For the love of Superstitions

I was hurrying down the street this evening for an urgent work, when this happened. It was about dark, yet, not quite. My above average pace suddenly got a jolt before coming to a halt. Wonder why? About 100 yards from me stood a fat black cat, glaring at me straight in the eye.

I tried to look away from it, unconsciously gulped once, looked around to ensure nobody was witnessing my threatened existence; or was it more an eager look to hope to find somebody around.. God knows! And there I stood still, refusing to dodge a bit. Right at this point, memories of how my aunt was hospitalized years back in Kolkata, at the sight of a black cat, in broad daylight, seized my mind. What on earth happened to my urgency? Why couldn’t I just walk away instead of looking away? Wasn’t this willing suspension of all rationalism on earth?

Whatever it may have been, it was anything but expected. I really don’t know how long the cat looked me in the eye before it finally decided to look away.. then it moved a bit, and yet again gave a stark look at me. At this point, I regained back some sense and decided to reach to the other side of the street. That way, I would not only maintain a safe distance; but also reach my destination without wasting more time.

So, the brave heart that I am, I started to cross the street keeping a vigil that the cat stayed where it was. And when I lost sight of the thing, in the almost dark evening, I resumed my pace only to stumble and fall with an abrupt shriek of fright on Miss Black beauty herself. Call it coincidence, or the love of superstition, we both decided to cross the street at the same time (who knows even she might have wanted to avoid me) While Miss Black beauty stealthily hid somewhere in the vicinity; I remained horizontal on the street. Luckily a young lady was passing around the same time; she helped me gather myself and asked me if everything was alright.

My fear that had reached new height of paranoia by now disabled me from uttering a word. I could only barely nod. The sight of the burning green eyes in the half-dark half-light lonely environment cast an overbearing spell on me and I quickly walked away from her, as if nothing had happened, without even a word of thanks. Well, not that I’m this discourteous by nature, but fear mingled with irrational behavior perhaps manifests in such a way.

Finally, when I reached the brightly lit street, I realized that the strap of my sandal was torn. I had little choice but to put on hold my ‘urgent work’ and limped back home in a pair of torn slippers. Now I know why they say when a cat crosses the path, the journey remains unaccomplished.

As much as I hate to admit that I was indeed very scared this evening, it has a lot to do with those horror stories heard in the childhood that remains ingrained in the brain. Admittedly, education, awareness and the power of reasoning didn’t come handy to save myself such ignominy on a less known street of the United States.

A nostalgic walk down the advertising lane

As I was glancing through NDTV Profit on my iPad, during breakfast today, I came across an interesting video featuring the top advertisements of the 80s. This was a special program to mark the 65^th Independence Day of India.

As the old jingles of ‘Gold Spot’, ‘Limca’ and ‘wonderful Doodh’ played away on the screen, I was transported to the world of 2 decades back, to my growing up days. And, in an instant, there were so many memories floating before my eyes – luckily all of them were pleasant. I remembered how happy we were even with very limited access to things such as television entertainment. Serials such as Hum Log, Buniyaad, Rajni & other programs such as Chitrahaar fulfilled our need for entertainment. And these were all just weeklies. Even as the memories came alive, they seemed to be from another lifetime.

And the famous ad jingles of the 80s helped me dwell a bit more in that other lifetime.

The ‘Limca’ ad was at number 10. A very young Salman Khan celebrating his first victory with Limca…  of course, he wasn’t a superstar then J

At number nine was the “oh so unforgettable” ad of ‘Lijjat Papad’. At that time animation was never used in the Indian advertising industry & the little bunny became an instant hit with children. As a child, I loved to mimic the bunny saying “lijjat papad…hehehehe”

The zingy ad of ‘Gold Spot’ was at number 8. That happened to be the first favorite drink of my life ;)

‘Vicks ki goli lo, khich khich door karo’ stood at number 7.

Children loved to mimic the song of ‘Bajaj bulbs & tubes’; ‘jab main chhota bachha thha’…   This stood at number 6.

The famous Bombay Dyeing ad (Oh! my dream lover is a Bombay Dyeing man) stood right in the middle, at number 5.

Who can ever forget Alyque Padamsee’s bold creation – the bikini-clad Liril girl aka Karen Lunel? This was the most controversial ad of our childhood that also rewrote the rules of Indian marketing. Liril ad was placed at number 4.

Now, how many would agree that this was a household song, especially for bathroom singers? Yes, I’m talking about the popular ‘Tandurusti ki raksha karta hai Lifebuoy’ jingle. I’m glad Lifebuoy got the prestigious position of number 3.

Hamara ‘Bajaj’ very deservingly was placed at number 2. We can never forget the heart-warming, heart touching song ‘hamara kal hamara aaj.. Buland bharat ki buland tasveer’.

And at number 1, stood the social campaign for national integration, the song (Mile sur mera tumhara) that still gives me goose bumps. It was first telecast on 15^th August 1988 to promote unity among Indians and it did change the national sentiment to a considerable extent by evoking an emotional response that ‘unity in diversity’ could not be compromised and treated only as empty rhetoric. It’s high time for another such effective campaign considering the fact that a series of blasts rocked Manipur on India’s 65^th Independence Day.

Some of these products have phased out; most of them have been outshined by shinier, smarter products. But, it’s wonderful how these old jingles still stir up roaring memories.

Needless to say, I loved the show and jotting these thoughts is the best thing I have done today.