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Peace or Confrontation: What Would You Choose?
Learning to Pause, Rather Than React
Yesterday evening, I was chatting with someone close to me. We began discussing a movie about India’s independence, and the conversation somehow turned to the leaders of that era. She expressed strong views about Mahatma Gandhi, saying that he was not a good man and was not loyal to India. She referred to passages from his autobiography, which I felt she was taking out of context.
I was upset because I have great reverence for Gandhi. I regard him as a deeply principled and patriotic leader. I have always admired his philosophy of non-violence and his role in India’s struggle for independence.
As I was about to argue with her and put my views forcefully across, I remembered what had happened the last time I expressed a difference of opinion. She had not taken it well and had become quite angry. Remembering that experience, I stopped myself from contradicting her. I realized that there was little point in arguing at that moment.
This incident made me reflect on how my approach to disagreement and reacting has changed over the years.
In my younger days, I felt like a warrior princess who wouldn’t tolerate injustice or even disagreement, because I thought not speaking up…
