Independent, Individualistic and Empowered

Yesterday, I saw this Hindi movie Dil Dhadakne Do. One particular dialogue which struck me, that was quite pertinent and valid in today’s society is as follows. When Priyanka’s Husband (in the movie) says that he has empowered his wife by letter her go to work and pursue her career, which was unthinkable in her mom’s generation as they were all house wives. To which Priyanka’s old friend, who is a journalist, in the movie, counters by saying, this statement itself shows your patriarchal mentality. You still believe that you control what your wife wants to do and not let her pursue her dreams of her own will.

Ideally, every person that is born in this earth, is born independent, has their own individualistic characteristics and is self-empowered to think, decide and do what they want to do.

But what is the reality. They are born shackled. They belong to the family, caste, creed, society and to a particular country. All of these have a dictum of their own which is prescribed and to deviate is strictly proscribed. So no one has any own traits of their own. They are fettered and their wings of imagination and freedom are cut off while they are in their mother’s womb. And once they are out of it, as I had mentioned above, they belong to a particular family (which has distinct association with a particular religion, caste and creed), from which they are verboten to deviate. There you go, a life is stripped of its sustenance even before it’s born and after it’s born, it’s supposed to listen to the various voices that impose their own will upon it. Perhaps, that’s the reason why every child cries when they step into this wide wicked world.

To be honest, while I do opine my thoughts out here, I am no different individual. I again belong to this secular society with all the patriarchal, macho, chauvinistic mentality, though I try to unshackle myself from it.

So who are all affected by this xenophobic attitude of men and women who hold various strategic positions in various strata of life. As a mother, father, Patriarch of the family, Village headman, Leader in the society with no respect for others opinions, Religious bigots, Dictators and several other category of people who firmly believe in what they believe. And leave no stone unturned to ensure that their aphorisms stand the testimony of time and ruthlessly wipe out any altercations to their perceptions.

In such an negative environment, how can one nurture an individual who is independent and empowered and is able to follow their unrestrained thoughts and dreams. Only such a course can result in real innovations for life to move ahead. Positivity does exist, else the world would have ceased to exist as of now. How, because of certain individuals who rise, like a phoenix, above these enigmas and deleterious maxims that cripple life. It is they who constantly refurbish and resurrect life out of the venomous prescriptions that belie our life. But for them to do it, they have to go through innumerable sacrifices and even become martyrs sometimes. Yet they are the beacon of our life.

To which, one can question, why can’t everyone be like that and why does anyone need to shackle freedom of thought and expression. If that be the case, some men and women can never be able to rule over the others, to enjoy, pilfer and plunder other’s wealth, their knowledge for their own benefit.

So that brings us back to the position that it is a few who control the destinies of multitude across families, societies, cities and countries. When the tolerance levels of the imposed dogmas reach an intolerable level, then comes a revolution. And when the people think the new leader would usher in a new world truism of change for the better, they are thrown into another deceptive world of new found moral preaching’s. They are mesmerized into this façade of illusory life that is rich in all aspects. Yet after a few years, when it dawns to them that they are back into the same rut, given to them in a new colorful package they are already knee deep into it and cannot come out of it. This goes on until the frustrations lead to another war or revolution for a change. A change that has no meaning for the common man.

You might feel that my tirade is totally bigoted and has no positivity to it. True, in many ways, as I see life in the current world and as I look back into History, the common man, woman and children have only been pillaged of their puritan lives by the highhandedness of the select few who can unleash power in the most lethal way. Because, they have the powers that be, they think they are immortal and try to wield and use it against the innocents. That’s been the way of life. A common person, lives in a constant state of fear of losing his simple altruistic life and that’s the harsh reality of today in every walk of life.

In what sense, can we claim to say that people are independent, individualistic and empowered, given the above symptoms. It just isn’t there because everyone wants to be a control freak. If and only when, someone says to his spouse or child that they can lead a life of their own free will and choice then we can claim that they have been delivered free of their fettered lives. And that needs to extend to the society, corporations and country which is driven by jingoistic thought processes that were framed by Men to rule over others. Simplistically and realistically, this is not bound to happen at all as we are all driven based on fixed dogmas that have ruled us for centuries and beyond. Fancy that…

#Thoughts