A Writer’s Self Interrogation
Dear friends,
Today I would like to discuss a very crucial philosophical insight with every writer on steemit. You as a writer or thinker might have come across this thought and if you did not then here I am discussing this with you.
A few day back I was reading Mahatma Gandhi’s Autobiography My Experiment with Truth, I’m sure many of you must have read this legendry work of exponent of truth and ahimsa (non-violence). It was while reading his book that a beautiful insight into a writer’s writing was brought to my attention.
Did you know that even though Gandhi always wanted to write his autobiography, he was pulled back by a philosophical fear? Even once he was almost at the start and a simple question from his friend made him wait for next four years and think whether it is a good idea or not. Now if you haven’t read his book then you would wonder what was his friend’s question?
Well, his friend had his own skepticism regarding whether Gandhi should write an autobiography or not. Let me quote here his powerful view. Gandhi’s friend said to Gandhi:-
“ What will you write? Supposing you reject tomorrow the things you hold as principles today, or supposing you revise in the future your plans for today, is it not likely that men who shape their conduct on the authority of your word, spoken or written, may be misled.”
Interrogation With A Writer
Friends we all are inclined towards writing but as Gandhi’s friend posed a very relevant question. Do you truly know who carries the weight of your writing? Do you ever think before writing that how, your writing might impact your follower? Did you ever pose a question that our beliefs are constantly evolving and changing, but a written piece survives in all eternity? What if, what I write today, is not what I believe in tomorrow but there will always be people who will base understanding on your abandoned beliefs? So do we have any responsibility as a writer? Are we misleading people or are our writing shrouded in our hypocrite intellect? A few questions which I would love to hear fellow Steemians views.
Self-Reflection
As a writer I try to be cautious to adhere to only those thoughts which I believe in; yet I to see an evolution of what my beliefs were five years ago and what they are today. So, did I misled people; maybe it is not in an writer’s capacity to see the future of his philosophical interventions. We has human beings are in a constant state of learning and self-reflection. Our rationale is influence by our surrounding so is our ideological affiliations. In my belief ultimately a writer’s task to lit a path but it is a reader’s discretion. A writer can put insights into a path but its consequences are part of a reader’s endeavor. Beliefs and ideologies are transient. It is due to this transient nature of ideologies that dynamism is part of this realm.
This transient nature of one’s belief is what Gandhi’s friend emphasized on, that you might move on from what you believe today, but these abandoned beliefs are lightening path for someone’s life.
What do you think of this ideological dilemma???
Quote Source:- Gandhi's Authobiography
Image Source:
http://www.pulitzer.org
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There is nothing wrong with voicing our views eloquently. Neither is there a problem if/when we change our views over time, due to additional knowledge, experiences and changed values. Changing such views down the road provides a strong argument for the new held view, does it not?
I have not read Mahatma Gandhi’s Autobiography My Experiment with Truth, but am interested now. Thanks for sharing.
It is a great book his concept of relative truth and compromised reality is worth every accolade. Please do read.
Changing beliefs is inevitable but the question is how justifiable is that you don't hold onto those view on which some believe you do and they follow you.
If we do not change our views over time, maybe we were right at the outset, Maybe we are not developing? Hard to tell.
As for followers, they may or may not come along. We search truth and pursue truth for its sake, not for the sake a someone who has an opinion.
Yes but autobiographies are a way of conveying a path. It made me too wonder that how are these two realms balanced. Developing and misleading. That is why i would love to hear more opinions.
No balance - because it goes to Motive. Does it not? One is starting to see, the other is always blinding.
Yeah it is. But such interrogation is necessary to find that motive. Maybe this is why a man like Gandhi pondered for few years.
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I really don't think about this too much.
If the topic is interesting to me, I will read it, comment too.
I don't worry myself too much about details but rather follow my basic instincts when it comes to the posts.
Yup thats a good way to go. The question digs deep into going beyond writing to its consequences.
If we were look at what might happen tomorrow with our beliefs, capabilities and evolution, nobody would write anything in the light of the individual conviction, or even the society.
Everything changes, so we do, the writing is maybe the only thing to witness to our evolution and growth.
It is that is why i say it is reader's discretion to choose path a writer can can only lit it.