Friday, April 8, 2011

The Hourglass

Years ago, our country became a slave because some people who should've been strong, became weak, because some people who should've have been honest and proud, sold themselves. Did they know then, that they will be looked down upon by their future countrymen? Did they know then, that they will be blacklisted in history, forever?

And then there were some who stood up against. Some small, some big, some nationwide, some unnoticed, unknown. They too created history, a legendary one at that. What did they think of when they stood up? Did they know that the small things they were doing like walking to a seacoast and not wearing foreign clothes, will become an example for generations to come? Who were they? Were they just common people who became one with a leader, or were they wise seers, who knew they would inspire many more in their wake?

Right now, every present moment becomes a past every moment. Does it matter? What I'm doing, will it count? Do I belong to this timeline, to this history created every moment? How will my future generations judge me? Will I be mentioned in their books, will I be talked of in their stories? What will they brand me as? Will I be the weak one, who backed out when he was needed the most? Will I be the rebel, who dreamt of a better tomorrow for them? Or will I be a nobody, just.. a nobody?

[I wrote this post when I decided to attend the candlelight vigil in support of Anna Hazare. I wondered whether the event will come up in the history of India sometime. And if it did, I didn't want it to run like: "India was going to the dogs. A man named Anna Hazare decided to revolt against corruption, but the movement was unsuccessful because he didn't get enough support." What I mean is - you never know ; you might be creating history just by lighting a candle in a park.]

5 comments:

Aneesh Gupta said...

Deep Thought!!

Anonymous said...

Questions that I wonder about all the time and I realized what is important is that you follow your heart and your dreams..because you see nobody knows if you will be remembered or not even if you perform heroic deeds. I mean you think people will remember Dhirubhai Ambani 600 years from now..? Maybe, maybe not. What is important is what you do with the little piece of eternity you have at your disposal. If you're remembered for it,well and good, if not then take solace in the fact that you will not be the first and you will not be the last to be forgotten.

Anonymous said...

you can only connect the dots looking backwards into the history. but in the present, you go on making those dots and one day when you look back you get to see the bigger picture.
(no conclusion..just expressing)
btw.. well put. keep writing.

Anonymous said...

Wanting to be remembered, in itself is a self motivation to do something different and creative.This pushes oneself to go and atleast try to do better things and have a greater life than what otherwise, would go absolutely lame and in accordance with the system. The consequence of such an inspired action might not lead to creation of history on Immortality(in the sense of being remmberd forever) but sooner or later , one might loose the attraction to the motive or the inspiration, and start enjoying the road that he/she has chosen. Thus leading to a satisfactory life ! So y not keep an aim of being remembered forever ! :)

Radha said...

@ Aneesh: I know :| I'm getting all old and wisdomist :P

@ 143 kbps: Is this some movie dialogue?

@ Anon1, Anon2: I guess so..

Though, I don't think I want to be remembered as a person in history, like Dhirubhai Ambani or whatever. I guess I just couldn't convey what I wanted to. I have tried to clarify now in a note post the actual post.