I have never believed in fate, kismet, destiny or any of this crap. Being agnostic, I often refuse to comment on the existence of God, or even that 'supernatural force' that some people claim to have experienced. I am not entirely atheist--I just refuse to believe. Moreover, I am fairly tolerant towards the temple-going/church-going/mosque-going/synagogue-going worshippers (provided I am not compelled pray in any of these places). I often think that some of us confuse psycogology with, well, life. There is almost always a scientific explanation for things that do occur, and if there isn't a scientific explanation, there soon will be one.
Fate, however, is something I have been forced to believe in. By this, however, I don't believe that there exists a book with your entire life mapped out for you, and that you will tread on the path that is written in the 'Holy Book.' No. Not that, though I am sure that our ancestors have hastened to believe in this concept of 'destiny' or 'fate').
What I believe in, however, is entirely different. Contrary to Paulo Coelho's philosophy as elucidated perfectly in his most inspiring book, 'The Alchemist', which states that man is the author 0f his life, I believe that there is only so much one can do to make things happen. When all possibilities are exhausted and you don't find any way out, maybe you just deserve what you get. This, I will not attribute to anything else.
Experiences teach you to believe in things you had never believed in before. They harden you, toughen you, and break the fragile exterior that often beholds a ton of strenght that you never new existed. They teach you to hope, not expect, to have faith, and just believe. And to quote my Political Science teacher, "They teach you to be grateful that you probably aren't one of the children in Somalia who are so famished that they devour rats."
And so, on my quest for that 'something' I've been looking for, I shall thank those people who were with me once, and the fact that they've decided to move on to better things shall not bother me, as I've decided to move on to. Maybe it is how it always was.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Anarchy is something that ought to be implemented in law school. Contrary to the belief that anarchy often leads to chaos, anarchy reduces conflict and leads to harmony, since everyone acts in his/her own interest, and since interactions with others might harm one's personal interest, there becomes a neccessity to eliminate animosity for at least self interest, if not with good motive. Moreover, anarchists do not believe in siezure of power, but just dissolving it. Allowing people to act on their own, out of free-will. Enabling peace. Gandhiji staunchly believed in anarchy and went to the extent of opposing the state. He believed that the State represents violence in a concentrated and organized form. He said, "The individual has a soul, but as the State is a soulless machine, it can never be weaned from violence to which it owes its very existence. " In other words, he simply believed that the state symbol implied despotism, and concentration of power, which led to conflict, violence and other means of corruption that could easily percolate through channels. Eschew the fallacies and misconceptions we have lived with so far, why is it that there is hierarchy instead of democracy in educational institutions, especially law school?
We live in the epoch of democracy, a democratic nation, run by the people and for the people. Yet, even in law school, where democracy ought to be the strongest, there exists a hierarchy, an uppper hand that decides what you do. In law school, you don't get to choose what you want to be. You have a certain 'hierarchy' to do that for you, slap a label on your head and brand you. And you remain stuck with that brand, whether you like it or not, until you get hold of the power, that power which caused people to vy for each others blood.
In educational institutions, especially law school, anarchy and autonomy would hold best. We, the people ought to be allowed to decide for ourselves and to live by our own rules, and not ridiculous preposterous rules laid down by the 'upper hand', who often assumes the role of a harsh dictator, even at his very best. Then again, too much idealism was never good. Anarchy is one of the things that will never be accepted.
In a 'democratic nation', we will always be ruled by a Prime Minister and a President.
Likewise, wherever we go, whatever we do, we will be compelled to bow down to the force that will decide what we want to do, or who we want to be.
We do not live in a democratic nation. Today, there is no room for democracy. People's beliefs, people's necessitites are somehow never reflected even when legislations are enacted. Right up from the parliament to educational institutions, even law-school, which is to produce platoons of highbrows and future parliamentarians, perhaps, there only exists dictatorship.
We live in the epoch of democracy, a democratic nation, run by the people and for the people. Yet, even in law school, where democracy ought to be the strongest, there exists a hierarchy, an uppper hand that decides what you do. In law school, you don't get to choose what you want to be. You have a certain 'hierarchy' to do that for you, slap a label on your head and brand you. And you remain stuck with that brand, whether you like it or not, until you get hold of the power, that power which caused people to vy for each others blood.
In educational institutions, especially law school, anarchy and autonomy would hold best. We, the people ought to be allowed to decide for ourselves and to live by our own rules, and not ridiculous preposterous rules laid down by the 'upper hand', who often assumes the role of a harsh dictator, even at his very best. Then again, too much idealism was never good. Anarchy is one of the things that will never be accepted.
In a 'democratic nation', we will always be ruled by a Prime Minister and a President.
Likewise, wherever we go, whatever we do, we will be compelled to bow down to the force that will decide what we want to do, or who we want to be.
We do not live in a democratic nation. Today, there is no room for democracy. People's beliefs, people's necessitites are somehow never reflected even when legislations are enacted. Right up from the parliament to educational institutions, even law-school, which is to produce platoons of highbrows and future parliamentarians, perhaps, there only exists dictatorship.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
I've taken a plunge, and am now teetering on the edge of a deep ravine, hoping for just an ounce of that 'luck factor', clinging onto the belief of the infrequent (yet) occuring of miracles.
University has, so far, been live-able thanks to the 'Group', that ensured that I always felt comfortable, and held my hand when I felt low, and thanks to a roommate who stood by me during some tough moments, and thanks to the few, the very few who had faith in me and who egged me to go on despite the innumerable convolutions I was tossed into.
Also, I've managed pretty decently, thanks to some peoples' extreme benevolence in terms of notes and food, before the exams, apart inordinate amounts of patience, without which I might have been whisked out of the Hostel. :-)
I've had those 'fun' moments that you know you can look onto ten years from now and laugh. I've had those not-so-fun moments too, which will still elicit a good many laughs ten years from now.
And yet, I've decided to take the plunge.
For the others: You will now have to resort to a few new 'someones'. I am sure that amidst the few nice individuals who will never gel with you and your small-minded, conventional beliefs and double-standards, you can find many such someones.
University has, so far, been live-able thanks to the 'Group', that ensured that I always felt comfortable, and held my hand when I felt low, and thanks to a roommate who stood by me during some tough moments, and thanks to the few, the very few who had faith in me and who egged me to go on despite the innumerable convolutions I was tossed into.
Also, I've managed pretty decently, thanks to some peoples' extreme benevolence in terms of notes and food, before the exams, apart inordinate amounts of patience, without which I might have been whisked out of the Hostel. :-)
I've had those 'fun' moments that you know you can look onto ten years from now and laugh. I've had those not-so-fun moments too, which will still elicit a good many laughs ten years from now.
And yet, I've decided to take the plunge.
For the others: You will now have to resort to a few new 'someones'. I am sure that amidst the few nice individuals who will never gel with you and your small-minded, conventional beliefs and double-standards, you can find many such someones.
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