Tough to be an idiot...tougher to remain as one- Reflection on ‘3 idiots’

There are lot of ‘I am not sure’. I hope you will also reflect on this.


Yes, I am referring to the idiots of the movie ‘3 idiots’ not the ones in the conventional understanding. I am not sure about the precise meaning of idiot in conventional sense. I think there in just a very thin line (or no line at all?) between two.

For me, the word idiot is just used to indicate the unconventional way the hero deals with. Nobody would ever think (None of the viewers, I am sure) that Amir Khan is an idiot at any point of time in the movie (other than those who are acting in the movie who are asked to do so by the director)

The movie conveys two messages (There could be many more. I wish to discuss these two)

1. Get out of the cat race and enjoy life, learning etc.

2. Do what you love to do, no matter what society says.



It’s not that easy as they said or tried to say (Well, Amir Khan and others could do it as the writer decided to write it that way. After all, movies and its heroes do things which are difficult for common man). Getting out of the cat race of getting good marks, good job (good job is always the well paid job), good car, good wife (good wife is always the daughter of rich father, good looking and at times employed), good house, kids, kids education, their job, marriage, retirement and dying peacefully (isn’t death the end of everyone, no matter you are an idiot or not?)

How many of us have learned just for ‘learning’ without thinking about the marks it carries? How many of us could pursue our ‘interests’ while selecting a course to study or a job to work?? Its not easy to break the conventional way of dealing with these things. Society has set the rules on the accepted degree of deviation one can make from the standard behavior in each and every aspect of life. If somebody crosses the limit, society looks at him in a weird way, and would call him an idiot and... and would do its best to pull him to the standard behavioral pattern.

Why is it happening so?? Nobody to be blamed I guess. Society is conditioned so... so does it condition each and every one who belongs there. How did the society get conditioned so?? There are number of factors. Major one is that the society has a great history of evolution. It has seen engineers and doctors leading comfortable life and earning respect in the society. Success, money, being respected are the scales of measurement. Here comes the risk free play. Society (here, society means your parents and your so called well wishers) infers that if you can be a doctor or engineer, no matter you like it or not, you could lead a happy life (kind of a sure bet.)

Next, what is wrong in such a conclusion?? After all that is the logical conclusion. Our society demands a lot from the parent in bringing up their off springs. They are made to live for them!! (This is another vicious circle!!) they have to provide them the best possible-cloths, education, food etc etc and are supposed to take care of them till they get a desired job. The word desired job, desired income plays the key role here. Being a doctor or engineer ensures that their off springs get the desired job, desired income, easily and in a short period of time. So how can we blame the parents for demanding their son/daughter to become a doctor or engineer??

Even if some parents think in terms of encouraging his son/daughter to be an ‘idiot’, when can they expect somebody to realize that he/she wants to be a singer, footballer, or a wildlife photographer?? It could happen at any point of time in their life, could be when they are very young or at an age of 50!! Can any parent take such a risk and be blamed by the society, as society controls everything...

See guys you just cannot expect any help from your parents or society in nurturing the ‘idiot’ in you. It takes lot of effort, continuous struggle to be an idiot and to remain as one, to pursue your dreams and your passion. You are all alone if you wish to be an idiot. It’s like swimming against the flow; the flow will always pull you down and will try its best to make you a part of it. The struggle is continuous and never ending. As a result, not many have succeeded in being an idiot.



Having said all these,



As in the movie, the reward of being an idiot is worth taking the risk I guess. Amir gets fame, success and his love for being and remaining an idiot. I am still sceptical, as I have never been an ‘idiot’ though I have tried many a times but could not sustain. I have always taken the easy way out, the way of swimming with the flow where you just have to remain afloat. The flow will take you places, may not be so exciting but safe and comfortable. For idiots, journey is not comfortable, not easy, and not predictable. But I think they get to see places which are not seen by many- exotic, exciting and cherish able (again, I am not sure!)



After all, the way you travel makes the difference if you realise that the end is the same for everyone. (I am referring to death. Is death the end? Is the end same for everyone? I am again not sure.)



Guys, if you have been expecting me to come up with a solutions or suggestion or at least a conclusion on being an idiot, sorry you have to be disappointed. I have nothing to suggest but that whatever you choose, to be an idiot or not to be one, do it you way. For a change, consider being an idiot at any point of your life whenever you feel like... after all



Society remembers only idiots even though it does not wish produce any.

 
Sibi Mathews