The chill has started setting in, with winter round the corner and many of us could agree that there is nothing better than to do on a cold winter day, than to be at home sipping fresh hot coffee. But life here, right in the silicon valley of India, is different. Summer or winter or rain, days here are of early morning alarms, quick sleepy breakfasts, a routinely quick good day smile to the family, traffic jams, white-khaki traffic policemen who make us think roads were never meant for commuters and its only their whole-heartedness which allows us to drive through the mess, adventure driving through the never ending road and bridge constructions, more traffic jams etc etc.
I always wonder why people are always in this mad rush as soon as they got out of bed in the morning. And, I found the answer very soon. The mysterious reason behind this strenuous and challenging hurriedness is nothing but a wish to clock! In much simpler terms, they all are fleeing to swipe-in and swipe-out and to make sure that x.yz hours precisely is recorded in their office, at any cost. Almost ninety percent of this festinating crowd belongs to the IT industry, the one industry which is gratuitously glorified, because of which an entire generation of this country is ‘branded with’ and is made to ‘pay for’. Having said this because the image made available for outsiders are that, this industry has people who belong to an alien world and they are fed with all the luxuries in life while the world outside suffers. So, everywhere you go, whether it’s to the local vegetable shop, the government offices, the meat stall, the newspaper man, the cobbler… irrespective of the place, the attitude is same. Everyone out there had a simple theory written on their face and talk - You belong to the alien IT world, then why can’t you just write-off a blank cheque for me. After all, we all belong to the working and struggling class and you belong to the pampered lot !! Alas, if only they had seen the life in this industry for one day.. This is the only prayer I always had.
Now, I have strayed off enough from what I had to say. Let me introduce myself. My name is immaterial but my existence is of great importance. I am a simple ‘neck-tie’. To make my point more clear, I think the best way is to quote from Chic Simple written by Michael Solomon, "They are not particularly comfortable. They always go out of style (or back in as soon as we have thrown them out). And they are not even practical. Yet the tie remains an essential part of a man's wardrobe because it unites all the elements of a man's outfit, giving him instant respectability and, above all, it is the ultimate symbol of individuality". And, this exactly, is the story I have to share.
Long back, when I was born at Arvind mills and was tagged with the zodiac name, me too wanted to make my prints in this wonderful world. I too dreamt of being wrapped around the neck or shoulders of a high-flying executive, resting under the premium shirt’s collar and knotted at that throat which speaks about multibillion dollar deals. I felt exalted when I had been chosen among my friends and was gift wrapped and taken home by this wonderful lady who wanted to gift me to her husband. I felt the welcoming world around me while I was dreaming about my way to glory. The endless board room discussions which I will be part of; to get introduced to many foreign friends who will come being worn by their owners who wanted to discuss business deals with my man; to be friendly with all of them irrespective of them belonging to bow, ascot, bolo or clip-on families; to enjoy the climate and wind in all those foreign countries where my owner will wear me to…etc etc….
The next day, when I stood windsor knotted on his neck, at the grand entrance of this numbered biggest organization; I never realized that I was standing at the precipice of my life! As I walked in, I started to see this alien IT world, atleast for the neck-tie family. I could see all the sort of knots I could ever think of. Or, should I call that knots itself? Suddenly, I happened to see a cool guy flashing a colorful friend of mine. There was no knot at all; there was no case of ‘one end is longer than the other end’. This fellow didn’t wrap around the neck, but just fluxed around the collar, over the shoulder and stood strikingly at a filmy pose. The only parallel I can draw here is how Urmila Matondkar coils a saree upon herself in RGV films. Where, the saree is definitely present but conspicuously un-blocking the interesting views. Same here, the neo-windsor knotted tie just made some elegant curls and rested on the shirt, hardly making a presence. It didn’t take much time for me to understand the reason behind these fashion-istas. On the second week of my visit to office, I could sadly find myself being crumpled, crinkled and hunkered down into the darkness of the laptop bag’s side-pocket, as soon as the heavily guarded entrance is crossed. I just realized my role as a penalty-saver where a couple hundred bucks will be retained in the paycheck, if and only if I wrap myself around his shirt, whenever he crosses the entrance.
