Disturbed

An argument which happened last week has left me disturbed. It happens with me whenever i end up saying or doing things on which i don't have full conviction. Also, I’m on a major guilt ride because I didn’t end up communicating what i truly feel about the given topic/subject and because emotions got better of me.

It's true that people don't have time. You are perceived based on your actions and words. It's very difficult to fully communicate what you truly feel about a subject.

The challenge has always been in communicating my true belief in what Gandhi famously said on this subject "I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides, and my windows to be closed. Instead, I want the cultures of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any."

Any allegiance is difficult to stand by and that even applies to not having any sort of allegiance.

Painting one negatively is so very easy. We all want to box others. We want to typecast them in moulds we are comfortable with. That's an easy option. To do that a person's denominations help us - Language, race, religion, caste, nation, state, place. So, it becomes all the more important that communication is precise, unambiguous and clear.

It is important to me rather very important to me that i view myself as a liberal. More than what others perceive it is important to me that i'm a free spirit and an explorer. Because heart of hearts i'm convinced that's what i'm. I don't have sense of belonging with anything. I’ve seen for myself how fluid my belief system has been over the years.

Having said that, i can't deny the fact that my language, my race, my religion, my country, my caste, my place in no particular order have had a bearing on what i'm today. How much ever i end up embracing other things my heart does still leap in joy whenever i come across things which remind me of my upbringing.

Am i a cultural bigot? My tastes, my interests, my friends/acquaintances don't seem indicate that i'm one.

All said, seeing it from the context of the argument which has triggered this post, I think I still stand by my argument that any form of imposition is wrong. Freewill within legitimate boundaries should reign supreme. Accommodation of differences is the essence of a matured and forward looking society.

If you are wondering what the fuss is all about – the context is I had an argument with a friend of mine in which I said vernacular languages must be respected, allowed to prosper and imposition of any kind should be resisted. The crux of my argument is that the cornerstone of this nation is its diversity and that the moment we give into the urge to homogenize it will fall apart. Heady respect for local cultures would mean different groups will feel wanted and that would bind this nation even further.

Case rested.