Let us do something unpatriotic
July 1, 2006: There’s a myth that what’s good for your country, your community, your neighbourhood is good for you. “Hum tho tumhare hi bhalai chahte hain, beta!’, says desh aur samaaj. And, most of the times, you take it on faith that it’s completely true, because, after all, d esh aur samaaj ka izzat karna hi apni sanskuti hai. I’d like to say that there’s a lot of bullshit in that belief. In fact, it’s at most only 50% true. And here’s why: It is common knowledge that the interests of individuals, even in the same household, often conflict. The grandparents may need peace and quiet for their own wellbeing, but the 8-year-old kid may need to make noise and enjoy jumping around for his mental and physical well-being and growth. The parents of the kids may need some privacy and space, but the children and the aged folk may need them to be available all the time. And some situations pit the individual against the entire household. The adolescent daug...