To be Said or left Unsaid ?

Today's Deccan Herald, Hyderabad quotes Dostoevsky:

"Much unhappiness has come into this world because of things left unsaid."

What I say in this blog is not to eradicate unhappiness- mine or anybody else's. I could not be an activist for I have not understood myself yet; leave alone the world around me. I have no moral high ground to be self righteous and yet I do falter on this slippery ground. 

However, I feel the need to share some of the most trivial experiences and observations of mine as Common Man which are at times funny, sad, ironical, grave, crass and even insane and trivial. But nevertheless, each one of the experiences somehow points at my own inadequacies and the need to evolve as a human being. 

Yes, I do consider myself to be an important component of my world/ my nation/my family and every failure of any of these units is mine as every success of theirs is equally mine too.

I leave my anecdotes to be interpreted as per the intellect and emotions of my readers.

Starting a blog with toilets as a topic was not terribly elite and talking of it in the context of classical dance festivals was definitely out of the league of high art and intellect. 

I wish more pious thoughts could invade my mind and banish the realities form it.

My friend informs me that from 3rd October, 2012 begins the Nirmal Bharat Andolan against open defecation sponsored by Government of India with Vidya Balan as its brand ambassador!

Toilets and Classical Dance

WAIT! Do not over react to the atrocious title of today's blog !!! Let me explain...

On a recent visit to London, I stayed with a gracious hostess, of Pakistani origin, whose parents had settled down in London. In their hearts, they always remained the citizens of an undivided India. The lady, who now is a dear friend, was interested in the classical dance forms of India and I was told by a common friend that she would be happy to have me stay with her. I was happy too, as I was on a severe low budget trip to UK to explore the dance scenario there.

As a lover of classical dance and also being an editor of  a journal on classical dance, Nartanam,  who gets to see many dance festivals around the country; I was supposed to be a valuable visitor whom she looked forward to meet. And I was too happy to find audience for all that I always love to share on classical dance.

I arrived in London and found great warmth in the comfort of her lovely home and hospitality. One evening, anticipating a stimulating discussion on high art, I settled down in the elegant drawing room. Suddenly she asked,

 "Does India have more toilets now, than what I had encountered during my trip more than a decade ago?"

Dumbfound, the initial thoughts which fleeted through my mind were dictated by the indignant response we Indians assume, when questioned bout the basic amenities here, our civic sense, poverty, etc etc. We love to bash the west's obsession with these issues. 

My intellect was ready to launch the "India Shining" emotion; and the profane citing of the probability of us being the next superpower; and spite back citing how we have done better than the west, especially Europe in dealing with the economic crisis, etc. etc.

But suddenly a lightning stoke of realization struck my egoistic high art persona; and the reality and simplicity of my hostess's query dawned on me. 

The difficulty I had locating a toilet at the Dhauli festival, flashed through my mind. The agony of not being able to find a toilet was as fresh in memory as if it had happened just an hour ago. 

The Dhauli and Konark are high profile festivals, both organised by the Odisha Tourism at the most picturesque of locations of Odisha. I was a privileged guest by virtue of being a writer on dance. And there I was, in the later half of the cold evening,  agonizing over where to relieve myself. Both festivals venues are quite far away from the hotels where the guests stay. In spite of reducing my intake of water to NIL; as a healthy human being whose kidneys were functioning to the optimum, I could not be blamed for wanting to relieve myself; after more than five hours after leaving my hotel. After a few discreet inquiries I was directed to a toilet which no human being would dare to enter without risking a violent assault on the senses and sanity. 

This definitely is not an isolated incident with me; and it is not true of only this venue. At any tourist place, temple town, dance festival, other than at a few well developed venues or modern auditoriums; the basic amenities are pathetic. Even the classical dancers performing at the myriad Chennai sabhas have also been vocal about the toilet and green room blues. A dear colleague of mine lamented on the toilet blues at Konark, not long after my embarrassing experience. It is quite baffling how the spectators who travel from far and wide to these venues which are quite out of the city, manage? Especially the women!

I am sure the 'Saga of Toilets' is not limited to just 'Classical Dance' and its performance venues; and surely my experience is not the first and the only one.