THE TRUTH

I have not much experience in life. Neither am I a big philosopher to write an article(post) titled so. Yet I cannot hold within myself what I have seen, felt and experienced. A few of my sightings, experiences and opinions form this post.

We have seen since the time of great conquerors and kings that the one with the hugest army and the largest empire was considered the most powerful and mighty. Today there has been a slight change in the scenario. Since we no longer have kings and have adopted the democratic form of government, there are no kingdoms. However, the respect given to kings has been transferred to those with huge sums of money. Yes! Money has taken control of our lives. We respect a rich man irrespective of whether he deserves it or not.
    Coming to India, it was only a few decades or probably a century back that there emerged these so-called "middle-class families". Until then, it was only the RICH and the POOR.  What I feel is that, it was with the emergence of these middle-classes that people started boasting or what can colloquially be called "showing-off".  It is true people used to work hard to alleviate themselves from POOR to MIDDLE-CLASS. However, any thing changing to the better should teach the person to be humble - be it education or riches. It is not bad to be proud of your success. However, one's success must not get into his head, isn't it?
   A few days earlier, we had been to one of our distant relatives house. While we were going, the elderly were discussing how troubled a childhood that relative had had. Today he is successful. 'Great! Wonderful! Fantastic! I will be meeting a true "success story" ' I thought. Ah! How wrong I was! No doubt he is successful. But he was no exception to the worldly ways......or rather the ways we have adopted. The way they spoke......as if they were omniscient! How they praised their children! Yet they tried to act humble! It was quite a bit for one day!
   Is it necessary that we blow our own trumpet in relationships?
Another day, I was discussing with one of the elderly persons why is it that some people are respected while others aren't even amongst relatives. He told me "In today's world it is only money that forms or breaks relationships. It is because we have sold our hearts and minds to money." I didn't believe what he said. Yet, after a few observations, I exclaimed "Ah! How true!"
   He told me that within his family circle quite a few years ago, when he was not in possession of huge amounts of money, no real respect was given to him. Today, he earns a respectable salary and, oh yes, he is treated well - with lots of respect!
  A few years ago, I saw a family feud crop up between brothers on account of division of property. Those who were brothers till then now hated the sight of each other. All contacts and correspondance between the families stopped!! Recently, when it came to light that there was a division of money involved, again there were phonecalls and talks between them. However it stopped as soon as the division was settled!!
  After all this, questions crop up within me. Why is it that w humans have forgotten the value of relationships? Why is it that a piece of paper(with value, of course)can govern our lives and make brothers fight each other? Have we become so heartless and mindless? If so, are we fit to be called humans? What is the difference between animals and humans? If animals fight for food and territory, we fight for money and property. That doen't make a lot of difference, does it? Is money the only thing in life?
  We need to realise that money is AN important commodity in life and that money is NOT "THE" important commodity in life. Only then will we be able to understand the true meaning of life and savour it.
          ಅಪ್ಪ ಅಮ್ಮ ಇಬ್ರು ದುಡಿದು
          ಸಾಲ ಮಾಡಿ ಮನೆಯ ಕಟ್ಟಿ
          ಮಕ್ಳು ಇಲ್ಹೊದ್ರಂತ  ಹುಡ್ಕಿ
          life ಉ ಇಷ್ಟೇನೆ!      - Popular kannada director, YOGRAJ BHAT(ಪಂಚರಂಗಿ)
  It means that when we attach a lot of value to maney and material possessions, we lose out on our children; This is life.
  When we need to be happy in life, we need to attach equal importance to all the little joys of life. That is the TRUTH of LIFE.