Breaking the Silence: Why are we reluctant to question the society?

    Have you ever noticed often times we are reluctant to have opinions on the things we agree or disagree upon. Nuanced or dissenting views are often misinterpreted as being controversial. Critical thinking has been lacking in modern societies for quite some time now. Critical thinking comes from questioning ideas, perspectives, thoughts on a regular basis. It's not about being cynical but to be curious to know and asking questions like how, why, when and then forming a statement based on evidence. Its a skill that should be taught, as one cannot reach to a conclusion without a proper pathway. Skills like "How to think", "How to write" may sound simple but to bring in practice requires constant learning and reflection on a regular basis.

Certain cultural norms and trends emerge on a regular basis. We blindly follow these trends to fit into social groups to look sophisticated and "modern" in front of society. We blindly follow the crowd, we lose the ability to question. We outsource our judgment to the collective opinion of the internet.. This creates a culture where criticism, even constructive, is silenced.

There are many topics where I disagree upon but I am not quite vocal as criticizing anything is termed as negative and pessimistic. 

Hustle culture, which glorifies overworking at the cost of mental health.

The idea of a ‘standard’ of living, that includes basic necessities is often compromised often with less questioning. 

1) Hustle culture is a highly debated topic - while some view it as a symbol of success, others see it as a toxic mindset that glorifies burnout. Hustle culture is overly glorified according to me. It drives people into working hard without any meaning or purpose. Meaning and purpose comes from thinking clearly while having an open mind. If people are so engrossed in working and working we forget to take a  pause and think about our own mental well being and the things we love to do. 

 Two years ago, I was that person constantly chasing every possible opportunity to be successful, even when I wasn’t genuinely passionate about what I was doing. Eventually, I decided to take a break to reflect and analyze whether my actions truly made sense. I started traveling to new places with an open mind, seeking fresh perspectives. Traveling helped me understand life beyond just career goals and the constant pursuit of success. I also tried a few things I would never have imagined doing two or three years ago. One of the most profound experiences was traveling to Sikkim to attend a Vipassana meditation retreat. The clarity I gained from that experience is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life.  

Now not many get the opportunity to take a break. But I would always suggest to take a step back and see things from a third person perspective. Trust me you will learn a lot about yourself than you know and it will help you in making better decisions in life eventually.

2) Standard of Living: 

The standard of living in India is often compromised without much questioning. Having lived in Mumbai for the past 22 years, I have witnessed how poor public infrastructure severely affects daily life — travelling just 10 kilometers can take over an hour, and even longer during the monsoon season.

The standard of living encompasses basic necessities such as food, transportation, public parks, clean drinking water, and proper sanitation facilities, among others. However, Mumbai — the financial capital of the country — has consistently failed to provide these basic amenities to its residents. This reflects the inefficiency and negligence of public authorities in positions of power.

For instance, metro construction in Thane, where I live, has been ongoing for the past seven years, causing daily traffic congestion and inconvenience. Yet, unfortunately, no one seems to question this prolonged disruption. Even the educated class has remained largely indifferent, showing little sign of dissatisfaction or protest. Ironically, it is this very group that has the potential to make a difference by raising its voice collectively.

For that, we need to form citizen advocacy groups that actively operate within our localities and hold people in power accountable. Unfortunately, instead of taking such action, we tend to distance ourselves, assuming these issues do not directly affect us. However, this mindset is misguided — these problems will inevitably impact future generations. The water we drink, the air we breathe, and the public transportation we rely on are all being affected negatively, and the consequences of our inaction will only grow over time.

These are just a few areas that directly affect human life, but there are many more that deserve attention. We need to engage in discussions, organize conferences, and use social media to raise our voices collectively. This is not about being a so-called woke activist, but about being genuinely aware of what is happening around us and not living in a fantasy world where everything seems to be going well.