Molesting a Flower

Incidents of molesting women are not new. They are perhaps as old as the human race. However, in the modern times, they seem to be happening at alarming frequency. Often the argument is made that women themselves are responsible. They attract undue attention of men by dressing provocatively. This argument is just like saying; a beautiful flower is responsible for its own molestation.

Who doesn’t want attention? The whole purpose of dressing and make-up is to draw attention. Multi-billion dollar fashion and make-up industry thrives on the basic human desire of “looking good”. Would a girl like to walk un-noticed among people? But, question is what type of attention does a girl want? Of course, that of genuine appreciation. Just like appreciating the natural beauty of a flower. Natural beauty of a flower can never go un-noticed. But, everyone who appreciates this natural beauty does not pluck the flower. Only those rare few would do so who want to possess it by force. They can’t even see the beauty, what to talk of appreciation. They don’t understand that the beauty of a flower is in its liveliness. And, it is alive only on the tree. Such people are mentally sick.

We need to tackle this menace with two-prong approach. On one hand, every parent must own the responsibility of raising children who can see and appreciate beauty in everything around them. On the other hand, we must create tough laws with exemplary punishments to deal with those few who escape such healthy upbringing. Our media also must own the responsibility of educating the young minds on the needs and means of appreciating (and not molesting) the beauty.

In the nature, everything is naked. No animal or bird wears any cloth. And yet, we appreciate their beauty. In fact, we appreciate them only because they are in their natural forms. Hence, inability to see beauty beyond so called provocative dressing is the weakness of our own minds. A weak mind will continue to get provoked with any dressing or exposure. Rehabilitation of such weak minds is the only long-term solution.

Moving Forward

Sometimes, we feel stuck at a point in life. Nothing interests any longer. Life seems worthless. It is a natural reaction to look backward. We start blaming everything and everybody associated with our past. It is true that we are in the current situation because of our past. But, no amount of blaming the past will change the past, as it is dead and gone. The only use of this past is to learn valuable lessons. If we don’t learn any lesson from our past, then we are condemned to repeat the same thing that happened in the past.

If what we did or didn’t do in the past led us to the current situation, then what we do or don’t do NOW will shape our future. The most important decision that we must take is whether to blame the past and stay stuck in the current situation or bury the past and move forward with a fresh outlook. We cannot move forward with the baggage of the past. And, this attitude has to be maintained throughout the life – moment to moment. This is the secret of small children’s cheerfulness. They don’t hold grudges. Minutes after a fierce fight with friends or siblings, they are playing again as if nothing happened. This unconscious attitude helps them move forward and grow.

Journey of a thousand mile starts with a small step. And, this step has to be taken by us alone. Others can only facilitate our journey by providing resources and guidance. But that too will happen only when we start walking. If we wait for an ideal opportunity to start the journey, it may never happen. We must make use of whatever opportunity comes our way. One opportunity leads to another and thus we move in life towards our goal. Almost all high achievers in the world had to struggle through many undesirable jobs before they found their dream job. Holding the life standstill at a point can never be an option. Nature ensures that.

My Choice, What Price?

Recently, Deepika’s My Choice video has created quite a storm on social media. In the world of today, it has become fashionable to voice your thoughts, which you would have otherwise kept to yourself. And, when it comes from a celebrity it makes big news. In this particular case, I am not sure what is the purpose of voicing such a strong cocktail of choices. What kind of societal change is expected out of this? Should we all have a license to choose whatever we may imagine? Are we living in a vacuum? Don’t we need the company of others?

I am a strong believer of “My life, my choice”. We are what we are because of the choices we have made in the past. Even now, we are constantly making choices which will determine our future shape of life. We can’t let our mind run amok with random choices, unless we don’t care whatever happens to our lives. Ability to choose is endowed only to human species. Other species can’t choose. We can use this ability to go ‘up’ or ‘down’ in life. If the choice is right, life will be right. Choice is ours.

Yes, we are free to choose. But, we have to use this freedom responsibly. Celebrities need to act much more responsibly than we mortals, because millions of young minds blindly follow them as their role models. We are free to choose, but our choice should not curtail others’ freedom to choose. Otherwise there will be anarchy in the society. Choices bounded by responsible execution can blossom into beautiful societies where everyone’s right choice is accommodated.