Tuesday, January 19, 2010

I wish there were more Potters....

Potters??? Of course... Harry Potters!!!!

I am sure that 99% of the readers would have read HP series...for the rest (unfortunate) of the bunch...HP is a boy who fights against all the odds in his life and succeeds in killing the dark/black magician Voldemort..I don't want to deviate from the main topic...so,that's the story outline of HP series just for u :)

Now...lets do a small flashback...(rolling a mosquitoes coil in front of u to get the movie effect)

Not so long ago...i.e...last year...some time in April..i was conducting a 2 days workshop on Interpersonal Effectiveness..

On the first day, i noticed one participant... moving his lips every now and then, looking at the ceiling,sometimes smiling without any reason.I started noticing it only during the second half of the first day...When i noticed it first time, i suddenly stopped my lecture and asked him (genuinely) whether he would like to share anything...he said..."me?" he looked both sides "no.."..so i continued with my session.

On the second day...i deliberately concentrated more on this participant...and it became very obvious that his actions were not "normal".So, during the break i approached him and told him what i have noticed. He rejected my observation very bluntly saying, i mite have felt that way. So, i said," i don't have anything to loose.But, if u act this way, in front of your manager during his presentation, it will affect your career. But, if u think, u need any help, would suggest you to consult a psychiatrist"...he didn't react and just walked off...

Post the session, he came to me and apologized. For what? For lying...

It seems, he has some sort of nervous disorder and that's the reason he is unable to control his lip movements & facial expressions...So, i asked, y should he be ashamed or hide this and not consult a doc. His answer shocked me...

He said "i know the reason for this problem. Some of my relatives have done some black magic and that's y i am like this. Moreover, if i go to psychiatrist, people will think i am mad!"

Flashback stops here...

This response really made me think about...
1) Our society's attitude towards getting professional counselling/help
2) Our beliefs in "black" magic

The first one is more of a serious issue compared to the second one. Not sure, when the people in our country will start being comfortable in getting professional help for mental trauma/issues? For such people...the only piece of suggestion would be "Live for you...Not for others".

For the second point...well...we are in 21st century...so..no more comments :(

I wish people like this guy turns out to be potters in real life to fight against the odds and kill the "black magics/Voldemorts" in their lives...

9 comments:

  1. thats an interesting story...hmm...
    come to think of what u said..its really shocking to know that ppl believe in black magic even now..!

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  2. i wish BLACK MAGIC existed...... itzz d only way.. i can get promotion !!!!!!!!

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  3. Nice one Dundu....

    @ rakesh - i liked that....:-)

    IMO ..mostly... stuff like black magic originates when popular Science & Technology does not have a 'proper' explanation & solution to an issue.....combined with illiteracy - a dangerous combine, which is pretty high in our country.

    but in this case, its strange tat someone as educated as he is, could still allow himself to fall into the age old trap. I can only say that Harry Potter was lucky enough to inherit the powers & (black) magic skills from his father, but our man in the real world story Mr. Hari Puther should be wise enough to de-inherit some beliefs that he has inherited from his society.....
    If he cannot do this himself - it is absolutely fine to get help....we all do it all the time - getting help :-)

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  4. Nice one chotu... The sad part is even in this age, you have issues like black magic, female infanticide, child marriage plaguing us even in "metro cities" which just pulls us back to a rut even when we try hard to get India to become a "developed nation"...

    Well I think u did the right thing in suggesting him to take help from a counsellor....

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  5. Agreed. Society does not take kindly to those who go for therapy or even counselling. They're automatically classified as "mad/mentally unstable/crack/loosu/paithyam" etc. Few appreciate the fact that the ones seeking counselling need help or have recognized that they need help and are seeking it. That's something to appreciate! It reflects the courage of this person - ready to change himself/herself.

    Hmm..so your nicknames are Chotu and Dundu??

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  6. Btw..a LOT of people esp in the state of God's Own Country - seem to believe quite a bit in this black magic thing. Was this guy a Malayalee by any chance?

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  7. Nice one Veena! However, I agree with Random Ramblings when she says belief in Black Magic is quite prevalent in some states. Will take a few decades for people to stop believing and practising.

    And you have one of my HP books with you! Hehehe! Ratzi

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  8. Hey.

    Good piece and yes it's always easier to blame someone/thing else for one's problems. Even somthing as outlandish as black magic! Umm!

    Happy writing.

    RR

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  9. Hi Veena,

    Gud one!! On the other hand when there's good there's bad as well.....

    SB

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