It was a casual day, or so I thought it would. All alone, peaceful and totally absorbed into a book. Knock! Knock!! Was I expecting anyone? No.
Arrogant SoB (Son of a Bitch): Hello sir ... (something in kannada)
bonGu: Can you speak either in hindi, or in english?
Arrogant SoB: We are building a temple to honour so-and-so God. Please be generous and contribute to the good cause.
bonGu: Sorry. I'm not interestedArrogant SoB: Not interested?! What do you mean, not interested?
bonGu: It means I'm not interested. It means I don't want to donate.
Arrogant SoB: Tell me, where are you from?
bonGu (puzzled and confused): How would that matter?
Arrogant SoB: Tell me where you are from and I'll tell you how that matters.
bonGu (furiated): I'm not from Karnataka!
Arrogant SoB: Well then, don't you want to stay in Karnataka?
bonGu: I don't give you money and you start threatening me? Who taught you this? Your parents?
Arrogant SoB (angry and pissed off): ... (cursing something in kannada)
bonGu: Fuck Off!
WHAT THE FUCK!!??
When did we come to this? Humility and reason seem to be a lost altogether. This is not an isolated incident. Similar kind of conflict comes on an yearly basis at the time of Ganesh Chaturthi. Do I have to give out my hard-earned money for your merry-making? And on top of that, you (who is clueless of what God is all about) become judgemental on me? I'm banished from the society! I'm frowned upon! I'm "that person" who did not donate to your "sacrad" event. Fuck You!
If you are totally sloshed out and dance and sing and make hell amount of noise (supposedly, in the name of God), it is O.K. If I was to do the same (on a different occasion), then it is a disturbance to everyone around? It is not O.K if I play loud music at inappropriate times, but, it is perfectly fine if you play loud music till midnight or at 4:30 in the morning. It is O.K because you are a devotee of ayyappa or ganesha or whoever-the-fuck-it-is.
This is not just with the "religious" lot. It creeps into the workplace also. Every often there's an event; birthday celebration, farewell, parties, it doesn't matter. You have to "contribute" to the "team" even though you hate the very idea of a celebration. And in some cases, just contributing will not do. You HAVE to be present in the gatherings. Make no mistake here - You'll be an outcast. Everything boils down to concept of majority-minority or fitting-in-the-society bullshit. Integrity is no more an idea or a thought, but, merely a word in the dictionary.
Don't remember who, but, I had an argument with him long time back - society greater than individual or individual greater than society? I'll kick on the balls and give the answer now.
mastu vesavu kada vadiki. especially the last but one dialogue :D
ReplyDeletehaha...baaga deal chesaavanamaata!! :D
ReplyDeletewe too have b'day contribution thing here..
but its fine as long as everyone is ok wid it and enjoys the occasion.
never been in a situation like urs or abhays though :P
am already an outcast by default... and i love it... :)
ReplyDeleteif u have had more of these conversations, do put them up.. they are so much fun...
ReplyDeleteabey ... gurtocchi dengale bey .... lekapothe ee blog chaala peddagayyedi
ReplyDeleteLook at you and the other fools. Like small kids looking for an incentive for being yourself. Banish, outcast. LOL. Those are big words. Outcast?!!! what were you doing when all the while? Fitting in with people?!!! Suiting yourself?!!! Boss, you live in their culture. They talk crap because they are afraid their culture will become redundant with people who not only value it but also criticize their(Kannada) culture. In the process like you, they are looking for ways to make money and ensure their dominance of their notion of Religion.
ReplyDeleteIn the case of b'days etc, you just want to stay away from your colleagues because you think you are better than them. Or do not feel you belong with them or whatever the reason is. But the hard earned money. lol.
OK, here is an idea. Buy yourself a book on how to design machines or tools that can use renewable energy, then you would have done yourself and the world a great deal of favor because this country is going to face tremendous food/electricity/water shortages and then to top it all more disasters. Do something about them instead of whining like a crybaby with your other friends and all this for the sake of a hundred or two.
Even if you don't give the money and feel like an outcast, the best thing is to invest the money in learning new skills and technologies which will have utility for the present scenario and the future.
But you won't, will you? Because if you did, how would you be able to write this blog? and get these stupid people to help you to reinforce your ideas and for them in turn to feel like intellectual and smart critics.
Your problem is in the head(your head,not others) and you look at the whole world and cry your way to be supported by people.
Go get a life.
Masticchav raa bongu reply...
ReplyDeletewe should be *PROUD TO BE OUTCASTS*
sarele...
just to make u recall.. that individual and society discussion was one of your typical bongu vs srikanth and saami discussion during our "some pandya" course :D