Wednesday, September 23, 2009

A World of Dependents

I've been alone at home the past 2 weeks. It's the longest I've had the house all to myself. Well there is Kasper....:). But he's welcome... let's me do my work and he does his(which is sleeping of course).

Amma usually stays with me. She's gone to be with Dad for a few days. I don't talk much with Amma. But I realize now that though we may not talk much I miss just the presence of her.

It's nice to be on your own. But the truth is days are long, and nights even longer. I long to go out... meet some friends... etc. There are books... but sometimes... the presence of another person cannot be compensated by that.

You know... this got me thinking about how dependent we all are on each other.

Imagine if one day the world around you collapsed and you were the only survivor.... how would you live? Can you find food for yourself? Can you make a fire without matches or a lighter? Can you climb a tree? Can you fish? Do you know which plants are poisonous and which are not?

Do any of the degrees we've earned matter when we are faced with a raw situation like that? The futility of education....

I hate being dependent... and it kills me that after all these years I'm still not on my own... but we are never really independent are we? We are never really free...

We are trapped in society... we must live by it's laws... must submit to it's demands... because otherwise we(as a whole) become worthless, powerless.

Now I understand those people who cling on to old ideas, customs and traditions... even though logically it doesn't stand. It's part of the process by which all of us submit to society... to each other... that's what's enabled us to survive...

But must this come at the cost of reason? Must our customs and traditions inhibit us? Growth of societies invariably depend on the growth of an individual who changes things forever with his vision and action. Instead of making things so tough for these individuals shouldn't society be enabling these people?

We need each other to live.... we need each of us to do our best so that we all may grow... these are basic things that every person should be able to deduce.... then why all the madness, superstition and non-sense around us? Why?

18 comments:

Rakesh Vanamali said...

Being an inter-dependent social being, a human being needs constant companionship to survive and further life!

Ask me about it...... having left home for 13 years now, I know how numb it feels to be just a bi-annual visitor for not more than 10 days put together!

How I wish I could be with folks..... How I wish.....!

A New Beginning said...

Yup thats the sad part Ajai, each human being needs the other but theres madness in society....Man is social animal but dies the most unsocial acts...mysteries of life need to be unraveled...
We frame the society, our deeds be it social or unsocial make that happen. We depend on each others, follow a herd mentality n yet are at logger heads....

dumbheart said...

No escape in being dependent and being a dependant....as long as you live in this world...:-)

Amrita~Ams said...

solitude is the best companion...( but only when you dont have anyone to live with :P)
you realize all this when u get alone...

Manju said...

you're only 'trapped' when you feel like you're trapped. as an individual you to have the freedom to choose whether you want to conform to society or not. it's a philosophical question to be honest

Dhanya said...

We ARE dependent on others some way or the other - emotionally, physically or financially. Total independence is over-rated and doesn't exist.

Ajai said...

@Raks
I've heard it all along.. but actually experiencing it; know that's allowed me to understand what you are talking abt.

@Sana
Totally agree. The inset paradox in human society.

@sh
I know... but does that amek u sad or happy?

@Amrita
I like the paradox there. ;)

@Manju
It is. But is there really that much choice? I'll give you an eg;- suppose i decide i'm no longer an indian national and that i'm a citizen of the world... can i go about traveling the world like thaT? you can't! and that's what's funny.

@Dhanya
So what is the level of independence that is apt for everyone? Should laws be attuned to society or to the individual?

ANC said...

Independence is a state of mind, I think. We can be independent even with our big, fat Indian family all around us. It boils down to our personalities eventually. Some people function very well on their own; others need their people around them a lot. To each his own! :)

Madman said...

be a roman when you are rome. You have to play by the rules of society if you want to live.

chital_phenomenal said...

hey good one... well its true we live in a cosmos were we like to be indepedent but staying alone is just not right for the human growth..

Ajai said...

@Absolutely
Well there is a physical aspect to it too. I know there is a school of thought that turns independence in to a mind thing... but it has a physical quality too to it. What exactly that physical quality is... i'm not sure. :)

@Venky
Bro... I can't think of any other way to go about it... but jus tell me are we free or not... so that I can accept it and let go of this mirage i've built up for myself.

@chital
true... but don't you find that submitting to others(society) actually restricts a person's growth. how do we negate that?

Chhaya said...

We only miss someone/something when we dont have them/it with us.. human nature it is..

being a loner, i always love and long to be alone, but surely i wont want it to be forever :)

PS: i have a new poem at my blog.. and yeah, interested in exchanging links?

Madman said...

you would be voicing out this if you aren't free. what more can you ask for.

Ajai said...

@Chhaya
Totally... we understand our loss only when we realize it.

@Venky
Good point... but this is just an outlet... I probably couldn't rant like this in an earlier time. But what about the more physical ascpets of freedom? What about freedom of action and expression? That can never be completely free from soceity's grasp... and that is not necessarily a good thing.

Madman said...

What do you mean physical aspects freedom? breaking laws?

Ayesha Parveen said...

I believe neither in conforming blindly to society nor in rebelling without a valid reason.

A well-written post, Ajai. Best wishes :)

workhard said...

We d definitely go crazy without relationships.. we need company to survive..

U ve really good a cool blog.. and im ur follower..:) will return soon...

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Intern said...

that is exactly how i am feeling now, and yesh ive been at home fr the past 2 weeks as well :P

being shunned from the outside wrld and ppl is kind of poisonous. i hate staying at home for more than 3 days.

and about being dependant.. hmm i didnt know it was the same with the other gender as well :P.