Progressive

Common sense says one must do what is progressive. What hinders progress is obviously our inability to THINK progressive. India being such an ancient country, it is steeped in various traditions. Each state has its own culture and traditions, almost as if it were a different country.

As a nation, we evolved. We tried to learn from other countries as did others from us. But somewhere, we started thinking that the definition of progress is more money, more power. The race is to become a power center. In every field.

This power center is like the honey that bees get attracted to and swarm around. And then, we develop a mob mentality ruled by these power centers. Basically, a mob mentality is mindless and can often become a dangerous trend.

Any belief that begins to border on fanaticism loses its core of origin. Every belief starts with an experience and gets strengthened as a stereotype which is then very hard to let go or change.

We must remember that stereotypes are valid for a period of time. And there valid reasons for their development and existence, too. But they are not all timeless.

We have heard ad nauseum that change is a constant. So, some truths also change with time. To move on and adapt ourselves would certainly be progress if the consequences all around would be win all around.

But if we try and hang onto some stereotypes which lost their value in an evolving world or within a changing context, we could end up in a regressive situation instead of a progressive one. And every phase is chronicled in history as the wisdom or the madness of men. We look back in judgment but what we need is to be vigilant and aware in every phase so that wisdom prevails and we need not look back with regret, small or big.

Surekha Kothari

www.BodyMindSoulCentre.com

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

SpeakingtreeBlog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari