Pun Intended
The death of Robin Williams the
great comic artist is sad for us earthly beings but God and his chums must be
having a great day up there rubbing their hands in glee at their new arrival. In
heaven the days will probably turn longer and the nights shorter because this
one man will be sure to upset the biological clock of the residents in heaven
what with his comic act.I chanced upon this comic actor more for the similarity in names (we share the same first names) than for his comic representations. But slowly I was drawn to this man after viewing Mrs Doubtfire. The world pays tribute to Robin for his kindness and his ability to keep the laughter going. Everyone seems to be contemplating on what went wrong, or how comic people feel so lonely. In the case of Robin he was a declared inpatient at rehabilitation centres. He himself admitted to bouts of depression and insecurity during his fame days. It is generally agreed that the latest episode happened during one of his worst internal strife.
I am reminded of those dwarf
clowns in the circuses, who prance their way into the hearts of the little ones
and the elders alike. Day in and day out in spite of retributions from life
they appear at the gong and get the act going. Sadness in them is illusionary
to the audience, we cannot see them as anything but the entertainers that they
are. They wipe away their tears and sadness to provide laughter in their
audience, laughter that erases the pain and tears of life.
In that context, Robin was an
entertainer, in spite of the internal hardships, pain, illusions, suffering,
loneliness, failures and other such emotions, he came out wiping the tears off
his face to put a smile on our faces, only to go back once the show ended to
drown his sorrows in drugs and other destructive alternatives. Is there a way
of repaying such people, nay; I am not talking about the tributes and niceties
that spring up after he is no more but can something be done to stop the slide
in people like him. We may have lost one Robin, but is there a way the world
can exercise its might to put a stop to such stupid deeds by men who are the
least prone (according to us). I don’t know- I leave it to my readers to ponder
on a way out. Is there anything we can do? Is there anything society can do? Is
there anything governments can do? Is there anything all of us together can do?
How did he die? News reports say
he hanged himself with a belt. Now I find it hard to fathom how a man of his
built would hang with a belt (though I am not suggesting any foul play or the
like). They even noticed a few slashes on his wrist again testimony to the fact
that there was a raging storm within, the culmination of which led him to this
stupid deed. I say stupid because being the comic artist that he was, he must have
tried to find humour in the way someone could have died by hanging, trying a
noose for a belt. Only this time it got a little too serious enough to snuff
out his life. He didn’t get a chance to rectify this trick or coin a few words
in jest justifying his deeds. I am sure he must be up there telling everyone
who cares to listen that, that was the stupidest thing he had every done which
made people cry instead of laugh.
But it is all right Robin, we
will forgive you this act of indiscretion, because we know you are getting
ready to play the sequel of your life, in heaven with God and the angels for
company, after all whether your last trick was stupid or foolish or plain
desperation, your creator leased you out for a wonderful 63 years (for us) and
was authorised to pull up the strings to make you disappear. Rest in peace and let the act continue
wherever you are for the show must go on.
14th August 2014
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