Introspection 31
Can one single decision change the future? Do you feel any decision has such power to change the future for you and all concerned?
There have been incidents where one single decision has made long-lasting impacts on a person's life. Sometimes it may also affect community and society at large, depending on the type of decision.
One such decision, taken by none other than Gandhi. A young lawyer Mohandas Gandhi was thrown off train's first-class compartment at Pietermaritzburg station in South Africa on the night of 7 June 1893 for not being a white passenger. He refused to give up his seat for which he had purchased a ticket. He decided, on that night, to fight against any discrimination and that led to the Non-Violent satyagraha. This has changed the method of protest, mostly, to peaceful means. Many freedoms were won without raising arms or shedding blood.
Another decision, which will go long way in history is taken by the Government of India to ban single-use plastic. Consider the impact on sustainability, reducing waste, by a country of 135 crore people discarding single-use plastic. As per a report in the Guardian, since the 1950s, 8.3 billion tons of plastic have been produced, that is equivalent to the weight of over 800,000 Eiffel Towers. And you know, only 9% of it gets recycled. How beneficial it will be to the environment? Not to add the war-footing revolution of solar energy and reducing dependence on fossil fuel-generated electricity.
Historically, say one decision of Christopher Columbus to travel to discover a westward trade route to Asia has also changed the course of history and adventure forever. However, it led to colonisation, but the same has also been at the base of the industrial revolution and global economic integration. His proposal to fund his voyage was rejected by the kings of Portugal, France and England but finally accepted by the King of Spain. He landed in America, instead of India, that's another story.
Personally speaking, we also make some decisions which change things forever, at least for ourselves. I remember making such decisions. You might have taken such decisions too. It would be interesting to remember them and study how they have changed the course of your life.
(Expressed opinions are personal.)
