Complexities of life

We human beings are very complex creatures. Firstly, no two human beings are alike - and this is proven by the fact that no one has the same finger print. In a sense, those whirls on our fingers and thumbs characterise our individuality. It's refreshing to know that we are unique and have our own identity.

At the same time though, we tend to converge on the basis of creations. The creation of religion identifies us to a faith and a practice of its following. The creation of state identifies to a country and an identity. Are we Indian, South African, Trinidadian, Mexican? This exemplifies us and separates us. Sometimes the distinctions are more pronounced when we add the "not". We are "not" Indian, we are British. We are "not" Indian, we are American.

Within countries, there are divisions - which state do you belong to? where did you grow up? which class are you from?

It's a way of defining us. But is this what defines a person?

Does your job define you? Or where you live? Or what kind of car you drive? Or which kind of mobile phone you have?

You may have the traveller's heart - like I do. Then you'll love to go anywhere and everywhere. Whether it be the trip to Rishikesh to go white water rafting, or just a trip to your grandma to enjoy her cooking. As long as it's a change. A change from the routine.

But I often wonder about the larger questions. I find that a lot of people don't think about the "why" anymore or "what". What can I do about the state of the country? Why should that person be allowed to get away with murder? When it's an interesting thing that we humans have been endowed with so much. Ben Okri once put it very well - He said "The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater than our suffering."

We are very very deep. Maybe there's a reason we were created this way. We remember dates, we remember our history. We try and learn from it. We try and help out others in need. We celebrate and mourn. We ponder and wonder.

We think.

We are.