Vedikkai manitharai pol veezhveno??


He was standing and wondering from the very edge of the cliff of confusion.

"Intha "purpose" "purpose" nu solraangalay...the ONE thing that is the basis for everyones life...that thing, that which drive people to wake up every day and look forward to that day..that which motivates them and makes them feel worthwhile..that which justifies their very existence...that which makes ones life meaningful...yen en lifela mattum athu ilaamaye poachu??"

HE felt totally at loss with himself with mind whirring at full throttle.

Ellaarum schooluku ponaanga..avanum ponaan. Or rather was sent to. Classmates computers padikanumnu aasapataanga. He went along with them. Aprum engineering, IIT nu ponaanga. For once in his life he didnt follow the mob. Ippo avann friends oru orutharum irukara range paatha, it may not be the best of decisions he ever made. But a very satisfying and happy one, he felt. Three years, where he went after the only thing he could ever do right in his life.

Again, vedhalam murungai maram eri, thirumbavum followed the aattu manthai and fell in the same kuttai as  his class mates. Enna padikarom, ethukku padikaromnu puriaama oru 3 years oattinathu thaan micham. Itha padicha intha velaikku thaan poganumnu oru basic idea kooda illama oru post graduation panna oray aal avana thaan irupaan. Just another course. Just another classroom study. Ipdi ellamay just another caseavay thonithay ozhia, he never felt passionate about them. Infact, it wasnt even for the money that learning those courses might earn. Till date he can't figure out what made him jump into that bottomless pit. Mob mentality maybe. In a group of 80 people if 60 go for one choice, mind automatica accepts it as right.
Elaarum velai thedinaanga..veri thanama thedinaanga...Everyone around were abuzz with excitement whenever any placement person came. Appovum seriousness uraikaama kadanay nu he went and wrote those exams and tests and took the first job that came his way. All his friends thought, lucky bugger, he will settle soon. Freshera pona, enga place pannuvaanga..entha technologyla poduvaangannu eagerness and curiosityoda motha batchum was waiting. Appovum oru interest ilaama eno thaano nu kudutha velaya pannittu, daily office kelambrapo eppoda veetuku povomnu busla yosichikittay..evening veetuku vantha udanay..naaliku officela enna panna poromnu yosanaiyoda sila kaalam odichi. Idam neria maarithu..aana avan manasu maaravay illa. Konjam konjama kooda iruntha makkalaam singlelenthu double triplenu status maara aarambichaanga. Every one went after their personal life in full vigour. Veedu..car..wife..babiesnu ..lifela settle aagarathunna ithelaam thaan pannanum nu everyone did.

Ippo varaikkum onnu puria maatenguthu..intha template thaan lifea? thanakkunu oru family....wife kooda sandais and samaathanams...relatives..functions...pulla kuttis..diapers..feeding bottle....kaathu kuthu...doctors.. clinics..school admission.....college seat nu ipdi oray maathiri thaan ellar lifeum irukku. How come they are not feeling bored? Aduthavan enna panraangaratha paathu paathu ee adichaan copyaa evlo life!!! oru stageku mela copy adikarathu kooda bore aagaatha?? or probably is aping others success, the most passionate thing in the world?? oru kaalathula kudumba thozhil nu irunthuchi. Thaatha clerk..appa clerk..paiyan clerk nu kudmbamay gumaastha kudumbama irukum...bank velai paakara generations...secretary velai paakara generations..musically inclined group...ipdi parambarai parambaraiya oray velaya pannitrunthu..oru generation mattum revolt panni vera stream try panna aarambichi sila per would've failed. Maybe its time to break the mould again??!! Maybe this is the reason for all those space explorations? to find out if any alien being has a better lifestyle?? For almost every sci fi movie depicts them to have better infra and tech than us. oru vela kathailalaam solra mathiri more than avanga science and technology..avanga lifestyle la pathi terinjika thaan makkal avlo eagera thedraangalo? atleast avangalachum differenta ethachum panrangalangara thedal?

