Wonders Anupama Chandra, as this phenomenon rides its second wave of (in)famy as the world ponders – to clutter or to de-clutter, that is the question
“After I got married, I divided my gifts into two halves — one for keeps and one to re-gift. As you can imagine, I drew flak from both our families. But we had a tiny home to move into and I wanted to only carry things that I Ioved. So I went per plan.”
How to keep clutter out?
Every time I hear of organising wizard Marie Kondo, I think of this friend, who was, doubtlessly, the most organised of our lot. But I have always wondered, is keeping clutter out really that easy?
The New KonMari way
When Kondo’s bestselling de-cluttering bible ‘The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up’ hit the stores, many people wanted to ‘spark joy’ in their homes, if not lives. Recently, a digital content giant converted the idea into a reality series, wherein she visits different people at their homes and supports them implement the KonMari process, with episodes ending on dramatically happy notes of extremely clean homes.
Typically, they begin by piling all belongings of a particular category to assess how much stuff they actually own, and open their eyes to the excess insidious in their lives. Then, she urges the participants to touch each article and chose what to keep or discard, with the question “Does it spark joy?”
Does India need de-cluttering?
That may be the US, but even in a country like ours, it is shocking how much stuff we accumulate. We have too much stuff; we just hide them better. Cases in point are the ranges of clever storage systems that are intrinsic to most Indian homes. Right on my floor, every flat has lofts and storage beds. One family even has a kitchen unit that extends from floor to ceiling and a folding dining table that hides a neat storage unit.
No wonder my mother had a blanket rule since we were kids, with regard to what part of our stuff went straight to the charity every six months — Bag anything you haven’t used in six months, don’t store, she said. But is keeping clutter out easy?
Clutter and India
Let’s find out, with software consultant Abhik, management consultant Vinay K and Vidya Heble, an editor. Asked if they have clutter at home, Vidya spoke like a true Indian, “Yes, there is clutter — mostly out of sight, in cupboards. I keep stuff that pleases me, or is emotionally fulfilling (ancestral items/mementoes) or is genuinely valuable.” Abhik philosophised, “I have clutter. Some of it brings joy, the rest of it I get used to.”
Vidya regularly purged her stuff, “Generally, I take stock during Diwali cleaning. It’s an ideal time for Indians to de-clutter,” while Abhik took up the chore, “When I felt like it or have the energy for it.”
Kaun KonMari?
Vinay was honest to admit that he had never heard of Kondo or KonMari, but that clutter haunted him. “After I lost my parents, I just wanted to hold on to everything that belonged to them, even their derelict furniture. And weirdly, my life reflected the same desperate loneliness.”
For him, a visit from old friends ushered change, not Kondo. “When they came home, they first had to tidy up for us to be able to sit down for lunch. They also helped tidy up some rooms, but that’s wasn’t enough.”
So he began his own regime. “Every day, I cleaned a bit. But, at Diwali,” he reiterated with Vidya, “that year, I went the whole hog. From new paint to new furniture, my house became a home again — ready for something new.” The good news is that many Indians, like him, are in the habit of de-cluttering at regular intervals, KonMari or no KonMari.
Collecting versus Cluttering
When we wondered if hoarding and clutter was the same, Vidya was erudite. “No, hoarding is an illness, but it starts with the feeling of comfort in holding on to something. One has to check whether one is collecting or hoarding. I collect books, and I have given away or sold those that I don’t want to keep.” Abhik, too, struck a pragmatic note, saying, “I collect books and digital paraphernalia, and hoarding and clutter can definitely be differentiated. Hoarding is active, fueled by addiction, while clutter is things piling up and we watching them do so.”
Feeling the Joy?
They both were aware of the KonMari method of tidying up, with Abhik sportingly misdirecting us, “No, she doesn’t spark joy. Specially, her arbitrary limit on books…” Vidya’s was the voice of a well-read Indian, “Yes, I had heard about it long ago, and I apply the principle to both keeping and buying stuff.” She admitted however, “But I don’t take it as seriously as people apparently do.”
She explained the impact of KonMari in the Indian context thus, “By and large, most Indian households will not need to KonMari because we tend to keep houses tidy and are house-proud; plus, we deep-clean before festivals. Also, because we have household help, cleaning up is not the insurmountable task that it is in the West.”
Abhik summed up thus. “In India, we adapt and we tide over. This too shall pass, including KonMari.”
The KonMari Way to a Tidy Home
