Punishment

“Treat others the way you want to be treated.”

 This is the golden rule we’re told as elementary schoolers. From a young age, society tells us that our actions have consequences, and working hard by helping others can result in better outcomes for ourselves. We believe in a divine sense of justice. If someone speeds on the highway, we curse them and wish the police would give them a ticket. Conversely, if someone donates their coat to a homeless person on the street, we believe they will have good fortunes come their way. 

Yet, in reality, this isn’t always the case. As we saw with Job, even the most pious men must endure the worst situations. It seems liars and frauds get prosper while honest people get left behind. Mentally, we seek to justify these outcomes, saying that their short-term benefits won’t result in long-term prosperity. But is this true? More often than not, the person who speeds isn’t pulled over, while the person who gives up their coat isn’t recognized for their actions.

So why act selflessly if it doesn’t matter?

We should act selflessly because, for lack of better words, it is the right thing to do. Humans are fundamentally social creatures, and our species has thrived because of our ability to support each other. We need more people who can put the good of society first. Whether it’s more whistleblowers, more firefighters, or more educators, we need people who are willing to put others above them and serve others. 

Yes, I believe good should be rewarded while evil should be punished, but it’s hard to live with this belief. If we do good actions to expect good consequences then we will live in agony, waiting for good fortune that may never arrive. This is how Job felt. For much of the text, Job cursed god and lived in anguish, thinking he was entitled to better outcomes because of a false notion of divine justice. Yet having this mindset continued to agonize Job. He always thought his suffering would be over soon, yet it continued to drag on. Only when we accept that we can’t control our fate is when we truly liberate ourselves, now doing tasks simply for fulfillment and service.

Instead of treating others the way we want to be treated, we should seek to act morally and embrace any consequences that come our way.

Lessons from 3 Idiots

“Chase excellence and success will follow…” Rancho, 3 Idiots.

3 Idiots is my favorite Bollywood movie, and growing up, it’s been on repeat on my family television. The movie details the life of Rancho, an engineering student at the Imperial College of Engineering (ICE). In a “pressure cooker” environment where everyone chases grades, Rancho provides a refreshing outlook on life.

Rancho grew up in a poor family. With no money for an education, he wore a fake uniform to sneak into classes, guided by his innate love of mathematics and engineering. After years of bouncing between classes, he was eventually caught. Surprisingly, instead of being punished, a wealthy family offered to pay him to go to college, as long as their son’s name was on the degree. Rancho accepted.

Unlike his classmates, Rancho wasn’t guided by grades, a diploma, or a job; he was guided by an innate love for learning. He didn’t memorize definitions or formulas, but rather sought to understand. He didn’t build projects to simply satisfy class requirements but rather made them simply for the joy of learning. “Chase excellence and success will follow, pants down!” joked Rancho with his friends. Against the beliefs of his headmaster, professors, and classmates, he succeeded. He “graduated” top of his class, and despite not having a degree to his name, became a world-famous scientist. By accident, Rancho attained a life his prestige-driven classmates could only dream of, all while simply learning and creating for the enjoyment of doing so.

Passion trumps all.

Having seen this movie over a dozen times as a kid, this lesson has been cemented into my mind early on. Growing up, I idolized Rancho. For most of my life, I’ve never felt burdened by grades or competition. I’ve prided myself on my intellectual freedom, learning for the sake of learning, and allowing results to follow. For me, COVID-19 was a blessing in disguise, giving me freedom to explore what I wanted to without the obligation of meeting a goal. I spent hours reading books from Malkiel’s A Random Walk Down Wall Street to Dalio’s Principles For Navigating Big Debt Crises, happily exploring hours-long tangents on the behavioral, statistical, and political underpinnings of financial markets. I enjoyed pondering over math problems and logic puzzles, spending hours reasoning through solutions. Every week, I could code a new idea I had, from practical apps to silly games. I felt like Rancho, and I loved it. Every day was an opportunity to explore and try something new.

However, this quickly changed during my sophomore year. COVID receded. The free time I relished quickly disappeared and was replaced with school and competitions. As I balanced school, extracurriculars, and friends, I found myself spending my time as “optimally” as I could. I cared less about learning and more about improving my grades and competition results. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed the activities I did, as I had in freshman year. But now, rather than learning for learning’s sake, everything I did was tied to an end goal. My passion began to flicker, and I stopped feeling the same continued excitement I had previously felt. I was chasing success.

I was becoming more like Chatur than Rancho. As a foil to Rancho, Chatur focused on memorizing definitions to attain good exam grades. While Chatur enjoyed engineering, he wasn’t concerned with learning; he was concerned with maximizing his class rank. At the surface level, this seemed to work. Chatur graduated 2nd in his class and went on to become the VP of a multinational company. But does that truly make him “successful?” Ignoring his innate desires, Chatur based his worth on his material success; he stroked his ego when seeing Raju and Faran’s (Rancho’s friends) average life while cowering in insecurity upon learning Rancho’s success. Is this really what a successful life looks like, if one is constantly comparing oneself to others?

As I head into the next chapter of my life, I need to ask myself, do I want to be Rancho or Chatur? In a material world that rewards people like Chatur (at least short-term), it’s easy to get lost in pursuing professional goals while ignoring personal desires. Prioritizing my passion over external success is something I work on every single day. I’ve started reading again for the sake of reading, doing math simply for the sake of doing math, coding simply for the sake of coding, and making music simply for the sake of making music. While I know I’m not perfect, I hope to keep Rancho’s advice close, knowing success isn’t always what it appears.

Carpe Diem

What is the meaning of life?

This age-old question has stumped our greatest thinkers. Seemingly by chance, millions of molecules somehow bound together to provide us with the ability to think—contrasting other similarly formed inanimate objects. But why did this happen? More importantly, what makes some people have “good” lives while others have “bad” ones?

I believe life’s value is based on the personal fulfillment it provides. This cannot simply be equated with how much money one earns or how many people they impact; rather, it is more internal, dealing with one’s inner-most desires. People may find this fulfillment in many ways, whether as travelers, artists, or rocket scientists. However, the unifying characteristic of people who live “good” lives is their ability to make the most of their finite time by experiencing new things, forming new relationships, and fulfilling their dreams.

My Carpe Diem

I believe there are lots of things that provide me satisfaction in life. However, if I had to choose the most important things I wish to have possessed or experienced during my lifetime, it would be these five:

  1. Learning upper level mathematics: Yes, I know, “nerd alert.” But jokes aside, I genuinely enjoy solving problems and thinking of lesser-considered ideas. While formulas and rules may be the first thing to come to peoples’ minds when they think of math, I believe math isn’t as rigid as one may anticipate. Just as philosophy and the arts allow one to think freely and creatively about issues around us, I believe mathematics is similar. After learning basic logical frameworks until Calculus, math quickly shifts from numbers to abstract ideas. Instead of carrying out mindless calculations, people begin applying these concepts to understand/prove why certain phenomena hold true. In my life—whether independently or in college—I hope to study upper level mathematics simply for the beauty of it (even if it may be useless to the real world)
  2. Either getting a Ph. D. or joining a startup: While these might seem like polar opposites, they both align with my underlying desire to attempt to create something within my lifetime. If I look back at my life and don’t try either, I would regret not taking the leap to explore an idea/concept no one has tried to implement before. From attending and presenting at research conferences over the years, I’ve come to relish discussing new ideas with people, diving into the nitty gritty to understand how we may improve an existing process. Even in my mentor’s lab meetings, the team and I often propose wildly unconventional ideas, such as using plants to detect emotion or understanding teamwork dynamics through jazz musician behavior. I relish the process of considering radically new ideas, and I hope to substantially work on something new during my lifetime.
  3. Traveling to more countries: Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always enjoyed visiting new countries. From the people, languages, architecture, and food, I’ve enjoyed immersing myself in a new place. I realize there is a lot more to our world than I have experienced, so it’s my goal to visit as many countries as I can.
  4. Connecting more with my culture: As a first-generation immigrant, I haven’t fully been connected to my Gujarati cultural roots. I’ve experienced this disconnect to some extent when I go to India, where I struggle to fluently speak on advanced concepts in Gujarati. As such, I hope to become more fluent in Gujarati and learn more about my Indian culture to stay closer to my roots.
  5. Starting a family: Finally, I want to start a family, and more broadly, have people I can rely on and share my memories/experiences with.

