I like it but I don't want it

Ravi is a 7th grade student in a reputed school and has been asked to do a project work on freedom fighters by his social science teacher. He has to read and write about 2 freedom fighters, attach relevant photographs and then give a talk in the class. For him it was a daunting task.

As he sat at his table pondering over what could be done, his father comes over and asks him, "Whats wrong?"

"I have a project work on freedom fighters. Don't know what to do!"

"Who are freedom fighters you have selected?"

"Unable to decide. I want to take someone about whom I can get maximum information."

"That is not the way you should select.. Select one who inspires you most. I will help you in the work". Ravi smiles, the reassuring pat from his father had boosted his confidence.

"Should I select Chandrashekar Azad and Bhagat Singh?"

"Both are revolutionaries... How about selecting one who believed in non-violence?"

"But I like them the most along with Subash Chandra Bose, Alluri Sitaramaraju, Rajguru."

Ravi was a bit hurt that his father wasn't giving the full freedom. Ravi's father wasn't surprised at the choices,"I like the revolutionaries!" he himself had told all his friends and teachers in his student days.

As he smiled, he said, "How about Bhagat Singh and Chandrashekar Azad?"

"Ya.. those are the ones I told"

"In alphabetical order... " They laughed and the work began. The following days were memorable for the both as they shared the stories they had read about the revolutionaries - how they fought, what they sacrificed, how they were respected and many more. The project work was a time which changed Ravi. He now felt more responsible for his country now and sang the nathional anthem with pride. He no longer questioned why he should be standing in attention while he sang.

About 10 years later...

Ravi is sitting at the same table. He has his 7th grade project in front of him. It had been one of his most valued items all these years. The memories almost moved him to tears. He was still inspired by the same leaders. Ravi was in the final year of his MBBS. He was going to be a doctor. He had finally found an answer for his quest for a direction in life.. he wanted to join the armed forces.

His interest didnot impress his parents. In the days following his announcement, Ravi had to face a lot of heat from his parents. There were few lines he just couldn't forget -

"We didn't spend so much money for that!"

"We have made so many sacrifices to see you at this stage"

"What sort of a person are you? The whole world is moving in one direction and you say you want to go against it! There should be equal importance for interest and money."

"Nothing is going to happen in this country. Why do you want to waste your life on that?"

Days passed and Ravi was lost. He was unable to decide between what he wanted to do and what his parents wanted him to. The confusion led him to think about what his father had told him ten years ago..

"That is not the way you should select.. Select one who inspires you most." Was he mistaken? Was choosing a topic for a project different from choosing what to do in life?

"Why does my father like freedom fighters and still not let me try to do something like them?"

Deep questions to be answered...

I like it but I don't want it

There is always a conflict in what we like and what we want. The above story was an illustration of the struggle that goes on in eveyone's life. Smaller than this and at times larger.. Why?

I don't have an answer. This is something for all of us to think about... wouldn't life be more 'rewarding' and lively when we do what we like (with a bit of sanity). WE LIKE SPICE but WE WANT SUGAR! It would be too harsh to call it hypocrisy but most times we all are. We hardly care about what a person on the other side feels about the same.

A sad example for this are the sales representatives. I feel sorry for them, they work really hard - walking around in the sun, talking and convincing us, answer irrelevant questions and above all explain things with a smiling face. (I mean.. who would look at our uninteresting and uninterested face and keep smiling). This surely is one of the toughest job.

Does a customer care about how the sales fellow feels, does a father care about how the son feels, does a teacher care about how the student feels, do I care about how you feel? May be it is the time to start thinking, make sensible decisions and respect other choices.

--buddi

"To support my family I have to do this job. I don't like this but what to do..."

Non-sense! Don't you like supporting your family? Is it not your interest?

This article is a compilation of my thoughts based on my interactions with parents. Everyone likes APJ, Sachin Tendulkar, Vivekananda, Gandhi, Kalpana Chawla, Tagore, Gates, Che Guevara and so on, but they don't want their children to be like that. There is a lot of "risk". Are we "safe" otherwise?