The Dilemma of Enjoying Loneliness

Enjoying being lonely is a very dangerous thing. It might sound ridiculous but after a point of time you begin to like it. You like how there is less drama in life, there are lesser things to worry about and the best part of it is that you can do whatever you want to do without the fear of 'Log kya kahenge'

I mean, first of all, no one should care about that.. however, the social-guy inside all of us does care atleast a tiny bit about what people around us think when do a certain thing. Being lonely means there are lesser people around you. Lesser the people, lesser the worries and sometimes it is so peaceful it is almost liberating.

Being lonely becomes dangerous especially when you begin liking the feeling of not having the obligation to talk to people around you. There are times we all want to just be in our own shells and enjoy our own company accompanied by our favorite soundtrack, favorite book or just the mobile phone. When you start enjoying the company of these things more than the company of living breathing human beings, that's when the dilemma comes in.

Some people might refer to it as anti-social, some people might not care. Some people will think you're under depression or 'something' happened. This is the part where it gets the most annoying. I mean why do people have to presume that something happened every time I am not smiling or I don't seem cheerful enough? Can't I not want to smile? What if I don't feel enthusiastic today? I just want to save my energy and binge eat and eat and eat until my mouth is tired of chewing.

I think college has brought me to a stage where I prefer it when there are less people around me. That doesn't mean I don't talk to people. Ofcourse I do. But I choose who I want to talk to and sometimes I still have the liberty to decide who not to talk to. I choose not to have meaningful conversations with most people because I have realized that they do not care enough for me, and they are just looking for some new gossip for entertainment. I choose the important people in my life carefully. I choose them very skeptically. Sometimes and un-choose someone I had chosen before.

I like being in control. I do not feel sad. I think it's the control freak inside who atleast wants to control my own life. And I think I like the way it is.

Because, I no more have the energy to maintain superficial friendships. If we click, we click... If we don't there is no point putting in too much effort for something that doesn't have a clear future. We'd be better off in our own separate worlds.

Yes, that's why I enjoy being lonely. Because then, when I associate with people, I know those are the friends I am making for life and those are the ones who mean something to me.

5 Reasons Why I’m Against The Mumbai Meat Ban

Very recently, leaders from BJP asked for a meat ban in some localities following some self sacrificial threats from Jain monks in Mumbai during the upcoming Jain religious festival - Paryushan.

I am a Jain, I follow Paryushan BUT I do not support the meat ban.

There are 5 reasons for it

1. People earn their daily bread by selling meat - what will they earn in these days? (Jain myth - never hurt someone else for your selfish motives)

2. My religious choices are my personal choices - this applies to people who are NOT jains as well. It is their personal choice. The Paryushan does not mean anything to people who are not Jains. Why impose some rules that mean nothing to them. These monks are just inviting criticism and skepticism to Jainism (as if there isn’t enough inside the community anyway).

3. Hell yes it’s political. The monks want to get more followers and the political leaders want more votes. The stringent and orthodox Jains who believe Jainism is THE ultimate religion are all going to be super pleased.

4. For lack of a properly formulated argument, the monks threatened to sacrifice themselves in the name of religion. For god’s sake, what is the difference between these monks and terrorists? If they threaten the population’s emotions to get their job done?

5. Lastly, why does it pain them to see meat hanging in shops only on these selected days of the year? Why create a fuss about it only for 4 days? The pain should be a continuous feature, right? The poor animals are cut and killed every single day of the year. Basically, they are trying to market the idea of ‘Paryushan’ - but hey, dear marketers - no one cares!

Such ‘stunts’ end up defaming a great religion and make it popular for idiosyncrasies created by the modern misconceptions of what Jainism (or religion for that matter) actually is!

Maybe it’s my education which liberates me from orthodoxies and my extensive reading of Jain texts which enhances my belief that Jainism isn’t only about Paryushan. Maybe it’s a surge of open mindedness and accepting of the fact that we are living a secular country which allows for the co-existance and tolerance of different religions.

I sincerely hope these religious authorities and the man behind instigating this meat ban get to read this.