I hope to be remembered as someone who did his best to pursue his dreams, even if things don’t work out as I intended in the end. To me, it’s important to give my full effort to things I care about the most, even if I am uncertain what the outcome will be. I feel uncomfortable half-heartedly doing something, and I’ve become comfortable with quitting things if it means I have more time to focus on what I genuinely care about. Most importantly, I don’t pour my heart into something simply for money and fame; rather, I do it because it’s important to me. Whether it’s the thrill of trying to understand why something works or the unpredictability of building a new idea to life, these intrinsic factors are enough motivation for me.

While I believe it’s important for us to appreciate the small things in life and ensure we aren’t lost in the pursuit of money and fame, I don’t believe this means discouraging people from having dreams. Having dreams are an essential part of humanity, and they often are different things for different people. Some may have the dream of the mellow life of making art for self-pleasure while others may dream of being “the best” at something. I strongly believe both of these are valid choices, since at the end of the day, it is a person’s personal choice for what goals they have. However, having people who have dedicated themselves to their dreams has been what has progressed humanity over the years. Our biggest discoveries, contributions, and social efforts have stemmed from the 1% most passionate people willing to go the extra mile. While it might be contested whether certain innovations have brought net positives to society, in general, our world has improved over time because of people dedicated to pursuing their dreams. I believe that leading a life based on one’s goals, whether this is large or small, is necessary not only for personal satisfaction with one’s life but also for ensuring the advancement of society at large.

Permanence

Humans relish continuity. We often do whatever it takes to continue living life as we currently are. People are often hesitant to accept the fact they are aging. As such, we may spend millions researching reverse-aging medications, life-saving cures, cryonics techniques, and more that can help us continue living as we intend. We are often weary of change. However, as Utnapistim bluntly stated in The Epic of Gilgamesh, “there is no permanence” (106).

Despite our best efforts, our world is defined by impermanence. Beer catalyzed a shift from hunter-gatherer lifestyles to civilized, agrarian societies. Once powerful countries, such as the UK where it was thought that the “sun would never set,” have been overtaken by younger countries. Similarly, dominant companies such as General Electric which many people thought would continue to drive innovation have faded significantly. Technology has caused rapid innovation that has disrupted everyday life within decades—from radios, cars, iPhones, and now AI. Countless times, when we thought something would be the standard forever, our beliefs are quickly turned upon itself. In short, we don’t know what to expect from our dynamic world.

So what does this mean for humanity in such an ephemeral world? It means we need to realize that things are not, and will never be, everlasting. We shouldn’t strive to hold permanent beliefs, seek permanently happy relationships, or expect permanently good health because these are simply not possible. Instead of trying to force structure and order, we need to come to terms with this unpredictability—otherwise, we would inevitably be let down.

However, we as humans do a largely poor job in the face of change. For most of our lives, we seek to believe that we will continue to have our abilities forever. For example, in the book, Gilgamesh and Enkidu decide to fight Humbaba for the enjoyment of proving their dominance and exercising their manhood. However, when the threat of losing one’s abilities and life force arises, people are confronted with uncomfortable thoughts. For Gilgamesh, after seeing his friend Enkidu die, he became acutely fearful of his potential death. This inspires him “to find Utnapishtim whom they call the Faraway, for he has entered the assembly of the gods” in hopes of everlasting life himself (97).

Our uncomfortability in the face of death is, however, what gives life meaning. Just like the threat of death caused Gilgamesh to undergo a long journey, threats of loss cause humans to take actions they might not otherwise take. When we are about to lose something—whether it is a loved one, physical abilities, or even some material object—we begin to appreciate its value in our lives.

