“The only shield Kasmiri muslims seemed to have against the systematic cruelty of those governed them was the solace of their religion and the shelter of their close knit families. Family unit are close knit in India too, of course. The family unit is the rope of which the whole world swings. But in Kashmir it had a different import altogether. Grief, loss,anger, fear shame - families were drawn close by these threads of acute suffering”
Recently for whatever happened or didn’t or maybe I read or saw something. (Like Orundhati for me writing comes first as a visual to me) A photo of glider came to my mind -you know people / group of people who jump from plane and form a circle or whatever. And I was thinking family is like that - if one link breaks the circle is never complete. On families ( religion & Kashmir) - Arundhati Roy - Mother Mary Comes to Me.
It’s been upheavals - emotional highs and lows - breakdowns and exhilarations - lot of love and lot of hate for last 1 year when 4 adults formed a family after a break of 10 years. In those 10 year - kids who went to boarding to college became adults and came back to the nest to start their career.
The rope had loosened, the threads had come out & the quality of threads had changed, it was different material. Now the threads were all hanging and doing its best to form a rope.
I didn’t know what else to make of it. Family was my cornerstone. I remember this workshop on Stephen Covey principles. They asked us to draw an image of my dream. I drew a family of four holding hands with everyone smiling.
While I worked hard and reached a place where I was getting a salary which very few get in today’s world, I did my best to manage the family, make time - be there, support there when needed. I still do the same but things changed. I cannot understand them they don’t understand me - there are frequent misunderstanding. I feel more isolated than being part of the family - a lone ranger among 3 musketeers who are joined.
I know the kids try at least they have the belief that things will change for good. Between adults we have given up long back.
I am hoping the thread will be made soon.
Till then, I guess we just hang in there.
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