Co-operative Housing Society
My daughter had to fill in a form yesterday and asked me what address she should write in the permanent address column. Her brother immediately replied,"I doubt we will ever be able to fill that column, just write same as above." Well, when life has no permanency, how does a permanent address matter??
Our constant moving between cities and living in different housing societies has had more advantages for all of us than just not having a permanent address. We have made some lifelong friends, have had some unforgettable experiences of festival celebrations in a grand way, participating in community programmes and most importantly I have enjoyed observing and understanding people through their whatsapp chat inputs.
Being the more social between my spouse and me, I have been the one who has always been a member of the housing society whatsapp group.....a silent non - participant observer. But, believe me being part of the group has given me my dose of daily entertainment. Honestly, it is completely different from a family whatsapp group or an official corporate / business whatsapp group. In housing society groups one realises the diversity in thinking of people and true nature of a person is revealed. The following are some of my observations
1) English teachers in urban cities have done a fantastic job as most active members of these groups have excellent command over the language both in terms of vocabulary and grammar. So, next time one is seeking admission in a school, you know where to observe outcomes and find out the source and tap that source for admission.
2) Politics is one subject that always when discussed will make one or two members leave the group to rejoin later. Political discussion is extremely heated and will give our national level television debates a run for their money. My latest observation is Pappu is being ignored these days, but none has replaced him. But, debate continues...... the meaning of democracy is also discussed in detail so hats off to all Civics/ Political Science teachers.
3) Tolerance, sorry intolerance level of people can best be known in such groups. Intolerance for pet dogs and people feeding street dogs, noise coming from a house celebrating a birthday on a Sunday evening ( not late night mind you), intolerance for renovation work going on in any flat, intolerance for TV and music volumes, height of intolerance being one flat member complaining that toddler in the flat above his, keeps running and disturbs his sleep.
4) These groups are extremely good source of recruitment for maid, cooks and drivers. HR books must acknowledge this fantastic source. The speed with which efficient cooks and maids get a job immediately on their details being posted in the group should be a lesson to be learnt by recruitment agencies.
5) When national politics is not interesting there is always housing society administration and politics that can entertain. It is just a mini national level politics. There will always be 2 groups, one group of current committee members and their supporters and one the aspiring committee members. Gosh, this discussion often gets ugly. Honestly, no committee is ever able to achieve such efficiency that they can be re-elected.
To be part of society whatsapp group is inevitable for at least one family member as these groups serve multiple purposes like where one can get good mangoes, contact numbers of doctors, stationery suppliers etc etc, to knowing details of power failure and water shortage due to pipe bursting etc. It surely establishes a connect with the neighbourhood and provides a lot of social security. In spite of all arguments and exhibition of intolerance, yet when there is an emergency society members unite and always extend a helping hand to each other and society at large. This is the essence of our country and it will remain here forever. I try to give a face to the name in the chat group. Unfortunately, often I have never been able to match the face of the real person with the one I have created in my mind due to our short stay in most societies. But, in conclusion I emphasise core element is Unity in Diversity. Jai Hind
Share your housing society observations. I have restricted mine to 5 to read your inputs.
HOPE AND FAITH IN ABUNDANCE FOR ALL
This blog of yours, if given to a filmy script writer, has the potential to get converted into a superhit movie with emotions, actions and comedy. Being a member of cooperative housing society, which has 104 flats, I can relate to all these aspects.
ReplyDeleteGood job Vidhya 👏👏👏I thoroughly enjoyed reading this blog. You have written so well that all of us living in cooperative housing societies can relate easily to this.... So many incidences and chats contents came floating by while reading this. That's the best part of your writing 👍
ReplyDeleteGood job Vidhya 👏👏👏I thoroughly enjoyed reading this blog. You have written so well that all of us living in cooperative housing societies can relate easily to this.... So many incidences and chats contents came floating by while reading this. That's the best part of your writing 👍
ReplyDeleteI can completely relate to all that you have said :) and also agree that at the end of all the entertainment, the society members come together wholeheartedly when one needs them. They are more than willing to extend complete support and that's what keeps us going. Well written Vidhya :)
ReplyDeleteWell written and readers can relate very well that too especially young mothers, to find child specialist, cook, helpers, school, mehndi decor, wow super .
ReplyDeleteYour daughter's brother seems like a nice person. You should let him sleep for long hours in the afternoon.
ReplyDeleteToo much😜
DeleteVery well written Vidhya, a true and common picture of all society.
ReplyDeleteSo true... whether pune or Bangalore experience is the same
ReplyDeleteWell written Vidhya... must say you have touched various finer aspects too of being a member of a Co-operative society👍 Between the best comment above was that of your son... loved the humour element in it😃
ReplyDeleteOmg!! Total entertainment is what I would call this blog!! I miss all this being outside India! We do have a street whatsapp group( our lane has 14 independent houses only). Our conversations are very straight forward n boring! Strange car parked, have you lost power at home, we have plenty of curry leaves if you need some..those kinds! Few active and mostly silent observers😀! Your post took me back to our childhood days Vidu..remember complaints from neeche wala flat: stop jumping ..when we played badminton at home..and of course water is dripping from yr clothes hung in the balcony n ruining our dry clothes🤣!
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