Your Truth & My Truth…

“TRUTH“…Such a sublime concept, isn't it? And yet, its never absolute.

No, this is not a lesson in philosophy. I am talking about a very practical aspect here. Because, we aren't a species that is driven solely on instincts and reflexes. We take time to analyse “the truth”, “the reality” and then act on it, as we see fit.

And hence, the need for “truth” gets elevated several folds. And truth here should be absolute. As a lot depends on it. Sometimes life and death and at other times, a person’s identity. Coz what we believe makes us who we are.

Thats the truth I am speaking of.

Have you wondered why things are never absolutely true? If you start thinking about it, you'll realise that this ambiguity in the concept of truth exists only in things that are human or related to humans. For example, look at the sun or the moon. One is a star and the other, a satellite. Both of them are celestial bodies. That is the truth, the absolute truth. As its universally accepted and testified by astronomers. In another instance, consider an alley cat, throw a stone at it and it will run away. Thats the truth.

But if I say that Mahatma Gandhi was a great man, a lot of people will agree. But there will be a lot who won’t. So then, is the statement true or not? ( The Mahatma is not the topic of this article. Please refrain from debating on him.) A lot of people will not agree with the statement, hence it can’t be called an absolute truth.

People and their characters; thats where most of our truths stop being absolute. Thats where my truth and your truth won’t necessarily be the same. And this relative difference in perception changes everything. If you bullied me in school, I will always look at you as a bully, even if you grow up to be the kindest social worker that ever lived.

If you've been following my blog, in one of my earlier posts, I had mentioned being abandoned by my mother. The thing is my parents got separated and for whatever the reason might be, I was left with my father. I don’t really blame my mum as I guess she would have had her reasons. I don’t judge her for any of it.

But today, she replied to my post, enraged with what I wrote. And she went on to speak about my father’s cruelty and my grandmother’s torment. Thats where our truths differ, mother. I have no hard feelings towards you. Like I said, I am sure you must have had your reasons, but if you’d try to make me believe that my father was cruel and my grandma was evil, that’s not gonna happen.

Because they have been angelic to me. Thats my truth. Your truth might differ, but please don’t try to impose your truth on me. I have accepted that you had your difference with them. But they never said anything bad to me about you and thats why I refuse to believe that they were bad people.

So guys, moving on. We can never really expect two people to believe in everything that the other person says. Nor should people try to impose their truths on others. Its as simple as that. I am not trying to convince you that Mahatma was correct in his ways, because maybe you have your reasons and logic to believe otherwise. Similarly, don’t try to convince me that my father was cruel as I have a thousand reasons to believe he wasn’t.

NOTE: I have been rubbing people the wrong way ever since I started this blog. That wasn't my intention at all. Please don’t take any of my posts personally. What I believe should not bother you. Nor should you believe everything I say. Your truth & my truth…you know what I am saying, don't you?