Daily Post 1227
LIFE IS NOT A DEAL!
Consumerism, the closest cousin of capitalism primarily believes in the concept of life being a deal. There is price to everything and markets forces decide on it. There is no free lunch emanates out of the same ideology in a country where Warren Buffet pledged 85% of his wealth in philanthropy. Notwithstanding, couple of these noble acts, the common mind has become diehard consumerist and the ultimate manifestation of it is treating every single thing in life as a deal.
When life is all about clinching deals day and in day out in every single activity and relationship, what is left of the higher human values which are so brazenly flaunted on a regular basis by all and sundry at the fall of hat. The external / superficial face, which needs to be cosmetic is lovingly cosmetic. The cosmetic avatar camouflages a very crude cost benefit analysis. Only this drives decisions. This prism of cost benefit analysis is the basis for treating life as a deal.
The life is a deal mindset misses the woods for the trees. Purpose and fulfilment the two cardinal principles of human existence is lost in the way. See the wonders it has brought to the educational field; the parent is free with giving the fees, getting an admission done, the school does the curriculum, even before the exam the template of marketing in ready for the next academic year, the management and principal / teachers keep calculating so as not to get exploited. The relationships of the pious schooling system is brokered.
Had life been a deal, it would have delivered learning, education and knowledge. It hasn’t. The non-realisation of a bigger purpose behind the activities we undertake both in personal and professional relationships is by far the biggest misfortune of our times. The even larger goal of fulfilment does not occur even in the farthest imagination. Values are anyway amiss. Running behind the elusive happiness and well being is not going to materialise.
NATION BUILDING CANNOT BE THE SUM TOTAL OF MILLIONS OF SUCH DEALS IN PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIVES.