The next post is going to be an Isaac Asimov fanfic. I'd recommend the Foundation series by him (in the order that he wrote). Truly a masterpiece of not only science fiction but of sociology too.
Monday, November 4, 2013
Sunday, November 3, 2013
NF001: Sab Theek Hojaayega
(ST Notes: pending publication)
One lazy Sunday afternoon, with Diwali celebrations on the way, I was watching Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani on the television. Though the movie was coming to its predictable end, a particular line caught my attention. The ever optimistic, cure for all, the Hail Mary in a counselor's arsenal. A line which crosses all barriers of language, creed, caste and upbringing. A line so simple yet so potent that it has soothed millions of hearts, young and old. A line which has probably changed the course of history countless times. A line without which hope would have long dwindled away in this unfair world. A line filled with the wisdom of generations, being passed on, as intellectual heritage.
'Sab theek hojaayega.'
Everything will be alright.
But did anyone wonder why?
Dont get me wrong. Im an optimist to the core. But I am a cynic too. Just by a superficial gaze, the line appears hollow, redundant. It is without an explanation. I doubt any explain has ever been offered beyond a vague repetition of itself. I doubt a crying child has ever posed a question, rhetoric as it may be, to this statement and gotten a lesson in the mysterious ways of life. The line has always been a balm, a bandage to the gushing wounds life inflicts upon us. It is, without a doubt, effective and true almost every time. That is a fact that we've discovered. That sab sach mein theek ho hi jaata hai. It is an axiomatic truth then. We've established that.
But then sab theek kaise hojaata hai?
How do we indeed are able to sit oh so many years later and recall the obstacles we faced? Reminiscing about all the times we had fallen, without luck or hope and how we managed to scrape by all of it to rise, like a phoenix out of its ashes? (HP7 P2 being telecast on HBO).
Why does the universe, in its mysterious ways, twist fate and make it all okay for a simple human being like me? Doesnt it have to worry about death, suffering, world wars, weapons of mass destruction, Comedy Nights with Kapil? Is it God? I doubt that because religion has nothing to do with the phenomenon of cause and effect else atheists would be bottom feeders in this world. If its not the universe, if its not God, then who is it?
Is it me?
That is what I believe. After a long, intensive thinking session (the brooding phases of teenage), I believe it is us who grow. Grow into a smarter, experienced version of oneself to whom the problems dont seem as big. The situations dont change. The exams dont get easier, the heart breaks dont get simpler, the frustrations dont magically disappear. It is we who change. And the funny thing is that we do so because of the motivation offered by that one line. It creates the hope needed for itself to be true and have its desired effect. We need to hear this self fulfilling prophecy to make it all okay. That is the legacy of this one simple line. We are the ones who become wiser and brush aside our fears to overcome them. It remains with us till the next hurdle, the next level of difficulty life has to offer us. So the next time you feel disheartened, discouraged or depressed, just remember.
'Why do we fall, sir? So we can learn to pick ourselves up.' That was Alfred's way of telling Bruce Wayne what he needed to hear. A simple truth.
'Sab theek hojaayega.'
One lazy Sunday afternoon, with Diwali celebrations on the way, I was watching Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani on the television. Though the movie was coming to its predictable end, a particular line caught my attention. The ever optimistic, cure for all, the Hail Mary in a counselor's arsenal. A line which crosses all barriers of language, creed, caste and upbringing. A line so simple yet so potent that it has soothed millions of hearts, young and old. A line which has probably changed the course of history countless times. A line without which hope would have long dwindled away in this unfair world. A line filled with the wisdom of generations, being passed on, as intellectual heritage.
'Sab theek hojaayega.'
Everything will be alright.
But did anyone wonder why?
Dont get me wrong. Im an optimist to the core. But I am a cynic too. Just by a superficial gaze, the line appears hollow, redundant. It is without an explanation. I doubt any explain has ever been offered beyond a vague repetition of itself. I doubt a crying child has ever posed a question, rhetoric as it may be, to this statement and gotten a lesson in the mysterious ways of life. The line has always been a balm, a bandage to the gushing wounds life inflicts upon us. It is, without a doubt, effective and true almost every time. That is a fact that we've discovered. That sab sach mein theek ho hi jaata hai. It is an axiomatic truth then. We've established that.
But then sab theek kaise hojaata hai?
How do we indeed are able to sit oh so many years later and recall the obstacles we faced? Reminiscing about all the times we had fallen, without luck or hope and how we managed to scrape by all of it to rise, like a phoenix out of its ashes? (HP7 P2 being telecast on HBO).
Why does the universe, in its mysterious ways, twist fate and make it all okay for a simple human being like me? Doesnt it have to worry about death, suffering, world wars, weapons of mass destruction, Comedy Nights with Kapil? Is it God? I doubt that because religion has nothing to do with the phenomenon of cause and effect else atheists would be bottom feeders in this world. If its not the universe, if its not God, then who is it?
Is it me?
That is what I believe. After a long, intensive thinking session (the brooding phases of teenage), I believe it is us who grow. Grow into a smarter, experienced version of oneself to whom the problems dont seem as big. The situations dont change. The exams dont get easier, the heart breaks dont get simpler, the frustrations dont magically disappear. It is we who change. And the funny thing is that we do so because of the motivation offered by that one line. It creates the hope needed for itself to be true and have its desired effect. We need to hear this self fulfilling prophecy to make it all okay. That is the legacy of this one simple line. We are the ones who become wiser and brush aside our fears to overcome them. It remains with us till the next hurdle, the next level of difficulty life has to offer us. So the next time you feel disheartened, discouraged or depressed, just remember.
'Why do we fall, sir? So we can learn to pick ourselves up.' That was Alfred's way of telling Bruce Wayne what he needed to hear. A simple truth.
'Sab theek hojaayega.'
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