Jun 15, 2018
ZINDAGI NA MILEGI DOBARA!
Ever since the advent of humankind or even before it, one thing that has remained placid over centuries is Science. Now, do not jump guns, quoting the technological advancements we have achieved. We all started as Neanderthals, we civilized, we became inquisitive, we explored, we scaled peaks, we completed milestones, we waged wars, we lost our loved ones, we endured through the insurgency and we became heroes. Humankind was always subjected to twists and turns over time, but Science was always “There” unperturbed and it still continues to remain constant.
Science has never questioned the existence of God. But it has always been intrigued to know the purpose of religion. Religion is supposed to be seen as an entity for the liberation of masses. But it has always been misconceived and used as a limiter of rationality and diversity.
India is a diverse country, diversified by conservative families who practice rationality and diversity only in movies and in other families far apart from theirs. Basically, we are a bunch of people who believe diversity should be only seen on a larger scale, as large as a country but never try it at home. Our families have shown steadfast loyalty to this tagline, “Divided by religion, United by hypocrisy.”
From time immemorial, our folks have always welcomed movies and novels that carry a social message on inter-caste marriages. They go and discuss it with their colleagues, insist their friends watch/read it, while hanging a virtual placard reading, “Don’t try this at our Home!” around their neck.
Fun Fact:
Let us say you are a guy licensed under Caste ‘A’ (Not quoting any existing religion because people feel, God is so jobless that he will find time to come and poke my eyes) and if you go tell your parents that you are in love with another guy (Yea you read it right) who is licensed under Caste ‘B’ (Not quoting again, for religious purposes), they will reject your guy, for he being from a different caste, in first place.
I used the word “license” because Religion and Nationality are an accident of birth and we often confuse among the two licenses, on which should be held precariously.
The major problem with the elderly folks of our time is they go and pontificate to their neighbors and friends, about how they had reared their children, as naysayers as them and they will never civilize any day and will never make a choice (of their own) that does not please the family, extended family, family members who are never invited to the gatherings, ancestors who died centuries ago.
When your son/daughter cleared all exams and secured good grades back at school, it was him/her who toiled day and night to study; when he/she got placed with a job, it was him/her who did all the hard work to crack aptitude and the interviews; when he/she did masters, it was he/she, who cracked the entrances and the exams that followed. Now, any logical, empathetic parent wouldn’t counter the above point with the financial support they provided. If a person is capable of carving out a nameplate for himself/herself, I don’t know how his/her choice in the subject of choosing a partner for the rest of his/her life is going to be wrong.
Serious stuff apart: I don’t know why people don’t see the prospects. Say if a TamBrahm girl and a Gujarati guy get hitched, you get to eat “Tamarind Gravy Papad Float” (its Appalam Vetha Kuzhambu da!) for brunch, Dhabelis and Dhoklas (You know what they are!) for the supper.
Science can perceive anything that’s metaphysical or which is naturally occurring. But to understand the human perception of a man-made concept is something below its reach. It’s as simple as saying, “Gravity just knew a physical object with a mass around 0.102 Kg got attracted to its pull, only Newton knew the object was an Apple and its complexion was Red. Gravity would have worked the same way if Newton had sat under a Mango tree.” It’s just us, who create illusions out of the concept of God, in the name of religion and customs, sitting inside an unbiased rock made of stardust floating through the space and force it up on the nobler sections of society who are doing the Science’s way, trying to manifest the real essence of love, peace and harmony.
It’s high time that we stop branding the individuals who make their own life choices as rebellious. It’s his/her decision and however their life pans out, it’s on them. It’s not a sacrifice you make; it’s just basic common sense to let people live their life as they wish.
Disclaimer (General): Religion is not bad, the way we perceive it, need to be changed.
Disclaimer (To my country): The views expressed here are not generic.
Disclaimer (To my family): Stop assuming!
Article (Dated December 04, 2016) was originally published in The Opinion (currently taken down). This is the broken link — https://theopinion.in/zindagi-na-milegi-dobara-168ea4f639c4?source=user_profile---------5-------------------
