The following is paraphrased from a book I picked up whilst travelling called Bombay Rains, Bombay Girls by Anirban Bose.
The Scene
A man is taking his son to university in another city, Bombay. They jump in a taxi with their bags. The taxi is involved in a minor accident and the driver of the other car gets in the taxi and starts beating the taxi driver. Man and son are threatened with a knife so exit the taxi. After being beaten, the taxi driver zooms off without them, taking their bags.
Man and son decide to make their way to the university on foot. Upon arrival, the taxi driver is waiting there with their bags, and in fine spirits. Man and son offer to go to the police and file a report, but the taxiwala dismisses the incident saying "as long as you're not seriously hurt, you just learn to ignore... In a big city like this, nobody knows or cares... and you just learn to continue like nothing has happened."
Lessons on Life
The man and son later discuss the incident. The conversation left an impression on me and it is paraphrased (and copied directly where appropriate) below...
I am troubled by the taxiwala's reaction. How could he be so calm after such a thing?... After all, what is life devoid of dignity?... It is more important to succeed in one's own eyes than to live up to someone else's expectations. I have never compromised, never... but you know what, every day I walk with pride, I feel comfortable in my skin, and I sleep at night with a clear conscience. That is who I am... my being, my soul. I cannot cmopromise on that.
Such a practical approach to life is good, but sometimes it is good to look at life in the simplest of terms... Feel bad when hurt, outraged when wronged, pained when sad, happy when right. Continue to believe in goodness, and right, and justice, and truth, however much your faith is questioned by circumstance. Idealism, however impractical, gives a meaning to our existence... Wonder at the beauty around you, question wrong without doubting its injustice. Doubt comes after going through life.
Compromises are part of life, but they make you cross a line that starts to disappear the first time you cross it, until one day it disappears altogether. Then wrong becomes right and lies seem like the truth; everything becomes just a matter of interpretation because truth loses its best quality - its simplicity. That's when you should look in the mirror and see if you recognise yourself as the person you wanted to become. That is the day you'll know if you will sleep well of keep awake the rest of your nights, talking to your conscience.
Pretty profound stuff eh? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments...
