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Thursday 5 January 2017

Mindsets: Own it Up

I was in my apartment in Bangalore suburbs, miles away from the city, cozy and comfortable, with neighbors – waiting to cut the cake to welcome New Year and wish each other.

In the other corner of the city something else was going on.

We discussed. We analysed. We blamed. 

Is this due to male chauvinism?
Is this due to low self esteem?
Is this due to identity crisis?
Is this just show of power?
Is this poor upbringing? 
Is it lifestyle choices?

OR 

Is this just failed parental strategy?

How do parents bring up their boys?

They don’t raise them to assault 
They don’t raise them to raise their voices either
They don’t raise them to take stand
They don’t raise them to defend the right
They don’t raise them to own up what they did – good or bad
They don’t tell them about soul intelligence
They don’t build their faith

Do they let ethics, moral standards and values be practiced?
Do they set the right examples?
Do they nurture their esteem or ego?

On my father's death anniversary a couple of months back, my neighbor and her teen age daughter came to our house, after she was back from B-School, around seven in the night. Her mother asked me politely where my father's photograph was placed. I took them to our God's room. The young girl lit an incense stick in front of him and I watched - how she prayed for his blessings - that sincerity was so human, so real, so genuine.

I just happened to mention about dad's death anniversary when we were in the market the previous day as I did not buy chicken. My neighbor remembered that, told her daughter and what followed after that is for everyone to read.

I believe 90% people care. They do everything right. That 10% who don't do it right, make those headlines either for their own actions or for their spiritually distraught children.

Who will own it up? Whose responsibility is it to build that mindset to own up?