No one has a clear idea of how or when the ritual of celebrating, if that’s the right word, All Fools Day started in Kolkata. Most people have memories of childhood pranks played on the 1st April that were often extended to adults who shared cordial relationships. The happy understanding of the April Fools Day was an assurance that the games were enjoyed in the right spirit even by those at the receiving end.
Imagine someone responding to a mobile call early in the morning aimed at setting up an appointment for a late morning show at a multiplex in the boisterous company of other revellers. The prospect of a brighter Monday is perhaps more gripping than any suspicion about being taken for a ride. Yet this could just be the case but with the happy ending of the prankster compensating for the bluff that is seen as a harmless joke. This is what matters finally when someone is sent out on a meaningless errand or go out in search of something in a faraway destination that was not meant to be there in the first place.
There could be more “cruel” jokes like stirring a spoonful of salt instead of sugar in a cup of tea or setting up a dinner date with a friendly couple who could find the apartment locked. Of course they wouldn’t miss the dinner. The missing hosts could be waiting at a newly inaugurated restaurant. If all this is meant to lift people out of the drudgery of their daily lives, there should be nothing to complain about.
People have become more circumspect about what they will do April Fool day (Monday) and how they will respond to phone calls and messages. But there is also a pleasant side to the now familiar experiences. A leading club in Kolkata has chosen the day to offer members an exciting discount on their lunch bills directly connected with their date of birth. Octogenarians and a few who have proudly stepped in their 90s may be led into the dining room for what would virtually be a complimentary meal. Fortunately, the exciting offers available for the day will not violate the model code of conduct since there is always an allowance made for impromptu celebrations. If one can spend a day spraying coloured water to usher in the gentle warmth of spring before running into a gruelling summer or spend another morning flying kites while Viswakarma Puja is celebrated in factories and industrial units, why can’t a day be set aside for pleasant surprises?
The ancient roots of April Fools’ Day in Europe have nothing to do with the ingenious ideas conjured up to ensure the survival of a happy experience while people are grappling with social and economic pressures. More than half a century ago, a Bollywood entertainer with a Kolkata hero had turned April Fool adventures into a blockbuster. The song and dance formula may no longer work when films have scaled new heights of popular thrills and technical excellence. But the simple joys of adding a little colour to the mundane flow of life and making it a talking point could again make it a merrier Monday – with only the dullest minds being still fooled.