Last week, I planned to drive to the market which is almost 3K.M away from my home. The moment I started my engine, I saw a rickshaw puller, going in the same direction where I had to go who was sweating heavily because of the scorching heat, seemed deadly tired as he was pulling the weight of three people of pretty good build; but still I could not find any line of discontentment on his face. Instead, it was me who was wondering that “poor he, how is he managing all this? How unfortunate he is, that even after working so hard, all he gets is few bucks that enable him to buy a cup of tea and one chappti”
Anyways, I started moving. While driving, the face of rickshaw puller kept me captivated all the time till I reached my destination. I was thinking, how ironical we live and think.
Ironical in way- that in our lives where problems are not that scary and tiring if compared to the life of a rickshaw puller, we still feel so tensed of our tension. We go through depression, get frustrated, and keep cursing God for giving us such a hectic life. we forget, that, unlike rickshaw puller, at least each morning we don’t have to think whether we will be able to earn sufficient money so that we manage to eat three meals a day; each day, not AC always (because of long light cut offs), at least we breathe under a fan. Instead, ironically, we keep worrying about our lives and start supposing that all bad is happening with us. Each day we land up in a race to beat the society in all the possible manners (professionally, economically, politically, and looking at the present scenario, sometimes even personally) and in a moment we get defeated, instantly we assume that our life has ended and we are a looser.
Well, struggling with my thoughts on life’s problem and how we tackle them, I never realized that how time passed by while waiting for so long at so many red lights and passing through such a heavy traffic.
I finally reached my destination without expecting to see something before my eyes that would provide an ease for the struggle that was going in my mind.
THAT rickshaw that started moving with me, had already reached before over there. I was shocked that how this weary, exhausted rickshaw puller made its arrival before me and that too when I was driving in car.
Well then I realized something really important,
When we enter in any kind of race (though here it was very trivial race- driving while defeating the on road traffic), we enter into the web of facade problems. We get trapped in the illusion race which actually never exists. It’s we who thinks that a race is going on where we have to win and have to prove to the society that we are something. But as race never existed so obviously we won’t able to see a winner and because of this we treat our self a failure.
Remember, after seeing that rickshaw puller when I just started to move, It was only me who felt that how sad his life must be and somehow I could not find any sign annoyance on his face.
Why?
Did you wonder?
Well, now I realized that answer is simple; Rickshaw puller was at ease because he was NOT participating in any kind of race. He was living his life with its pace. He didn’t bother that each day, so many cars overtake him, bang horn behind him when he blocks their way. He knew just one thing,
To be a winner, one doesn’t have to defeat others. Instead we have to BELIEVE in OUR SELF. We have to prove, not to the society but to our self. We have to beat our own records and not of others. Doesn’t matter whether we are slow or take time to achieve our dreams.
As in the end, it’s the turtle that wins and beat the rabbit (example is above, rickshaw beat the speed of car).
Just keep your faith. All the best!!
copyright aditi kochhar
Thru m.
ReplyDeleteHmmm... An article on an entirely new perspective... It is indeed surprisingly pleasurable to see someone write on a topic, untouched by others, n that too by a girl!!!
The way you use ur poetic talent in prose, by metaphorically connecting two diffrnt thngs n bringng out a new dimension is highly praiseworthy!
{though some silly spelling mistakes are irritating n should be taken care of}
Nice post Aditi... It seems articles is now ur new forte, eh!
Ladies n gentlemen, Our lovely Philopoetess has now become Philo-Author-ess...
Philauthress!
Applause!:-)
***
the level of difficulties we face is directly proportional with one's intellect.
The key is to remain sangfroid all thru. N even try enjoyng the difficlties.
A persons deeds are its identity.
Do ur karma n the matrix shal reward u accordngly. Action.
Firstly I must say, a very nicely written article on a very simple theme.
ReplyDeleteI can very well understand the frustration we go through during such times.
About winning, as I always say, it all depends on how we see wining, nobody except for us can decide our win.
Competition is just to satisfy someone else's ego.
Anyways thats the way I think our attitude should be...long story short
"Roses are red, violets are blue and I am the best in the world at what I do!"
