When I see humans around, I do
not see them as individual entities that are on a mission that is devised of
their own, but I see them as blank slates that are filled with the letters of
the time that they live in. I see them as boats that are made to travel from
one port to another, not because of their own bidding but because of the
passengers that wish to be transported by the boat. I do not see those humans
around as Kites, fluttering up high above the sky, but only as paper crafts
attached to strings and controlled by mechanisms that are out of their control,
and worst of all, by mechanisms, that they do not know, and which control them.
Fellow humans do have a simpleton idea that they are living a life not of their
own choosing, but seldom do we recognize that we may never be able to
detect a way out, even if we tried hard. I only see sheeps and pigs around.
When I see humans around, I see
them as so ignominiously dependent on extraneous factors, that are independent of their existence and
have no bearing on their own true selves. I see them reacting to stimuli that
is so far removed from anything that is within their grasp. I see them as
hapless puppets given to the exigencies of their surroundings. Some pander to
the value of physical appearance that is accorded the highest virtue in certain sections;
some inculcate a jocular personality, that is appreciated as a welcome shade in social circles; some develop a non-intrusive, likeable
personality, so as to be loved by everyone and one together. Some strive to be
most knowledgeable of a special interest area of knowledge so as to leave a
remarkable impression on others that form part of the group with an interest in
the same area of knowledge. Rarely, do I see, a stand-alone personality, that
is able to exist without the benevolent sentiments of those around.
But my desire, as expressed
above, is far-fetched from the reality that exists presently in front of us. It’s
remarkably impossible for the countless many to escape from the clutches of an “identity”
that they wish to develop, and in being so clutched, they struggle to impart an identity to their 2
seconds of existence on this planet earth. It’s remarkably impossible for the
countless numbers to accept that they are all part of one and that their desire
to manufacture an identity to express themselves as independent entities is the very thing that enslaves them. However, I must also add here that, I do not wish
to place an objection on those who wish to do the same, as every action, in
whichever direction, is always meaningful. Perhaps, we as humans, might develop our faculties by stretching its limits to the farthest possible extent of the
boundaries of identities that we know or understan, only in order to fill the colour palette
of existence.
Perhaps, we as slaves fulfil the
true objective of independence.
There stood a man panting near the tree. He has been searching for two days for a bear. The tribe depends upon him. Recently, becoming a father, his chest is puffed as well as burdened - by recognition that layways of the past could neither get him the sustenance nor the respect from his kids when they grow up. He finally manages to find a lair.
ReplyDelete*****
Six years have passed, he is leading a group of four tribesmen for the hunt. Now the closest man to the village elder, he leads the hunting parties for the toughest prey. His neck is after all covered with bear skin and not naked like young kids who have lot of energy but waste it on running about and showing off to each other. He doesn't feel angry but only remembers his past, which is not too far away either.
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Life is mixture of everything that it offers. It offers servility, as you point out, where taking cues from immediate surroundings men try to mould themselves into cutlery that is most accepted. While others mix this desire for acceptance with sense of self-given direction. While there are still others who trod on their paths listening only to their music unconcerned by admonitions or praises surrounding them. Yes, all exist.
Which path is the truest one or the most beneficial one? For that, each must endeavor (and each does, at his own level) to discover and chart. The chanelling of one's imagination into the world is perhaps the way to add to our shared humanity. But does the dull monotony of existence, chained to drudgeries of life any lesser - a farmer in debt works to clear the debt, feed his family and renew the debt come the next monsoon; a begger begs the whole day to eat the meal at night, send money home to his wife and daughter at the end of the month; a CEO works to make sure his stature remains as well as the confidence he has gained over the course of his life. Each toils, some in more measure than others, some in direction more individual than others, some less influenced by surroundings. But could a man exist truly separated from the world, as if in a vaccuum, and does such a life is necessarily the pursuit for all - I guess the answer is apparent.
The thing that counts the most is for each to find the path which is one's own, some willingly drape themselves with the color of their surroundings while others are more circumspect. This life, my friend, is like a colorbook, with each page referring to a period in life - it gets colored on its own, whether we take conscious efforts or not, or whether we draw the pallete from the world which we wish to please(or displease) or reflection of our deepest imaginaton.
My question to you is what is your shade? what is your drawing? and do you at the end of the day, have that small measure of peace?
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PS: Extremely sorry about the delay - had 110 works on my hand, otherwise wouldn't have delayed so much. Waiting for your reply. Please don't be a procastinator like myself, be quick.
PPS: I loved your writing and its flow - wow!!! keep it up
H.
hi hersh . thanx for your well written and thoughtful comment.
ReplyDeletei have no shade. and neither would I attempt to even if I did. I am only an observer now and not an intervener. Yes, at different points and from different angles, I will post different observaations.