ORIGIN BEHIND MY PERSPECTIVES !

 

 

By meeting and living with people from different lifestyles, cultures, and languages gave me a new perspective towards life.                                      

I hail from a Dravidian family which admires our ancient Tamil literature, history, and architecture.

I've done my degree from Bangalore, a college which is home to students from across the globe (Students from Srilanka, China, Africa, Iran, Nepal, Europe study there). I sat in a class with a mix of Malayalees, Bengalis, Punjabis, and Nepalis. My roommates were a Keralite, Tamil, and an Orissa girl. This immense merge brings together varied experiences, cultures, values, and life stories. Moreover, choosing Fashion Designing as my course, helped me to meet more creative and unique people in my life.

 

I worked in Pondicherry, which is popularly known as Paris of the East due to the French influence in its culture and heritage. My coworkers and the people I met, were a mix of French, Italians, and Indians. I also worked in retail as a manager for an international brand in Chennai, where I got a huge opportunity to meet and interact with new people every day from various backgrounds.

I lived in the US for 5 years in three different states. I volunteered for some of the American brands.

                                                                                                   

I worked in three different organizations. I’ve been an internee for 5 different organizations. I just love to experience the work culture of different organizations.

I got married to a family, which preserves and practices our rich Tamil culture and traditions excelling in Hospitality (Virunthombal in Tamil).

 

I am a Hindu, a devotee of Lord Hanuman. I studied in a Christian school. I worked in an organization where 90% of my coworkers are Muslims. I have many good friends who are Hindus, Christians, and Muslims.

 

This awesome blend of being with people from various lifestyles, states, cultures, languages, and countries, helped me to look at life and people from a different point of view.

 

WHAT ARE THE UNIQUE ATTRIBUTES OF PEOPLE WHOM I’VE MET IN MY JOURNEY?

=) When one considers a situation as a failure other considers as an experience.

=) When one society considers drinking as evil others consider social drinking as a good act.

=) When one society looks at horoscope matching for choosing their daughter/ son's life partner, another society lets their daughter/son go for a date and then decide their life partner.

=) One organization teaches you to be friendly with your subordinates, another organization teaches you to be aggressive with your subordinates.

=) When an organization in a particular society practices fair trade there is another organization in a different society that practices forced labor.

=) When one society is filled with innovators and trendsetters whereas the other society is filled with workers and followers.

These are the different segments of people who have walked into my life.

 

WHY PERSPECTIVES ARE SO DIFFERENT?                    

I always try to figure out, why perspectives are so different from individual to individual. 

When I look back, all my schooling, I’ve been living with my parents. I studied in the same school from KG till 12th grade. I had almost same set of friends all my school days. My world was so small. The people all I knew were my family circle and a few of my friends. So yes, my perspectives around my world were also so small. The first time when I moved out of my school for a college in Bangalore, the world appeared to be so much different for me from how I was perceiving it all my life. That was the place, I happen to live with friends who were from a very unique cultural background, as students from different states and countries study there. I used to get enthralled and wonder, why people are so different. As for how I feel about a situation, is extremely different from how my friend thinks about it for the same situation. Earlier, when I listen to some of my friend’s perspectives, I do get shocked, baffled, and worried. In the long run, by constantly meeting new people with a unique point of view, my world got bigger and better, I learnt that every perspective is correct based on an individual’s lifestyle and beliefs.  Whenever I was asked for a suggestion for any sort of an issue faced by my friend, I have to completely immerse myself in her situation (considering all aspects of her lifestyle, background, and family) and give her a suggestion.

 

For example, a friend A, who is an extrovert, based out of Chennai, who has working parents and her 80-year-old grandma speaks beautiful English, whereas  another friend B,  who is an introvert, Malayalee, brought up in Dubai till 5th grade and then moved to Kerala,  her dad works in Dubai and her mom is a homemaker who lives in Kerala. There is another friend C who is an Extrovert, a Bengali, where she studied all her schooling from grade 1 in a boarding school in Tamil Nadu, her dad was worshipped as Lord Krishna in his village, as he was born on Krishna Jayanti.

 Perspectives of all my three friends (A, B, & C) will be different based on,

• Genetics
• Culture
• Challenges faced in the journey of life
• Kind of experiences & learnings one got.

 

Let me give you another example, I worked in a garment manufacturing concern, in two different places. One in Pondicherry other in Tirupur. Though both the organizations are primarily garment manufacturers. But their work culture differs based on its location.

Let’s say, what are the thoughts that flow into our mind when we think about Pondicherry? 