@Kuber: But also, one must be humble enough to acknowledge his/her shortcomings and mistakes and the fact that others might be ahead in some fields or the other.
ReplyDelete@Bhavya: Yes you are right but what I wrote here was in context to when a person is depressed or frustrated, I don't think that's the best time to analyse your shortcomings.
ReplyDeleteNow as the blogger here says "staying happy without a reason is still better than analysing sorrows, atleast you will smile.." well I think that she is kinda right.
@Blogger: There's a discussion due on this quote of yours!
It depends on how well the person is, in analysing!!!
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing as sorrow or happiness.
Well I wouldn't say so.
ReplyDeleteInfact happiness and sorrow are just like seasons...if one is not there we would never realize that the other one exists!
Remember "Reaction..."??
@Kuber: That my friend is relativity, not reaction.
ReplyDeleteTo all-
If anyone has that in her/him to handle and understand in to-to, then read "Newton's Third Law" on Talking Straight at ideatingfreak.blogspot.com
It will definitely shatter one's prejudices and opinions, and may as well make one rise from the ashes of intellectual breakdown, disgrace and nadir.
Signing off.
It was great reading it.
ReplyDeleteYou have also explained it very nicely.
Excellent work.
And the topic is very nice. i liked it. Carry on my Next Paulo :)
Aditi the thing is that one tends to worry only when he has the resources to do so. The rickshaw puller has neither of them. He doesn't have a bank account to keep track of, neither the telephone and electricity bills. Nor trivial stuffs like where did he keep his home keys or that his vehicle needs service and to the greatest level, he is not likely to care about world affairs.
ReplyDeleteBut that doesn't mean that he has no problems and his life is free of competition. The problem with your post is the analysis of the situation from only one point of view, that is yours. Now put yourself in the rickshaw pullers shoes and think of his worries. Yeah they are not as big as yours, but more basic in nature. Its not about his future, that we people worry about so much that we have insurance of nearly everything. But of the magnitude of next meal. Competition is with fellow rickshaw pullers to grab at any opportunity to have a commuter who is coming his way before his fellows do so. In winters about where he will sleep, in summers where he will get shade and everyday the fear that a police man may stop him and extract the "hafta", which may leave him penny-less.
So competition is a part of anyones life.
Get over it, his life is really much more miserable.
And maybe the rickshaw puller saw you and thought- how good her life is, a car and an ac to keep her cool, what else could she want, and see me I pull the rickshaw with these morons sitting at my back and shouting at me to go faster and then they will also try to bargain on the fare, how miserable is my life!!!
And btw, all the readers, I have left a comment on freak's "Newton's Third Law", as a matter of fact, he has neither written philosophy nor science under a topic that should have both.
ReplyDelete@Paranoid: Firstly I did see the worries and problems of rickshaw puller, you may read again the post.
ReplyDeletesecondly, the post was analysed by me with a motive to bring out the positivity out of the problems. But I didn't only analysed it from my side, I very well considered the problems of the rickshaw puller(may be I have not mentioned all you did like collection of "hafta" by police or in winters where he will sleep.. etc); instead I agreed that our problems are not that scary and tiring as compared to his.
Thirdly, Life is not misreable for anyone.
Life is beautiful. Start believig in it and you will find the difference.
The thing is that the "feel good things" that you are talking about, is so opposed to human nature that its as good as fictional. We all, being a part of the society, and a capitalist at that, want whatever others have. Suppose I got an I-phone, I am content, till my friend lays his hands on I pad. I am jealous now, so I ask my dad if I could get an I pad too, he denies saying that i just got the I phone and I am miserable now....
ReplyDeleteThis is the problem with life and this is the most trivial example I can tell you, there are more articles to lay my hand on- a new car that my neighbour has, a good house, and leave that people are miserable that their kids are not able to do what the neighbour's kid was able to do. Misery comes with society, you cannot separate it, the only way is to become lonesome animals again, which is impossible.
@paranoid: Hey what's your concluding point? to which point in the post you disagree. As it seems now discussion is missing its POINT.
ReplyDeleteWell I started arguing at the point- life is not miserable for anyone!!
