Living in the past is a
psychological disease. Psychology has identified clear signs of the disease. If
a person tends to speak about his past too much, about certain people who
caused him pain in the past, and compares his present situation with previous
ones, you can be pretty sure the guy has serious problems from the past that
need be resolved in order for him to live a healthy present life. Such people
tend to be attracted to or obsessed with the same type of people that caused
them pain in the past. Their disagreements often surround past arguments. They
are easily bored or frustrated. They indulge in self-sabotaging behaviour.
After Mr Modi became the Prime
Minister, India behaves like the pathological patient described above. We as a
nation keep talking about past glories and wounds. Our entire discourses are
constructed around past events that should have been buried long ago. We are
wreaking vengeance on today’s people for offences committed by their supposed
ancestors centuries ago. Worst of all, we are becoming just like those enemies
whom we are fighting.
There is no doubt that our
past has much role in shaping our present. That happens to every citizen and
every nation. So what? Do people and nations go around with cudgels seeking to
beat up the ghosts of the past? There are people who were far more badly
wounded in the past. The original inhabitants of America and Australia, for
instance. They were almost wiped off the face of the earth by the invaders.
India is much better off comparatively.
At any rate, invasions and
conquests and violence were all integral parts of human existence in the past.
Most people committed all those atrocities. Not only nations and historical
conquerors, but also tribal warriors and caste leaders and princes of hundred-acre-kingdoms
did the same: attack, plunder, and rape. Trying to wreak vengeance on today’s
people for all those ancient crimes is as foolish as taking pride in the
achievements of our forefathers.
The past is gone. Buried. We are
condemned to live in the present. We are condemned to grapple with the problems
of the present. We have no real choices otherwise. All that talk about the bygone
past is just blah-blah that may sound nice and can rouse the rabble. Nothing good
will come of it, however. We will end up sabotaging ourselves in the end if we
fix our minds on crap from history. Look at how India is sinking low and lower
as years go by in the various rankings like Poverty Index, Corruption Index,
Freedom of the Press, and so on.
We need to reboot. Reset. Bury
the past. Deal with the present.
PS.
Written for Indispire Edition 348: Clinging to history and its
supposed greatness is as foolish as maintaining that your bum has calluses
because your great grandfather rode on an elephant. Real greatness lies in
dealing successfully with the present. India should let the past go. #GrappleWithPresent
This blog is participating in the #MyFriendAlexa Campaign of the Blogchatter.
You have hit the nail right on the head by asserting - 'We are becoming just like those enemies whom we are fighting' (or pretending to fight, let me add). Yes, we have to reboot. By burying ourselves in some bygone era (whose existence itself is uncertain and based on dubious facts), we deceive nobody but ourselves only and to our own peril.
ReplyDeleteYeah, pretending to fight! That's more rright. We aren't even committed enough to the job!
Delete" We need to reboot. Reset. Bury the past. Deal with the present"- Spot on! The earlier the nation realizes this the better!
ReplyDeleteYes, earlier the better. Otherwise learning becomes tougher.
DeleteI feel that people just continue to live in the past and dwell on bygones as it is: 1. human nature, and 2. many have nothing else to talk about.
ReplyDeleteWe should focus on the now and present and take steps towards a brighter future.
There's one more reason in today's India. Our leaders don't know how to deal with the present and they also know how to use the past as a tool for deluding a billion people.
DeletePast is meant to draw experience from, not to be repeatedly shown as an example of success. One must not rest, but continue to move on, and keep the clock ticking as well as performing.
ReplyDeleteYes, if only our leaders would understand that!
DeleteExactly, why to delve in the past when should focus on the present. India needs to reboot, Reset & Bury the past. Very well written.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the endorsement.
DeleteI agree that after Modi became the PM India and Indians have come up with their deep buried feelings.. Reboot is the key.. I feel a knowledgable leadership like maybe Arvind Kejriwal can be the leader of this fresh start.
ReplyDeleteThere is an urgent need of a change of leadership.
DeleteWell written.. We need to have a futuristic approach.. Instead of looking 50 yrs behind its appropriate to look 15 yrs ahead...
ReplyDeletePrecisely. Worst of all, we're looking a few thousand years backwards.
DeleteAbsolutely correct sir. We have to stop basking in the past glory as a nation and be prepared for the testing times that the present & future can pose.
ReplyDelete