Bonn Voyage: Close Encounter,,,

It’s been more than 60 years since the fall of Third Reich, more than 20 since unification; no doubt that Deutschland has resurrected itself from mere ashes. But in the process, instead of eliminating the racism and hatred, it has suppressed it. I am a skilled professional, doing my masters in one of the most prestigious universities of Germany. Whose legacy holds 7 Nobel laureates, including the only German economist to win one. Not only that I am working at one of the biggest research institute of Europe. I am writing this not in brag but in the context of personal humiliation and utter mental distress. Well today, coming back from a friend’s place, I was encountered by a typical German teenager. I guess he hasn’t seen the door of a university ever, or hasn’t heard the last movement of Beethoven’s Choral, where he orchestrated the finest words advocating fraternity and brotherhood. “Alle Menschen werden Bruder”, just remain words for me now, as the bantering and racist remarks bestowed on me, murders the gist of these beautiful words.

Bonn Voyage : Acceptance

One thing that I have learned is that the basic impetus of human behavior is “acceptance”. We all as conscious beings, thrive for gaining the acceptance of others. In a sense we all live in the consciousness of others, with all our idiosyncrasies, we give ourselves to others for judgment, for their approval and acceptance. This acceptance makes us complete, and fail to gain one, makes us sullen. The emptiness prevails in the failure of gaining other’s acceptance. For this we guise in sweetness, or wear the cloak which suites others. And this morbid fascination grows, molding our behaviors and personalities. But the thing which is most common in the people I met here, and no shame of accepting it myself, the acceptance of opposite gender is most satisfying. I have seen egos succumbing, self proclaimed rules defying, and people kneeling down just for been accepted. Well once I was lingering for that too, but now ain't gonna listen to song of sirens. As I have concluded first one should seek acceptance within.