Log Kya Kahenge agar yeh bhi mai hi sochunga toh Log Kya Sochenge?!
I am pretty sure most of us have come across this phrase unending number of times since the day we were born. It is usually our parents who emphasize this point “Log Kya Kahenge” for even the craziest of reasons.
I have always dreamt why do we all have to mind the so-called “SOCIETY” who just exist there and rebukes us whatever we accomplish in life. Why do we have to keep impressing them in everything we do? It is our life wherein we have to impress ourselves. Isn’t it lame that we along with our parents are struggling to fix an identity in the society we live in?
Society shouldn’t be given the authority to depict our character. We have to be happy at the end of the day and that is what truly matters.
A few weeks ago, I had my friend from a workshop who shared his experience in life when he did not attend to “Log Kya Kahenge”. I found his story very intriguing to a point that I thought of writing this blog as I wanted to underline this point as I had experienced something similar in my life.
This story is about my friend, a person from a well-off family determined to work in the Agriculture sector, be it any industry related to agriculture or a farm itself.
After his graduation in agriculture biotechnology, he had a break of two years during which time he spent his time productively on farming and learned a few courses. His friends, relatives, and family friends asked him to prepare for Competitive exams but he never paid any heed to their words.
Studying an MBA from Symbiosis Institute was his dream so he opted for an MBA in Agribusiness. Through his campus placement, he got into a startup “EM3 Agriservices Pvt Ltd” and he is still gladly working there as a marketing manager.
Isn't his story inspiring?
If he would have ever cared about people’s concerns around him, he would never have reached the position where he is today. He would have been working in a Corporate committing to something he has never dreamt of in his life.
I have seen many parents forcing their children to opt for Medicine and Engineering to show that they are capable of providing the best education in the world in front of the society. They take up loans to send their children abroad. They take up loans to 26 and 30 lakhs and send them to Canada, Australia, Newzealand, and Ireland so that they could prove their financial soundness and capability in front of the society not realizing they are going to be judged for overspending rather than providing proper education to kids.
I had come across a similar situation in life. English and Communication being my favorite subjects, I applied for Bachelors in Journalism, Literature and Communication. It was a Triple Main course. My parents were supportive of my decision. My joint family consisting of my grandparents and cousins were completely against my decision of choosing this course.
My grandfather even said:
What good is English going to bring her? It wouldn’t even give her a proper career. Marry her off right after completing her degree.
I was devastated hearing his remark but never gave up on my desire for Literature, Journalism, and Communication.
It was true that at that point I had no choice of career in my mind. I just loved Literature, Communication, and Journalism but didn’t think much about what after that. My decision didn’t fall flat. I passed out with 90% marks and I was the 5th MG University Rank Holder.
My achievements didn’t cease there. I had a module on Public Relations and Corporate Communications during my degree. Soon I grew fond of this subject and started researching about the best media institutes in the country. Xavier’s Institute of Communications striked me as it is one of the finest institutes in India offering Public Relations and Corporate Communications. After completing my Bachelors, I applied, gave my Online Entrance Exam, gave my interviews, and got into Xavier’s.
Again I had an army of people against me saying that its a Post Graduate Diploma Course. People including my Professors advised me to take up Masters saying I have good potential to flair in my studies. I calmed them saying that after my PG Diploma I would surely do Masters in a subject that is relevant then. Another reason they had is that I come from a financially sound family and I could effortlessly go abroad to complete my higher studies.
It was the best decision in my life. I completed my course within a year and got into Siemens even when my friends were doing the second year of their Masters. I was delighted. People around me were in search of jobs even at the age of 30 and there I was working in a Multinational Company at the age of 21 with a fat salary package, that every fresher dream of in life.
My grandfather who asked my father to marry me off after completing my degree boasts about my achievements to my relatives. He keeps stressing the point that I am working in a German company. I don’t entirely feel pleased about the way he is proud of me as once he was hopeless in the decision I took in life.
From these two life examples, it’s easy to infer that we have to pursue whatever we are passionate about in life. Let it be anything. Dance, music, agriculture, fishing, or whatever. If you have the will, you will surely have the way.
I have come across parents forcing their children to marry a person whom they meet on the eve of their wedding. I have been shocked and at the same time respected the decision of the bride submitting themselves to their parents’ decision stating that:
They say it is for the best.
The most important thing, take a break in your life if you need it. People usually believe that they will be judged if they take a break in life without proper reason. If you are exhausted from your life or studies and want to take one year or two years or three years break, just go ahead. Never mind judgments and opinions. Go on a long vacation. Relax your mind and body. Give time for yourself. Many of us forget self-care is the most important element of life.
I have heard people judging my mother when she said she wants a break after working for 23 long years as a Legal Advisor and struggling to upbring her family. I completely supported her decision as I have seen her struggles myself. But she and my dad cared too much for “Log Kya Kahenge” and thought it would affect their status. She joined a company offering her a better salary and works more than 8 hours a day. I still don’t back her up in this decision of hers as I realized how it is exhausting her. It was necessary for her to take a break and she was the one who deserved it than any of us and yet the freedom to decide was denied to her.
It is not wrong to listen to the people around you. But never let it affect your life and the decisions you take in life.
As the saying:
The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.
By Robert Frost
I have always admired these lines of Robert Frost and this is what we have to develop in our lives. We have a lot to accomplish in this little life of ours with limited time offers.
Live according to your likes and dislikes. At the end of the day, it is you who needs to be fulfilled. Famous personalities we have come across have never valued the thoughts and comments of people around them. If so, we would have never termed them as ‘great’ in life.
I wouldn’t term my story as an example of a success story. Rather it is one among the many stories of people who did what they loved the most. They just went forward with their decision, with the willpower to outgo all the negativities that came their way. They just threw the comment “Log Kya Kahenge” in the trash!
You are Judged, No matter what you do in Life!
