Obedience
Ever wondered where your curiosity went? Ever thought on why the spark left your eyes? Ever considered what happened to the magic that you constantly found and yet steadily diminished?. As a ten year old with a healthy dose of Enid Blyton, J.K. Rowling and the occasional Tolkien, I was brimming with ideas, questions and challenges, ready to take on the world. Now as a 30 year old, though I still hold on to my optimism and readiness to take up and explore new ventures, my curiosity has diminished, my zest curtailed and my questions unasked.
Get Bprashaanth’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
It’s a common phenomenon I find amongst all my peers, even while growing up. The whole concept of “obedience” and following instructions is one of the foremost reasons for this as we are constantly being told what to do, how to do, when to do and mostly, not to do. How often have we been praised for accepting the beaten path and for following orders? Have not we all been characterized as “unruly” or “disobedient” for asking questions or as we approach our teens as “rebellious”? Have not most of our television programs, movies or indeed our mentors/teachers/coaches celebrated the quiet, conformist and malleable kid while berating and tearing their hair out at a questioning, non-conformist and inquisitive kid? The entire line between being obedient and not disrespecting elders has been skewed so much that there no longer is any difference between the two.
Maybe we can stop characterizing kids who are open, different and exuberant as “trouble makers”. Maybe we can stop expecting women, especially married ones to be “obedient” all the time, to constantly adjust to their in-laws, no-laws and our laws. Maybe we can even allow them to dream, to have a life and not plod their way through life nodding all the time, not knowing what the nod even stands for. Maybe we can stop people from apologizing for everything and anything under the sun as a matter of reflex. Maybe, its high time we stop using “obedience” as a means to justify our laziness, a tool to ease our responsibilities and as a means to hide our insecurities and incompetence. Wishful thinking but hopeful all the same.
