HappyHo�l!USQ Peopleworld

BY SANAM SHARMA

Abigpart of theIndian social fabric are the rishtedaars (relatives).1n India, one grows upon anoverdoseof 'relatives', sometimes those you'renot even really related to,andthey come in all shapes and sizes.There are the nice ones withwhomyou seemto spendyour cwomonth-longsummer vacationseach year. There are thenot-so-niceones,whoyoutry, usuallrunsuccessfuli) to avoid. There are the ones\vhoare only concerned abomche exam grades scored by theother kids in the family (aapkcbachekekitnem11J1berac!)'Ctypes). And the competitiveoneswho are always there tooutdo you in everything -but with

I

a charming smile,of course.

Familygatherings,birthdays and ,veddings have traclitionally been the bondinggrounds for the tribe. It isduring theseoccasionsthatall the relatives in the khandaan(clan) cometogetherover a hearty mixof celebrations,feasting, and gossip (in noparticularorder).

However,withthe adventof social media, the Indian 1ishtedcJarishavemoved online. Facebook andWhatsApp are the twomostconm1on platformswhere modernlnclianfamiliesplay out d1eir e.xtended social scene. Socialmeclia has brought familiescloser, especially the Indian ones. Relativeswho usedtocatch upand conversemaybe annually nowpingeach od1er 'round the clock.

With thisonline migrationof India's extended families, the Indian 1ishtedaari. etiguette seems co have seamlessly transitionedintotheWorldWideWeb. Internal family politics, gossip, jealousies, disputes and grudges all seem co have adoptedanonline avatar. For those 'good' relatives, socialmediais a great forumco keep a tab on the welfare of the extended family. For d10se borderline tomischievous risbtedaars, Facebook and WhatsApp are potent cools to dishoutconcealed sarcasm and sometimes,notsoconcealed outrage. Therehas neverbeen a better time to be a sp)'in theInclian extended family. Just 'friend' d1e entireclan online and d1en peacefully sit back,with a drink in hand, and scrollmrough your Facebook tirneline atleisure. Inno time, youwill have enough verifiable data tocomeup with educated conclusionsabout the break-ups, link-ups, factionsand frictionswithinyour kba11daa,1. Gossip and glory of the entire famil)7at yourfingertips,ready co unleash at d1e slightest trigger. Itis dieWikileaks eguivalemof the on.line desi.

WhatsApp and Facebookalsocater for thosewho fancy keeping agrudge going. Dropin asubtlehintof displeasureand \mfriend'a 1isbtedaaronFacebook,or leave a family groupon \X/hatsApp. Tiuswill get the entirefan1ily talking Groupspeculationwill givewartoone-on-onemessages,debating thecauseof yourdiscontentwhilesoliciting ways cobringyou backinto the family fold. Some may even becourageous(orstupid) enough to message youdirectly- either to discreetly shared1eirdispleasurewith the family as well, or co cry and plead a case for you to re-join theelectr01ucpe11ivacJr.

Then there are d1eonlinepassiveaggressiverelatives.They resort co creative status updateswhich are adeguately vague enough togive away identities,yet keep tbe restof the clanguessingaboutwho's d1e target of meir rams.The ones in the family whoaremost boggled by such updates are bound to reacl1 out and probe for further clarification (if only to rule themselves out).

Last but not d1e least,if youclaim to be awriter,youmarend upgettingyourself thrownout of d1eonlinefamily network for writing sucha piece.You know, kbcmdacmk.a naamhadnaal/lkaruekeljye!

Know Thyself as u

Youare a soul ofa permanent unchangeable nature, and if you would five as a soul, you would never be affected or changedby outer changes.

-Sant BafjitSingh

Nurtureyour spiritual life through meditation on the inner LightUyoti)and Sound (Naad) and realise yourtrue self. All events arefree. fo fuithe info ,at1on 1800462 193 www.knowthyself.org