The wind was howling in his ears. He felt as if it was trying to talk to him. He wanted to shout louder than the wind. Sun was slowly setting behind the hills. Another day was coming to end.

P.S: Was reading an interesting article on a similar theme..it was almost the size of a novel. Athulenthu oru kutti excerpt mathiri potruken. More than an excerpt its my take on that article :)

Comments

golmaalgopal said…
Awesome post Gils...even I've had this feeling several times...we're so much worried about what others will think and fear of failure. But I think it has changed to some extent and many people are slowly breaking the mould. As we get more exposed to western world and thinking + new age parenting, I guess the mob mentality will go away probably from childhood.
golmaalgopal said…
By western world...not that they're superior...just that I notice, they don't care about what will be the result...they just do what they like (mostly!)
Ramesh said…
Deeply philosophical issue you raise. What is the purpose of life ?

Mankind may never know. But, as far as we do our best, we do good, we live with some deep values, and in our own way, we leave the world a better place, we can take comfort. It doesn't matter in what direction, in what way and how big.

gils said…
@GG:
therila...does it have anything to do with parenting alone? neria maaranum thonuthu..first of all namakku enna panna pudikuthunu kandupudika ethuvum formula illaye...love mathiri silaruku first sightlaeye amaiyuthu..silaruku kaalam poora thedinaalum kedaika maatenguthu...nammaku enna nalla varthu enna pudikuthunu terinjukarathulaye motha lifeum poita epo thaan athula excel panrathu??!! kostins thaan increase aaguthu
gils said…
@gg:
hmmm...i also feel the same at times..independent thinking enrich panrathunaala thaan ivlo per click agaranga thonuthu..aana athukana infra namma oorla ilaye...verum historyo illa physical education matumo padicha namma oorla naai kooda seendaathu..aana inga semma kaasu...pudichatha panrathuku meaningfullana renumerationum irukanum thonuthu...ilaati ishtam ilaama potti thatta vendi thaan :D
gils said…
@thala:
never know illa thala..there have been people who have identified it for themselves..aana avanga method namaku apply aguma? illa apdi oru straight froward method irukaanulaam therila.. neenga solra mathiri be good do good thaan ippo irukara template lifestyleoda ideal setup..aana athu semma bore adikuthu....ivlo thaan lifea??
RS said…
I read the post and could relate to your take.Yes, we need a break from this monotony!!

Like Thala said, even if it be good, do good, does not the definition of good varies from person to person?
Asha said…
Eventually...ellamay boils down to financial security adhukkudaan mob mentality follow panromo?.

Ippo right now ennoda instance la my dot wants to break the monotony and does not want to take any professional course. aana sutthi irukkara pasengallam partha ellamay engg, medical, law, CA..nnu focusseda poratha partha. enakkula oru bayam...aiyyo...namba kuzhandaiyum idhuvay padiccha life securea irukkomannu. Internally i feel so insecure, vellilo though i don't tell her.

I think idhu age to age differ ardhu..when young, you don't think about financial security, emotional security etc., it is all about being different. At my age, may be I feel we should secure our future especially in today's turbulent world.

Ultimately, everything boils down to being happy wherever you are.

Innumum inge ezhuda thonradu...aana... adhu postavida perisanna comment aidum...so ingeyoda niruthikren.

But then, i can empathise with your story's hero.
Asha said…
Eventually...ellamay boils down to financial security adhukkudaan mob mentality follow panromo?.

Ippo right now ennoda instance la my dot wants to break the monotony and does not want to take any professional course. aana sutthi irukkara pasengallam partha ellamay engg, medical, law, CA..nnu focusseda poratha partha. enakkula oru bayam...aiyyo...namba kuzhandaiyum idhuvay padiccha life securea irukkomannu. Internally i feel so insecure, vellilo though i don't tell her.

I think idhu age to age differ ardhu..when young, you don't think about financial security, emotional security etc., it is all about being different. At my age, may be I feel we should secure our future especially in today's turbulent world.

Ultimately, everything boils down to being happy wherever you are.

