Superheroes

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 1^st 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 1^st 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.