Selective Amnesia

More on History

The thing about History, or with any obsession, is that it radically alters your perception of yourself. Or at the least, creates enough of a conflict in you. You end up unsure of where you stand in terms of your own viewpoints.

I have always prided myself on being so totally above such inane things as my “state-hood”, my identity as belonging to a particular community etc. I thought of myself as being beyond a Tamilian, an Indian etc. I didin’t believe in petty politics and regionalism and other such stuff that is the staple that the keepers of Indian bureaucracy hold dear.

But, the more I read on the history of the country, the more I read on the battles and the wars and the dealings that shaped the culture of the Tamil people, the more I read of the Kings and the chieftains, the tradesmen and generals of the tamil dynasties, the more I catch myself thinking of bringing back the “glory days”

I have always believed in Anarchy. Or rather, disbelieved in a governmental set-up. Though I didn’t know that Libertarianism existed as a term and a school of thought, I was still an active member of the group.
I still am. I firmly believe in free-markets, a total control of the self, and absolute freedom. I also don’t want any kind of government/central authority that tells me what is right and what is wrong. But I am now thinking that maybe, if one needs a central authority, why can’t it be a King. At-least, the said king would have had some sort of charisma, an aura that will be likeable.

I am really, really not sure of what my viewpoint is on major issues now. I guess I ought to stop reading books.

Which, I know for a fact, would be the killing of me.