Blinded in Obsession

 

Obsession: Being preoccupied with a thought or an idea; a state where some persistent idea dominates one thought's or feelings.

Blinded: Unable or unwilling to see, perceive or understand.

Blinded in Obsession: A state where some persistent idea dominates one's thoughts or feelings so much that one is unable or unwilling to see, perceive or understand a thing/phenomenon/explanation.

The above three definitions, in a sense, sum up what this post is all about.
At some stage in our life, we are all blinded in obsession.
The obsession could be related to our family members (e.g. where we love our near and dear ones so much that we overlook or pretend to overlook his/her wrongdoings) or someone we idolize (e.g. Narendra Modi, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Gandhi) or demonize (e.g. Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi).

The reason I have mentioned Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi in both the categories is because a section of us idolizes them and goes to any extent to eulogize them, while the other section demonizes them and goes to any extent to castigate them.
The common thread: the two sections are often blinded by obsession and often chose to overlook or ignore facts while eulogizing or castigating them.


Consider some recent media posts, opinions of friends, and posts being shared on social media.
These attempt to make immortals out of mere mortals like Rahul Gandhi or Narendra Modi.

Those who consider Modi a demon go to any length to articulate their views. For them everything Modi does is trash. So for example if Gujarat manages to successfully build the largest solar park in Asia in Patan district, these people consider it to be at best mere luck or good fortune of Gujarat, or at worst another example of crony capitalism. For them Modi could do no right.

Similarly those who consider Modi a messiah, try their best to find logic in Modi's explanation for malnutrition in Gujarat. Modi had said that since most Gujaratis are vegetarian and since many of them are conscious of their looks and weight, malnutrition is a only to be expected. I need not go into examining the merits of the above explanation (you are free to do so), but the point I want to make is that some people go to extreme lengths to justify Modi and his explanation and put the blame on the interpretation or the opposition instead. For them Modi could do no wrong.

Consider the case of Rahul Gandhi now.
For some, he is the best India could hope for as a leader. This is even when he has not held any political/government post so far in his life (keeping aside his recent promotion in Congress Hierarchy). These people would want us believe as if Rahul Gandhi is the solution for all of India's woes even when Mr. Gandhi appears as clueless on India's problem as I do.For them Gandhi could do no wrong.

This makes me wonder that had I been born in Gandhi family, may be some people would have spotted some deep hidden talent in me and projected me as the hope for future !
Similarly those who consider Rahul Gandhi to be a good-for-nothing person, make attempts to find fault in each of his speech and then magnify it as if it were the most dumbest word ever uttered. 
They conveniently decide to overlook and ignore the fact that to err is human and as humans we are bound to have a slip of tongue or make mistakes sometimes. For them Gandhi could do no right.

Getting blinded in obsession is not only limited to Modi or Gandhi. It is to be seen everywhere around us.
Sportsperson, politicians, businessmen, artists: the list is endless.

I considered the example of Modi and Gandhi because these people have attracted the most attention in our country in recent times, and therefore it was easier to contrast views of those who eulogize them and those who demonize them.
My intention is also not to pass a judgement as to who is "better" between the two or who is "right". The point of this article is only to illustrate that in our jest to defend/criticize people we admire/hate, we often are blinded to facts and are guided by our preconceived notions.
In our obsession with some/many persons, we fail to realize that these are humans after all and that they cannot be "right" or "seen as right" all the time. Failing or occasionally getting wrong is no crime. 

I end this post with a quote I read somewhere:

Passion is a positive obsession; Obsession is a negative passion.