It was the day of Makar Sankranti. It is the harvest festival for South India. Honestly, I do know much about it beyond that. As a kid, Makar Sankranti was all about flying kites. One of my office friends, Vikram, invited us to his place for dine, wine and kite flying. 5 of us turned up. The weather was ideal for kite flying. A gentle and cool breeze, overcast conditions without any rain, loud peppy music on the roof top and Vikram and his family’s hospitality-could not have asked for more.
I do not remember when it was the last time I flew a kite. But, I do remember that it was never a lavish affair. The spool that I had as a kid (almost 15 years ago) was a result of many investments that I made with my pocket money back then. I remember the ‘manjha’-the thread that is used in front and used for cutting others’ kite, used to be bought for Rs.1 or 2. Unlike old days, Satish Anna (another colleague) and Vikram had made elaborate arrangements this time. Initially, I was not sure whether I should fly any kites. But, Satish Anna’s enthusiasm rubbed on to all of us. Though he was kept busy by his cute little 3 year-old daughter, Aarushi, and he could not take many turns at professional kite flying.
By the way, it was interesting for me to notice that even the manjha was ‘Made in China’. Dragonization I say. :-)
While we were busy flying kites, Niranjan, another friend, made an observation. He does not know how to fly a kite. He was busy doing what he enjoys most-sip his beer. I guess beer does this to you. You start mentally chumming and you tend to see the obvious, which otherwise had been overlooked or ignored for being so obvious. We started talking about society in India. And how some of the social norms get manifested in the way we fly kites. In India, kite flying is all about cutting others’ kites and ensuring that your kite is the only one that’s up there.
I do not know whether this emanates from the feudal culture of the society which is still seen in many parts of the country. Or, the spirit of competition is so ingrained in us that we can’t enjoy a simple fun activity by not being competitive. Or, is it the result of being highly territorial-trying to create a space for you among a billion others. Or, we simply derive pleasure from jeering at others. And what is most interesting is that even if you want to fly your kite ‘peacefully’, you will not be allowed to do so. It is really a jungle out there. We have to prove to ourselves and to others that we are omnipotent.
Of course there is a counter argument to this thought. People may feel otherwise-where there is no competition there is no fun. I think otherwise. There are still few things that can be done without any competition. It’s like playing a musical instrument where you often do not compete with others in a professional capacity. You just do it for unadulterated fun and at times for your peace.
I know that these are things that you learn in your childhood. They are strongly ingrained in all of us. How much ever we grow, after all, “Dil to Bacha Hai Jhi”
Whatever it is, it did make Niranjan and me think.
