Illustrated, Animated, Written and Narrated by the creator (abhishapes).
I’m not sure about the other parts of the country, but in Mumbai, it is called a ‘Chawl’.
It is a residential arrangement made up of really tiny homes, stacked very close…besides and above each other.
These tiny homes are packed with members of rather large families, and to a lot of us, the living conditions may seem inhabitable.
But if you would ever want to experience the true essence of a ‘Community’ you MUST visit and spend time in a ‘Chawl’.
One such chawl existed close to the place that I grew up in. I would often pass the chawl and would be quite fascinated by the life and the ongoings in their compound.
The children in there, dressed differently…the games they played were different…their parents seemed so different from mine.
Upon probing , I was told by my parents that they were the same like us, just a little less privileged. That made sense to me, and taught me the lesson of ‘Gratitude’ that stays with me for life.
But that’s not the only learning it gave me….
Every year, as Diwali approached, the whole “lesser privileged” thing started to feel untrue. I mean, the grandeur with which these simple folk would celebrate the festival would totally blow me away.
I’m very sure that my first lesson in design aesthetics was learnt here. Subconsciously…much before I even thought of making art a profession.
I distinctly remember every house putting up the same Orange lantern outside their homes. The exact same lantern. Such an exemplary display of unity. No egoes. No flexing status by putting up unusual and expensive lighting.
Beautiful diyas would be spread across the wooden railings, and the most exquisite rangoli art outside the doors of almost every home.
Such a beautiful sight. Almost Divine. This is what I would wait for. Every Diwali.
It’s been many many years since I moved out. The chawl has given way to a Multi Crore High - rise, and all of the above only remains in my memory.
This artwork is in honour of that memory. It is a scene from a night I learned my third and final life lesson the chawl had to teach me.
We were driving back from a relative’s home, and it was way past midnight. I noticed that although the folks of the chawl may have been sound asleep, the lights were shining bright. For everyone else. So what if they were asleep. There are still people like me who were hoping to get a glimpse of the shining lights. I learnt that light and joy are best enjoyed when spread.
Thank you people of the Chawl…for teaching me what you have :)
