Achiever.

My Salinger tribute

Last week, I read at least 10 JD Salinger tributes.
Two of them worth linking: Salil Thripathi writes A world full of phoneys, in his Mint column, stating that Indrajith, a character from a Bengali play is our very own Holden (for me this could be perhaps Agastya Sen from English, August, although in a different way and slightly grown up). American movie writer Kim Morgan lists six movies which could have been influenced by The Catcher in the Rye.

Apart from changing my life etc. (another loser, eh?), the book induced in me this wonderful pastime of spotting phoneys around me. At work, in the pub, in media... everywhere. I also started appreciating people who were not. If I had kept a list, I could have made it into Holden’s Hall of Shame (phoneys), and Fame.

Two striking figures from the recent past from Indian media that comes to my mind now, for the Holden's Hall of Fame - people who chose NOT to be phoney:

Anil Kapoor: For just being himself at the Globes and the Oscars and immensely enjoying every moment than being conscious about the celebrities around him and the etiquettes. Each time Slumdog won, he was shouting and cheering- even if he had whistled desi-style, it would not have been out of place!

Kavita Karkare: For courageously ignoring societal pressure and rewriting the clichéd image of the Indian widow, at the funeral of Mr. Karkare.

In a society where grief over death is rarely a private practice, where formalised mourning rituals encourage families and communities to survive loss by reliving it through loud expressions, where bereaved women are expected to wear white and look distraught, Kavita Karkare refused to mount her sorrow publicly.
Dressed in a red and light brown sari, a small bindi on her forehead, a red bangle on one of her arms, her hair neatly combed, she projected an image of forbearance that badly needs to be registered in our collective consciousness as dark fears surround us. (Outlook, Dec 2008)

But for those who hated Holden, maybe I should just shut up and take a Prozac.

Society, you’re a crazy breed
Hope you are not lonely, without me.
(Into the Wild, Vedder/Hannen 2007)

Shiny Happy People

Sex, drugs and rock n’ roll. That’s our impression of a rock-star life and it is impossible to think of them leading a normal family life.

I was listening to NPR Fresh Air, last August, and the guest on the show was Pegi Young, Neil Young’s wife. She had just released her self-titled debut album. She was part of Neil’s band (backing vocals) on some of his records and tours. But it took a very long time for her to come out with a solo album. She had been busy raising their kids (Ben, born to Pegi and Young, and Zeke from Neil’s first relationship were diagnosed of cerebral palsy) and running their Bridge School which helps children with severe speech and physical impairments.

They’ve been married for almost 29 years now and as Pegi says in the interview, they met in a bar. Recently, when I was listening to the song Like a Hurricane in my car, I knew what Neil was singing about:

Once I thought I saw you in a crowded hazy bar,
Dancing on the light from star to star.
Far across the moonbeam I know that’s who you are,
I saw your brown eyes turning once to fire.
(Like a Hurricane, N. Young)

I have been listening to the Pegi Young album for a couple of weeks now. Though it may not be a significant record in the rock history, it is a significant one for the Youngs, and definitely for me. I love the album: Pegi’s voice, the light hearted love songs, the humor and the presence of Neil. It’s on the 4th track Hold on that we feel the first major presence of Neil and intentional or not, I don’t know, Pegi sings: Hold on, I'm not me without you here.

It’s a party for Neil Young fans on the song Love like water, where Neil plays a groovy sitar riff throughout the song. Even with Neil’s presence, this is essentially a Pegi Young album, consistent, and she has written most of the songs.

Praise be the bars where the lonely meet
And for awhile can feel the heat
Praise to the liquor that warms our heads
Gives us the courage To get things said
(Heterosexual Masses, P. Young)

As we know, Neil also has declared his love for Pegi on some of his albums - lyrics such as these ones from Harvest Moon says it all:

Because I’m still in love with you
I want to see you dance again
Because I’m still in love with you
On this harvest moon.
(Harvest Moon, 1992, N. Young)

You know it aint easy, you got to hold on
She was an unknown legend in her time
Now she’s dressin’ two kids, lookin’ for a magic kiss
She gets the far-away look in her eyes.
(Unknown Legend, 1992, N. Young)

I might have gone overboard here celebrating the Youngs’ family life, but it is heartening to see that they have fought through and contributed their learning (on dealing with cerebral palsy) to the society by envisioning and managing the Bridge School.