Carefree

Uncertainty Is Certain

Deccan Herald; Date: 23-Dec-08

Uncertainty fascinates few of us; most find it unnerving. But uncertainty ‘pinches’ the most (after stock markets, of course!) while deciding your life partner. Come marriage season and parents of nubile children seek to get the horoscopes matched even before they have seen the candidate. But, a recent experience of a close friend made me think about the “abusive” attitude prevalent in our society.

My friend’s father was a firm believer in matching horoscopes. Marks scored on a person’s astrological journey mattered more to him than those on his academic journey! Being a caring parent, he wanted to leave no uncertainty and, after all, he wanted to ensure a bright future for his daughter. After rejecting many deserving profiles, finally the astrologer had good news. What’s more, the hearts matched as well and the marriage was solemnized.

Few weeks back, I met my friend’s father who looked rather pale. I learned that unfortunately the married couple couldn’t conceive. Numerous medical tests and medicines went futile. Worried about his only son’s future and the family’s heir, the son-in-law’s father sought help from his astrologer. Strangely, the astrologer “revealed “that the couples’ horoscopes indicate that they cannot have a natural progeny. The shocker came when the husband and the in-laws family, firm believers in astrology that they were like my friend’s father, decided to dissolve the marriage altogether.

Even before I could express my anger, a slew of questions stared at me. If my friend’s father had the right to ensure better future for his daughter based on his astrologer’s word, isn’t the in-laws family fair in ensuring their son’s and family’s future by listening to their astrologer? More importantly, does my friend’s father have the moral right to challenge the in-laws and their astrologer’s wisdom? In essence, weren’t both fathers “abusing” astrology to serve their selfish motives, happiness for their children? Somewhere, I could hear my heart whisper. God must have deliberately kept the future uncertain to help mankind realise the value of self-belief. But at the cost of our self belief, we usually end up “abusing” astrology, palmistry, etc. to fulfill our desires. Sadly, we realise this only when we are at the receiving end.

Lest we forget, no matter what any astrologer or palmist says, those who have believed more in themselves have never regretted. And that, I guess, no astrologer, palm reader, oracle or prophesier will tell you. The future has been kept uncertain to help one realize the value of self-belief.