Principles we live by

“Mitti Ke Rang”, the colors of earth or life to be specific. There used to be a serial with this title on Doordarshan long back. It was the only channel available that time, showing something meaningful. This serial used to show the many hues of human life in single episode of just 20-25 minutes and next week with different story.

Once they showed a fisherman story, two fishermen friends, neighbours from childhood, who grew up together, later married and with kids. Both used to go together for fishing. One used to throw the net as many times as he wants, get the fish for home, to sell and fulfil other needs, whereas the other has a principle of throwing the net only thrice in a day and if get something then go back happily or the day nothing got anything, go empty handed but not to try for the fourth time. Many a times he and his family had to sleep empty stomach. His wife used to get angry but it didn’t change his behaviour.

Many of us get abided by some or other principles in our life. Few ingrained in our life as we grow up, looking at the surrounding, the upbringing and few laid upon by the society.

Two kids, one goes to school and other, because of poverty has to go for picking up the garbage, to collect and sell off to make his ends meet. Sometimes, even the whole day’s work doesn’t fulfil the price of one-time food and he decides to steal, nothing big, but just the loaf of bread which he never would have even thought of, if got the enough from his hard work. Here he broke the law, the principle laid by the society.

Then what is the compulsion of these principles, whether one’s own created, like the other fisherman, or put up by others. When we play a game or participate in a competition, we check for level playing field – same age, weight, height or the level of proficiency, then its expected not to break any rules, everything needs to be as per the principles set.

But in real life, it’s never the same and in this uneven playing field, the one who has to live by or decides to stick to his/her own principles, mostly have to remain empty stomach, just like the other fisherman.

Vb