Our country was one which prided itself in its age-old philosophies that carried us all through these centuries and stood us in good stead....we could boast of yesteryears that were richly laid out in history for the whole world to see.But then, we were not so famous as the Britishers ,Americans ,Japanese etc.It was always 'the land of soothsayers , snake charmers and the 'suffering'.Our forefathers brought up children firmly believing the theory of 'delayed gratification'.Children were taught to be scared to ask for anything and even when they did ask for bare necessities,with trembling knees and quivering lips,it was ensured that they never got to see the light of all that they asked for,until well after some time.The punch line was "Never give in to a child's whims and fancies ....they are young and do not know what they ask for ...we must let them know all the hardships of life ....don''t cater to their needs immediately.....maybe after some time...then only they will realize the value of the thing ."Good!" Now, after all these years ,looking back, I can only say that .Though,like all others, I felt different at that time.I still remember when I had to wait for 15 minutes for an answer from my grandfather (who brought me up) for my request for a 10 paisa!Mind you, a mere 10 paisa! For buying 'Soldiers of God'...( a small pamphlet which all Christian students had to buy from the convent sisters at school.I had to stand behind the door while he sat there reading the newspaper or , at least, (to my eyes) pretending to read.He would give me no reply to my coward call of "Appacha! APPacha!.....APPacha!".(different tones and intonations used).Then he would scowl and growl (it seemed to me that way)."WHAT?"......(without turning back to look at me).
"I want 10 paisa ".
"Mmmm...for what?"
"For soldiers of God".
Finished! I would have to listen to a lecture on how to be frugal and how not to waste my father's money( though he was working in Singapore for Hindustan Lever.)and also clarify his doubt on whether I was going to school to study or read story books and pamphlets.What was the mark I got for my last Maths test? I hated him when he asked me that question.He jolly well knew that I was weak in Maths .Then what was his problem? So on so forth. All for a mere 10 paisa!
This was only a small dose of bigger things to come.That was the prelims of 'delayed gratification'.
Now we hear this phrase only for weight losers! You want to lose weight , then you will have to delay gratifying your desires or cravings for food.The 'DONT's stand out much more than the 'DO's.
Everything else has become 'INSTANT'. You have from 'instant coffee' to'instant degrees' and instant ways of getting noticed or getting rich.Children get their needs 'instantly' fulfilled.Grown-ups get 'instant' recognition by being malicious or by passing snide remarks about others .
Today TV channels and institutions are vying with each other to grab public attention by producing 'Instant News'.Be it good or bad , you can trade anything and everything for 'instancy'.Men ,women and children ,who had been there all along ,have 'instantly' been recognized, thanks to reality shows ,politrics and infamous tricks.One can even kill someone and hog the limelight 'instantly'.Villainy has earned 'instant' public appeal and negative attention seekers are ruling the roost.
'Instant Gratification'.....is here to stay.You want to make or mar a person , you can do so instantaneously.You want to build or destroy the World , you can do so ' instantly'.
But,remember,dear friend, the Law of Karma always has the last laugh....and will catch up on you....'Instantly', you will be humbled.If you still evade that very law,then you will be transported 'instantly' into the next world!!!
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