OH 22 - WhatsApp Warriors

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Life is full of challenges, and the reaction to any situation shows the character, upbringing, skills, capacities and human capabilities of an individual. Any challenge or problem can be a blessing in disguise, and it's all about attitude.

Life's challenges usually seem like inconveniences when they interrupt our schedules or get in the way of something we want to do. Everyone wants a routine and happy life. Unexpected challenges are never welcomed. And when they happen, it usually means a major delay, adds learning curve, greater expenses or some other unplanned complications. When we are focused on results, it is hard to appreciate the detours caused by new challenges.

Life is always posing challenges to everyone, whether small or big. How does one respond to daily life? Does one panic and become frantic easily or stay positive and energetic? Should small problems be made bigger, or should big problems be made small and dissolved into nothing? How we face the normal and somewhat not-so-normal events of each day is generally how we will face the bigger challenges.

Why am I pondering about it? Today's (long back in 2020) water problem and the residents' reactions in OH motivated me to analyse human behaviour. Some reactions were cool, and some were very hot and nonsensical. I am surprised at the residents' basic understanding of community living. Being in a cooperative society means being equal partners in taking responsibilities and tackling the challenges.

Some comments like: society maintenance to pay ki hai, yeh kyon? 

What is society maintenance, and who is being paid? 

Common sense: to the society. 

Who are stakeholders in society? 

Everybody. 

So why blame the people who have taken the reins by coming to the forefront? 

Someone has to come forward and take up a leadership position and get the society's work done. 

Let's look at some of the qualities of people who become negative and panic versus people who respond positively and energetically. Panicky people don't have control over their mental energies. Because their minds are unfocused, they exaggerate events. Their confusion complicates things, and even small challenges appear to be big problems. They usually react emotionally to situations, so they easily become irritable, anxious, and excitable. Because of their emotionality, people who panic are often unreliable and are unable to take appropriate action.

Negative people make everything a problem. They generate an incredible amount of mental and physical stress. When anything comes up that disturbs their comfort zone, they think and say things like, "It's too difficult. I can't do it. I never did it before. I don't know how. Why is this happening to me?"

Succumbing to negative emotional states creates nothing but more negative reactions, such as jealousy, hatred, blame, fear, and depression. That helps neither us, the situation, nor the people around us. The moment negative emotions hit us, we have to see the urgency of generating some positive energy instead and start doing something good for the environment and others.

If we are often frantic, we should ask ourselves if we have the habit of procrastinating. Procrastinating itself contributes to a frantic mind. How? If we habitually postpone doing what needs to be done--whether in our physical surroundings, our health, our relationships, or whatever--neglect eventually catches up with us. If we are not used to taking timely action and life finally forces us to get things done, we can easily become frantic and filled with worries.

This was written 6 years ago. I am posting it now as I am reviving this blog. few years ago, we thought of moving ahead, and I stopped writing for this blog. But God planned another route, and we are here to stay. So here I am, reviving my blog.

OH17 - Harmony Premier league and much more

It has been quiet a long time since I have come back to the blog. It was sheer laziness and nothing more to it.

My last post was in Sept 17, almost seven months ago. Much has happened in OH. With so many human beings living together, the life is bound to be colourful. 😁. It's a perfect place to study human behaviour and psychology.

The latest happening in OH is the organisation of "Orchid Harmony Premier League".

I observed a sudden  hyper activity on the cricket pitch, which is just under my balcony. Though, the cricket pitch usually comes alive mostly on weekends or on holidays as most of the offices were closed. But  since a month or two, the cricket has become a anthem in OH. The mornings become lively with all the commotion at the pitch. Everyday, the cricket tribe was increasing. There was no age restrictions as I can see players from the 8-9 years old to senior citizens. With so many enthusiasts, it's natural to organise a competition.

The OHPL has used "Auction League Software" for player selection and team captains had to bid for each player. E-auctions were held and all the captains can see  the details of all the players on the screen.

Each team was allotted 500000 points to bid for 8 players. One by one , the players' information is shown on the laptops and teams' captains  can bid for the players of their choice. Highest bidder gets the player to his team. The whole process of selection was made transparent and many enthusiastic society dwellers were out there in the cricket pitch to have a "dekho" at the process. Six teams were formed. T-shirts were also designed for each team.

Have a look at the teams -

The glimpses of the matches from my 7th floor balcony.

I loved all the hustle and bustle. Some food counters were also set up for the sports enthusiasts, who were down to cheer their favourite teams. I am not a cricket fan, so I just had a look from my balcony. I am too lazy to go out for something which do not interest me. 

