TIMES AND TRENDS

Watching and listening to Vijayanti Mala Bali on the television the other day, was reason enough to take the plunge to go and watch Naya Daur with the family. She was all grace and poise during the interview, 50 years after the film was first screened and obviously still very proud of her role in the momentous film. The qualities of head and heart displayed by the lead characters in Naya Daur, a tale of young people who had to struggle for their rights, are amazingly relevant even today. The context may have changed in today’s world, but the necessity of holding on to some basic human values has not.

Amazingly enough, Chak De India, a film made in modern times, and currently
drawing crowds to cinema halls, is based on similar values. The setting is different of course, that of a women’s team coached by a former hockey hero, who fell out of favour with his own country men, and who has one last chance to prove his loyalty and his mettle. His perseverance in the face of extreme adversity and the spirited display by his talented wards are the highlights of the film, which again bring out the fact that an honest, hardworking and diligent approach can carry the day, come what may.

Times have, however, changed so much in many other ways in the last fifty years,
that today’s “Naya Daur” or modern era, leaves none of us any time to pause and think. We are all so caught up in a mad race, with hardly any thinking time available, that we often tend to lose perspective. Even in a city like Chandigarh, which is not a metropolis, life is extremely hectic and days often pass one by at breakneck speed. Unforgiving metros like Mumbai or Delhi are much worse.

Speaking of Chandigarh, it’s really going places nowadays. It has been mentioned
or shown in well known films like Namastey London, Apne, Chak De India and Krrish
earlier. It’s also come out tops in surveys like those carried out by Knight Frank and AC Nielson. It is also on the way to becoming part of the exclusive list of global cities established in the 20th century which are on the World Heritage List.
Chandigarh-types are really going places nowadays. We hear of so many CEOs
and other successful personalities who have done very well and who have their origins in our knowledge city beautiful. So people, feel proud of the city you live in, and take time out to be with your family, despite your “busy schedules’. Till next time…