Injustice, violence, and suffering in the world have troubled me since childhood.
As I became familiar with global events, politics captured my interest and social maladies began bothering me. In college as I studied history, I could not resist dwelling on India’s drawn-out struggle for independence, the birth of communism, the division of weak countries by strong ones, and the creation of the Eastern Bloc. I wondered how just three men (Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt, and Joseph Stalin) could decide Europe’s future after World War II, crushing the aspirations of millions of Europeans!
Compared to many global regions, I found my pastoral village life safe and comfortable. I pondered about ways to use my God-given talents to benefit society. I figured people everywhere hunger for tips to improve their attitude to beautify their lives, and win the hearts and minds of other people.
I read Gandhi’s autobiography, and about his assassination on Jan 30, 1948 by a Hindu fanatic who loathed his concessions to Muslims.
I conveyed to my wife Regi my parents’ philosophy that we could wipe out malice from people’s hearts by approaching them in a way to create welcoming surroundings. Regi suggested that I compile and transform my thoughts into a book. Her impetus instantly rekindled my latent, long-cherished life-mission for such an undertaking, and I thought through the viability of propagating my ideas.
I researched the intricate reasons for human cruelty. I meditated over questions such as, (a) Why do people behave differently? (b) Why are some good, some bad? (c) Why are opportunities beyond reach for some? (d) Why are some rich while the majority are poor? (e) Why are certain wealthy people not charitable? (f) Why do parents and children turn against each other? (g) How could a 9-year-old commit murder? (h) How could humans cognizant of their frailties and mortality be egomaniacs?
I thought to myself, in a relationship we have two main choices—to love, or to hate. Which one is good for us—to love or to hate? Why do people respect or despise us? Not simply because of our views or looks; the primary raison d’etre is our attitude. Attitude shapes relationships. Every relationship—spousal, parent-child, familial, business, communal, international—is rooted in attitudes. Character and attitude of humans making contacts and conducting transactions play pivotal roles in shaping the outcomes of those contacts and transactions. If one is impertinent by nature, that characteristic is mirrored in one’s behavior.
I ruminated over the contrasting lifestyles I noticed in rural southern India, metropolitan Delhi, and trendy New York City. To gather, develop and carefully present ideas for practical applications in real life, I studied the mindsets, mood swings, and personalities of the diverse people I came across. I researched the minds of both the noble and the ignoble. I analyzed my own occasional negative behaviors, their sources or causes, and ways to avoid them in the future. If anyone was liable for my imbalances, I would consider that person’s background, education, social rank, age, maturity level, circumstances, and the nature or level of our relationship to objectively rate my findings. I also mused over a variety of topics I have read or studied over time.
Living independently for long, I have had ample life lessons. I have seen human misery. So, I understand it and can relate it to individual situations.
Even after I decided to create a manuscript, I struggled without a clear direction to interweave and choreograph my fragmented thoughts into an engaging proposition to share with my readers. Concurrently, my desire to keep a low profile intermittently made me hesitant to proceed. Nevertheless, my obsession with this exertion persisted as my sense of moral responsibility urged me to speak out against inequities and hatred, and to realize my mission of disseminating my aforesaid useful concepts. Otherwise why would God give me such a mind? I discerned a while ago that he did not design my brain to win the rat race, but to be a writer.
I did not feel my life as fulfilled until this job was completed. Confining my ideas to my brain serves no purpose, and brings me no satisfaction, especially when I consider sharing them to benefit my fellow human beings as a major reason for my existence.
I tirelessly developed concepts elemental to humans’ complex relationships with God, self, society, and nature. Consequently, this writing, evolving over time, is my brainchild.
Kuriakose T. Chacko