AMA on Instagram
Personalities are cultivated over a certain period of time. You do something so repetitively that it becomes a natural part of your identity. For good or for worse, what we call ‘character’ today is more illusionary — what you see is what you get — than substantial. This is how an image is created. XYZ doesn’t do this. PQR does that. HIJ walks like this. MNO talks like that. Traits and virtues, so on and so forth. Let’s call this pattern the limits of vision. Even if we want to dig deeper, it’s bound to be difficult, unless you’re part of the family or planning to settle down with the said person or are in dire need of a friend. To invest oneself in knowing others on an intimate level defeats the whole purpose of a personality. The reason why we seek existential warmth from our idols is because we are safeguarded by the distance that separates us from them. From their halo drips the sweet honey of perception and it serves both the parties perfectly well.
Armed with this clarity of thought, I embarked on my first ever AMA on Instagram. To be honest, I expected a few questions, which I’d be able to address within an hour. Turns out I was mistaken. Hundreds of queries poured in and it quickly became hectic, to be very polite about the situation. By the end of it, after putting in over 3 hours, I answered quite a lot of questions. Here’s sharing some that might interest you.
Sometimes I feel everything is temporary. Why bother, what’s the point?
Well, permanence is the whole point of being. The idea is to create something that outlasts us.
So, does it really get better with time?
Eventually, and then we die.
How to select words that can justify our thought process?
Thoughts must precede words. The latter is merely a chauffeur for the former.
Any tips on meditation for beginners?
1. Shut up.
2. Close eyes.
3. Think of the person you want to be.
From where does your pearls of wisdom come from?
A hopeless place called mind.
What or who inspired you to write?
Suhasini teacher, who taught us English in the 7th standard influenced me a lot towards learning and picking up the language. Later, my thought process developed.
Are you happy or content?
Neither. If I were, I wouldn’t be on social media for sure.
Favourite album please.
Has to be a battle between Sifar (1997) by Lucky Ali and Sangam (1996) by Nusratsaab-Javedsaab.
Glad I found your IG page. Your posts are thoughtful and deep.
Thanks for raising my confidence by 15 grams.
You owe your wit to?
Failure. Lots of them.
Why one word captions on Instagram?
Because not all pictures are worth a thousand words but all pictures are indeed worth at least one.
Any advice for people in unrequited love in the modern age?
Move on. You are obstructing nobody else but yourself.
What’s your favourite ice cream?
Let’s not be insensitive to melting glaciers.
How do you let go of things that hurt you?
You learn to outgrow them.
Why don’t you want to have kids?
Because there are already more than enough of them.
What is needed to stay in love with the same person forever?
Love.
What to do when you have no goal in life?
Seeking a goal is a goal too.
How so positive?
I pretend therefore I am.
What is love?
Love is the SI unit of humanity.
Any tip to an 18yo boy who has no idea what he is doing in life?
At 18, you aren’t supposed to know the answer to that question.
How can you express the simpler things in life? Does it take pain?
We all express ourselves in our own ways. The point is to let your words scream.
What are your views on teen dating?
As long as they know what’s worst for them, it’s fine.
How does one stay away from the Internet?
I wish I knew the answer.
Any good way to make money?
Elections.
According to you what does MBA stand for?
Excel sheets.
What’s your biggest learning?
Life is too long to be called short.
What’s your smallest learning?
Kindness makes this world worth our while.
How to get over a person whom you really love?
You don’t. As simple (and painful) as that.
Sometimes your posts are so gloomy, what’s the reason?
Blame it on gloomier winter.
Why do we get attached to people?
Gravitational force, not god, works in mysterious ways.
Your favourite fictional character.
God, followed by Mowgli.
What do you do in search of happiness?
…end up bumping into contentment!
Any special lines on the moon?
If you’re going to be as lonely as the moon, make sure you are equally fabulous.
When will you stop complaining about the pain in your body?
When India wins the FIFA World Cup.
If happiness is a journey and not a destination, what tells you you have arrived?
Your deepest fear.
What’s the thing you like the most about you?
My work ethic.
Who’s your favourite person?
My amma, obviously.
How do you get inspiration for your daily thoughts?
I observe a lot and a lot better from most around me.
Why are we here in this world according to you?
To help persuade our Creator to push the restart button.
What’s your greatest fear?
Lizards top the list. Second is being asked such intimate questions.
How to deal with difficult people?
Set boundaries asap.
What would your talk show be called?
Sit-down Tragedy with Shakti Shetty.
Do you believe in god?
Yes. The bigger question is, does she believe in me?