From then onwards, my life was mostly confined to the laptop bag, along with the power cable, longing for fresh air. The only relief I received had been for the two days in every week when I see the walk from parking-lot to entrance and way back. My most awaited day-out had been the wash I used to get from the lady of the house, once in every month. Even at this point, I am not sure why this guy always disagreed to his wife’s proposal of giving me a wash. But thankfully, in accordance with the general family rules of the human race, always the lady won, and I used to get my regular wash.
I should say, my life inside the bag had been fairly monotonous. But, soon did I find out that I was happy for the same. Once in a while when I get time talking to other friends who are worn by my man’s friends, while on our way to the machine-gun guarded entrance, I substantiated beyond doubt that mine was not the worst experience. I could see all sort of abuse to the ‘neck-tie’ community, which is instilled by the cruel human race. There were few of my friends who had become allergic to water and they will even bounce-off the rain drops falling on them by mistake. This had been a cultivated habit from the day they were first worn, deprived of the privilege of a wash in life, making perceptible presence right through the complete office hours, being dedicated corporate citizens, all through these many productive years. Maybe, it is my intuition, but I felt the piercing smell of these deos and perfumes are nothing but a pre-meditated effort to keep this natural tie-stink at bay.
To add, in summer, I could see my friends drenched in sweat, trying to drip through the shelby knots. I can hardly visualize people who can think of this as sexy as ‘tip-tip barsa paani’, while the world around realizes that we were not intended to make our appearances in tropical summer time. Right from the days of our ancestors, the steinkirks, stocks, solitaires and cravats, we were invited in-accordance with the weather. Even emperor Shih Huang Ti of China, your very neighbor, had considered us as an ultimate honour bestowed on his soldiers, and not a regular uniform material. Here, I continue to see my friends, tagged around for wiping the face after a sip of mid-day break coffee, carelessly hanging and made to dip into the grand gala festival lunch offered on special days in the cafeteria, wiping the sweat after a cycling tour to meet the friend sitting at the other end of the campus, peeping out of the shirt pocket while the men are seriously discussing business matters in conference rooms etc etc. To make a final remark, most of us never got the liberty to un-knot and knot again. The one knot which was made on day one, was retained till eternity, and it was just tightening and loosening around the neck which was the routine.
Today, I feel, is an important day of my life. I had the privilege of walking into the office hours again. I could hear many goodbye bids and I am surprised. It is evening and I am getting the privilege of getting un-knotted. Finally!! Out of the wrinkled days in the bag pocket, I suppose. But, oh no, you shouldn’t have done this to me! I am being thrown at this big entrance and I can see my man walking away from me. No, he is not looking back and hence this is not a mistake. I realize that I am still at the same old precipice of my life even though there is a deliberate push to make me fall. I lie here, in a box next to this entrance, thinking about my future.
Either I could make history and become the first public utility ‘neck-tie’ in the world, being used on a daily basis by people who forgot to get their own knots and still want to save the bucks. In this case, I will live the rest of my life in this box, making my entry and exit through the entrance, wrapped upon different necks. Else, I would be considered as yet another symbol of a reactive generation of the country and will be picked up by the security personnel today and will be thrown out to the free world outside, to be chewed by stray dogs and to be buried in the Bangalore dirt when the next rain pours down. Drowning all my sorrows. Here I am, awaiting my destiny..un-knotted !
FootNote :
A man was crawling through a desert and soon he was approached by another man who was riding on a camel so when that rider came near to him this man whispered through his parched lips “Please...Can you give me some water….”
The rider replied him that “I am sorry because I don’t have any water with me but I could sell you a neck tie”.
The crawling man again whispered “Necktie? But I need water! I am dying”
Again the riding man said “There are only four dollars a piece”.
The man replied “I need water”.
“Okay two for just seven dollars”.
The thirsty man exclaimed “Please…… I need water”.
“I don’t have any water I have only ties” said the salesman and headed off into a distance.
