Skip to main content

Problems and Previleges

As I wandered away to once again stress about my career and job, a thought reminded me of the plight of poor and migrant workers suffering over the last months. While my own problem at hand felt important enough to me, I couldn't help but notice how even our problems in a crisis are also a reflection of our fortune and priveleges. 

Rich are missing their gyms and spas but can still afford to spend these extra days with their children and grandchildren. While some in the middle row are losing their jobs, others are being overstretched and bearing tremendous pay cuts. While a section of our society continues to suffer hunger and despair. Poor being blamed once again for being poor. 

I had been grateful I still had a job as I heard HT had laid off 150 members of its staff. Yet today on the very next day, I found myself complaining of being stuck in a job I didn't like as much. Even now, while mom couldn't take a single day off from her chemist shop, I am here cribbing and sneaking hours and days away from an already lenient 5-day work schedule.  I had always assumed, our parents' generation wasn't ambitious enough while today I thought maybe they knew duty and contentment a little better than us.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A letter to my happy tear

Sometimes we make things so much bigger in our hearts that it becomes impossible for the events to match our anticipation and even the slightest misdirections to our plans end up grounding them altogether. Exactly an year ago, on October 17, my father-in-law called me and told us that our wedding dates had been fixed. It had been a long-distance courtship but as the luck would have it, we were right there together to celebrate the good news. The next four months were probably the happiest period of my life. Even as I felt lonely without him, I would simply count down our days to the wedding. Soon enough, my joy and excitement became too visible. I don't think I have ever taken care of myself any better. I couldn't wait to get married.  I don't think there was a day I didn't think of him before I ended my day. I simply couldn't wait to be his wife. To his credit, it has all been worth it. Even as we are yet to find our way to a shared roof, Akhil you ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Remember your champions...

Akhil you know I can't go a long time without writing you love letter but am too lazy to visit a post office..so this one is for you... Everytime I am told I am stupid for choosing my passion, I just wanna look at you, remind myself and know we got this and will always find a way... Every time I feel alone or down, seek validation or feel the need to prove myself or my worth...I may take my time but ultimately every ride has taught me how I have my biggest champion at home. Chahe uss din wo kitchen mein bitaye 12 ghante hon ya hours spent on the most basic blog...even if noone else could see, you were the one cheering me on. Even if you were the one taking care of it all, you always ensured I knew we were a team.  At a time, when I almost felt invisible, u were the one who reminded me I mattered. Listened to my rants and then scolded me when u could not see me stay sad anymore. Even if a part of me was torn, you made sure I finally had fun at a wedding.  When I fel...
Post a Comment
Read more

Mrs - A subtle, yet powerful take on domesticated patriarchy

I know I am late to the party but I instantly joined the fan club. A take on the silent, and mostly unacknowledged, labour of women in a family, Mrs takes us through the journey of a modern woman as she tries to find her place in the new family after marriage. The film broadly shows daily routine of a family almost on a loop -- wherein men go to work, exercise and enjoy, while women of the house find themselves stuck in the kitchen throughout the day and year.  At one point, the loop begins to feel repetitive, but it serves well to highlight the monotony in a woman's life -- through the protagonist, Richa (played by Sanya Malhotra), and her mother in law. The two scenes about a woman guest taking Richa's stand; and her friend's husband helping in the chores offer a refreshing contrast to the Kumars, who illustrate a typical patriarchal mindset.  Sanya nailed as Richa, as her character's silent compliance with her husband and in-laws demands speaks volumes about her rep...
Post a Comment
Read more