Finally, as something that affects all people—regardless of race, gender, or wealth—death is a key driver of societal tendencies. Or, as Utnapishtim said, there is no difference “between the master and the servant when both have fulfilled their doom?’” (107). Death drives civilization. It inspires us to make the most of our lives, rather than simply roaming around aimlessly. Our understanding of death at its core is what distinguishes us from animals. It inspires us to do more than merely survive by encouraging us to make decisions that can give us the most meaning and allow us to live life to the fullest extent.

What Makes a Hero?

All of these works have a protagonist who fights for some purpose/belief, often embarking on a tumultuous journey to do so. Beowulf strives to save his kingdom from Grendel; Odysseus battles monsters on his way home to Penelope; Huck Finn survives and explores the world around him; Harry intends to fulfill his destiny of defeating Voldemort; and Luck Skywalker hopes to bring balance to the universe.

Most of these people would be seen as heroes since they are fighting for what seems to be a “moral” cause. In the fight of good versus evil, it often appears they are on the side of good. In films such as Star Wars, there is a clear distinction between what is and isn’t the “dark side.” But what if this is just narration bais? Would the reader’s perception of what is “good” change if the story’s narration was slightly altered?

In literature—just like the real world—things are often more complex, with both sides having some morality/justification for their actions. A famous example is Infinity War (yes, I know this isn’t on the list), where Thanos—whose hometown crumbled due to overpopulation—sets out to destroy half of the universe in a painless instant. While his intentions appear malicious to most, killing people was not part of a villainous vendetta; he simply wanted to liberate people from what he believed was impending doom. Similarly, is Darth Vader still 100% evil when considering his efforts to save his son? There is often more to a villain than simply being “evil.” Conversely, heroes might not be the beacons of perfection they portray themselves to be. Take Odysseus. Is Odysseus really a hero if he is fine making love with Calypso while his wife Penelope loyally refrains from marrying one of her dozens of suitors, despite not knowing whether her husband is alive. Even in modern-day shows, such as Cobra Kai or Breaking Bad, we can see the line between “good” and “evil” blur as we begin to appreciate the motivations of both sides.

From this, I believe a hero is someone whose actions are most easily interpreted to be “good.” Typically, this “goodness” stems from the moral reasons behind why a person made a certain choice, where we hope to see selflessness and empathy. In many of the works listed above, the characters make decisions for the good of others—whether it is for their friends, their family, or their community. Even if it is unethical, a person could still be a hero if they do it for the right causes. 

So, if a hero is someone who carries out actions for someone greater than themselves, why are so few women heroes. All of the heroes in the list above are males, which can’t be a coincidence. The answer likely lies in societal biases/pressures. Simply put, books and movies focusing on women just don’t sell as well. Because of societal preconceptions, the general populace doesn’t want to follow a plot that doesn’t have a male front and center since this directly goes against their conventional perception of heroes. As such, many novelists and screenwriters—many of whom may have plot ideas centered on women—can’t fully executive them because of monetary pressures. This is why JK Rowling—a female novelist—opted to make Harry Potter a male. It is also why publishers wanted her to write as JK Rowling—not Joanne—because people would otherwise be hesitant to read material they knew was written by a female.

So while a woman can fit the definition of being a hero—especially in the real world—it is unlikely they will be depicted as such in fictional works. Oftentimes, they will take on secondary/supporting roles. This is more prevalent than you might think. For example, the Bechdel test is a popular test to measure women’s representation in films. To pass, a movie must have a scene where two women talk about a topic other than men. Sounds simple enough? Surprisingly, a staggering 40% of movies fail the Bechdel test, showing how prevalent gender biases in leading and supporting roles are. 

But circling back to the central argument, if heroes are often unequally represented and sometimes conduct morally questionable acts in the name of justice, then why do they exist? Well, they serve as models of altruism, giving us something to strive towards. They show us that we don’t have to be perfect to be celebrated since no one—not even the best heroes—is perfect. If Odysseus can still be loved after committing adultery, then why can’t our own mistakes be justified. Bertolt Brecht once said, “Unhappy the land that needs heroes.” In a world full of problems, heroes give us something to look up; they show us that it is often the intention that matters most, rather than how well we might execute our plans. These imperfect models show us that we too can be heroes in our own lives.