By this time the man lost all track of time because he was crawling through the desert for many days. With clothes tattered and skin peeling under the restless sun he soon came near a restaurant. With his last breathe of strength he staggered to the door and confronted the head waiter.
The dying man again pleaded “Water.. Can I get… water”?
The waiter replied to him “I am sorry sir; our dress code requires a NECK TIE”.
I always wonder why people are always in this mad rush as soon as they got out of bed in the morning. And, I found the answer very soon. The mysterious reason behind this strenuous and challenging hurriedness is nothing but a wish to clock! In much simpler terms, they all are fleeing to swipe-in and swipe-out and to make sure that x.yz hours precisely is recorded in their office, at any cost. Almost ninety percent of this festinating crowd belongs to the IT industry, the one industry which is gratuitously glorified, because of which an entire generation of this country is ‘branded with’ and is made to ‘pay for’. Having said this because the image made available for outsiders are that, this industry has people who belong to an alien world and they are fed with all the luxuries in life while the world outside suffers. So, everywhere you go, whether it’s to the local vegetable shop, the government offices, the meat stall, the newspaper man, the cobbler… irrespective of the place, the attitude is same. Everyone out there had a simple theory written on their face and talk - You belong to the alien IT world, then why can’t you just write-off a blank cheque for me. After all, we all belong to the working and struggling class and you belong to the pampered lot !! Alas, if only they had seen the life in this industry for one day.. This is the only prayer I always had.
Now, I have strayed off enough from what I had to say. Let me introduce myself. My name is immaterial but my existence is of great importance. I am a simple ‘neck-tie’. To make my point more clear, I think the best way is to quote from Chic Simple written by Michael Solomon, "They are not particularly comfortable. They always go out of style (or back in as soon as we have thrown them out). And they are not even practical. Yet the tie remains an essential part of a man's wardrobe because it unites all the elements of a man's outfit, giving him instant respectability and, above all, it is the ultimate symbol of individuality". And, this exactly, is the story I have to share.
Long back, when I was born at Arvind mills and was tagged with the zodiac name, me too wanted to make my prints in this wonderful world. I too dreamt of being wrapped around the neck or shoulders of a high-flying executive, resting under the premium shirt’s collar and knotted at that throat which speaks about multibillion dollar deals. I felt exalted when I had been chosen among my friends and was gift wrapped and taken home by this wonderful lady who wanted to gift me to her husband. I felt the welcoming world around me while I was dreaming about my way to glory. The endless board room discussions which I will be part of; to get introduced to many foreign friends who will come being worn by their owners who wanted to discuss business deals with my man; to be friendly with all of them irrespective of them belonging to bow, ascot, bolo or clip-on families; to enjoy the climate and wind in all those foreign countries where my owner will wear me to…etc etc….
The next day, when I stood windsor knotted on his neck, at the grand entrance of this numbered biggest organization; I never realized that I was standing at the precipice of my life! As I walked in, I started to see this alien IT world, atleast for the neck-tie family. I could see all the sort of knots I could ever think of. Or, should I call that knots itself? Suddenly, I happened to see a cool guy flashing a colorful friend of mine. There was no knot at all; there was no case of ‘one end is longer than the other end’. This fellow didn’t wrap around the neck, but just fluxed around the collar, over the shoulder and stood strikingly at a filmy pose. The only parallel I can draw here is how Urmila Matondkar coils a saree upon herself in RGV films. Where, the saree is definitely present but conspicuously un-blocking the interesting views. Same here, the neo-windsor knotted tie just made some elegant curls and rested on the shirt, hardly making a presence. It didn’t take much time for me to understand the reason behind these fashion-istas. On the second week of my visit to office, I could sadly find myself being crumpled, crinkled and hunkered down into the darkness of the laptop bag’s side-pocket, as soon as the heavily guarded entrance is crossed. I just realized my role as a penalty-saver where a couple hundred bucks will be retained in the paycheck, if and only if I wrap myself around his shirt, whenever he crosses the entrance.
