People should really allow adding “grew up in an Indian household” under miscellaneous achievements on your CV because honestly, it is no cakewalk. Conforming to all those moral or religious or just basic conventional restrictions while also trying to maintain your individuality? Please. We deserve extra credit for that. These rules are in place to help turn us into better humans however, it is only when we grow up that we realise that most of them make no sense!
These tailor-made “sanskars” that our parents gave us were mere boxes to prevent us from committing a moral sin make us do things however they see fit. It is only once you have grown that these teachings start to irk. Here are some of these sanskars that we were taught to us as children but make no sense anymore:
1. “Respect your elders” or the more upfront version of what they really want, “Do not talk back to your elders no matter what happens”
This is that one weapon in every parent’s arsenal that they can and will use to negate every argument we throw at them. It is important to understand that respect cannot be commanded. It must be earned.
2. Don’t wear “chote kapde“
Nearly every family presents restrictions pertaining to what sort of clothes their children should wear. It is hard for some people to understand that how much skin the women in the family show, does not represent their character.
3. Do not make friends with people who are bad at studies
Parents wish for their children to not fall into “bad company” and rather stick with people who are good at studies as if good grades ascertain a good character.
4. Sex is sin*
Often mentioned in hushed tones, the subject of sex is mostly controversial in Indian families. Forget about having sex, every mention of it requires you to poke fingers into your ears and disappear.
*Terms & Conditions apply: Applicable only for individuals not bound by the confines of marriage at the moment.
5. The before-sundown curfew
Growing up, the one thing you’ll always hear is that you can only play outdoors until sundown. It sucks when parents forget that you have grown up and the barrage of calls start pouring in when the clock hits 6 and you are still not at home. “Acche bacche raat ko bahar nahi rehte.. “
6. No drinking/ smoking in front of family members
First of all, smoking and drinking are mostly prohibited or at least, frowned upon. However, even if family members know all about your vices, they will continue to see you as a child with a drink in their hands.
7. Touching your elders’ feet
Fine, we are not against the idea of touching feet, but please spare us from the feet of that chacha-ke-bhai-ke-mausi-ka-jeeja who never even existed until just 7 seconds ago. Don’t go all “beta, paer to chu lo” at every other stranger who walks into our house.
8. Do not eat non-veg/ get haircuts/ clip nails on Tuesdays and Thursdays
You want to practise it? Fine. Just please don’t force it us. It’s not like non-vegans don’t eat chicken all the other days of the week.
9. Always eat using your right hand
You’re either a right-handed person or a disgrace to the name of the family.
10. All Indians are your brothers and sisters
If every individual is our brother or sister, then everyone’s a fan of incest. Please, bro. This ain’t Game of Thrones. Could you please stop preaching this in every school’s daily pledge? Could you also stop introducing every human of the opposite gender who walks into our home as ‘bhaiya and didi’?
11. Grow up, get a job, get settled and get married to live a fulfilling life
No matter what plans you might have for your life, your family always has one designed for you before you’ve even been conceived. And it is nearly the same for everyone- shaadi karo, bacche karo, as if there is no other way to lead a happy life.
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