Don't you feel violated - born with a virgin mind, and having all sorts of unqualified and unprocessed data pushed into it without consent? When a child, you are served with directives by your parents - which is alright, because they are basic survival tips. Thus, they go into your tender mind and form the first impressions of life and the world around you. As you grow up and receive formal education, the school texts, the print media, the mass media and your peer all contribute to your rapid knowledge acquisition; and it is at this stage that you are first told that you possess the power to choose your own destiny, to shape it according to your own will. However, with time, you increasingly realize that this so-called "choice" is an eyewash. And when this realization finally sets in, it is time you start feeling you've been mentally raped; and thenceforth, you carry the scar for life.
Am I being vague? Am I being over-critical? Am I being cynical, or is this plain and simple disillusionment with life and its processes? Let me elaborate. Upfront, people would say I am being an idealist in my approach. Maybe I am. When I am told I can chart my own course for life, I am not told that having taken that bold decision, I would face immense resistance in the form of inertia of the socio-economic system around me, overcoming which would require a herculean effort. I am supposed to figure this out by myself. Which is fair enough. No grudges there. But the problem lies in the fact that instead of being unbiased in its approach, life prefers a dumb-wit who "chooses" a conventional course of life over someone who tries to be "different". If the purpose of one's life was to act like a non-feeling dumb machine processing given set of rules with least creativity and maximum accuracy, why wouldn't computers suffice?
At a more macro level, if a government policy goes wrong, I am supposed to wait for 4/5 years before I can attempt to vote "my" chosen representative out of power. And this choice too is an eyewash. I am an insignificant speck of organic dust in this vast storm of people who stake a claim to political representation through universal adult franchize. Do I really have the power to vote in or vote out my country's top executive? When a nation tries to act arrogant and hegemonistic with the intentions of absolute world doimination, and with all its foreign policy (and for that matter internal policy) directed towards redefining "colonialism" in a modern and more subtle context, do I have a say? Millions of people staged protest marches across the world against the much-touted Iraq War. Did that stop America from ravaging Iraq? It will now go on to build another American Empire in Iraq with all its glamour of individual liberty, freedom, and the much-revered democratic governance, and in the process, take away the Iraqi peoples' right to self-determination and their nation's sovereignity. Who is to raise a voice against that?
I am taught in school and college about the virtues of social-service, about the need to serve the have-nots and the under-priveledged of the society, towards whom we all have a moral responsibility. But I ask myself today - well-educated, with a fabulous job that pays me really well, do I ever spare a thought for the needy; have I ever considered charity? No. The reason? I feel that unless I "have" enough, I cannot help the "have-nots". How much is "enough"? My choice is restricted because I am blinded by the lure of more money, more fame and more glamour. Who is to blame? Me, or the society? I am not shrugging responsibility off my shoulders. I indeed am guilty. But why is it that this guilt is going without penance? Why has this become a norm with the society rather than an exception, me?
I could ramble on for ages and still not exhaust the scenarios in which I feel I have been "violated" of my right to self-determination. Poeple would retort by saying why don't I turn a sage? And I would respond with a rather cliche answer - I am not an escapist (not to say sages are escapists, but they surely do live in oblivion of the world around them) and have been resigned to the fate of suffering bit-by-bit at the hands of this uncontrollable phenomenon of mass slumber bordering unconsciousness.
Matrix Reloaded.
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I hate the world of pretentious ostentation. I want to be a child once again. I want to return to innocence. I want to experience the joy of not knowing, of not caring about right or wrong, of being able to cry at will and laugh without any rhyme or reason. I want to forget that mind exists in order to rationalize the world around itself. I want to remember only that I am inherently programmed to act on instinct, to react on impulse. But alas! I am a prisoner of the mind.
8 comments:
That is exactly my point. You learn to be an idealist in school, upholding the values of peace and charity with utmost pride. But you have to be a Gandhi and Teresa to make a world of a change and live up to the promise you made to yourself.
I am not saying every man who chooses to tread this path should end up leaving/generating such an impact. All I am saying is that the precedents for such things are too few and too superlative to scare off prospective starters like you and me.
I hope I understood your opposition correctly.
What man !
Kancha, you just kept on rambling and rambling, ending up blaming everybody for all that is wrong in the world. Stop passing the buck and start acting on it. As Dinesh said, a journey of a thousand miles starts with one small step.
Let me give you an example. Child care foundations are very very active in Bangalore. The Foundation representatives (eg CRY) come to your offices and home (specially young IT junta) and ask for your contribution (monetarily or voluntary help or both). It is hugely successful.
Rape, you say. I don't think that you were not "raped". But, do you really think that you have no choice ? "Yad Bhavishya" ? you said "But the problem lies in the fact that instead of being unbiased in its approach, life prefers a dumb-wit who "chooses" a conventional course of life over someone who tries to be "different". There are numerous examples of ppl who chose to be different and were successful, life chose them. In fact, the top leaders in every professional field chose to be different. That's what sets them apart. Thats what put them up there. And to think that choosing a different path would be easy is a folly, as you yourself pointed out. But, if you know what you are doin, have a vision and are hard working, I'm sure you will make it to the top.
