By Lopamudra Gogoi
I was recently brainstorming to catch hold of a topic that would really ignite my mind. But nothing seemed to be working! It is not uncommon among many to write and then refute. This had been the trend for me for quite some time. And then I knocked upon the idea of getting some physical exertion so as to activate my “temporarily inactive” brain cells.
Hence I landed on that Sunday afternoon in the garden of our residential complex for a brisk walk hoping it would open up my already existing blockade. Mrs. Dubey, an overtly loud neighbour in her late 50’s, who was already in the garden for her evening stroll, greeted me with a broad smile. Her unnaturally broad smile signalled her happiness on having me as her partner for the next half an hour or so and it did not take too long for me to comprehend that I ought to forget my “brisk walk” for that evening.
As we both strolled around the mini garden, Mrs Dubey, in her not so gracious tone, broke the ice by probing into my professional life straight away. Upon learning about my work from home profile (which at the least sounded professional to her), her reaction was such that as though all hell broke loose on her.
What astonished me most was her next statement wherein she derisively yet earnestly tells me what good such works for when it does not accrue any good sum of an amount and of course status which comes along with it! She was closely shocked to know that after having a decent educational qualification I choose not go out and earn good. She did not take a fraction of a second to bring in an example of her daughter, who instead of being less than a graduate, earns a whopping five-digit salary. The statements which followed next sealed not only my vocal cord but my mind too, which I would not like to delve further.
What struck me was not her judgmental attitude towards my earnings or her take on my “work from home” profile but it is the general notion that people are developing and drawing a conclusion on your ability and efficacy based on the kind of work you do or the money you earn. Precisely, the latter is more a matter of concern for many.
Professional empowerment is definitely and should be the most important prerequisite for all of us. After all it is this which we have been chasing since years and again it is this from where we earn our bread butter for a living. However, being judgmental on the basis of one’s inflow of income or his or her social standing does not sound sane at all. In many situations it is viewed that if the woman (mostly after marriage) is incapable of earning, which may be accounted for the obligations she might have, is looked down upon as a “thing” who is “good for nothing”.
The peer pressure of marching on the frontline has got into us so much so that even a step behind makes us sleep into deep depression and despair. When I look around, many of us are at least trying desperately to be at the race if not at front of the race. The constant comparison and assessment we ought to face has, at best, crippled us furthermore. The restlessness among the younger generation for marking a niche and creating an identity has got them into unhealthy and depressive competition. Such completions might definitely lead to some astounding career options but, I fear, the contentment of creating something worthwhile in life would fade away very soon.
The world we are heading to is fast progressing, so much so that many of us are caught in the web of confusion which our minds are not able to get hold of. We are all at a juncture between the old value system and the modern progressive world where the ambition of creating a self-made image has got rooted alarmingly, debarring the true creative system of the human mind. The attitude to get everything easy has become the order of the time. The social media has added fuel to the fire all the more. Image creation and presenting to be on a high social standing has actually disabled the productiveness of our minds and we have started living a life very much masked by insincerity and disingenuousness.
My concern is whatever we do or how much we earn must not be a stand point for us to be judged on. The point is that our work should be the source of our genuine happiness and contentment rather than a source of just earning a living. And how do we create genuine happiness? It is by creating value and adding value to whatever we do or whatever we are be it a housewife, be it an entrepreneur, be it a cooperate or be it an artiste.
(The author is a travel blogger & costume stylist based in Mumbai)
