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Journalism of Courage
Idle mind, devil8217;s workshop. Did you notice how those two always go together? My mom was a great believer in this dictum. I can still remember all the summer vacations when she devised ways to keep her dear daughters creatively busy. Come holidays, and she sent us into overdrive 8212; it was nib painting and riding one summer, crochet and swimming the other.
It8217;s now when I think back that I can think of smart-alecky responses to the idle mind-devil workshop theory. Had Newton not been idling under an apple tree, how would he ever have learnt all about gravity? It was idling with a helicopter their dad bought them that actually helped Wilbur and Orville Smith take off. These pioneers went on to experiment with flights and gliders, making the first successful flight in a motor-powerered plane.
By now, you must have guessed it. There8217;s nothing that gives more pleasure than doing nothing. When you idle, you go off on your own track. End result 8212; it gives you an insight into yourself as well as the world. All the world8217;s a stage, and you the prima donna.
I8217;m running a few errands when I begin thinking of things I like best. The traffic light glows red. That reminds me. Red roses. Number one, definitely. A cup of hot coffee no malai on top please. The cool breeze in the night. If it blows over the salty sea, nothing like it. Kishore Kumar songs. Casablanca. Chatting into the night with my sister. Pyjama parties. Hmm. Let me think. What else? Candlelight. Puppies with noses so wet you can feel the chill as they nestle against you. A plant in bloom.
But I8217;ve meandered too long. The traffic light8217;s gone green, and the man in the car behind me is honking away furiously. Hell, what does he think I want to do? Grow roots and set up home at this signal? I catch his eye in the rear-view mirror, give him a glare, get ahead with the gear and vroom off.
On my way, my eye falls on the latest Colgate hoarding. A cherub grins out, displaying Mera Waala Colgate teeth. My mom tells me I used to look like that once upon a time. And that I wasn8217;t too troublesome as a kid. How troublesome is troublesome, I wonder. I like babies who grin and gurgle all the time. They smell nice too. See what I mean about meandering. Even a river couldn8217;t have so many bends and curves!
It8217;s like playing a game of trivial pursuits. Or maybe hits and misses. Whatever it is, it8217;s infinitely enjoyable. Something that you have to do to know. And as far as that idle mind, devil workshop theory goes, it8217;s pure bunkum. For if you aren8217;t going to idle, you aren8217;t going to think. And if you aren8217;t going to think8230; well, I needn8217;t say more. For had I not been thinking, how would this piece have ever been penned?
