Quite often I am asked as to why I am so fascinated by
superheroes. What is it about these comic book movies that I simply love and
marvel about for weeks after watching those? Well, honestly, this isn’t
something which I truly focused on in the past. However, recently I was
intrigued in terms of how deep my interest has gone into making these
characters, these Super Heroes, a part of my life! That is when I began
introspecting…
When you are a kid, everything around you seems
supernatural. In fact, the very 1st superhero you meet is your
father. From your small beady eyes, you see this colossus of a man picking you
up as if you are nothing, move around heavy chairs and furniture as if it's as light as a feather! You seem to think that “Wow, he can really do it! I want to be like
him”.
Times change, perspectives change. However, there is one
basic thought which still remains within you. A thought that gives you
confidence during your childhood and right upto your adulthood – your parents
are the “goto” people for you. They are the people who would make things happen
- People who can fish you out of trouble. These become the people who you
believe would make things right.
As you get older, you realize that there are certain things
which practically cannot be set right by your parents. Rather, it is outside
their reach. Such realizations come typically when you set sail on your own
life’s journey – once you leave the umbrella of protection of your parents.
All the memories of childhood go up in flames when you enter
into your work place. The imaginary problems start becoming realistic as you
are surrounded by cut throat competition and malpractices. As your world
expands beyond your work place and you become aware/mature about the happenings
around you, you tend to get dejected to see that there is no savior amongst
your rank. The constant corrupt practices on display really make you think that
you should either fight against it or keep mum. Even if you keep quiet, there
is a little part of yourself which yearns for a savior - someone whom you used to know since you were a child.
These conflicting thoughts reach a crescendo where you begin
to get flashes of your childhood. You tend to map your current experiences and
disappointments with those which happened back then. You remember that back
then your parents were the ones who fought for you and pulled you out of the
black hole. However, this is when practicality overrides these thoughts telling
you that the problems can no longer be solved by them. That brings you to an
awkward moment – you know the solution which cannot be implemented.
This conflict propels you to look for options outside your
cocoon of trust. You strive to look somewhere else, some source who can give
you the expected respite from the corrupt mal-practicing world. While your mind
is at its most vulnerable, it turns to something that gives hope, something
that makes you believe that logic and sanity would ultimately prevail.
Superheroes are a hit with children because it helps them
understand the virtues of good against bad. It helps them believe that at the
end of the day, good would always prevail. They give them hope and a sense of
trust that whatever be the odds, whatever be the situation, good practices
would always prevail.
My equation with superheroes is also the same. When you look
at the world as a whole, you cant help but map the real world situations with
the one which Batman encounters in Gotham or the one which Superman encounters
in Metropolis or which Ironman sees when he asks Jarvis to ready his suit. The
presence of these heroes in your psyche gives you hope and belief that no
matter what good would always prevail. In some scenarios, it gives you
inspiration to take charge and work towards a better tomorrow.
It is all upto the mind. You can take any kind of
inspiration from anywhere. Then why not take hope and inspiration from
something which gave you hope and inspiration since your childhood. Always
remember that your 1st superheroes were your parents. They help you
always to fight your internal demons. Always look up to them if ever you find
yourself alone fighting those demons in a no-win scenario.
When demons from the outside world beckon, you
can always get inspired by superhero stories from your childhood. Never expect a
Batman or Superman to save the day in the real world. Be the Batman and clear
the Dark Night that has engulfed your world.
