THE CHAINS
One day we began to realize things, recognize people and observe the surroundings. We started enjoying the nature. Suddenly our parents said, this is our name, this is our religion and this is our home. We had no pasts in mind. We accepted our name, our religion and our home. We didn't realize that they had put a chain around us. A first chain of restrictions.
Days moved. We were sent to school for studies. We tried to protest and failed. We became students. Whatever teacher taught us, we accepted. Sometimes we understood things. Sometimes we just learned for qualifying the examinations. We had different skills. One was good in painting. One was good in singing. One was an athlete and another was a dancer. But nobody cared. Everyone received same books, same examinations. We had no other option. We accepted. We didn't realized that it was another chain they put on us.
We continued our life journey. We walked forward as we did not see a way to go back. Our speed of walking had reduced. The chains were tightened more than ever. We had no option to pause life. We moved again.
Time moved fast. We walked into a college. Then we found ourselves getting some free space. As it was the first time, many bewildered, did not know how to use it. Somebody used it very perfectly. They constructed many ladders to go high. Others just did what they felt like doing. Somebody had to sacrifice their free space for their family. They studied harder and harder. One day everyone received a common gift. A friend!! A person to understand us. A person to guide us and a person to inspire us when we were down. We walked three or four years together.
Slowly and slowly we started perceiving things, we realized ourselves. Some of us realized, we had traveled in the right path. But majority realized that they followed the wrong route. There was no time to correct the path. Some reached a junction where they met multiple paths in front. Majority selected the most traveled. Only a few dared to chose the path less traveled.
Today the walk continues...We are walking through different paths. Some doing business. Some are IT professionals. Some are scientist and some are artists, and the list goes on. But we have one thing in common. The chains. The chains our society had put on us. The chains which restricted us to think creatively and work for us. The chains which restricted us to love a person of other religion. The chains have created many religions in the society, many castes in the society and importantly a lot of narrow minds. Even this has led to chaos, riots and even wars. It has impacted the attitude of people as well.
"We belongs to royal family. We should not do this job". I heard someone saying this. "He is a driver and my daughter is an Engineer. How can I give my daughter to him?" Someone else said. "I want to see you as a great Engineer. You cannot earn much with writing." A father to his son. "You are a girl. You cannot go out at this time" A mother to her daughter.
We cannot forget the fact that many were succeeded in breaking the chains. We have many inspiring personalities. Their journeys were never ever easy. They surpassed many hard times. Some even faced death. But we should remember that they dared to break their chains.
The number of chains are increasing. Limiting our moves. Limiting our thoughts. I wonder when do we get freedom from these chains. When do we get time to chose our life?
