Life is a mysterious experience and an enigmatic journey. For, it is a series of events that unfold with the efflux of time, beyond the control of human will; steeped in the labyrinth of uncertainty and imponderables, life seldom affords one the opportunity to grasp its breadth, and in this state of oblivion, the ship of life cruises incessantly.
In this journey, making sense of the hiccups, the joys, the sufferings and the learning makes for a herculean task.
Without ascribing meaning and purpose to life, this journey may becomes a travail, a burden of inexplicable events causing disharmony and disillusionment. For, it is not without logic that the Greek philosopher Socrates exhorted, “An unexamined life is not worth living.”
The intriguing question that strikes one is how, when and in which direction can the mystery that is life can be discerned and comprehended, so as to churn out its extract and derive solace? Which road, which path to traverse in order to demystify the nuances and the myriad unexplained, yet profound facets of life, which shape the lived experiences of humankind?
The quest to comprehend the tapestry of life requires one to board, as it were, the time machine and travel into the times gone by — to reflect, introspect and ponder over one’s moments of life, both fulfilling and painful. A dispassionate reflection into the mirror of past is a sure road to make the present meaningful and relevant.
Unless one rides on this backward journey, one cannot grasp the sheer profundity of life. As the life unfolds many events precipitate, for which one is unprepared and things contrary to expectations disillusions the mind. The failures, the setbacks in career, the relationships that soured, the loss of loved ones, the humiliations and the suffering endured, all perturb one’s fragile mind, demanding answers and explanations.
Hindsight offers one the pathway to solve these complex realities of life. The vantage point of the present provides one with a kaleidoscopic view of the past. This panoramic landscape of the past demystifies the follies, the errors of judgment, the lacunae and the limitations that shaped the life, the way it unfolded before one’s present.
After years of Sisyphean toil amidst the labyrinth of social oppression, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedbar understood the true cause of his, and many other depressed communities suffering as a consequence of entrenched social stigmas and prejudices. Looking back on his ignominious treatment as a child, Ambedkar unlocked the clues to remedy the cause of suffering of the Dalits.
Likewise, every individual attempts to reflect and introspect on one’s present condition by pressing backwards against the nature of life.
Alexander Graham Bell failed for 10,000 times before finally discovering the light bulb. However, each time, a backward peep into the past made him realise his errors, and this understanding paved the way forward. While looking back helps one in doing the course corrections by deriving lessons, in many cases past events become a stepping stone towards the realisation of daunting goals in life.
The world over, COVID-19 pandemic was a rude shock for nations, societies and individuals, and the scars it left behind are yet to heal fully. Nonetheless, reflecting on those tumultuous years today makes one realise the human resilience as also the sheer unpreparedness of the healthcare systems. Much of what transpired during those fateful years seemed bizarre at that point in time, but today, it offers us an opportunity to gauge our strengths and weaknesses, to prepare for future pandemics.
Though comprehending life necessitates going against the stream of time, it is equally imperative to not be shrouded by the darkness of the past, which may mask our ability to move ahead in life. Undeniably, these are moments, when one must pause and ponder over what life throws at us. However, this risks one’s ability to rise above and transcend the past, to make way for the failure. Moments of reflection if not lived dispassionately can breed guilt, shame, indolence and hesitation to start a new life, especially, when one is overwhelmed by one’s bitter past. Conversely, pleasant memories of yesteryear may foster complacency resulting in hubris and self-destruction.
George Santanaya once remarked, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” However, caught in the web of past, one loses sight of the present, and the future that one can shape.
Today, humanity is witnessing rising number of suicides among the youth, for they struggle to confront their past failures to shape their future paths. Merely understanding life is not sufficient to lead a fulfilling journey; it requires the forward movement of the life’s cycle, driven by the experiences and the lessons of the past.
Think about India’s space agency ISRO. The failure to soft land Chandrayaan-2 on the moon did not deter the scientists from confronting the shortcomings through a backward analysis. A concomitant forward journey, driven by commitment and passion, culminated in the historic milestone achieved by India, in landing Chandrayaan-3 on the moon, and becoming the fourth such nation to achieve this feat.
A harmonious integration of backward reflection with forward journey can enable individuals to lead a life of purpose and meaning. For, otherwise stagnation shall set in, bringing the life itself to a halt, and an eventual end.
History is replete with examples of civilisations, societies and empires which witnessed a fatal downfall on account of failure to reform and shape a better future for their people, Roman and Ottoman empires being case in point. Even corporations that are not forward looking risk losing their market shares and relevance. The unwillingness of corporations like Kodak and Nokia to learn from changing business dynamics environment and customer preference faded them into oblivion.
It beckons humanity to take a leaf out of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s dictum “What, lies behind us and what, lies ahead of us, pales in comparison to what lies within us”.
Soren Kierkegaard’s timeless adage that “Life can only be understood backwards, but must be lived forward” is an existential clarion call to humanity. It is henceforth man’s responsibility to make out the meaning of an otherwise absurd life and evolve, what Aristotle Called as “Eudemonia” and Frederic Nietzsche termed as an “authentic life,” by marching forward into the uncharted territories with courage and the will to make the most out of this life. To again quote Nietzsche “To live is to suffer, to survive, is to find meaning in suffering”.
Published – April 13, 2025 02:54 am IST