Can you make money erase your past?

The above sentence is from one of the most renowned literary works, ‘The Great Gatsby’. The central figure in the book, which is now one of the elites in the city, famous for hosting lavish, extravagant parties at his mansion, attended by the who’s who in the city. Many knew his past but no one talks about it, openly, but somehow it gets surfaced.

Everyone has a past, for many it remains relatively constant except the mandatories like age, health and appearance. But for few it changes dramatically and drastically. We see many such rags-to-riches stories in our surroundings – many industrialists, first generation entrepreneurs, celebrities, politicians and people from many walks of life. Looking at their present, it’s difficult to believe about their past. Our Indian films have many such stories.

When moving up or ahead in life, we have to go through many hardships, sacrifices and the compromises (many a times unavoidable, unethical and difficult). Some, we can’t avoid and few we go ahead intentionally to achieve what we decided in our life, to prove oneself, to show others, and to make a mark. We see many cases, which are in the race but very few succeed despite doing all above things. There is this intangible “luck” factor, whether we believe or not, needs to be on our side.

Then finally, they accomplish whatever they were aiming for. Now it’s the time for celebration, to mark their accomplishments. People flocking to their doors with accolades, cajoling them and now use them for their future objectives, priorities in their life.

But somewhere in the society, they talk about the things which are difficult to digest; they may not talk this upfront, but the sound of those whispers, never too faint to remain unheard.

The past comes haunting, particularly when it’s unethical, full of undue favours and compromises. It gets talked about every now and then. For few it matters and for others it may not. It will always there below the luxurious robes you put on. It will shake you inside, though you seem a rock solid outside. The luxury, wealth, the money you earned, may mask your past but it certainly can’t erase it.

Vb