December Rain - 15

 “Be the change you want to see in this world” is a famous quote. But what if I want change but choose to do nothing to make the change happen? Well, I simply leave it to others, including God or convince myself that the change is not necessary. This is one of those, a random thought on inequality, imposed indirectly.

Return journeys, especially after a 500+ km trip between cities, can be tiring and boring. My last one was no exception. We were returning after attending a teammate’s wedding. Since I don’t drive, I sat in the front seat, just watching the scenery and the road. And only the road, once the sun disappeared below the horizon. That was when I started watching people travelling long distances on motorcycle.

The first one, the one that no longer annoys me as much as they did once were the daredevil riders. I know they require great skill and courage. Of course, it is a risk for them, but more importantly, it is a risk for others as well. And then the good guys, the real bikers, those who embark on bike trips. Disciplined and calm, they seemed to enjoy the journey. I often wonder what drives them to find joy in this form of travel.

There were others who simply made me feel the uneasiness, unacceptableness, especially a father and daughter or a middle-aged couple riding together. I somehow was sure that they weren’t on a short trip and didn’t seem physically strong enough for such a long ride. In places like these highways where the traffic rules are still not enforced well, their ride felt highly riskier. Yet, they seemed to have accepted this as their best or perhaps their only choice.

Not every journey gets closer to an accident, and not every trip brings accident to the mind. But there are hundreds of accidents every day. An individual’s life is not about probabilities when even one moment can change everything. There are slightly safer modes of transportation on highways.  But…  I strongly believe that they were okay with their state, and they didn’t think much about the other ways. Why? Perhaps they don’t have the risk awareness. Why? Perhaps they don’t have the money. Why? Perhaps they don’t have an enabling environment. Why?

Here is the reason for my discomfort. There exists a well-crafted system that prevents certain thoughts from arising, and makes us believe that “this is how it is, and it is fine.” Who created this system? Can there ever be a system that truly gives everyone equal opportunity to live equally?

There were thousands of leaders and revolutionaries. There were great saints and philosophers. There were perhaps even gods. Yet, equality has never existed. Never needed? When Earth and Mars are not equal in size, it seems natural - every inequality seems natural. It is easy to convince my mind by pointing to nature’s patterns and our own history. But then, through the window of an air-conditioned car, when I see an old woman, someone of my mother’s age, sitting on the back of a bike, enduring all the pains of the journey as if she has no other choice, the mind shuts, and the heart shouts, “why” and quietens in God.