Auroville

Fair Trade

Uniqueness & Beauty

Nature lovers

Spirituality

Simplicity

Sri Aurobindo Ashram

Indo French fusion

Artisans & Handicrafts

 

What are the thoughts springs out of our mind when we think about Tirupur?

 

Tirupur Kumaran

Knitwear Capital of India

Hardworking

Do or Die attitude

Goal oriented

City of Entrepreneurs

Baniyan city

Dollar city

 

These elements of the city are reflected in the ethos, principles and work culture of the organization I worked in.

 

THE GARMENT FACTORY, I WORKED IN PONDICHERRY

• Socially conscience organization which manufactures organic & Fairtrade clothing

• Multiple products line – Knitted and woven garments, soft toys, cloth bags, cushion covers etc.

• Clients are small designer boutiques mostly from European countries

• High pricing designer line - Minimum orders

• Follows Sri Aurubindo’s spiritual beliefs

• In house Aari worker who does hand embroidery and Aari work

• Works with NGOs for recycling and zero wastage.

• It has its inhouse boutique and designer brand

 

THE GARMENT FACTORY,  I WORKED IN TIRUPUR

• Vertically integrated concern. Manufactures both conventional and organic garments.

• Manufactures only knitted garments

• Clients are mostly mass retail giants from all over the world

• Low pricing - Bulk orders

• Follows Vethathri Maharishi’s beliefs 

•  We had a 2 minutes affirmation prayer every morning which says "I can do it"

• Highly focused on the task at hand

• The whole organization works like a fire to meet their targets and deadlines.

•  Any untrained labor can be trained to become a super skilled labor is the mantra practiced and followed.

 

Though both the organizations are predominantly the manufacturers of garments. But their ethos, work culture, principle, product line, pricing, belief system and priorities differs based on the society where the organization is located.

The same ideology applies to we individuals..

YES,

“I’m the reflection of my parents and grand parents

I’m the reflection of the society I live in

I’m the reflection of the people I meet in my life.

I’m the reflection of the organization I worked for

I’m the reflection of the books I read and the movies I watch

I’m the reflection of my life partner

I’m the reflection of the family I got married to

I’m the reflection of my belief system

I’m the reflection of my inspirations”

And so are everyone.

We are all different from one another because we are the reflections of the environment we live in, which leads us to different perspectives.

Though we cannot make every choice.

But definitely we get an opportunity to make certain choices in our life.

Let’s choose them wisely

Those choices determine, who we are?

 

WHY SHOULD WE LEARN DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES?

In our day-to-day life, whether it's colleagues, friends, or family members, we get to meet new people every day with a unique point of view. Knowing different perspectives, helps us to understand people without being judgmental.

When I was in Chennai, I used to be the only Tamilian in a group where all are Malayalees.

When I was living in Chicago, I used to be the only South Indian among the group of 10 ladies where all are North Indians. Though I had my group of Tamil friends in Chicago. But I was also part of different groups. And I loved to be a part of it.

However by opening our eyes to varying perspectives, we cannot always assure it will change our minds, at the very least, it will keep us informed and aware so that we can interact courteously and respectfully with others.

 

WHAT ARE MY INSIGHTS/ LEARNINGS?

When I contemplate about my learnings by being surrounded with different people with different perspectives, there are few insights which drizzles into my mind,

 

• Every person we meet in our day-to-day life has their own perspectives towards everything. Though we do not share the same perspectives. But we can respect other’s way of thinking and learn and adapt what inspires us and ignore what doesn’t align with our values.

 

• We do not have the right to judge anyone’s life decisions, as we never lived and experienced their life.  

 

• No one is better than anyone. Everyone can be the best in their own way. 

 

• What is right or wrong?  Depends on what was taught to an individual from childhood, the kind of experiences he or she had, how one looks at a situation, and how he/she interprets it. Yes, there are no right or wrong answers. It is based on an individual’s perspective and how one can handle a situation.

 

• There are no mistakes or failures in life. Every single mistake or failure is a learning experience to make us grow and succeed.

 

• Life is all about what we truly believe in, what our life experience has taught us. All our life decisions should be taken based on our own experiences in life. It is our responsibility to live our life based on our own experiences not on other's experiences. One can take inspiration from other's experiences but do not live other’s life. We must strive to live our lives in our way rather than the lives prescribed by our society.

• Every individual, people, and the society is specialized in something in their life. They prioritize and focus on something based on their interests and beliefs. Let’s respect each other interests/ beliefs and priorities, and stop finding faults and let’s learn something from each other.

    So, let’s expand our worldview, experience, and opinions as much as possible.