ReplyDelete@paranoid: Alright, well then let me analyse a bit further so that there is no confusion and we can continue our discussion.
ReplyDeletewell, you said, "his life is really much more miserable"
Firstly, if you look at the post, then there is a line which says, "Ironical in way- that in our lives where problems are not that scary and tiring if compared to the life of a rickshaw puller, we still feel so tensed of our tension."
This itself conveys that I myself putting up a point that the life of rickshaw puller is much more tough and miserable than our's, but he still lives it without any discontent feeling on his face(which I saw and experienced), so I compared the two situations saying that we too should live our life that way and do not feel discontent and try to live this life with positive attitude. And if we get successful in this attempt like that of rickshaw puller I saw, then life would be beautiful.
And to explain this point only, I commented again saying, life is beautiful.
Secondly, when I myself has put this point in the post that his life is more misreable than our's, so where did you exactly disagreed in the post?
Ah I guess you are right here!!!!
ReplyDeleteWell it looks like everything is settled now...case closed!
ReplyDelete@Paranoid: yea.. But anyways, it was nice interacting with you.
ReplyDelete@Kuber: Yea buddy, case closed now :)
"Ironical in way- that in our lives where problems are not that scary and tiring if compared to the life of a rickshaw puller, we still feel so tensed of our tension."
ReplyDeleteAlways remember this line aditi as it would help you overcome any problems in your life. The best thing about this line is that it has been written by you so no one else can understand/adapt it better than you can.
now about your article... it was pretty interesting till the line "THAT rickshaw that started moving with me, had already reached before over there."
after that i felt u over imagined things. he might have overtook you when you were busy thinking about his problems aditi. otherwise there is no chance that a three wheeler can beat a four wheeler as there is hardly any difference in size of a Maruti 800 and rickshaw. however if it was a 2 wheeler (cycle or bike) i could have assumed that he must have gone ahead via small nooks and corners when u were stuck in the traffic.
and about the "rickshaw man"'s sadness.... i think it is not because he doesnt care to win... it is because he has adjusted himself to the life he has been living rather than thinking about how it would be if he was a millionaire... hence he dint seem sad to you.
simple... and the turtle won the race aditi cuz the rabbit was stuck in heavy traffic like the rabbit was busy sleeping in the jungle when the turtle overtook him in the story book.
(smile...) be happy aditi
cheers,
kv
@KV: yes the reason I wrote this post was because of the inspiration I gained after experiencing this incident; so it defnitely gives me the strength to smile.
ReplyDeletewell, Rickshaw didn't overtook me because I was busy in imagining or something and neither did he take any shortcuts as route to the market is straight; The reason that he was able to overtook me was that I got caught in the traffic(which in the post I related to the race I mentioned),,
Practically even he too must have got caught in the traffic, and as car can't afford to cut through the traffic so easily as rickshaw can, so definitely that's how he overtook me..
But in this practical situation, a very positive learning was hidden which I felt and thus wrote;
In this traffic race where we think that only fast running vehicles can only imagine to win;
metaphorically I related it to, that, in this pace of life we assume that only fast learning, super ntelligent, very smart people of the society can win, and indirectly we fall in the race.
But as how these 1000+ cc cars got entangled in their own web(traffic), and seemed to be so helpless on the road.
metaphorically, we people get trapped in our web of lives and feel so irritated and frustated.
And in between rickshaw wins and beat the four wheeler.
And rickshaw puller is not sad because he has left thinking about being a millionare. Reason being, he has NOT stopped driving. He still continues his journey though he knows that his rickshaw lies nowhere as compared to great cars that touch top speed within seconds;
He belives in himself, and see one day, he even beat those cars...
He trusted himself.. And one never knows that one day he might be driving an accord or audi(though without falling in the trap of any race)
As one should beat his/her OWN records and feel the contenment...
(ADITI your reply's 2nd para says the same thing which i said) as even i said the same thing that the rickshaw puller might have crossed u when EITHER u were thinking about his condition OR when u were stuck in the traffic.
ReplyDeleteWhile MY 4th PARA SAYS "He might have overtook you when you were busy thinking about his problems aditi."
