News about Rosa Parks’ death took a long meandering road into history. But this was quite profound ! I cant fathom an ordinary lady taking on an establishment and its established set of rules at that time. Read the story here

Nor will i ever be able to understand what it takes to stand as one man, in front of a looming tank. Not one, but a series of them. To take on a notorious regime and its large army, for whom subjugation was as mainstream as growing paddy by the river side. I will never be able to completely understand what went on in the mind of that gent, as stood, eyeball staring into a tank’s barrel !

I would like to imagine that such acts of courage are common place. Although, lost in the melee for survival. Perhaps lost in the whorls of a media and society interested more in the rabid rants of demented minds that go by the common name of ‘politician’.

But it is these nameless faceless people amidst us, who keep the world spinning. Who give us hope. That we will ultimately survive. And keep our heads above water. And perhaps someday, wade out of the swamp we are in.

One ordinary man inspired a divided nation to take on an established empire. One ordinary woman inspired a community to rise up against the injustice meted out to them. One ordinary man brought up children who went on to impact society, despite having humble beginnings as a lowly worker ! One ordinary woman touched lepers when they were regarded as completely untouchable.

And somewhere in that ‘ordinary’ness was an extra-ordinary spirit. A spirit that did not accept status quo for what it was worth. A spirit that just took on. And took off. And a spirit which stayed simple and ordinary.

The next time you see an ordinary man, guiding traffic when the errant traffic cop is invisible, or when a ordinary woman stand up to a lewd gesturing boss or when a conscious citizen takes on a demented divisive politician, look no further. At that moment there is a tale in courage and hope unraveling.

It is these moments and such people, that provide renewal to life and living. A bright torch shines into in a looming blanket of darkness.

A feeling that all is not lost yet pervades. I would like to believe so. After all, we are all ordinary, in our own ways.