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Followers


Vast majority of people are ideal followers.  Ask them what they are following and you will get blank looks.  For example, ask a person why he believes in his/her religion or why he/she votes for a particular party.  I’m ready to bet that you won’t get satisfactory answers unless some quotidian blah-blah is enough for you. 

People want other people.  Not merely for company.  People want other people in order to get on in life.  From the simple drinking water problem to the complex games that people play, everything becomes much easier to deal with if you have other people to help you. 

Other people throw in support if you belong to their religion, political party or some such group.  Religious beliefs and political convictions are not much more profound than that.  If you don’t believe me, probe a believer’s knowledge about his/her religion.  In 9 cases out of 10, you will meet with ignorance.  Politics is likely to fare better.

Even if there is awareness, probe a little further and you will be shocked by the lack of conviction. That is, they may know that their religion teaches love and such wonderful things but they are not convinced that all those wonderful things will actually help much in the daily drudgery called life.  Actual life has little to do with all those wonderful things associated with one’s religion.  Religion is good because I can get a job with some powerful religious leader’s help, gain admission for my children in reputed schools, or even get my plumbing done without much hassle.

It is much better in politics.  When I was constructing my house last year, I got all the paper works done with the ease of wading across a shallow river because my friend had at least one party associate in every office I went to.  Life is much simple if you have political connections.  So I have become a follower now.  But I know what I’m following and how much it actually means to me.  You can call me a super hypocrite.


Comments

  1. sunaina sharmaMarch 14, 2017 at 5:41 PM

    I am yearning to see some fiction from you now. Since I am a follower of your stories.....:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalMarch 14, 2017 at 6:25 PM

      I don't choose to write stories, Sunaina. They happen. I'm waiting too for the next one to happen. :)

      Delete
  2. Saru SinghalMarch 14, 2017 at 7:41 PM

    This post reminds me of the quote, “The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence.” Being normal is more useful in life. In your case, I think being a follower is good. I would do the same. We live in real world and have to be a part of real mess to get things done.

    It's not hypocrisy, it's street smartness.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalMarch 14, 2017 at 7:59 PM

      There's no other way. The tragedy (or comedy, depending on how we look at it) is that if I had learnt this lesson earlier enough I would have been a roaring success in life :)

      Delete
    2. Jyotirmoy SarkarMarch 15, 2017 at 9:01 AM

      very much agree with your last line..."if i had learnt....success in life".

      Delete
    3. Tomichan MatheikalMarch 15, 2017 at 9:17 AM

      Some fools like me take a long time to learn the basics. :)

      Delete
  3. jayashreeMarch 15, 2017 at 10:28 PM

    True, many are just followers, but they be aware whom they are following

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalMarch 16, 2017 at 8:01 AM

      Diplomacy is not same as awareness. Many follow for the sake of personal benefits.
      No harm since there's nothing more to most things followed 😀

      Delete

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