Milestones
April 2015
The turning points or the milestones are those crucial shifts that change the course of human life and history.They may be referred as the turning points. These changes may be experiments in scientific labs or a thought in a person’s mind, a strong uprising or a suttle opposition. They may be collective or individual but they do affect the beliefs and bring about changes in the lives of many people.
It is the curious nature of man and his constant desire to reinvent and discover which leads to beginning of new chapters.These milestones may not necessarily be the outcome of a collective effort every time, they can be individual in nature.These may not always be spiritual in nature but are always spiritual in essence.
The refusal of Mangal Pandey to bite a bullet filled with cow fat, was one of the first sparks which although was individual in nature but is remembered till date and is considered to be the very first attempt to independence. The first and second world wars completely changed the lives of people and the face of nations. Our own struggle of independence was much non violent till the Jalianwallah Bagh Massacre happened. That was one incident that shook the entire nation.It led to a flood of emotions and favored the extremists theory of tit for tat.
Coming to experiments and curious minds the list is endless. The need to find a cure for small pox became a necessity when it almost wiped out 80 to 90 percent of the native American population. Desperately seeking solution English man Edward Jenner forcibly inoculated 8 year old James Phipps with cowpox virus as he had observed that milkmaids who suffered from cowpox remained immune to small pox. From then on started the widespread vaccinations. Small Pox remains one of the deadliest diseases to be wiped off completely. It was the imaginative mind of the Wright Brothers which has given us the aeroplane. Everything around us is an invention of a curious and fertile mind.They lead to progress of the human race and also become means of better life.
Why do these turning points occur?
Life is about the balancing act. Even in a state of complete in-activeness and inertia there Is a thought process going on. The need of time the situations around a person expect him to change, grow and evolve. A turning point may be as quiet as joining a new hobby class or as loud as walking out of a marriage. They wake up our souls and lift our spirits. Its the light at the end of the tunnel which becomes visible.They may be a result of a condition of extreme pain or prolonged injustice,the result of a curious mind or state of oppression.
Personal Milestones
Who is unaware of the struggles and bankruptcy of Amitabh Bachchan, KBC,not only gave him a second chance but also supported him financially.After going through 15 years of abusive marriage,Sayantani,a housewife from Bangalore,moved out with her children, it gave her a chance to explore herself and also to provide a better life to her children.When going through troubled relationships and alcohol addiction,the famous director Mahesh Bhatt found solace in the spiritual guru,U.G Krishnamurty,his guidance changed the course of his life.Till date he remains addiction free and guide to many people.
When a person is ready, even a book can change his life.These milestones are the essence of humanity.They may lead to such discoveries, realisations and movements which are passed on from one generation to another.They may become the guiding lights and help us live a better life.The public crucification of Jesus Christ gave a kind of strength to the common oppressed people.The experiments and teaching of Newton and Einstein are a basis of education now.The Wright brothers were mocked, today we are enjoying the aeroplane rides.
Whatever makes you do some constructive work for yourself and society must be pursued.You never know what becomes your turning point!!!