What is the purpose of my life? The reasons for my confusion? Is there anything I truly want to do? Is there anywhere I truly want to go? I don’t understand at times what I want to be. This has been my position for as long as I can remember and I’m sure many of you reading this relate to it in some way or the other. Maybe there is a way of figuring this out. Today, I must decide what I don’t want to be. Let’s start with the corporate world. Alright, I DON’T want to be in the corporate world (If I do, it’ll only be in HR). Why? Because I suck at organising. Suck at managing people (loving and respecting them, YES. Hiring and Firing them? NO!). Suck at mathematics and accountancy. And don't really enjoy wearing formal clothes that suffocate my neck. What then, is the point of me pursuing an MBA? (A realisation which came upon me after enrolling and subsequently dropping out, from an MBA programme). Even if I did, it would have to be from someplace other than my own country and obviously not at a top school because my math skills could make a 6th grade teacher commit suicide. So then, I would be among the 1000 odd job aspirants from mediocre universities thinking of ways to answer an interview outside a drab room filled with people equipped with great experience and knowledge. Probably even before I get to the unfortunate stage of meeting these monsters, some dude from the IIM, XLRI etc etc would have impressed these people with his ‘’dedication’’, “mastery of knowledge in you-name-it” and confidence which could put a lion to shame. So where do the rest of us go? The rest of us not so “blessed” with academic intelligence? Do we end up in careers that make relatives gasp? Or make people come to the conclusion “I feel sorry for his parents, look at X’s son, he’s an engineer and Y’s daughter, she’s going to Harvard”. Though we all know that in our hearts, we youngsters give a damn of what people think. Why then do we have to worry about what society thinks?. Just do what you feel like. Wanna be a monk? Go ahead, be one.! A writer, A poet, An actor.. anything. Be what you choose to be? And if that choice doesn’t work, then choose again. But don’t give up! Not everyone is an MBA or a CA or whatever and that is perfectly fine. I’m sure the almighty created people for different purposes. It’s just that it might take a while to figure that out. But have fun figuring it out! Because that’s what life is intended to be. A whole lot of fun!
What are the medical, engineering etc professions all about? Millions of aspirants, many out of their parent’s choices, work their asses off for the entrance examinations, many of whom are unsuccessful and they try again and again and again…When they still don’t succeed, they commit suicide. When they do, they are almost definitely ragged by similar frustrated people who require a platform to vent their suppressed weakness and inabilities. The same child who set out to be a doctor/ engineer with a spring in his step, ends up being a frustrated soul with a personality disorder. My intention isn’t to berate these noble professions. After all, our survival depends on doctors but when I hear of ragging incidents in medical colleges, I often do wonder that a person who can’t display basic humanity towards a fellow human being, hardly stands a chance of being sympathetic towards a patient. If you have it in you, by all means go ahead. Of course, all medical and engineering colleges aren’t subject to ragging!. But don’t do it because you are asked to. Never do anything under pressure. When you continuously suppress your desires, you become a mere puppet of society’s will. Each time I read the papers, there’s some or the other news item of a student committing suicide due to poor marks. What is even more appalling is that it’s now happening at the primary and secondary school level. My question to parents: “ Is failing that math paper really the end of your son/daughter’s career?” Is he now fit to do nothing else? Why create so much pressure during these carefree years that will never return? My parents never pressurised me for anything and I will be forever indebted to them for that…
My message to fellow youngsters is this- Love who you are. Respect yourself. Dream big. I would like to end this by an inspiring line from Taare Zameen Par’s kholo kholo song “Tujhme agar...pyaas hai, Baarish ka ghar bhi paas hai!”
Rohan Pasricha
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
Dude, you impress me!
I say it again: you sound wiser when you write. But that's probably because you ARE wiser than you come across in person. Or may be I wasn't discerning enough whenever I talked to you in person. Anyway, I am impressed by the way you think.
The issues that you deal with in your post are very pertinent and are of great interest to me. I ponder a lot about confusion, lack of purpose in life, lack of ambition, societal pressure, depression, suicidal tendencies, etc., all of which I have experienced, to some degree, in the past. And some of these I still (and can say with certainty that I will in the future) experience.
But my current opinion on life is that all the problems are what make life worthwhile. Our experiences--both pleasant and unpleasant--enrich our lives, and the more varied and extreme our experiences, the richer our lives will be.
Imagine a life where there are no troubles, no confusions, no dilemmas, no hardships. Wouldn't that be terribly boring? But not just that, such a life is not achievable, simply because us humans, by nature, are extremely complex beings. And even if we were miraculously put in some paradise where everything was available in plenty, we'd create confusions and problems--because we simply can't live without them.
Just look at the world around us. There are so many problems all over the world. Each country on each continent has problems of its own. And within those countries, there are problems at the state-, city-, household-, down to the individual level. There are as many problems in the world as there are people in the world. And these people's problems change all the time. Throughout the course of history, humans have had and will have problems.
I believe there are basically just two ways to look these problems--either be bogged down, intimidated, overwhelmed by them OR face them calmly, without being too perturbed by them. Over the past few years, I have progressed from having the former attitude to having the latter.
But, as I think of it now, neither of these two attitudes is necessarily better or worse than the other. Then, you might think as I think too, "What on earth was the purpose of this whole long rambling post?" And there you have another problem. Go figure!
PS: I don't intend to change yours or anyone else's view toward life. Rather, I merely wanted state my own, which I have done. Thanks writing this post. I enjoyed reading and replying to it.
Ravish,
I really appreciate your views regarding my post. I concur with them, however, I have suggestions with regard to a few. To begin with, you've always mentioned that I'm wiser than I come across. The reason for this is two-fold.
1. I detest giving out my nature to people too easily. I find solace in letting them assume whatever they want :)
2. I actually am very carefree. With the world around us today, humour is such an important aspect. Being a true piscean, I'll always hide my real nature ;)
In a nutshell, your views about me and the post are, in a sense, correct. There are very few people who really know me :). However, in the context of this post, I suggest you watch this movie- The Secret.
And (I shall refrain from using moreover) if you're spiritual, do read this book- converations with god (don't buy it; you can borrow it from me). These will put your entire life into perspective, and make you fall in love with the most important person in your life----yourself.
P.S- I totally agree with your comment about being calm in any situation. It is an art, and I am in the process of mastering it. Quite unlike a few years back, when I would react strongly to everything.
You're a thoughtful person. Always be this way :)
i say..ur a rockstar :)
Post a Comment