"Disobedience is the true foundation of liberty. The obedient must be slaves" - Henry David Thoreau.
The famous quote by American philosopher emphasize that our society thrives when individuals think for themselves and refuse to participate in unjust laws or systems, rather than passively obeying. After coming across this quotes many question arose in my mind. Indian family and society is predominantly follow obedience. Is being mean and selfish by disobedient is good things in todays time?
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There was time when being obedient is considered to be the best thing in life as far as Indian lifestyle is concerned. An obedient person always gets recognition in family as well as in society. But in the context of the above quote a person gets more freedom when they think of themselves. #Obedience is the act of complying with rules, commands, or authority, often stemming from respect, faith, or understanding. On the other side #disobedience is the refusal to follow, stemming from defiance, distrust, or self-will, leading to different consequences. 'Obedience' often seen as positive and 'Disobedience' as negative.
Obedience has been a cornerstone of Indian family life, rooted in the culture. The traditional joint family structure, with multiple generations living under one roof, reinforced this obedience. Children are socialized from a young age to value obedience. Elders were believed to have immense life experience and wisdom, and obeying them was seen as a way for younger generations to benefit from this knowledge and avoid mistakes. Being disobedient in such scenario is considered to be lack of trust, making parents question their child's judgment and responsibility. Disobedience erodes family life by breaking down trust, increasing conflict, and causing emotional distress, leading to resentment, poor communication, and instability for both parents and children. Obedience remains an important cultural value in India, but its manifestation is transforming, adapting to the changing socio cultural landscape.
I have seen many instances where a person being disobedient enjoy true freedom. Disobedience is often seen as an important trait for intellectual and personal development. There are many examples in my family and relation too, where a person if act against the set norms then they succeed much in life. The person has no regret or even think of karma, by disobeying family tradition keep performing things of their own will. I was wondering, why don't such person disowns the family than keeping in touch with them. They wanted to stay rooted for hierarchy connection but at the same time doesn't wanted to follow the family or societal norms. It is quite strange but still this is what makes them enjoy the freedom.
Personally I believe that, we Indians are very obedient too our Gurus, Political leaders and Bosses, religion and sometimes to our Parents. Many times it impacts the independence, growth and wisdom. We may choke ourself because of it as well leading to unhappiness. This is where I believe a balance is required between Obedience and Disobedience.
In good faith - Peace!!
