Up tilted camera held against the light. Pouty smiles squeeze the cheeks. Illuminating eyes, and eradicating spots that looks like a perfect vague. Vicarious representation of how trendy one could possibly look, fallible but hopeful.
Click. Click. Click.
In a world of selfie-addiction, smile usually is the brand name for an essential drug called pretense. Long hours of sweet gossip with family after day of hard work is now replaced by hashtags about them. Birthdays, anniversaries are now seen on Whatsapp and Facebook’s status before even the person is actually wished for the great day. Instead of living the moment, people are busy capturing them. These gadgets, have made man handicapped towards them. Yes, this is the definition of the so-called 21st century’s modern people for happiness. Alas, we are leaving the true essence of the what ‘happiness’ actually means. Jim Rohn once said that, “Happiness is not something to be postponed for the future, it is something to be designed for the present.” We cannot own, earn or consume happiness. It is an experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.
Some of the true words of Gandhiji elucidate that humanity is perceived as charity. Beginning from home, spreads across the roads we travel, places we dwell and people we meet. Deeds of giving are the very foundation of this world. A man’s true life is the good he does in this world, for the world. What would you liked to be remembered as for after you die? “He lived graciously and usefully” or “He died rich”. Charity is much more than just donating. It is a feeling of compassion, a very strong desire of social upliftment which is deep rooted within every individual as a human being. It is just that, today man has set his preferences only towards the upliftment of his own self, rather than patronizing others. As and when the man progresses, he forgets the real morals and values. He has reached to the sky and moon but forgot to reach to people of earth. Change needs to happen. Where are we landing with these materialistic thoughts? However words are easy. Just as writing this article is easy. It is the implementation of intentions, ideas and ideals that is difficult. It is said that, “If you really want change, you cannot just mock and deride. Instead every one need to slowly nudge towards change by being inclusive and by acting rather than just talking”. By saying this, I am not mocking credentials of today’s gen-next populace (I’m one of them) but just saying to take some footsteps in direction of change @ speed of thought.
Well, what is most lost in this neoteric world, is seen amongst some people across various parts of world. There are instances in India, of great men, who gave their all to the cause of charity. One such man was Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das, the great political leader and a renowned barrister. He donated his house, wealth and all that he had in his possession to his countrymen. In his name, hospitals and similar other charitable institutions are still functioning successfully. The Birlas, have donated and built many charitable institutions in India for the benefit of the common people. The Dharmashalas, the hospitals, the educational institutions and numerous scholarships for the poor but meritorious students are their generous contributions towards their countrymen. One of such demeanor I found is the group named “Happy Faces” in Vadodara. “Live for a cause, not for applause. Live to express, not to impress” are the main inklings of this organization. The event I attended from bunch of many events exhibited by them since 2015 was a musical night ‘A night with the stars’ at the Amphitheatre, Vadodara on 6th of May’18 for bringing smiles on young, innocent and charming faces. Yes, a chilly night where stars came to dance on the floor on the tune played over. La-la-la..mhmm..mhmm..Have you ever suddenly transformed back to a memory associated with a person or place by listening a song? That’s what the magic lies inside those melodious tunes. It is our perfect companion for all our moods from glum to glad. It’s like when I came first in my class, I rejoiced over the melody, when I had my breakup I heard the breakup song. From childhood sing-a-long songs to garage grunge music, music has an uncanny ability to affect nearly everybody.
Roll sound. Camera. Music. It was show-time now. The stage neatly polished and the wooden floor glazed like marble. The lights on the top of our heads were intense as intense as the spirit in us. The different sections of band were illuminated by the flashes of fame and adulation. Looking at the naïve and unblemished faces in the audience, the plethora raised to initiate the symphony. With the slight twitch of the baton, the ensemble started. And guess what? On the very next second, the little cute kids danced over jingles and were filled with euphoria. Harbinger of diversities, custodian of beautifully creative people, vessel of mishaps alongside harmony. The night affluently gave chills and frills to everyone.
Where Orangella didn’t feel quite right,
But for the sake of spreading smiles,
He stayed over for rest of the miles!
Hats off to all the Members of team Happy Faces Vadodara and Kudos to the man behind Happy Faces Vadodara, Piyush Khare you have set and example of superb team management and tremendous creativity to spread smiles across many. It is easy to give money and get the tag of being a charitable person, but charity in its actual terms is unfurling sanctity and I salute to the team of ‘Happy Faces Vadodara’ for manifesting the true meaning of a ‘Happy faces’! Great work unwinded, guys!
