‘Being Responsible’

Every page of the newspaper, these days, screams about the raging debate on cow slaughter and consumption of beef being termed as anti-Hindu and hence anti-national. No one really knows what triggered this unnecessary discussion about the choice of food determining the nationality of a person. Police raids, crackdown on hotels and restaurants serving beef and lynching of common people have already sparked off protests by the opposition and intellectuals with some even returning the recognition bestowed on them by the government.

But amongst all these incidents, people constantly predicting on social platform about what lies ahead for the current government, are unable to see the woods from the trees. These people tend to forget that the new government was voted to power to introduce reforms; instead the same government is being pushed to a backtrack on grounds of religious intolerance. While the society, during any age, will always have a minor set of fanatics and bigoted characters, the rest of the society at large gets trapped in its clutches forgetting that the former group is so unnecessary and must be ignored at every step.

While discussing about the future of this sovereign, we are ignoring the present situation when we have the option to move ahead economically and politically, but choose to remain in darkness of controversies that threaten to mar the future of this country.  

Can we strive to reach the end of this tunnel where the light of development awaits us, leaving behind the darkness of intolerance that has been a part of the history of our country for ages?

We have the right to choose as much it is our responsibility to choose.

‘Be You’

Someone asked me recently, “How have you been?” I did not answer; I just smiled back. It would have been inappropriate and rude to tell him that the experience of the past one year of my life has turned me into a misanthropist – a skeptic to be put more simply. The society around me has not changed much; it still remains a masquerade party as it was when I first stepped into the shoes of adulthood. I don’t still know what it is like dealing with real people for I have never experienced anyone rare and genuine.

My experiences are gradually turning the colour of my hair grey with each new silver streak reminding me that many years of my life have indeed passed in knowing people. The punch line ‘Be You’ of a reputed online apparel store keeps flashing itself on almost every form of media advocating the necessity of being the real self. But in a society like ours where a fake curve on the face of a woman makes men go down on their knees, is it possible that honesty is rewarded and integrity acknowledged?

My cynical self has already assured me that the concept of ‘real’ can only be defined and understood in literary pieces and voluminous epics, while my optimistic self still awaits someone who can put my doubts to rest.

'I am on my own'

As I write this piece, I realize how important and beneficial it is for a woman to rely only on herself, especially, in matters pertaining to daily existence.

A feeling of desperation that had only led to frustration and anger had slowly been building up inside me, not against someone in particular, but against the society as a whole where people live under pretence and misunderstanding. In my case, people pretended and I misunderstood. I misunderstood their intent, manipulations and vanity. What I gained in turn was an experience so bitter that I avowed, "I am on my own from today."

This realization came in a bit late but am grateful that it came at a time when I am still capable of making choices regarding my career.