Innumum inge ezhuda thonradu...aana... adhu postavida perisanna comment aidum...so ingeyoda niruthikren.

But then, i can empathise with your story's hero.
golmaalgopal said…
Parenting has a lot of influence...if parents encourage children to do what they like rather than tell - if you do this u'll have good scope/settle down (see Asha's comment) it gives children a chance to discover what they like and what they're good at. Actually...that is the formula :) adhuvey illaye ippo...after a certain stage...even if you like a different area..it'll be too difficult to switch.

But yes, at the same time in
reality we know certain things are not valued in our society and will be difficult to make a living out of it. It'll change...but will take a lot of time.
gils said…
@athivasi:

intha be good do good irukatumnga..athu just a way of life..infact it should be THE way of life..aana passiongarathu is something which you relish doingla? something that sets u apart from the crowd..7 billion people and all following same lifestylena...something wrongnu thonuthu
gils said…
athey samayam...7 billionuku righta teriarathuna correcta thaana irukanumna..athuvum logicalla thaan iruku :D
gils said…
@asha:

aaha...hmmm..semmayanaa situationla irukeenga..probably if u chose to go with her wishes..we can have an answer to this issue..but again..is that what she really wants?? if she was able to be sure on that..then she is the answer to this story...learning what u want at a very early age..hats off to her.
gils said…
@gg:

asha commentoda reply thaanpa unnodathukum...verum guidance mattum vachu naan solala..how do u know what makes u move...happy?? athuvaa thonanuma??
Asha said…
Guys (gopal and gils)- I am unable to keep myself off from commenting again.

Just my thoughts again....

Past and present are replete with examples of quitters at a later stage and who have become achievers. Just take NAgesh kukunoor, maniratnam who have followed their passion. seri filmsa vidunga....

If shankar Mahadevan had not quit oracle corp, our ipod shuffle playlist would have been deprived of some musical gems. Same with Srinivas, Chetan Bhagat( not that i am his great fan)but stilll...

Next comes what would society say?
for every 5 people who pull you down you will have 1 empathizer who supports you. of course, very improtant to have the unconditional love of your lvoed ones and most important your self belief.
Self belief is very essential, even if you lose your balance at the slightest hurdle you will get back to your secure bubble.

Today's children are very confident and independant and matured too. Sometimes, the new gennext around me stump me with their maturity. and for your info.

Like I said ultimately, happiness is very important, whether we are in timbuktoo or in paradise. Follow your passion but be happy.

Maybe, i will write a post on this on my blog. what say.

Anyway, thanks for your views and regarding my daughter...not just my daughter, the whole lot of her friends and the teens in my complex stump me. May be i'll make a post on their confidence and independance.

gils said…
wow..unga examples were lovely..semma apt and again contemporary..shankar mahadevan oracle dropouta!! wow..oru nadamaadum gk thilagama irupeenga pola :))
actualla post millenium born group konjam aggressive and differenta thaan irukaanga thonuthu..en cousina motha familyum force pannithu..when he cleared graduation that he shd move to IT..mudiaathunu single legla stand panni he went on a line similar to what he studied...athu pudikaama bore aagi..ipo higher studies panraan..family situationlaam pakala..he wanted what he wanted rather..what he thought he wanted..and went after it..ipo studying again hoping that is what he wants..atleaast he has the guts to chase his wants i guess..summa ukkanthukitu polambaama :D aana ethu interst pannuthunu teriamayae irukaravanga evlo peru (ennnnnaaa sonnnneeen)!! avangalaam enna panuvaanga?
golmaalgopal said…
see see...naan sonnenla...IMHO you wouldn't want to change or get confused if you get to do things you like from the beginning and you'd be good at it too ! Asha ecohes the same... waiting for her post. If one is brought up like this from young...there won't be much risk even in shifting preferences !
gils said…
i am totally confused now :d enna solla vanthenne maranthu poachu :D hehehee...aana periavangalaam(golmaal saar ungala thaan) etho solreenga..saria thaan irukanum :D

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