.......WHY ME?.......WHY NOT ME?

   WHY ME …….

      …….WHY NOT ME

          While I was on the morning walk, I saw a big stone on the way from a distance. Few people walking ahead saw the stone, just slowed down a bit, and continued their walk by the side of that stone. After reaching there, I picked it up, kept it aside so that it won’t hurt any passerby and continued my walk.

         On the very same day while on the way towards my class, I saw a child throwing chocolate wrapper out of the car window. As the road was stuck with traffic I heard few words from car in the continuity of my walk. Father was instructing his child that not to throw anything out of the car window. But the mother continued after his words “Nothing is going to change in this country. Only my child following the rules of cleanliness is not going to keep our street clean”.

         Would like to share one more experience. While coming back from my class, I saw a water pot overflowing as the tap was on. The two boys few steps ahead saw it, easily ignored and moved ahead. I increased the speed of my footsteps a bit, and closed the tap. The lady came out of the house and said, “Thank you, but is it going to make any difference if you save just few liters of water”.

         As these all three incidences happened on the same day, at night a series of thoughts started rolling in my mind. Why the person who saw the stone first didn’t put it aside? Why the mother didn’t stop her child from throwing the wrapper out? Why the one who saw the pot was full, didn’t close the tap? What exactly avoids the people from doing it? It’s the one fact, they think “WHY ME?”

         In our life we expect many changes in our area, our town, our country. If we come across any required change we start expecting from someone else. Let me make it clear with simple example. If we find our area is not clean. Municipal Corporation should take care of it. But can’t we think the other way? If each house decides that we will take proper care of the disposal of garbage from our house, then within few days you will find that your environment tuned into a clean and safe place.

But if each one think Why Me? Then it’s very difficult to reach what we actually expect. Let’s change the question phrase. Instead of Why Me? Ask a question to yourself WHY NOT ME?

         If we just add one word in between the same question, changes the entire meaning, reflects the complete change in the way of thinking.

         Here I would like to mention few great personalities who never thought WHY ME? Instead they step ahead with a thought WHY NOT ME?

         We all know the great lady Savitribai Phule. It’s not wrong to consider this lady as pioneer of girls’ education. It was quite tough for her to step out of the house, convince parents of girls to educate their girl child, face lot of opposition and even torture by the society. But she was firm on her decision and made the decided task possible. She started the first school for girls in Pune in the year 1848.  Her strong support was her husband, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule. And today we all are aware of the result of the step taken by this great lady.

 

The one more name I remember here is Dr. Anandibai Joshi. This lady became doctor in the year 1886. We can’t imagine the hardships and opposition she faced along with her husband, Shri Gopalrao Joshi during those days. It was not so easy for her to go abroad and complete her education in field of medicine. Unfortunately she didn’t survive for a long time after returning back to India. Her courageous step encouraged many others in furture.

 

Our list won’t end with the name of the one more great personality Ramabai Ranade. This lady was educated by her husband Shri Mahadev Ranade. Along with Marathi, she learnt English language too. She played a very important role in education of girls. First high school for girls was started in Pune in the year 1886.

                                         

Why did I mentioned these three names? Have a look at the years mentioned in which these ladies did the noticeable work for the upliftment of society. Being woman, that too in those years, surrounded by complete orthodox culture, it was not at all easy for them to do achieve their goals. But they didn’t think “WHY ME?” They stepped ahead with words at heart “WHY NOT ME?”

    These are only three examples. The list can be endless if continued.

         In our life we come across so many circumstances, where we can apply this theory. A very common example, if we see empty cold drink glasses on the table in living room, what’s harm to pick it up and keep it in kitchen. Why to waste time in thinking, Why Me?

There are few changes expected in many social practices as per the requirement of the present environment and psychology. But we pull our legs back saying, Why Me?

         I would like to assign one task to all my readers. On the very next day after you read this article, be the keen observer of yourself and the surrounding circumstances. Check where you can apply our today’s theory.

         This is just a small attempt to make a simple change in our way of thinking. Small steps covers a long way. Small changes evolves a new personality within you. And a small change within each individual can make a beautiful society.

         So let’s decide and say all at once

        WHY NOT ME?

 ……….Vrushali S. Narasgouda