READ MY LAST PARA ADITI... IT CLEARLY SAYS "simple... and the turtle won the race aditi cuz the rabbit was stuck in heavy traffic.(RABBIT HERE = YOU)"
Answer to your reply's 3rd para:
No one can ever say that the fastest car would win while stuck in traffic :P
When stuck in traffic, the size matters not the Cubic Centimeters (cc).. (smiles)
Answer to your 4th para...
Maruti 800 is 800cc aditi not 1000+ and even maruti got stuck in traffic... u confessed that yourself. But anyway your point stating "as cars get stuck in web (traffic), we get caught up in our own web (issues) stands valid.
FINALLY, your 5th para is ummm... ermm... ahhh.... Bleh! No comments
just one line "A RICKSHAW PULLER CAN NEVER IMAGINE TO BEAT A CAR ADITI... IN TRAFFIC ITS ALTOGETHER A DIFFERENT ISSUE OF LUCK... WHO GETS THE WAY FIRST but normally NO RICKSHAW PULLER CAN BEAT A MACHINE"
Man vs machines... even though human program machines but a human of the same CALIBER as a maachine CANT BEAT THE Machine AS THE MACHINE NEVER GETS TIRED... its NON LIVING...
people may argue that machine may get broken down or stop functioning but when u put such abnormal cases... also consider the fact that a human may die as well.
so im referring to a perfect situation where-in both the machine and human give their 100% and in such cases A HUMAN CANNOT BEAT A MACHINE due to the speed accuracy and ability to work for 'N' HOURS.
YOUR message "keep the faith" expressed via this article are very clear to me but the way you expressed your thoughts in the last para dint seem possible (to me atleast)...
My dearest aditi... one last thing... my comments or responses are never to discourage you. so even if some seem rude or odd to you then think of it as a challenge to the blogger instead of assuming it as a personal attack.
I'm, if not your biggest... then surely one of your biggest fans as far as writing skill goes. so i obviously wont be criticizing my idol right?
love,
KV
@KV: Let me explain a bit further the title of the poem, I guess, bit confusion resides regarding it's meaning.
ReplyDelete"It's the turtle that wins"
Here Turtle is one individual(or say a person who is feeling down due to society challenges and finding it hard to upbeat it FASTLY)
And, now talking about rabbit; it's NOT me. I'm NOT the rabbit for the turtle (rickshaw puller). Instead its the web of the "rabbit problems" that are created when stuck in the race.
In the post, I should be a "turtle" against my own "Rabbit problems" that are created while living with the pace of the society.
Post is writen in a metaphorically way...(tried my pen to link practicality with subtle emotions)
***
And talking about Man vs Machine. Well, yea in a practical situation it's true that machine woud upbeat human speed.
But how ironically we have started trusting machines more than man, and forgeting that, a machine is a creation by man, is operated by man, and is used by man.
***
And I appreciate the comments from my readers. And thanks alt for being my fan as blogger :)
Keep reading, writing and commenting.
Regards,
Aditi
the pleasure is mine
ReplyDeletethis comment is for PRAKHAR MANAS...
ReplyDeletethis article is about looking at things from a positive side not the PROBLEMS OF RICKSHAW WAALA... hence all your point stand invalid
thank you... case closed!
and there is something known as constructive criticism... it would be great if you can do that instead of nag-ing...
this is for the blogger...
ReplyDeletewithout deviating from the subject i would say that
this article is a magnum opus :)
i love the way u have written it and your thoughts at such a tender age are absolutely mind blowing...!
god bless you!
@ KV- I'm really sorry, but if you may, I presented my thoughts and ya I agree that I was wrong on some fronts and if you could just have a better look, I admitted that....
ReplyDeleteI find it nice that you have commented on my point of view, but it is very arrogant of you to say that I nag because I withdrew the argument as soon as I found it faulty.
Thank you
dear Prakhar manas... im very sorry if i hurt ur sentiments or your spirit to keep blogging... but after i saw the way you write to people.. i felt it is necessary to remind you that people can feel the same way as you felt when i mocked you.
ReplyDeletefor eg: u have written about bhavya's post in aditi's wall... which makes NO SENSE to discuss others blog in another one's blog.
