As winter approaches and so does Christmas, ardent Dickensians settle into comfortable armchairs and reach out, once again, for that quintessential gospel called A Christmas Carol. A ritual that goes hand in hand with the decoration of a Christmas tree, buying gifts for loved ones and baking cookies and cakes- that’s revisiting that old, dog-eared book, treasured since childhood.
As I begin reading the novella by Charles Dickens, we get to peek into the cold office of Ebenezer Scrooge, miserable and miserly… blobs of unhappiness swim in his vicinity. He sits alone in his dark office while the rest of the world celebrates Christmas. I cringe at this bleakness but still continue reading, yearning for the three spirits to appear and bring about a change in Scrooge… from a stingy kill-joy to a kind and thoughtful human being.
As I delve deeper into the book, Mr Scrooge takes on the form of Mr Gupta, a sorrow-driven being, my friend’s boss, who thinks ‘celebration’ is synonymous with ‘sinning’ and a ‘waste’ of time and money. To the displeasure of her colleagues who were used to celebrating Diwali in office, each year, resplendent in their joyous garbs of fineries and camaraderie, they were not allowed the “nonsense” this year. Courtesy the new Mr Scrooge in office, slouching over numbers and keeping track of targets met or unmet. Mr Gupta almost spit-attacked the poor things who went to tell him to join in the fun!!A simple ‘yes’ could have made such a difference to the hectic and stressful lives of so many. The venom-seeping mouth of Mr Gupta went a step further in discriminating amongst the employees, “Only those who celebrate Diwali can go home one hour early!” This further set in a cloud of gloom in the work-place as everybody decided to stay back and work…This reminded me how Scrooge, on Christmas eve, turns away two men who seek donation from him in order to provide food and heating for the poor, and only grudgingly allows his overworked, underpaid clerk, Bob Cratchit, Christmas Day off with pay, to conform to the social custom.
Charles Dickens’ writings seem so relevant to our times. Sheena, a teacher and a mother of an infant was desperate for leave, her baby was sick. But she was not granted the same as the inspection in school was almost around the corner. “My son is down with jaundice, but look at my commitment…I am here in spite of it all. Where there is a will there is a way,” screamed the supervisor. I see the image of Marley, Scrooge’s dead partner, who was as corrosive as Scrooge, reverberating within the supervisor. That Christmas eve he is visited by Marley’s ghost, who wanders the Earth, entwined in heavy chains and money boxes, forged during a lifetime of greed and selfishness. Thus unknowingly we shackle ourselves in malicious gluttony!
Celebrations and festivities like Christmas demand that we spread good cheer and love, turning thoughtfully selected gifts and freshly baked cakes into metaphors of charitable hearts and a warm hearth! The sight of Hema my neighbour, hurriedly taking a steaming flask of tea and some fritters for the labourers working in a building next door, was really heartening! The sudden downpour of rain had set in the chill in the air and this warm gesture brought in some dollops of yuletide cheer in the form of smiles of gratitude on the faces of the workers…the spirit of Christmas, kindness and Santa flavoured joy!
The Ghost of Christmas Past takes Scrooge to Christmas scenes of his boyhood and youth, the scenes portray Scrooge’s lonely childhood. The spirit also shows Scrooge the Christmas Eve when, as a young man, his fiancee Belle ended their relationship upon realising that he now cared more for money than he did for her. It shows that as parents and teachers we create a deep imprint on the minds of the young that remains for posterity. A happy childhood (not read as wealthy) could have made Scrooge a good human being. During a story telling session I once narrated the tale of Scrooge, the mothers and the children present were indeed moved. The mothers vowed to give the children a little more than a tour of Disneyland…a cosy childhood, warm meals served with ladles of love and maybe bedtime stories too?
The third spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, shows Scrooge the neglected grave of a man most disliked! Local businessmen agreed to attend Scrooge’s funeral only if free lunch was provided! Such would have been the bleak end of a life that reeked of self-centredness!!
I tried coaxing my friend into buying this novella for Mr Gupta, this Christmas, to save him from future doom. However she says he is beyond redemption!
There is nothing in this world as contagious and infectious as the echo of laughter and good humoured banter decorating our lives like colourful confetti, reindeer bells and holly sticks. Oh yes, mistletoe too!! So let’s ring in the festivities with ‘a Christmas carol’ on our lips!
Navanita Varadpande is a writer based in Dubai.
