The Difference...

DISCLAIMER: THIS IS A PIECE MEANT TO BE HARSH IN CERTAIN AREAS, EITHER TO SPARK REALIZATION OR PURELY TO INFUSE SOME KNOWLEDGE. BUT ALL IN ALL, THIS PIECE EXPRESSES AN OPINION. PURELY MY OWN. I DO NOT WISH TO CHANGE ANY PERSPECTIVES WHICH MIGHT LIE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE. IT REFERS TO NO ONE IN PARTICULAR. IF YOUR WILL OR CURIOSITY TO READ THE WHOLE THING HAS NOT YET BEEN LESSENED, I SUGGEST YOU READ THE WHOLE THING. BEST OF LUCK.

i think it was some sort of prize distribution where i heard the speaker say - everyone has untapped potential and talent and it must be brought out. everyone has that "something special" and everyone has a forte`. - and so on and so forth. if i still lived in an illusion, i would believe the man and really look hard to find something. at least SOMETHING.

some people are gifted or special. no denying that they excel at something and are truly brilliant at it. these are the kinds who go down in history for having aced something that others could only vie to achieve. these are the kind of people termed in English as talented.

and then there is another lot. they know lots of things and are good at them all. they are noticed and also go down in history for having being the ALL ROUNDERS. but lets just look closely at what i just said. they're GOOD at lots of things. not great, not exceptional, not any of the adjectives one would generally use for the people mentioned a little earlier.

and there is [not so surprisingly] another breed. the ones who try. they go down in history just for that. they tried. most fail, some even manage to get promoted to another category. these are the kind of people who still trust that man's words - everyone has talent.

if everyone had talent, every house would have a Mozart, every neighbourhood would boast of a Shakespeare, every area of a Shah Rukh Khan and every city of their own Barack Obama. but such things only exist in a utopic world and sadly, ours is not. it need'nt be either. if everyone was a Mozart where would there be space for any Salieri? if everyone was a Shah Rukh Khan, where would all the up and coming actors go? there is a space meant for everyone. not necessarily a space of great name, fame and recognition, but not even of a downtrodden dung heap!

i think there needs to be a balance. everyone cannot have everything. if i can write it is definitely not mandatory that i need to sing, act or dance just because someone else does! i think i am fine the way i am and i think we ought to stay in our own domains. its good to be experimental but not if it fails every time you try and still remain oblivious to the fact that its not the thing for you. we're all cut out for a certain task and its best we stayed in our own mould. if we tried [however desperately or sincerely] to change or add on to our list of accolades or skills, we are cheating ourselves, others around us and the force that created us. worse, we're simply being greedy. when you're plate has a burger, fries and a milkshake, why covet someone else's pizza!

there is a vast difference between talent and mediocrity. i don't advocate it because it is bad enough that there is a divide even when the holy books [and the Indian Constitution] say that all are equal in the eyes of god and the law. we need not impress upon others about the divide we see between themselves and us because they're the first ones to feel it. its possible [and good] to bridge the gap and know that we can create the utopia. we need not follow the fact that there is none because all these statements of equality, potential and talent did not appear out of thin air but arose out of matters of some consequence. the rest is for you to decide. you are the best judge and the worst defense.

=D