On Complicating Life by Being Simple

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was probably one of the most complicated persons the human race had ever to deal with. Yet the epitomy of his success was his simplicity.

Think about it. It is quite true.

The more simple one tries to be, the more complicated he makes life for everyone around him.

We have several real-time and live examples in our midst.

From my personal experience - every guest whom I have had to host - and has said that he/she is used to simple life, has made my life all the more complicated. From Alka and her alcohol free-vegetarianism to Bunker Roy on his principles. Todays' world caters to complex wants and demands. Try asking for something simple and you could spend a trying time trying to fulfil your requirements.

I dread catering for a guest who belongs to the nouveau genre of Vegetarians. Their goal is to shun all that means suffering to any animal form. Yet in their persistence to ingest only vegetables and reduce suffering on the non-vegetarian sources in our food chain, they impose the most inhumane demands on their human hosts. Especially in Africa, where vegetarianism is understood to be the physical presence of vegetables (and not neccessarily the absence of meat) - where Fish and Chicken are not considered meat. And eggs and cheese?? Here you must be crazy to even contemplate that they are anything but vegetarian. I remember one of our cooks in Conakry who fed our brahmin accountant an excellent 'dal dish' for a few months untill he pulled out a chicken bone one day. Questioned, she simply said that she made it with chicken and 'turned' it vegetarian by simply taking the chicken out. Almost like baptising a chicken-dish vegetarian! She then honestly apologised for not removing the delinquent bone!!!

Back to the complexities of simplicity. From Khadi ( that simple form of attire, made from the simplest of yarn on a simple hand spun weaving machine) to simple hand made kholapuri sandals. We've seen it all in India. Bunker Roy , the founder of the Barefoot College of Tilonia, a citadel of simplicity, a dear friend who visits us in The Gambia, too is an example. His visits are energising. Yet are quite complex and reminiscent of the complcations that Gandhi generated that ultimately drove the British out. He refuses to carry a cell phone. Thus communication with him is limited to knowing with whom he is and calling them on their phones and then requesting them to connect him. Very ''Ghost-Who-Walkish' ( The Phantom from our childhood comics) - 'You dont find him - He Finds you' echoes in my head while I think of means to contact him. I have other 'simple' friends too - some who abhor the Internet and email, dislike the airconditioner, ....one can almost label them - strict vegetarians, only-boiled-tap-water-drinkers, coir-mat-floor-sleepers, well-water/hand-pump water bathers, Indian or a self-composting natural toilet users... the list of simple things that complicate is endless.

While we idolise simple people like Gandhi and envy the likes of vegetarian Alka and thinker Bunker who are able to mainain these lifestyles in todays world, guests like them can be the quite stressing too. And evenings entertaining some of them, for an almost alcoholic, complicated person like me, can be quite diverse - with bland food, bland drinks etc.

The conversation though is never bland.

Being Complicated is far simpler than being Simple.

Ram Mohan - December 2008

Post Script - Dear Alka, Bunker and all Friends - this was written more in jest and to justify the few words that introduce me in my blog - "I am quite complicated. I like Simple things". I thrive in the company of friends like you.