Shades of Ridicule

Someone had recently asked me, “You want to change the world?” I shall answer that question in a short while.

I have been forced to admit that there is much more to colors than what appears to the human eye. Most colors in the visible spectrum, it is taught, represent human sentiments. I shall recount but a few associations among the ones that I have successfully memorized:

• White stands for such qualities as purity, serenity, harmony or surrender; that was relatively easy to understand.


• Red is indicative of danger, brutality or love; it is quite confusing, the way one color represents opposing sentiments, but I have memorized it nevertheless.
  Blue could mean cool, but it could also signify depression or melancholy. Is it really so cool to be a pessimist?


• Saffron. If I even as much as comment on this color, ostensible activists of my very own beloved country (please don’t ask me who they are; if you are one of them, please note that I have not stained your insignia) will beat me black and blue. So I shall desist.


• Yellow, is said to signify friendship; no one ever told me why, but if it is accepted to be so world over, then who am I to question? But it always tickles me when the children gleefully rhyme, “Yellow, yellow; dirty fellow!” Why not officially declare that to be the rhyme of friendly communion?


• On the one hand, green stands for prosperity. On the other hand, when one prospers, someone else becomes green with envy. Which means, everyone in this world will ultimately turn green, one way or the other.

The list could go on, but I believe that the above examples are enough to understand the point I am trying to make. One of nature’s most beautiful paintings, the rainbow, comprises of only seven colors. Combinations of only three of these seven colors can be used, by varying their hue and saturation, to concoct several thousands of shades. Thousands of these shades have been baptized. It would really be very difficult to memorize the list if someone were to associate each of those shades with some sentiment.

The above list concerns but a trivial concept – colors. I have been forced to study several other such ridiculous lists covering just about anything in the world. The topmost among these, in my opinion, are the lists of pathetic dogmas and doctrines, formulated by the so-called Gurus and Pundits, though what entitles them to judge or to dictate terms to the masses remains my never-to-be-answered question.

The pundits who propagate such farcical associations, canons and creeds have been allowed to grow very strong over the years. They have been offered a prominent pedestal. They have become the shepherds who guide the submissive multitude – a sheep that has long lost its flavor for real grass – a people that has long lost all self-esteem.

I have invested several valuable years learning the colors and lists of this world. During this period, I have had to study and commit to memory several, very complex instructions - shades of morality, lists of ethics, codes of conduct, meaningless rules, merciless regulations, blind faith, inhumane religion, fanatic sermons, ridiculous associations concocted by twisted minds - to name only a few. Unlearning them and re-schooling my mind has not been very easy.

Do I think that I can change all that? Most certainly not! What a hilarious deliberation. How can I change any of that? How can I simply ask someone to forget those absurd associations? How can I expect them not to judge the colors? How can I bring them together to enjoy the natural beauty of the rainbow or, for that matter, of anything else in life? I know that I cannot. One needs to do it for oneself.

Do I want to change the world? No, my dear, I rest my case.