Spirit of Chennai - is it not an exaggeration?

Many of us in Chennai go about trying to be “busy” as usual. Have no choice as that’s how we are expected to behave! We humans are designed to be adaptive to the gravest of situations, and we generally get accustomed to circumstances.

But what is this Spirit of Chennai that everyone is still talking about?

While the great humanitarian effort by individuals and NGOs during the rains and floods have to be sincerely lauded, I think we have taken this talk about Spirit of Chennai a little too far. Maybe exaggerated beyond limits! This is not new as we always see Spirit of Mumbai or Spirit of Delhi during any disaster.

But if you go back to your moral science classes in school, each one of us were taught to help and be kind to each other always, not just during disasters! Being a Good Samaritan is part of our DNA – it has always been so.  But just that in the recent years, in the mechanical life that we are leading in the mad rush for money, many of us have forgotten such basic qualities. We never did react to any situation unless we ourselves were affected.

So, the recent rains and floods did just that – each person in Chennai were affected in some way or the other and so turned around to help everyone else who were in distress. I would say that each of us got an opportunity to be true human beings!

Not just that, there has been behavioural changes amongst us as well.

• We managed with just black coffee for a few days
• Managed without power supply for several days
• Did not make a fuss over food
• Used water in rations
• For once, we were off from our hectic schedules and gadgets
• We had proper conversations with family and neighbours even in the midst of all the trauma and misery.
• More importantly, we shed our ego!
• In the midst of the tragedy, our loved ones came to mind. We took up the phone (though connectivity was poor), and tried to reach out to those we have not been in touch for a long time. At that moment, love proved more powerful than ego! And, we heaved a sigh of relief when we knew they were safe. In a minute, all the hatred, misunderstanding, revenge and grief just vanished into thin air! All of a sudden, we became more forgiving and understanding.

Can we not be like this all the time?

In our daily life, we fuss over so many little things, but were we not more tolerant those 4-5 days?

So, it is all just the making of the mind! That one week was probably just God’s way of telling us that there are more important things in life than just running around for money!

Let us atleast now try to lead a simple life and be of use to atleast a handful of people around us in some way or the other. We have to pledge to do some dharmic activity everyday, and bring a smile on the face of atleast one person. We never know when our last day on earth will be. So, face each day with a smile, and thank God for giving you yet another day to live, and love.

.

Cheers!