In all these years, I think I can safely say I have observed three kinds of people around me : those who think beyond their times to what their peers hesitate to even imagine - the Moderns; those who live in a time warp that keeps them hibernating in the age of their ancestors and refuse to accept societal changes - the Stagnants; those who observe the minds which are far advanced to them and imitate their thoughts, mannerisms and life, believing that by mere imitation, they too can live on par with the moderns - the Imitants.
And I think none of these three understand the others, thus creating conflicts and chaos in the society.
'Caught in a strange land in a net with other butterflies, I'm a caterpillar yet undecided to remain a caterpillar and perish or turn into a beautiful butterfly and live a life full of joy.' Readers don't laugh. But I came up with this one night recently when I was travelling in a train. I tossed and turned, not being able to sleep, upset over unexplainable things and frustrated over events not in my control. Then it occurred to me that our life and its usefulness depends on our decisions -- whether to remain a crawling caterpillar whose existence otherwise is either ignored by all and sundry or who is cursed for just being there and thrown out with a stick, or to develop wings of life and metamorphose into a beautiful butterfly whom everybody adores for its beauty and colour, for its flitting liveliness, for its service to the flower's pollination... I thought that I should be a butterfly, of service to others, but then again I thought, anyway, who really cares?
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