In a world where words often fall short, colours emerge as an untapped avenue for communication, evoking emotions and thoughts
Communicate one must, to share or just to unburden oneself. Else one may cease to stay alive and kicking. Yet communication, with known modalities of gestures and words has never been an issue. It is so because both of these have limitations. The less explored is the application of colours to convey thoughts, feelings and emotions that come in myriad shades and hues. Colours speak when gestures and words betray, something Nature does with masterly finesse. In the countryside, I recently chanced to witness intriguing yellow flowers with red patches towards the centre and dark violet bands along the periphery. A miraculously impressive colour pattern mesmerising the eyes. “Colour! What a deep and mysterious language, the language of dreams,” said Paul Gauguin.
Human beings are not destined to lead a drab life engrossed with ratiocinations, value judgements or analytics of what goes around or will, with heads down but to live with ease, spontaneity, relishing each moment. With colour, you stand out and shine. Be colourful. The world needs your prismatic soul, said the media person Amy Leigh Mercree. So, Nature created colours; all in nature is in colours for a purpose. It is colours that imbue our otherwise drab routine with vibrancy and optimism. “Colours are the smiles of Nature,” said Leigh Hunt.
Let the scientists and philosophers argue whether colour is a physical entity defined by the visual effect of light refracting and reflecting due to varied frequency & wavelengths of diverse colours, or just an individual perception, anything in colour makes better sense. Colours also help keep our body, mind and spirits in healthy mode so that we can live fully. “The purest and most thoughtful minds are those which love colour the most,” said John Ruskin.
The 5000-odd years old abstract art tradition of Rangoli of South Indian origin, still popular, is the art of ‘saying it with colours’. Among believers of any description, colours are widely used apropos to religious or other occasions. Rangoli is also integral to the inaugural ceremonies of scientific, engineering, and cultural meets; followers of different sects have distinctly coloured dress codes. The outsides of main entrances are often, if not daily, decorated with Rangoli of various hues made of powdered rice, flower petals, leaves, sand, sugar etc. Coloured designs of Rangoli and other figures represent an array of diverse human sentiments and ratiocinations. The circles of Rangoli symbolise eternity, the dots and small lines depict the hurdles creeping into our lives unawares. The ambience around Rangoli is believed to be charged with energy, ushering in positive vibes, and good luck, and keeping the negative, evil spirits at bay.
A look at the rainbow in the sky, the Nature’s exquisite colour pattern, made the bard’s heart leap up. Most in our strife-torn world direly await a healing touch. If you could become a rainbow in someone’s cloud, as suggested by Maya Angelou, it would be a great, very meaningful life indeed.
Artists and thinkers often compare the world with a canvas, and life with a box of crayons makes great sense. “With color one obtains an energy that seems to stem from witchcraft” said Henri Matisse, the leading proponent of modern art. Each of us is an energy pack of enormous possibilities that we rarely understand. In keeping with our destination, and optimally using discretion, we can give a shiny, dull or any colour to our life; it is one’s individual choice.
This Holi, ignore for a while the propriety of playing with colours with or without song & dance. And immerse in spontaneous expression of verve, drinking life to the lees, because all moments of life are not for analysis nor a mathematical puzzle to be resolved. Like a Kolavari song just to be enjoyed, no matter if you don’t understand it!
(The writer is a blogger and writes on social, spiritual and health issues. Views are personal)
