It’s been a long since my last post. I know how much I wanted to write one but because of some reasons I couldn’t. To be honest, at times, I didn’t know what to write about. In this post, I want to throw some light on the things which have always bothered me. Things I have always been sensitive towards. Things that impacted me so much that I like to isolate myself from the entire world. This lockdown allowed us to stay close to our family. The family functions in between brought the extended family and friends closer too. I got an opportunity to live with people with a different mindset, background, and from different geography and generation. But there are few things which I found common among these people and which require a change but people refrain from doing so. It was quite shocking for me when it came from highly educated people, people who had been to several places and interacted with people of other backgrounds, worked with them but still, they ended up being in square one where they actually started. Here, the square doesn’t define the physical location but the mindset.

A person on average spends twenty to twenty years of their life gathering knowledge by passing through several institutions and some spend even more. After the learning phase is over, there comes the experiencing phase where a person puts theoretical knowledge into practical ones. This phase is the opportunity to bring the best in you not only professionally but personally as well. If one tried, he/she can overcome his/her weaknesses, can try to be a better person, and can change the mindset that is somewhere stuck in an era that is nowhere to be seen. We all know there are certain drawbacks in our society that didn’t come from the outside world but were nurtured within. If a person wills he/she can suppress such thinking from spreading through generation but no matter how highly educated, he/she enables such thinking to outspread.

I was asked to shut when I questioned and raised my brows when an educated woman was commenting on the dressing style of another woman, who was comfortably dressed. I was asked to shut by the person for whom I stood when she was forced to feed on the leftover on a used plate. A voice was raised on me when I said it’s no wrong if a son-in-law washes his utensils. I was looked down on when I asked why so much respect for a son-in-law and not for a daughter-in-law. I felt uncomfortable when a family member of the bride told her – “you should be thankful that you got such a great human being as your partner”. Why? Doesn’t the groom be thankful too that he got her so-called daughter? There are several such instances that I encountered in these months and I know I will continue to in the future as well. But, somewhere, I feel a sigh of relief to some extent that I have always stood against it whenever possible.

I sometimes isolate myself and refrain from getting involved in any activities within the environment I live. One day, my mother asked me worriedly about this behavior. I said I can’t face the negativity sometimes. She said it is the same group of people you have been living with so how can the same person sometimes be negative or positive for you. I replied it’s not the person; it’s their thinking and approach towards something that gives a negative vibe which is unbearable. I have always been questioned whenever I stood against the odds. Some even think I have an alienated mind. I wonder in this century if this thinking of mine is considered to be alienated then how many more years it is going to take to normalize.

The instances that I shared above are common in every household but still, we are okay with it. It’s disheartening when it comes from people with a well-educated background. If the knowledge tells you to create differences within or blindly follow what was being followed earlier then it’s a pity for the society that one lives in. People have time to discuss climate change, politics, or some judiciary cases but have no time to discuss the issue that’s breeding within. There is a quote – “change is the only constant” but I say the thinking of people is constant no matter whatever walks of life they belong to. Be it educated or uneducated, the thinking remains the same. I am amazed when people talk about moving forward in life while their thinking ultimately regresses. There is always room for improvement and are situations to bring in the change. I request everyone to sit back and think about the similar instances around you and stand for right whenever possible. One’s single move can bring about a bigger change for a better living.