From then onwards, my life was mostly confined to the laptop bag, along with the power cable, longing for fresh air. The only relief I received had been for the two days in every week when I see the walk from parking-lot to entrance and way back. My most awaited day-out had been the wash I used to get from the lady of the house, once in every month. Even at this point, I am not sure why this guy always disagreed to his wife’s proposal of giving me a wash. But thankfully, in accordance with the general family rules of the human race, always the lady won, and I used to get my regular wash.
I should say, my life inside the bag had been fairly monotonous. But, soon did I find out that I was happy for the same. Once in a while when I get time talking to other friends who are worn by my man’s friends, while on our way to the machine-gun guarded entrance, I substantiated beyond doubt that mine was not the worst experience. I could see all sort of abuse to the ‘neck-tie’ community, which is instilled by the cruel human race. There were few of my friends who had become allergic to water and they will even bounce-off the rain drops falling on them by mistake. This had been a cultivated habit from the day they were first worn, deprived of the privilege of a wash in life, making perceptible presence right through the complete office hours, being dedicated corporate citizens, all through these many productive years. Maybe, it is my intuition, but I felt the piercing smell of these deos and perfumes are nothing but a pre-meditated effort to keep this natural tie-stink at bay.
To add, in summer, I could see my friends drenched in sweat, trying to drip through the shelby knots. I can hardly visualize people who can think of this as sexy as ‘tip-tip barsa paani’, while the world around realizes that we were not intended to make our appearances in tropical summer time. Right from the days of our ancestors, the steinkirks, stocks, solitaires and cravats, we were invited in-accordance with the weather. Even emperor Shih Huang Ti of China, your very neighbor, had considered us as an ultimate honour bestowed on his soldiers, and not a regular uniform material. Here, I continue to see my friends, tagged around for wiping the face after a sip of mid-day break coffee, carelessly hanging and made to dip into the grand gala festival lunch offered on special days in the cafeteria, wiping the sweat after a cycling tour to meet the friend sitting at the other end of the campus, peeping out of the shirt pocket while the men are seriously discussing business matters in conference rooms etc etc. To make a final remark, most of us never got the liberty to un-knot and knot again. The one knot which was made on day one, was retained till eternity, and it was just tightening and loosening around the neck which was the routine.
Today, I feel, is an important day of my life. I had the privilege of walking into the office hours again. I could hear many goodbye bids and I am surprised. It is evening and I am getting the privilege of getting un-knotted. Finally!! Out of the wrinkled days in the bag pocket, I suppose. But, oh no, you shouldn’t have done this to me! I am being thrown at this big entrance and I can see my man walking away from me. No, he is not looking back and hence this is not a mistake. I realize that I am still at the same old precipice of my life even though there is a deliberate push to make me fall. I lie here, in a box next to this entrance, thinking about my future.
Either I could make history and become the first public utility ‘neck-tie’ in the world, being used on a daily basis by people who forgot to get their own knots and still want to save the bucks. In this case, I will live the rest of my life in this box, making my entry and exit through the entrance, wrapped upon different necks. Else, I would be considered as yet another symbol of a reactive generation of the country and will be picked up by the security personnel today and will be thrown out to the free world outside, to be chewed by stray dogs and to be buried in the Bangalore dirt when the next rain pours down. Drowning all my sorrows. Here I am, awaiting my destiny..un-knotted !
FootNote :
A man was crawling through a desert and soon he was approached by another man who was riding on a camel so when that rider came near to him this man whispered through his parched lips “Please...Can you give me some water….”
The rider replied him that “I am sorry because I don’t have any water with me but I could sell you a neck tie”.
The crawling man again whispered “Necktie? But I need water! I am dying”
Again the riding man said “There are only four dollars a piece”.
The man replied “I need water”.
“Okay two for just seven dollars”.
The thirsty man exclaimed “Please…… I need water”.
“I don’t have any water I have only ties” said the salesman and headed off into a distance.
By this time the man lost all track of time because he was crawling through the desert for many days. With clothes tattered and skin peeling under the restless sun he soon came near a restaurant. With his last breathe of strength he staggered to the door and confronted the head waiter.
The dying man again pleaded “Water.. Can I get… water”?
The waiter replied to him “I am sorry sir; our dress code requires a NECK TIE”.
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