(Bourgeois) Youth of our Nation - 2
Once, three of us friends were sauntering about after dinner. We were talking generally, but by midnight, the hansom had sunk its wheels in the rut that was, "what we are doing and what we ought to do". We decided to make it a night-out, and instead of what people usually do on night-outs, we decided to think, that too, sober, participate in dialogues like the Greeks. I don't remember the dialogues exactly as it was a while back. But I remember the essential and the sense that came out of it. I write them in an disordered fashion as they come to my mind, as I usually do. Its about a major problem that bourgeois youth of our country is facing - about how are we living our life.
1. We, the youth of the nation, are not actually free, in a sense, Facebook and pop culture edifies.
(This was kind of a prelude to the discussion. Rising from finite to infinite, our infinite resignation, in the lamest of sense.)
"Don't run after the money. Do what you like. Listen to your heart." The goose-bumpy videos and witty one liners with some vague backgrounds. First of all, all this follow-your-heart ideologies, kind of, originates in the west, developed nations per se. Eh! but I say this, only weakly, just to keep it on a side-shelf. Just to point out that we are different. What I really want to say is that we do not have the social or financial security. That is the crux of the matter. The fact remains that after some years, we do have to support our parents. Our state, unlike developed nations, would not take care of them. A waiter, a conductor, a construction worker does not earn to live decently in the country. The government does not provide quality education or healthcare. And private education is too expensive and healthcare is not insured. Money does come handy, is what I am saying.
Another side-shelf stuff, two of us Greek philosophers once went to Goa for holidays. To try something different that was to meet people from around the world, we stayed at a hostel in vagator. The two room-mates we had, were English chef who had "left our jobs, here till our money last". We met many such 'westerners' who had left their jobs or were on a long holiday. As much as I would have loved to do the same, it was not possible for me, majorly, because I didn't earn in pounds. Anyway, there are chances that it was due to the place that we were in, abode to the eccentrics maybe. Not every English would have felt as free as them.
0. The risk that you take.
(This is not part of the dialectical night-dialogues, but I think is necessary to explain my point to those who are not from my back ground - a discontenting profession or to those who are already some kind of mavericks (grass is greener on the other side kind of a thing).)
See, I am in IT. If you think you know where I am going with this at any point of time, you may skip. I see thousands like me, sitting, doing somethings heartlessly, not knowing what they are doing, why they are doing, really, like "dihadi" laborers! Just laying bricks, not caring for what they are building. At 1 they will go for lunch, return at 2.30. At 5 they will go for tea. At 7 they will leave. They talk about onsite opportunities, bitch/praise about colleagues, and stuff like that. People at higher posts talk about property, investments and share markets. They will work in a comfort zone, that they have created over the years, won't learn anything new or try something different. So why are they doing it? Because of security, financial and social.
I sometimes feel that my company is equivalent to a socialist state, but this is not the space to propound it.
So if you want to do something, like starting up a business, you will have to leave this fortress. That is the risk you take.
2. Marriages and getting settled.
In 1 I said, there is a financial constraint which limit us.
That night, we observed a social constraint also, which would limit us even more. Our parents wants us to be married and have children. Again, if you, shredding your rebellion livery, think deeply, it is not so irrational. Our parents explain, with words to that sense, "You will have children late in your life and you will get retired before your children are stable". They have a point. That would be the worst or, I should say, average case scenario.
If your parents are understanding, you can easily pass this conundrum. But we considered facts, real life examples, our friends, people who we know and their current problems. Most of them were around our age. Most of them had pressures of getting married and settling, and sadly, mostly girls. I was a believer that both sexes are equal, and I never thought it was an idealistic thought, like wanting an egalitarian state. But slowly I was realizing that the society,even the best of it, does not treat them equally(even they themselves). And that was the night I swayed. Most liberal girls I know (obviously not all) , and those who were not, had to succumb to their parents. Why? We did not venture into that area. I think because that brought frown on our fellow female philosopher. First Immediacy probably? Anyway, the males extraordinarily did not succumb, but instead willingly aimed at that! To get married by 27-28 with a good job and bank balance was their aim. Easiest way - MBA. Ah, that rhymed. Obviously, I am not talking about all MBA graduates (put out your torches). Some do it for other reasons. Please understand I am not a good writer, I am not eloquent, don't read my statements too rigidly.
So, the main conclusion was that, the youth of the nation wants to get married and have a job. The end. But the discussion had went on all night - that is a lot of talking. I must have missed some things here and now I am too tired to remember.
(After a short break)
Okay I will continue now.
3. So what is the right thing to do?
Should we take risks selfishly, without thinking of our family? Should we rob our parents, the happiness and satisfaction of grandchildren and a "bahu"/husband? Or do we rebel and do what we want, and break some hearts on the way?
Well we thought, lets set up an age limit, discuss with our family(which I consider to be the most important thing, provided they are rational like mine), tell them our plans, listen to them what they have to say and be rational. Measure the risk-investment-return-happiness trade off. Let the reason win.
If you have a little spunk in your heart, maintaining to an extent that does not make you selfish, you can defer the stability in your life.
So this is the best thing to do, within the bounds of propriety. Or otherwise, if you choose to venture outside it, the world is, as they say, your oyster.
4. Why is it so important?
What is the fuss about? Why is it so absolutely necessary that we do something different? See, doing different is not the point. You have to do what you want to do, with passion, with meaning. Are we going to end up being defined as an IT nation, as some are with oil? Sorry, it didn't make sense. Anyway, see, we need teachers who want to teach. We need doctors who want to treat. We need researchers who want to research. Engineers who want to innovate. Architects who want to build. We need bureaucrats who want to work. Politicians who want to administer. And so on. We don't want apathy. As Socrates explained, or someone in a dialogue with him, every art has a goal. That goal is not the payment. The art of payment has a goal to pay for the work that was done. So the physicians art has a goal to treat, not to earn money. And it is important that we remain true to our art.
