What is there in it for me

A famous Economics professor was teaching his class. The topic of discussion was liquidation of asset once a company goes bankrupt. The professor was trying to explain how the creditors due is paid off and the effect on the share market during such event. One student asked how an investor can be persuaded to acquire such a business so the legal heirs can get a chance to resurrect. Professor replied,  facts presented should offer convincing answer to the buyer's question, "What is there in it for me?". We undertake any task only if we gain something by accomplishing it. This 'something' may be anything that satisfies interest of the undertaker. It may be material gain or assurance of future material gain or getting rid of any external force or resolution of inner pain. 

I dont consider myself a social media butterfly. Rather I am tagged as unsocial by some of my acquaintance since I do not have Twitter and Instagram accounts and sparsely active in Facebook. Yet I have been finding myself checking different social platform updates frequently for some months now. No, I am not feeling bored in lockdown. Rather my office and house work have increased many folds during corona chapter leaving little room for entertainment.  I have been following developments related to Sushant Singh Rajput's mysterious death quite ardently!

An actor whose life did never appeal to me when he was alive has touched my conscious and subconscious minds deeply in his death. I was not aware of Sushant's life struggles, his brilliant academic career, his genius traits and noble initiatives. Now I know about his life more than I know about my favourite Bollywood actors.  There are many people who experienced the same in recent months. Hence they call themselves SSRians who have united to bring out the truth of his sudden demise. 

Why are these people investing time, emotion and effort in finding the truth? Major chunk of these people are not from politics or media houses. They are middle class Indians, some of them started watching Sushant's movies only after his death. They are shocked and saddened. Their faith in the fairness of the laws of the universe and solidity of our system has shaken. The snobbish attitude of the people in power has united common people in their anguish. For me, a liberating apathy has replaced my long standing enthusiasm towards Bollywood. This apathy is stemmed from the belief that fairness precedes loyalty. This apathy is liberating since it has provoked me to ponder my choices I used to make regarding entertainment since my younger days. And the guilt of not being able to appreciate a gifted artist in time has contributed to this apathy as well. Suddenly I am feeling more thankful to the universe for putting me on lesser complicated path in life. The quest for truth will continue. Conscious choices need to be made while holding onto the hope. I am crossing fingers like numerous SSRians across the globe.

We, the SSRians, are seeking justice for Sushant because we are seeking to restore our faith in the credibility of our democratic system. Justice, if served, would validate our trust in Karma. And this validation is the very base of our sense of equilibrium in every day life.