THIS ONE – AN ODE

A few decades ago this man, Charles Something-or-the-other, came out with this theory which claimed to explain evolution. Whether it did or not is not something that I would like to get into now. But like all things that become famous just by a stroke of luck or by the power of the men with the papers one of his expressions stuck and how. ‘Survival of the fittest.’ I do not know where he got his English lessons from but I must say he missed out on a few major ones when they were being taught. Fittest? Is that how he categorises all the creatures that have lived long enough to see the light of the day today? And how audaciously he uses the superlative.

The life that Mother Earth harbours is variegated and well spread and mixed. It has creatures that are weak, creatures that are strong and a whole lot of them who fall between these two categories. The system that evolved was one that kept in mind to involve as many number of creatures as possible. Something that goes along the lines of massism. It is very similar to the line of best fit that we have learnt in school. Society or system is something that is like the best fit area that has been drawn from before we were born. And yes, it is rigid and it is not. Rigid for a particular period of time until the area involves the big numbers. But once these masses start moving towards or away from the previous location the area also shifts. And what you see as rigid is but the shape of the area which is wrongly interpreted by you as the location. Location keeps changing but the shape generally remains same. If this society has helped me and a lot of people like me who I proudly claim are not in any way close to being the fittest, then why not? I believe, not everyone, left on their own would do things that would help them live a life of luxury or satisfaction. There are weak minds. There are people who would wither away doing nothing all their lives if they were not forced to do what society, as a rule forces them to do. Here again one may ask why should everyone live within the bounds of the restricting system to benefit others? There are also strong minds. There are minds that could work so tenaciously and smartly that they would have done better than what they could with the restraining reigns of the system. But look at the numbers. I believe the number of people who belong to former category outnumber the people from the latter category by numbers as huge as the number of stars. This is the sacrifice that is expected by the human. To put at ease the lives of people who cannot match him in terms of intellect and strength. No one asks him to do this. The constitution has no rule which mentions this. And this is where society comes in. It lays down these rules that are not really documented as much as the constitution has been. And these are the rules that one would term moral obligation.

You may say that left to desperation all men will tend to themselves – in the process of which some may perish but ultimately we will have people who are all strong minded, strong-willed and what not. And also this process will take less time and we shall see the human race at an all time high with commercial success showing on everyone’s faces and all children of all countries that have survived the revolution going to nice vacations wearing pretty clothes. But the path way I choose, the society-way or the way set by the system is still the better one because though it may be slowing down the progress and increasing the time before economic success shows on the faces of all mankind and kids of all countries, it will ensure me that atleast the kids of all countries- all countries-mind you, will see a sunny morning. These kids may not really think of me or you when they are sitting after a round of games puffing and panting but sure they would thank all the elders and their elders in the form of prayers. Maybe that is why it is a custom to respect our elders and consider them as more than humans rather than just humans who have aged just because they have lived long enough.