I know bhavya has left a comment saying check my blog which makes no sense as well but it was maybe cuz he felt it related to this somehow.
but u posting back saying u found it of no use was a bit arrogant according to me...
still sorry if i hurt u dear friend..
nothing personal over here... i dont know bhavya neither do i know you.
just an observation of the frequent message patterns :)
take care mate
cheers,
KV
bhavya = ideatingfreak
ReplyDeleteI know that.....but problem with bhavya is very different, he does never ever give up even when his arguments stand flawed. I have dozens of examples of that.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, he starts being arrogant as soon as the points start turning towards his disadvantage.
I guess thats called more of nagging, when you are in writing a blog you are entitled to your opinion, but with constant arguing you can prove the flaw in them, when it comes to that, it requires one to give up the argument, like I did, and not use abusive language and harsh language like he does. He wrote of his blog, and I am entitled to present my opinions. Now in the case you have mentioned, I withdrew my argument as soon as I found it flawed. Now in this case, Im entitled to be credited for the same.
Do see the difference in the 2 scenarios and ypu will see the flaw.
FYI Im not giving up this argument, because till now I havent been proved flawed here.
dear prakhar manas,
ReplyDelete"FYI Im not giving up this argument, because till now I havent been proved flawed here."
this is one of the most humorous line ive ever come across on the internet... haha!
who said i want to prove your flaws dude? it was just something i observed... the way you were fighting with aditi with your invalid points of justification... but its very good that you accepted your flaw as soon as aditi pointed it out to you... keep up the positive attitude.
nice... and yes i agree one is entitled to his/her own opinion(s) when it comes to blog writing.
well i dont know what issues you have with ideating freak or vice versa. but if 2 people continue thinking that i wont stop till the other does... then the discussion will never ever stop.
i dont think anyone better than me can understand how it feels when you are right and still you have to keep silent but trust me dude, sometimes its the best thing to do ;-)
take care,
kv
And thats the thing about blog, I can take on ideologies that I am not satisfied with without actually coming down to personal level and sustain the argument.
ReplyDeleteIts not about who lost and who didn't. I know that will never happen, but one has to assert his/her point till the end, and maybe forever, its for the fellow readers to decide from them.
Yes I have issues with Freak and they are all ideological and nothing personal. And thats why I'm entitled to push my views on his blog or anywhere he has mentioned his posts as he is entitled to do so for mine. I know the clash is of one of the worst nature, but the beauty of this medium is that as I have never met him and I hope I never do as then this whole point will vanish, I only have access to his thoughts and not his personality. I know you can derive it from my posts and also from his. But believe me its not the best way to do so. First thing is that there's no fight. Its an argument and that of constructive nature. I may have points that may fit wrongly somewhere, but in the end I get to learn much more when I make mistakes like these.
The personality of freak, that I have been able to derive is that he doesn't give up arguments that are even proved flawed not by one person but many, and I see no problem with that, he may even banish me from commenting on his blog, but the point is where does it take you, nothing I am left with what I had and he with what he did. The point is while we maybe the threshold of our Ideologies, the person reading the blog may not cater to either mine or his. Hence he/she is entitled to have both the arguments to pick up from, and thats what a comment war is meant to signify.
I hope you see the point. The thing is the argument gets bad to worse when I try to pick up your personal traits and you mine.
Maybe I get to much hyper on a blog expressing my thoughts that I forget the code and conducts of this media or vice versa. But the thing is, that you may observe and never find me picking up a fight until someone wants me to.
You seemed to be one, but I guess I was wrong the second time on this blog!!!
Anyways nice talking. I hope this argument was constructive for both of us.
For notes- keeping silent is not the best thing to do ever, its not your harm, I have no problem what people have opinion of mine on this blog, but the contents have to be counter argued to make them more testify-able.
The FYI part had a significance, I'm glad you picked it up.
ReplyDeleteIt proves that I'm the threshold of my ideology, until you prove them wrong citing examples from my writings or any other logic, I will never give up on them....
TC
sure prakar.. do ur best! I'm bored baah!
ReplyDelete