarkably perspicacious 11 year old, werent we?
ReplyDeleteI read you pretty regularly (you write fabulously, btw:))and take your reviews pretty seriously. I don't usually post comments because I feel silly(no reason why) but I just want to say that you're a nice, nice person and this post was really touching to read- something very similar happened to me recently, and I know Exactly what you mean.
ReplyDeleteWhy throw out the baby with the bath water ? Why throw out Dipawali with the consumerism ?
ReplyDeleteSJ