I hope that answers the question I raised in the first part. If not, read "The Republic". It is better than this.
1. We, the youth of the nation, are not actually free, in a sense, Facebook and pop culture edifies.
(This was kind of a prelude to the discussion. Rising from finite to infinite, our infinite resignation, in the lamest of sense.)
"Don't run after the money. Do what you like. Listen to your heart." The goose-bumpy videos and witty one liners with some vague backgrounds. First of all, all this follow-your-heart ideologies, kind of, originates in the west, developed nations per se. Eh! but I say this, only weakly, just to keep it on a side-shelf. Just to point out that we are different. What I really want to say is that we do not have the social or financial security. That is the crux of the matter. The fact remains that after some years, we do have to support our parents. Our state, unlike developed nations, would not take care of them. A waiter, a conductor, a construction worker does not earn to live decently in the country. The government does not provide quality education or healthcare. And private education is too expensive and healthcare is not insured. Money does come handy, is what I am saying.
Another side-shelf stuff, two of us Greek philosophers once went to Goa for holidays. To try something different that was to meet people from around the world, we stayed at a hostel in vagator. The two room-mates we had, were English chef who had "left our jobs, here till our money last". We met many such 'westerners' who had left their jobs or were on a long holiday. As much as I would have loved to do the same, it was not possible for me, majorly, because I didn't earn in pounds. Anyway, there are chances that it was due to the place that we were in, abode to the eccentrics maybe. Not every English would have felt as free as them.
0. The risk that you take.
(This is not part of the dialectical night-dialogues, but I think is necessary to explain my point to those who are not from my back ground - a discontenting profession or to those who are already some kind of mavericks (grass is greener on the other side kind of a thing).)
See, I am in IT. If you think you know where I am going with this at any point of time, you may skip. I see thousands like me, sitting, doing somethings heartlessly, not knowing what they are doing, why they are doing, really, like "dihadi" laborers! Just laying bricks, not caring for what they are building. At 1 they will go for lunch, return at 2.30. At 5 they will go for tea. At 7 they will leave. They talk about onsite opportunities, bitch/praise about colleagues, and stuff like that. People at higher posts talk about property, investments and share markets. They will work in a comfort zone, that they have created over the years, won't learn anything new or try something different. So why are they doing it? Because of security, financial and social.
I sometimes feel that my company is equivalent to a socialist state, but this is not the space to propound it.
So if you want to do something, like starting up a business, you will have to leave this fortress. That is the risk you take.
2. Marriages and getting settled.
In 1 I said, there is a financial constraint which limit us.
That night, we observed a social constraint also, which would limit us even more. Our parents wants us to be married and have children. Again, if you, shredding your rebellion livery, think deeply, it is not so irrational. Our parents explain, with words to that sense, "You will have children late in your life and you will get retired before your children are stable". They have a point. That would be the worst or, I should say, average case scenario.
If your parents are understanding, you can easily pass this conundrum. But we considered facts, real life examples, our friends, people who we know and their current problems. Most of them were around our age. Most of them had pressures of getting married and settling, and sadly, mostly girls. I was a believer that both sexes are equal, and I never thought it was an idealistic thought, like wanting an egalitarian state. But slowly I was realizing that the society,even the best of it, does not treat them equally(even they themselves). And that was the night I swayed. Most liberal girls I know (obviously not all) , and those who were not, had to succumb to their parents. Why? We did not venture into that area. I think because that brought frown on our fellow female philosopher. First Immediacy probably? Anyway, the males extraordinarily did not succumb, but instead willingly aimed at that! To get married by 27-28 with a good job and bank balance was their aim. Easiest way - MBA. Ah, that rhymed. Obviously, I am not talking about all MBA graduates (put out your torches). Some do it for other reasons. Please understand I am not a good writer, I am not eloquent, don't read my statements too rigidly.
So, the main conclusion was that, the youth of the nation wants to get married and have a job. The end. But the discussion had went on all night - that is a lot of talking. I must have missed some things here and now I am too tired to remember.
(After a short break)
Okay I will continue now.
3. So what is the right thing to do?
Should we take risks selfishly, without thinking of our family? Should we rob our parents, the happiness and satisfaction of grandchildren and a "bahu"/husband? Or do we rebel and do what we want, and break some hearts on the way?
Well we thought, lets set up an age limit, discuss with our family(which I consider to be the most important thing, provided they are rational like mine), tell them our plans, listen to them what they have to say and be rational. Measure the risk-investment-return-happiness trade off. Let the reason win.
If you have a little spunk in your heart, maintaining to an extent that does not make you selfish, you can defer the stability in your life.
So this is the best thing to do, within the bounds of propriety. Or otherwise, if you choose to venture outside it, the world is, as they say, your oyster.
4. Why is it so important?
What is the fuss about? Why is it so absolutely necessary that we do something different? See, doing different is not the point. You have to do what you want to do, with passion, with meaning. Are we going to end up being defined as an IT nation, as some are with oil? Sorry, it didn't make sense. Anyway, see, we need teachers who want to teach. We need doctors who want to treat. We need researchers who want to research. Engineers who want to innovate. Architects who want to build. We need bureaucrats who want to work. Politicians who want to administer. And so on. We don't want apathy. As Socrates explained, or someone in a dialogue with him, every art has a goal. That goal is not the payment. The art of payment has a goal to pay for the work that was done. So the physicians art has a goal to treat, not to earn money. And it is important that we remain true to our art.
I hope that answers the question I raised in the first part. If not, read "The Republic". It is better than this.
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