Shakespeare, penning down short film keep Rani Balbir Kaur going

She tends to her daughter who is a cancer survivor, looks after household chores too

quote: “Now is not the time to call for a nursing assistant, I have learnt to give injection to my daughter, who is a cancer survivor and a diabetic. I love caressing each corner of the house.”

Mona

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 11 Just having finished a short film, actor and theatre person Rani Balbir Kaur is now penning down another one.

She looks at the lockdown as a time for each one of us to come to terms with ourselves and use the period to plan a brighter future for everyone. “It’s time for introspection, catharsis, learn a lesson and not waste this time at all,” she says.

“Look at the results of the lockdown – air is purified, rivers are cleaner. It is something we couldn’t achieve even after spending crores. Now is the time to reflect on what we are doing to the world – our lifestyle, modern living. Nothing comes without a cost.”

As progressive as devout, she quotes Guru Nanak: “Moot paliti kappar hoye, de sabun layeye oh dhoye, bhariye mat papan ke sang, oh dhope naame ke rang (If we soil our clothes with dirt, we wash it with soap, but when mind gets corrupted…it needs to be cleaned with meditation or prayers).”

She believes if we all get in touch with our true nature, this time may turn into a blessing in disguise.

An early riser, Rani starts the day with ‘Gurbani’. Chores take over next — from cooking and cleaning to tending for her daughter who is a cancer survivor and recovering from a surgery. Then she finds time to catch on writers she had missed. “I am constantly trying to find writers I haven’t read and also going back to Shakespeare, Brecht and Girish Karnad.”

“Now is not the time to call for a nursing assistant, I have learnt to give injection to my daughter, who is also diabetic. I love caressing each corner of the house.”

Time for reflection, she deems this period to be. “Gurbani also says that ‘sab ek sutar ch piroye hoeye ne (we all the links in the chain). From the mightiest of the nation to the poorest – each is facing the same music. In fact, India is doing better than many supreme powers.” She takes it as a cue to going back to our roots and preserve life-sustaining practices. “I have travelled around the world. Indian doctors and professors are dominating medical colleges across globe. It’s about time we identity our strengths and bounce back stronger.”

Through these grim times, she likes to keep informed. “I am keeping tabs on each country. Most my family is in the US, my brother is in New York which is a Covid hotbed and his son is a doctor. I keep in touch and am praying for everyone.” Also, she is grateful to the media for providing the country with real news. “The media is going great lengths to keep the residents informed. I am getting The Tribune copy each day.”

Staying positive through these morbid times doesn’t come easy, she agrees. “But one cannot give in to negativity at the moment. It is time to summon inner strength and stay afloat.” She is looking forward to connect with the loved ones when time permits. “As soon as the lockdown is lifted, I want to go to my temple; I am as much into Buddhist chanting as Gurbani. Also, I will visit Panjab University to meet and greet my students and staff. I am in touch with mostly everyone through phone. Let’s just stay positive and use this time being productive and creative,” she signs off.