Window Seat: Corona strikes back

Covid pandemic has been razing India since early 2020. There is hardly any household in the country that has no members who suffered it. My wife and son did. Somehow my mother, who is slightly over 80 and I escaped its attention. Till the other day. Initially it felt like simple body ache, result of a tiring working day. It was followed by a slight temperature, which with time kept on increasing. As I was untouched by Corona during the first and second wave and had taken all the three doses- I did not think it could be Corona. But as the pain and temperature persisted despite basic medicines- the thought occurred. And it was an eerie feeling. Suddenly I felt vulnerable. I called my friendly neigbourhood pathology lab to send somebody to collect sample and run a test. The test report arrived in little over 24 hours. The word positive was printed in capital letters. Never before the word ‘positive’ had this kind of effect on me. I felt as if my world would crumble around me.What would happen to my family if something happens to me? Who would look after them? What would happen to the books that I was planning to write and publish? What would happen to my plans to take my wife to Srinagar or to get my son married off? It was not that I was unaware that Corona is not that fatal as it used to be, more so we have taken three doses of vaccine. But at that moment the word was like a sledge hammer that crushed my world of dreams. I know I’ll recover, so will my wife and mother. But that moment taught me two life-lessons: one, it is one thing to read about something, it is completely different when you face the situation yourself. Two, finish your works, live your dreams: kyapata- kaal ho na ho! (who knows, whether there is a tomorrow or not). From Mughal-e-Azam to Samrat Prithviraj {"align":"center","id":198194,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none"} As I was down with Corona and mercifully there was no great physical discomfort- I spent time in watching as many movies as I could on OTT platforms. I watched SamratPrithviraj directed by ChandraprakashDwibedi (of television serial Chanakya fame).Based on an epic poem in braj language by Chand Bardai, who probably was the court poet of the king titled PrithvirajRaso the film was made on a lavish scale. The kaleidoscopic visuals of royal Rajasthan, the war scenes, the dance scenes were magnificent. Akhya Kumar with a designer mustache and lean mean body was a treat to watch. So was the heroine Manushi Chillar.  But after watching the film, I did not get the feeling of watching something worthwhile- that would make me think about it, keep me awake deep into the night and make me want to watch it again and yet again- the way I look forward to watch Mughal-e-Azam, which was released a year before I was born. Mughal-e-Azam was released on 5 August 1960. Directed by K. Asif it also had a lavish scale and stellar star cast. {"align":"center","id":198195,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} The difference between Mughal-e-Azam and SamratPrithvirajis: the former focused on telling a story with all its nuances and layers which the later did not. The later tried too hard to convince the audience how great a king SamratPrithviraj was! Nandanik@8 Koraput in Odisha is known for its hills and forests. More than half of the population of Koraput is tribals. The literacy rate is less than 50 per cent. In this district an organization devoted to the practice of artistic theatreNandanik (which in Sanskrit means aesthetic) formed on 1 August 2014 have staged plays of Ibsen (Enemy of the State), Chekov (The Marriage Proposal), BharatenduHarishchandra (AndherNagari). They have organized Mime Workshops, Children’s Theater Ensemble, the first ever EZCC Theatre Workshop in South Odisha, the first ever CSNA event in OdishaLokJatra, commemorated 400 birth anniversary of Shakespeare by organizing a series of seminars titled ‘Understanding Shakespeare’. Founded by Dr. Sourav Gupta, who teaches mass communication at Central University of Odisha at Koraput and his wife Manideepa Gupta, Nandanik has demonstrated the universal acceptability of good theatre. Tailpiece: US and India In US: It is too expensive… we cannot afford it. In India: Isenikalkerakhiye. Wapas ate waktlenge. (Courtesy: Social Media)