A VERY familiar phrase that you would hear in connection with hundreds of different situations, trivial or significant, is: “What are the people going to say?” Almost everyone seems to be in fear of the general public’s opinion, always ready to go to any length — many a time even at the cost of great inconvenience for themselves — to get the people’s approval, or save themselves from their scathing criticism. This has turned our society into one where double standard is practised on a regular basis.
Who are these people who wield such influence in the lives of ordinary folks, overpowering their own judgment, rationality and reason? Would they please openly exhibit their might? Surprisingly enough, this secret hasn’t been revealed as yet. It appears that these elusive people, despite being everywhere, are nowhere to be seen.
In fact, this dreaded breed, “the people”, are none other than you and me, all of us. Here the tormentor and the victim are actually the two sides of the same coin, who keep changing their roles according to the prevailing circumstances. And whoever assumes whatever role, the talk about the people’s opinions continues unabated.
The fact of the matter is that almost all of us, at different times and under different circumstances, play this dual role of making life miserable for the others through bitter criticism and snide remarks, particularly when we find them vulnerable. Ironically, we constantly fear a similar kind of behaviour from the others as well, if the circumstances are not in our favour. More often than not, we, in addition to the distressing problem at hand, get burdened with the issue of how to hide our weaknesses from the ever prying eyes of the people.
Now just imagine the positive changes that such an influence could bring about in society. If put to use at the right places and if it is exercised to weed out the wrong traditions and corrupt practices to promote healthy attitudes, the very issue can be turned into a blessing. But unluckily, the actual situation is quite the opposite. This kind of pressure has been instrumental in maintaining and even promoting the decadent social traditions in our country. Not only that, it has also invariably proved a big impediment in the in the way of a daring few who try and bring about some positive changes into the social structure.
It is an irony attached to the present times that those with a lot of money in their bank accounts acquire power, and earn respect of many a man, no matter if they have become rich through illegal means. And we, instead of having any reservations about the matter, feel quite proud of having a close relationship with such rich individuals. Even if we’re not close to them, we try and fake our relations with them in front of the people we want to impress.
Also, it is a common phenomenon to look down upon a young person desperately trying to earn a living through legitimate means. Here, I am reminded of an educated lady, belonging to a middle class family and with a flair for banking. She complained that she had once thought of supplying baked stuff to the shops in an area where such things would be in great demand. But as soon as she came to know about the residents of the area, and fearing their taunting remarks, she dropped the idea.
Here it needs to be mentioned that a very few families with lots of money and in search of ways to glamourize their lives through it, are definitely responsible for the ever-increasing number of lavish marriages and such events, making those who can’t afford such stuff become victims of inferiority complex. Sadly, the underprivileged also try to act like the rich so that their friends and relatives could hold them in high esteem. It is a natural phenomenon in a society that’s increasingly becoming materialistic.
Who knows how many seemingly happy marriages, where the couples fake a gleeful face, hide the real situation? Such materialistic ties are hardly lasting and can bring anything but real happiness.
The fact of the matter is that in this world, and not just in our society, there are not many people who do not give a hoot about other people’s opinion. To such persons I would like to suggest that at least care about those who deserve genuine respect and treat everybody according to his or her nature.
Here I would like to say that men and women who listen to and tolerate all the rubbish that’s dished out against them are also to be blamed. Though they may be justified in thinking that they themselves don’t initiate anything, it does not absolve them of being a party to such a practice.