Another cricket league for under 19 is also in the pipeline... I am not a cricket fan. Ugh...😔 

With summers setting in may enterprising ladies have planned many interesting workshops for the benefit of  residents, mainly children and ladies. Some were fun workshops for children having fun activities like dancing, yoga, story telling sessions etc and baking workshops for children.

With such hot weather and temperature running up to 46 C, OH is still keeping it's spirits high , which is quiet a feat in dry Gujarat. 😀😀😀

The weather is killing at 46 C. The only workout which is easy to manage is swimming. I had been a regular to the society pool since last month and a half. But routines bore me. So, now it's sometimes morning walk or sometimes yoga at my terrace for me to keep fit. I have recently added  late night walks to my armour of "keeping fit". 

Not very long ago, Ahmedabad was blessed with nice cool breeze in the morning and evening even in peak summers. Unlike north India, where hot months have hot mornings and evenings, Ahmedabadites used to have a respite from heat in the mornings and evenings. But just like the changes in weather around the globe, it's changing here too. Now the cool breeze returns late at night around 10 pm. That's the time I have chosen for my late night after dinner walk. 

That's all for now folks!!! 

OH16- Responsible Community Living-- Some Musings!

It has been almost 32 months, when we had shifted to OH. Since it's a new society, people who bought flats here were the first to shift . Ownership brings in the feeling of permanency and a desire to build long lasting relationship. In the earlier days, every body used to make an effort to reach out to others. "Potluck" sharing dinners, evening tea gupshup, every day evening strolls and sometimes late night too. Residents were reasonably responsible towards the common properties in the campus. Overall, it was nice and happy place to be in.

When we have shifted, the occupancy was almost 25 %. Slowly and steadily, occupancy increased. More interactions among people brings out very vast and varied responses from people which is a parameter of the society we live in general and the immediate neighborhood in particular.

"Whatsapp" is the most common and convenient platform of interaction and we have one in OH too. There are almost 250 members on the group now. The response of the people and the language (no, I am not pointing to grammatically correct English 😊 ) is shocking. Mutual respect for each other is the basis of any respectable society is missing, when it's mostly required . Shouting ( you know what is shouting in writing), calling names and no basic courtesy towards each other  , I have seen it all on the group.

It forces me to think what kind of upbringing they had and what kind of upbringing they are giving to their children? No meeting or discussion ever ends without shouting and showing uncivilized behaviour. I am really shocked at the behaviour and reactions of the people towards each other.


Few leaders are always needed to run any organisation or society. Since India is a democracy, election is the mode of selecting people in whom hands the reins are given. It always create a class of people who have lost the competition to oppose just for the heck of it. I guess, it's the reflection of our political system, where we  see that the opposition always condemn every move of the government without any thought. The same is being witnessed in OH too.

The exclusivity and safety of the society is being compromised by breaking the rules by handful of people. It's obvious that rules are always created for the larger interest of the society and not to please everyone. They need to be followed and no one can force any one to follow the rules. The day is not far away, when such compromises on the safety of people may result in something terrible. 

Ahh... the inputs from "Crime Patrol" and :Savdhaan India" are coming in handy here!! 😜

OH celebrated independence day on August 15, with flag hoisting in the morning and a cultural programme in the evening followed by an elaborate dinner. There is improvement in the arrangements and performances. My only suggestion is to avoid patriotic filmy songs, specially those we have been seeing for last two years...  😒

Living in a closed community enhances learning by exposures to different cultures. It's here in OH, I learnt about the traditions of Ganesh Puja and Garba . Also I learnt about "invoking" money for worshiping God, the giver of everything, which I disliked. 

Recently, I read an article about corruption in Indian society, where it was mentioned that India is a corrupt society as they believe in bribing God to have their jobs done. 

People coming for "door to door" collection is not an admiring sight. I have come across so many residents who were angry at being almost forced to pay Rs. 500  for Ganesh Pooja.  Many have mentioned, since the team came at their doorstep, they have to pay but from next year, they will not budge. It's sheer wastage as many have not participated in any of the activities and rituals. Some were complaining about the quality of food, that was served on the last day. I have not gone even for a day so, cant comment much about the arrangements made but sharing the sentiments of the women I met.

There is a specified area for cooking in the society behind the club but the dinner was cooked in the activity room and it was so dirty that for a day, none of the activities could be held there. Moreover, it was so unsafe to cook under any residential building with vehicles in near vicinity. Imagine,if an LPG cylinder behaved in not so routine way.... a perfect example of not following the rules, meant for the safety of all residents . 

OH is a fertile ground to understand and learn about human behaviour and psychology. It imparts lessons in sociology and the life in general. Any community with almost 300 families is going to be vibrant and so is OH!!! 🙈🙉🙊

..... And the learning continues.......