Wednesday 13 September 2017

In The Mind Of An Intellectual

This word Intellectual used to mean something to me. A person to look upto. Like Dr. Adrian in the movie 2012. A visionary who could see what anybody else couldn't. A rationalist who can connect the dots when no one else can. Someone who doesn't run with the horde, doesn't follow blindly or best of them all, someone who learns from the mistakes of the others I think is the most intelligent fellow among us.

But sadly, in these days an intellectual person is not someone who posses all these qualities, he's the one labelled as such by his peers. So, you might be an ass for all we know but you're counted among intellectuals because people have labelled you as such. One such example that we all see these days is the labelling of average, hippie journalists and bunch of naysayers as intellectuals. One such so called intellectual was murdered last week - Gauri Shankar. And how her death has fanned an opposition fire over the safety of 'intellectuals' is mind boggling. Right wing has been labelled as murderer even without an investigation. And who has called them murderers? Yes you guessed it right, the Intellectuals! Just imagine the irony!

I am a little baffled by how all these intellectuals in today's times are leftists or those who support left ideology. I make a mistake. These people don't even know what left means. They are just opposing the BJP, so they just use the antonym. So, it's baffling to see how all the intellectuals in times of today are BJP antagonists. They are not people mind you, the indian media has labelled them as think tanks, Intellectuals, free thinkers. So much for free thinking when you're harbouring such venom for right wing..so much for the intellect when you level baseless allegations against your own government without even giving it a second thought. It's a real travesty of democratic freedom that such bigots are given air time on national tv.

By the way do you think someone who has a good command over english language an intellectual? I have come across some really nasty people who have a superiority complex just because in all their life their whole achievement was to read some novels and write a few articles in english. It feels good to have a decent command of the language, a beautifully crafted speech that sways the public, like Mark Antony in Julius Caesar. So, do you think it's necessary to use big, bold words and flowery language to make an impact? I honestly feel that when you have actually something worthwhile to say you don't require the help of unusual words. Use of unconventional language may make it difficult for people to understand what you're saying and of course it is open to interpretation. But who will tell these intellectuals this thing. They take pride when commoners like us aren't able to understand what they're saying.

This bunch of intellectuals is self proclaimed. They do not amount to anything in their life but feel they are above the average people. Most of them are arts students. I wonder what they have done to warrant such attitude in their life. It must be a defense mechanism to make up for the arts course they are in. Like people with shallow confidence try to make up for it by behaving in an angry fashion like jats. Whatever this is, these people are going to be future barkha dutts and gauri shankars and sagarika ghoshs of India and it pains me to see that their only skill which is to read and give opinions in english language is just going to be used in petty politics to bicker at one another. They could also write diaper advertisements in mom blogs if they're ever out of work.

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