Interpretation of Reality

We all have been here – a crossroad of uncertainty, where you question your view of something, or even at times, everything. This thought mainly arises when you have a firm belief in your mind, but it is shattered by someone else in the most logical way possible. Say for example you get a certain answer in a mathematics question, but your teacher eloquently describes where you made the mistake and why you’re screwed in the upcoming exam.  

Such instances will fill us with emotions like embarrassment, or frustration. Eventually, we all agree on the same right thing and move on, no one is harmed, and only learnings are extracted from the process. But what about instances where there is no right answer?

I have participated and even conducted multiple debates in the past, most in the form of MUNs (Model United Nations). Generally, I go for the Indian committees in these forums, choosing committees like the Lok Sabha or the AIPPM (All India Political Parties Meet). And from my experience, there is no wrong answer when it comes to politics.

Sure, some people might be considered universally incompetent, and others great visionaries, but in the end of the day there is no certain answer. Dare I say that people tend to just ride the bandwagon, even when electing their own leaders without observing their capabilities and promises.

The issue arises when you truly bring these questions into existence.
“XYZ is such a corrupt party! Look at all these cases it has been racking up for the past few years. That’s why my vote is always for ABC.”
“You do realise that even ABC had been caught red-handed making similar mistakes in the past?”

MUNs have taught me to make my own interpretations. They helped me analyse a situation with an unbiased mindset and pass on my opinion to others. Have I changed the political party I support after joining MUNs? No. But did they teach me to view everyone as mortals, equally capable of making mistakes? Absolutely. I have been striving to learn, to listen to everyone and everything, no matter what my stance on the issue.

But that is not the universal case. I dare you, go open any video where a politician makes a speech or passes a comment on some other party on YouTube. You will be astonished to see the hate comments on that politician, maybe for having a foul mouth, not being educated, or even for focusing on demeaning other parties rather than improving the status of the country. Now search long enough, and you will see videos where the comments are polar opposites. They praise and worship the same leader, who was despised in the other video.

When there is a difference of opinion and no universal right answer, we lose edge on what reality is.

Which party is truly competent to lead us? You ask yourself this question for long enough and I promise you… You will return even more confused.

You do not know what is real, and neither do I. We can only vote for the party that we assume has the calibre to lead us, without knowing what a true leader looks like. And such is the weirdness of reality.

Not only is this limited to politics but to everyday actions –

“Why do we stand up to greet our teachers?”
“It is a sign of respect.”
“How is standing a sign of respect?”

Why not show our teachers respect through prayer or by showing our work and progress? Why should we stand?  

I don’t speak for everyone, but I don’t know the answer to that question. And yet, I am obliged to stand whenever a teacher enters. Is standing truly a sign of respect? If yes, why?

A similar dilemma can be raised on the topic of religion. Different religions have different beliefs, which sometimes lead to conflict. Well, shouldn’t then there be a universal religion everyone follows? To avoid the conflict? Maybe there is. Maybe followers of other religions are misguided. Or maybe I am too involved in learning everything to do with communal violence.

But who is to say what is real and what is not. We lay the foundations of our lives on these hypothetical theories, of what happens when. We have our own Interpretation of Reality. And whether it is good or bad, or whether it is real at all? I leave it to you.