In conclusion, I suggest, we all do not try to "rape" our progeny.
Ok, here's a thought.
You guys say that there are numerous examples of people who have dared to be different and have been immensely successful in being so. Dinesh says that one man possesses the power to make a difference provided he has the will to do so. Accepted.
Now answer this: You see the successes. But have you seen innumerable failed attempts and euqivalent lives sacrificed for such noble causes? Why do we need heroes in the first place? Why can't we all be heroes in our own little way? If you say each man possesses the power to move the world... why not everybody attempts to do that?
I believe the answer is that the "education" we go through, whether through formal or informal channels, is directed more towards making us machines than humans. It desensitises us w.r.t. these feelings and thoughts and ideas. And here lies my basic problem. Why teach such high morals when you can't motivate us all to uphold them? This is the "rape" I am talking about.
My dear friend,
I do not say every man possesses the power to change the world, but unless you try, you won't know. Would you ? And if you haven't been "raped" rather severely, you would know what your capabilities are. :))
What do you mean when you say : "Why can't we all be heroes in our own little way?" If you mean contributing to the society in your own style. Do it. No one is stopping you. But, you if you suggest all to be heroes in their own little ways, I'm sure many would disagree. Some CHOOSE to be different. You chose to be a hero in your own little way. That is not the case with Everybody. There are N number of ambituous ppl out there.
You're rite whan you say that schools should motivate us to do good deeds as well, but dont you see a change already ? Kids, and even we prefer not to waste water, reduce pollution, are against deforestation. We dont litter, or "rape" :)). Not all schools teach that. We are from the priviliged few who have had a GOOD education. but, Thats why you see so many IITians and DIPsites make it big. They chose to be different. As education standards improve in India, and they ARE (slowly but surely), there will be more non-conformists. Things change, but changes do not happen instantaneously.
tata
Hey what happened ? No more postings ??????
Got busy with work ?
Mr. Anonymous
Point taken.
I don't deny the fact that life does leave the choices to be made by each individual, but I tried to highlight the point that even when these choices are 'available', they are made difficult to live, by design, in order to discourage individuals from making them. While the world reveres 'heroes' (defined - those who dare to differ), it is also scared-shit of them. The heroes present them with examples that go radically against what people have believed all their lives, or rather, have been made to believe by the society. Infact, in the recent Spiderman 2, there is talk of even the heroes requiring social acceptance and love and recognition from atleast the ones they love.
In my article, I was not particularly discussing the social-service aspect of one's life, instead, was trying to bring to notice the fact that the formation of a society inherently takes away freedom of choice from its citizens in order to establish 'order'. The idea was based essentially on the theme of '1984' by George Orwell that has found manifestation in various forms of late, in literature and visual media alike.
What is left, then, of the concept of 'choice' is a mere semblance of it.
you are partly right when you say that formation of a society inherently takes away freedom of choice from its citizens.
:))
Indian Preamble : Fundamental rights and Duties talk a bit about it. Rights are the freedoms you inherently enjoy. Duties are the compromises.
The Rights are...
Right to Equality
Right to Freedom
Right against Exploitation
Right to Freedom of Religion
Cultural and Educational Right
Right to Constitutional Remedies
Saving of Certain Laws
Duties fyi are :
To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem;
To cherish and follow the noble ideas which inspired our national struggle for freedom;
To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India;
To defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so;
To promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities;to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women;
To value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture;
To protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures;
To develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of enquiry and reform;
To safeguard public property and to abjure violence;
To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity, so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement.
Theoretically, freedom is provided in the Fund. Rights. It takes time though. Consider the US. Don't you think ppl have more freedom of choice there ? I do. That;s why ppl flock to the States from ALL Over. They have been FREE for a longer time than us Indians. We are reaching that level of freedom. I know for a fact that I have more choices than my father, or my father's father. Things would improve further.
Glancing at the rights and duties, I just began to think....Duties are not compulsory. But if you DO NOT do your duties, you might be violating some ppl's fundamental rights. Thats what happens in the real world. If one tries to think of a way to solve this problem, One thing that comes to mind is the 1984 scenario - communism, where big brother watches over everything, ensures that you do your duties and get your rights. But, Orwell tries to point out that there is absolutely NO freedom in such a scenario.
It leads me to believe that to be free, you must have a distinction between rights and duties. but, as I pointed out earlier, in an Indian scenario, not everybody can enjoy freedom.
What I want is an option other that 1984. Is there one ?
and what is the conclusion of this analysis ?
Think for me.
hey nishita, your comment seems out of context because i can't seem to make the connection with anything in the post and comments above. help me please, will you?
also, the idea of starting discussions is not always to reach a consensus. the process of discussing is most of the times exhilarating enough to justify the effort put in.
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