Waiting for Something

On recent Gandhi Jayanti there was article in leading newspaper – ‘Waiting for Gandhi’. Where writer expresses and emphasizes need for Gandhi, who will once again brings much needed peace and harmony in our world. Few weeks back I have also seen sticker behind a public transport vehicle – ‘Waiting for Christ’. We Hindus are also waiting for God’s tenth avatar. People of Maharashtra (read as: Marathi people) are waiting for two major Marathi dominated parties will come together in recent election and bring the prosperity in the state.

If we think little deep down, this funda of waiting for something, is very simple we believe that future will bring hope and prosperity. As the writer in his article mentions that present violent world once again need ideologies of Gandhi. I have a basic question in this; when we all know principles and values Gandhi practiced in his whole life and ultimately died. Why we need another Gandhi to repeat the same? It is something like I know it but will not follow it unless either someone guides me or others follow in first place (then, I will be last to join). Similar thing can also be said for Christ.

Why we need another replica, when one is enough (in fact as per Osho, one is more than enough and that’s why existence doesn’t repeat same person). Even if we get another Mahatma it will be on his terms and conditions and will not be exactly like Gandhi. His goal might be same but to reach he might use altogether different path than his predecessor. And for us it would not be easy to digest.

There is another root cause reason for this. We simply like to follow someone, it makes things simple. If something goes wrong we have already identified the person to blame for. Rather than standing alone for a cause we would like to queue behind someone.

May be this ‘waiting for’ syndrome cost our country a lot. It is like we were waiting for someone to invade our country. The list is long Mughals, British, and Portuguese.

So rather than waiting for something, it’s better to get going with some purpose or cause. It is like; if you believe in something stay connected with the idea. To put it Gandhi’s words – “first they ignore you, then they laugh at you…. “.

- Shashank