Do we really need the noise?

I'm going to begin this post with a chapter out of mythology - I'll call it that though quite a few believe that everything in the Mahabharat really happened. 

Everyone knows - or maybe most of us know that Kunti, the mother of the five pandavas and Karna, had a blessing from Sage Durvasa, because of which she was able to call any of the devatas on earth. Most of us believe that this was because Kunti served the sage really well during his visit. However, from what I have read, it actually began with the welcome of the sage.

The moment Kuntibhoj (Kunti's father, the king) came to know that Sage Durvasa was visiting the kingdom, panic set in. Durvasa was known for his quick temper and one mistake was enough to get a curse. Kuntibhoj busied his people in the preparations for welcoming the sage. He was planning a massive party of dhol, nagara, aarti etc. Kunti, on the other hand, had a different idea. She asked him not to engage the noisy musical instruments. Instead, she recommended, create an atmosphere which would make one feel calm, peaceful, rested. The idea was accepted, and Durvasa set his foot into the kingdom which was decorated with beautiful flowers. The roads were scented and there was a slow, soft dhun of the omkar being sung in beautiful voices. It took away the tiredness of his travel. The ire, for which he was known so much, simply dissolved.

Coming back to reality, lets come out of the noisy Ganesh Aarti for the moment. Close our eyes and imagine ourselves surrounded by grass and flowers, sweet fragrances, peace, quiet. Now tell me, do we really need the noise to enjoy the festivities of the mind?

Of moms and daughters in law

This is what runs in your mind when you read one too many blog posts about mom / daughter in law relations and also keep reading about 'leaning in'. The whole idea of 'lean in' is bent on women supporting women and both getting ahead, rather than women competing with women, especially for getting share of a man's mind.

If, for one day, all moms, daughters and sisters in law decided to support and stand by each other, it might even turn into a maternal dominated society overnight. Why do the wife and mother have to compete for getting attention from the husband / son? On a different note, if a man's wife and mother spoke the same language, he would be very happy. In fact, he would hardly have an option other than to comply. This may however, be difficult for a generation of ma in laws which has seen a different environment since their childhood and has been conditioned to treat their daughters in law in the same manner that their ma in laws treated them.

If the change were to start by the current generation who has a son, and if this whole generation of mothers in law, daughters in law and sisters in law collaborated instead of competing, we may be headed for a society where the crimes against women would go down significantly. And this doesn't need much, except for the will to do it.

And what are the cons? Some TV serials may not remain relevant anymore, but that's not much to give, is it? I'm actually reminded of a past TV serial called 'tu-tu, main-main', showing a different kind of MIL - DIL relationship. It showed the two having constant differences of opinion among themselves, but fiercely defending each other against anyone else. That's probably where the ideal ground lies.