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An Eye-Opener
I was allergic to my village, literally. I got red rashes as soon as I climbed up to bed, I received cow milk that smelled terrible instead of my hot coffee, the cows mooed right below my bed and woke me up in the middle of the night, the stinking shed destroyed my appetite and what's worse, the villagers stared at me as if I was a Martian. When it came to my village I was eccentric in almost every way. I never thought I would fall in love with the same village one day.
It was a big day for me as I was going to watch my favorite band's live concert. I was very excited, but then my father informed me that all of us had to go to watch a movie named 'Swades' that was based on ‘patriotism’. I reminded my father that I’d been writing essays labeled 'patriotism' ever since I was in the fifth grade. I grumbled all my way to the theatre and seriously felt the movie would be nonsense. But as the reel rolled, all my preconceived notions faded away and I entered the world of sheer fascination.
The movie is simple, yet striking. I sometimes wonder how such a simplistic and casual film can envelope deep implications and yet, make it entertaining. The film enabled me to get rid of my stereotypical views regarding my village. It is a movie that highlights the importance of nationalism. The film revolves around a character named Mohan who is a Non Residential Indian working at NASA and is well-off. He has a grandmother who is staying at an old age home in India. It is when he plans to take his granny with him to USA that he visits India.
When he came to that village, he saw the pathetic situation of the village. Child marriage was very common, slavery existed, the landlords exploited their workers, girls were not allowed to go to school, and the villagers did not have health and environment awareness. No matter how advanced his life was in America, his homeland had no access to the basic amenities. That village had no assurance of electricity, although all the raw materials needed to extract hydroelectricity were available. This scene reminded me of Nepal's scenario because Nepal is the second richest country in water resources and yet it has huge power cut-offs. I also remembered the fruits and vegetables that grew in my village that just rotted away because of the lack of transportation.
It is Mohan's effort that changes the village. He uses his scientific knowledge and generates hydroelectricity. He spreads social awareness and revolutionizes the villagers' conservative thoughts. Girls get a chance to go to school, and society creeps towards egalitarianism. The film shows that it takes just one person to bring change. At that time a thought struck me: I had thought I knew a whole lot about patriotism. Well, maybe I did, but everything I had learned was only confined to books. I realized that I hadn't actually followed what I had learned. I was a girl who was content in eating the best cuisine, drinking the finest cappuccino, wearing big brands and enjoying concerts. That was all life meant to me. I had been ignorant every time I thought about my village. It was the film that made me realize that there was more to life than just luxury.
So I decided to get a sneak peek into my village. I went up to my grandfather who at that time was feeding his dear cows. My grandfather is a strong man. He doesn’t have six-pack abs and big biceps, but he sure is a stunning eighty year old man. I asked him if I could go to deliver milk with him. At first he hesitated, but after my constant urging he reluctantly said in his hefty tone. “Okay. Four in the morning,” he said, and I was speechless. Four in the morning was not my cup of coffee. I spent my mornings cuddling in bed unless somebody sprinkled water over me.
I was in deep slumber when the rooster flew into my room and frightened me to death. That was enough to wake me up. Grandpa and I had to walk for nearly two hours. There, I heard the cuckoo sing instead of the cars honking. The air was so cold and fresh, unlike the polluted smoke in my town. People were busy in the fields. Some were feeding their cattle, some were picking vegetables, and some were doing pottery. The whole scene seemed virtual to me because I had never seen it before. I said to myself “Do people actually do this?” I never knew the villagers were so laborious and loyal to their community. Perhaps, if I had not watched the movie, I never would have understood what my village was really like. It was a wonderful experience carrying the milk container and viewing the unseen. At that time, I recalled the part of the film when Mohan eventually quits his job at NASA and decides to stay back in the village. Mohan had accepted the village the way it was and was determined to develop the village. He was in love with his village and perhaps it was the same for me.
I might not be able to do such a herculean task such as producing hydroelectricity but I can try my best to
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Aparna
I am Aparna Singh from Nepal. I am nineteen years old.
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