IT TOOK 2 MONTHS FOR ME TO WRITE THIS BLOG – Phew…
It is quite natural that animals (human beings included) always seek comfort. The body controls the mind in this aspect. The body wants to be cozy and relaxed and it decides a place which provides a perfect resting place. Since humans cannot lie down and conduct the business of life, the human body has settled for the second best option- to sit and to continue with the humdrum of existence. This blog discusses the concept of sitting i.e, seated position. I will examine the different aspects of this common human habit including the cultural, political, and the religious.
Let me begin this examination with the Indian scenario. The idea of sitting gains cultural,political colors in the Indian context. As children we were instructed not to sit in front of the elders. We were supposed to stand if an elder from our family walks by. The idea of sitting is linked to the value of respect. The same is the case with classrooms. Students should stand up when the teacher makes his/her entry. In the Hindu tradition the man and woman gets married seated in front of the fire. in some parts of India especially the south, the dead is taken to the grave seated in a chair. In many occasions sitting is regarded as the auspicious posture than standing. Meditation and yoga in India recommends different positions which are good for body,mind,and soul. The idea of rest/not in motion is connected to the act of sitting. Hindu priests performs the traditional adoration ceremony seated in front of the deity. most of them hail from upper caste section of the society and hence they have the upper edge in life. A lower caste being was not allowed to sit or even walk if there is a upper caste being around him.
In modern day life seat has become the epitome of power. Political parties yearn for power seats in the corridors of power. The public respect not the individual but the chair. Even in my little academic world sometimes i feel the power of chair. In a way a seat plays an important role in creating a hierarchical order in our lives. The person who has the seat or the who is sitting has more power than the one who is standing. The standing one is always waiting. This very evident when travelling in local trains and buses. The person who has the seat always casts a sympathetic glance at the one who is standing. Most of the time there ensues silly squabbles on the topic – who is the rightful owner of that seat? I am reminded of my childhood days when I used to fight with my brother for the window seat. Maybe that's the training we receive to fight it out in the big real adult world. Seats are seen as the anti dote for waiting. Bus/rail stations have waiting rooms with comfortable chairs so that weary traveler will never feel the pinch of waiting.
Modern day life has also brought in a special type of creatures known as couch potatoes. Their main preoccupation is to watch sitcoms and other gutterly creations that comes out of the idiot box. They combine this acts with the an endless supply of food. The mobile phones also add to these new fangled fashion of immobility. The cellular company made some quick bucks with the jingle – walk and talk.
thus goes on the story of a seat. I am sure that everybody will have their opinion about this topic, please feel completely to contact me at jith77@gmail.com
Have a seat/ say
