The other night I heard a hue and cry in front of my house. I was made to climb my bed down by the ascending loud male voice. As I made my way out to our veranda with just a short on me, standing and shouting in front of my house was a man well dressed with modern jeans, a man who I assume would be in his 40′s. I was trying to figure out for myself who he was shouting at. But I also saw that the public street in front of my house was blocked with two maruti 800 car both parking in parallel with the road. I thought to myself who in his right mind would have parked a car like that in places such as Indra Vihar where space is such one big problem. As I was doing this talk within I saw my landlord and his son mumbling something to the man who was screaming and shouting. I also saw a man in his late 20′s from the other angle being stop by some lad trying to forcefully make his way toward my landlord’s son whose name I shall leave unnamed, who by now has become a friend to me. The slow fading noise was accompanied by the disappearing crowd. Afterward, I asked my friend what just happened to which he reply that the next door neighbour had apparently parked their car in front of my friend’s house and in my friend’s parking spot and when asked to move their car they have created this drama! But there is one thing that my friend told me which kind of stayed deep within me and touch my heart. My friend told me that they are 5 brothers. Legally speaking, my friend was right and his call to remove the car was justified but he was manhandled, discriminated and subjugated both emotionally and physically just because they are five and are more powerful and my friend’s a lone son. I said to myself what a stupid way to measure life and its worth! The one who can shout the loudest and longest wins the fight is a common tactic employ by most Indian who doesn’t care what it means to live by principles and values. The 5 brothers went away feeling good about what they did to my friend while, on the other hand my friend and his dad went away feeling let down, belittled and abused of their right, their freedom etc. I said to myself this is a classic example of a primitive head with a post-modern clothing. This is Indian culture but Indian culture is also my culture! Principles and values underneath makes a culture admirable and liveable. Whereas, covering oneself with a post-modern apparel doesn’t mean that a person is well cultured from within! A primitive head in a post-modern culture!
