KUSHAL MANGAL
Some
years ago, I remember reading a news report… It was a function held for
hundreds of young students in New Delhi. The speakers included some well-known
scientists of our country. Abhishek Bachchan, too, was a guest of honour. (I do
not remember what function it was… But, it was for igniting scientific spark in
young minds). What I remember reading about this event was this… One of the top
scientists, when asked about how he felt after the event, said, his tongue
firmly tucked in his cheeks: “I don’t remember young boys and girls turning their
heads when any of us entered the auditorium. But, when Abhishek Bachcahn came
in, the roof almost came down!”
Well, these may
not be the exact words of the top scientist. But, this was his and his colleagues’
exact feelings!
Last
evening, when my wife and I came out of the cinema hall, after watching ‘Mission
Mangal’, I wondered, if the real scientists (most of them middle-aged women) dressed,
talked, walked, behaved etc. like the ones we saw on screen – Akshay Kumar and
Vidya Balan, Sonakshi Sinha, Taapsi Pannu, Kirti Kulhari, Nithya Menen, Sharman
Joshi and others!
The cinema hall
was packed… I was surprised to see platoons of children (who seemed to be in
the age range of 10 to 13). Some parents had brought their very little kids,
too… And, there were rest of us, you know.
I remembered
visiting Nehru Planetarium, taking our son when he was a little boy. So, here
were scores of school kids making a big ruckus along their Mangal mission!
Frankly, kids
were spoiling our mangal experience. We heard a couple of irritated voices: “Slence
please”… “Shanti se baito”… “Don’t spoil our show”… “Go out if you can’t
watch quietly”. But, then, kids (not babies!) being kids, they did not heed. In
addition, a little baby began to cry so loudly… that a middle-aged man decided
to end it once and for all… “Why can’t you people let us watch the show
peacefully? Why can’t you leave?” he stood up and blasted.
That was the
booster doze that sent missiles all around in the dark auditorium… Abuses
galore! I heard my wife pleading, “Quiet please”… I tightly held her hand to
convey: “Leave them alone, darling!”
We saw, in the
darkness, the middle-aged man leaving the cinema hall. In next couple of
minutes, he returned with at least five security guards and their supervisor or
manager… They stood on the sides and studied the situation… For a moment the
lights were switched on… They were put off, quickly… By now, the peace had come
upon the Mars... Nobody dared to even whisper after that!
Did we enjoy the
movie?
Yes, we did. The
spice-girls and kilos of Bollywood masala made the movie experience worthwhile.
Above all, the multiplex had charged for two of us only 200 INR (100 each)
to-and-fro this Mangal Mission. So, paisa full vasool… No complaints.
But, I still
wonder: What must be the reaction of the real scientists after watching the
reel ones! What if they had really acted in it – Would they have said what that top
scientist had said in New Delhi when he and his colleagues had watched Abhishek
Bachchan walk in?
I, also, told my
wife, in the darkness, last evening, when the kids were creating ruckus one of the
favourite sayings my grandfather used to use when we kids created ruckus at our
village home: “Joklen kauntinade ennan kaumpade!”
Didn’t understand?
Let me translate
from our local Tulu. It means, “Don’t bury me where children are buried!”
Apparently, that
was the last wish (Will) of a wealthy merchant in the town…
Back in those
days, we did not understand what the merchant had in his mind when he wrote his
will. My take, years later, was that he had enough of the ruckus from children
when he was alive and, so, he wanted to rest really in peace in the graveyard!
But, just a
while ago, while I needed some help to translate the saying from Tulu, my college
buddy, Joe, who lives in our hometown, gave his take: “Children are pure, and
their place in Heaven is reserved. But, this wealthy merchant knew how he had
amassed his wealth, and felt unworthy!”
Whatever,
whatever!
I love children and
I loved my grandfather. And, yes, I love our nation and I love our scientists,
too… I am proud of them!
Kushal Mangal, to
all!
GERALD D’CUNHA
Pic.: 1. Mashable India 2. Free Press Journal 2. India Today
Video: FoxStarHindi
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