The unusual heading and the inspiration for this post comes from a class that I attended yesterday (oh ya for those of you not in loop, am back at XL pursuing my 2nd year with the other 179 wanna-be MBAs)- A video showing the ghastly state of affairs in the state I belong to brought most of those present in the class to a silence that sounded like death knell and tears to the soft(er) hearted. At the end of the class, a friend and fellow classmate rightly pointed out that the video induced a mere feel-bad factor, and that a little later, we would all go back to our normal life and forget all about it and life will continue the way it has and the way it rightly must!
How right she was- 24 hours later, here I am thinking about the same incident and all I can tell myself is “But then how can I (alone or with others that feel similarly) do anything about it".. Seems like every time we wish to action on something, this “but then” aspect stops us from taking that step required- like the super ego in Freudian theory, it takes you back to the ugly realities... A reality where you are no longer the idealistic young-blooded determined individual who can reform the system, but yet another product of the same society where the problem in question originated... An individual whose hands are tied for reasons unfathomable by a simple mind of a 18/ 20 year old! How much more passionately I felt, and how much stronger the feeling was when I saw the horrific scenes at Dharavi- Asia’s largest slum when traveling to St. Xavier’s from the infamous Hiranandani Gardens, Powai! How it was so much easier to spend and spare 4 hours for "Akanksha"- teaching those children less fortunate than you- telling these kids how important it was to clean your hands before each meal- Those were the days when dad gave you the pocket money irrespective of whether you performed well in your exams- your needs were taken care of and your (extra) filled tummy wouldn’t worry too much about choosing between going back home and watching TV or reading or utilizing the time to help out those that needed your guidance..
Some things are still the same- not that am driven to destitution or anything right now (thank god and touch wood), but the sense of responsibility is no longer the same- Guess I surely would have to justify the allocation of my time and my abilities/ capabilities (whatever it is!)- and even if you wish to dedicate your life to a cause in a manner that actually impacts the lives of these very people you wish to impact, they want you to have a hard core experience in the corporate world! And last but not the least, not to forget the innate quality every human being is born with- Jealousy! How easy is it to gulp down the fact that a fellow friend or classmate earns twice or thrice more than you and is able to repay all the loans she had borrowed and is investing for her future.. and let's be frank, who doesn’t like to lead a comfortable life? (while I do agree that the definition of comfort is absolutely and purely subjective!)…
Ahhh sooo many confusions- absolutely indecisive- that’s the state of affairs inside my head right now.. just like the state of affairs in the country as we discussed in the same class- we are on the path of development, but of course the definition and degree of development is greatly varied and differs drastically across a few miles from a place in question..
To summarize, I really wish to do something meaningful with life (What? I do not know!).. but then I have various commitments- that too on various fronts- capability/ credibility, economic/ financial, social, familial, yeh woh…(I agree it sounds loserish but this is a fact!) At this stage, am also not too sure if I have the ability or the capability to do something meaningful, hopefully I will after earning some credibility in the corporate world.. But then what if this urge isn’t as strong then when I (finally) do not have to worry about the other priorities that are important right now?
Hmm… on this note, I leave myself and some of you with the question… But then, what if our dreams to become a “developed” nation do not come true? Most of us, will be shattered, each section for their specific reason… but then life will still go on, right?
Comments
...or as Einstein had once written, "the greatest discoveries are not about finding the right answer, but finding the right question!"
what I meant was that simply because one doesn't see an obvious ready-made answer, does not mean that question is "wrong", or has no answers. That is where "social innovations" come in..
google "Kailash Satyarthi"... he found the answer. And there are many others as well...