Life is Not Compartmentalized—It Is a Complex Intersection of Interconnected Elements

 Life is Not Compartmentalized—It Is a Complex Intersection of Interconnected Elements

Over the years, many students have come to me with a sense of anxiety, wondering which academic path they should pursue. Should they study science or the arts? Law or social sciences? Language or philosophy? These choices often feel overwhelming, as if one decision will define their entire future.

But part of this confusion stems from the way our education system is structured. It encourages students to think in rigid categories—as if life itself can be neatly divided into subjects, disciplines, or career tracks. This is not how the world works. Life is not compartmentalized; rather, it is a rich, dynamic intersection of various elements. It is inherently interdisciplinary.

In reality, the decisions we make every day draw upon a broad array of skills, knowledge, and emotional intelligence. Take something as simple as purchasing an item. It’s not just a matter of price. One must also consider quality, need, sustainability, utility, brand ethics, and personal values. Even a small act like shopping involves economic understanding, critical thinking, and even a bit of psychology.

Scientific discoveries themselves often reflect this complexity. When Einstein formulated the theory of relativity or when Newton identified the force of gravity, they weren’t working within narrow silos. They were uncovering truths that impact physics, time, space, human understanding, and even philosophy.

Professionals in various fields also experience this. A lawyer, for instance, doesn't just interpret legal codes. When dealing with a client's case—especially in areas like family law—they must navigate emotional turmoil, social dynamics, psychological stress, and ethical considerations, all while applying legal reasoning. It’s not just law; it’s human life, in all its complexity.

I recall my time as a social worker in the field, where I visited communities and met people with diverse concerns. One person might need help applying for a ration card. Another might be coping with a sick child. A woman may be facing domestic violence or workplace discrimination. These issues aren't isolated—they are intertwined. Addressing them effectively requires drawing upon knowledge from public policy, healthcare, gender studies, psychology, law, and more.

So, my advice to students is simple: don’t get caught up in the illusion that life or learning can be cleanly categorized. Instead, follow your curiosity. Choose the subject that genuinely excites you. But more importantly, learn to connect it to the world around you. Whether you're passionate about physics, painting, or philosophy, your discipline will gain depth and meaning when you see how it interacts with other fields—and with real life.

In the end, success and fulfillment often come not from choosing the "right" subject, but from developing the ability to think broadly, act empathetically, and respond intelligently to the complexity of life.

Question Everything Around You

 

Question Everything Around You

Growing up in a patriarchal family in North India, I was taught to obey before I could even understand the meaning of disobedience. "Respect your elders," "listen to your teachers," "follow what's being told"; these weren't just instructions; they were stitched into the fabric of everyday life. And as a woman from a middle-class Hindu household, the expectation to comply was even more intense. Blind obedience wasn’t just encouraged—it was demanded.

But even as a child, there was a quiet, stubborn voice inside me that refused to be silenced. I began to question things, even when I didn't yet have the vocabulary to express rebellion. Why should I go to the temple if God is everywhere? Why are there more temples than libraries in our neighborhood? Each question I asked was met with silence, scolding, or worse—dismissal. I was told I was being disrespectful, difficult, or too curious for my own good.

Still, I couldn't stop. As I grew older, the questions grew louder and more urgent. When my family insisted it was time for me to marry, I asked: Why? Why is marriage considered essential for a woman? Why must I move into a man's house—why can’t it be the other way around? Why is a woman’s life always defined by someone else’s authority?

They told me women are not supposed to question.

But they never told me why.

Maybe they didn’t know the answer. Or maybe they were afraid I’d find it.

I realized I had to seek the answers myself. And so, I turned to books. I began reading philosophy, politics, sociology, and history, or whatever I came across, and slowly, the world started to make more sense. My questions became sharper, my reasoning stronger. I discovered the power of critical thinking and the importance of dissent. What once was seen as rebelliousness became a foundation for my research and analytical skills.

I began to understand that questioning the world around us isn’t an act of disrespect; it’s an act of courage.

One quote that deeply resonated with me is by historian Howard Zinn, who wrote:

“Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience. Our problem is that people all over the world have obeyed the dictates of leaders…and millions have been killed because of this obedience… Our problem is that people are obedient all over the world in the face of poverty and starvation and stupidity, and war, and cruelty. Our problem is that people are obedient while the jails are full of petty thieves… (and) the grand thieves are running the country. That’s our problem.”

These words hit home. They echoed everything I had felt but didn’t know how to articulate growing up. Today, I find myself asking deeper questions about democracy, citizenship, gender, class, and power. And I have learned that dissent is essential, not just for academic inquiry but for social transformation.

To anyone reading this: never stop questioning. It’s through questions that we challenge injustice, push the boundaries of knowledge, and create new possibilities. Whether in science, society, or personal life, every meaningful discovery or change begins with someone daring to ask: Why? Who? How? What? Where? When?

Even when society tries to silence you, keep asking questions. When you're told to stay quiet, when you're made to feel like your curiosity is a threat, remember: it is a threat. A threat to systems built on blind obedience. A threat to the comfort of the status quo. But it is also the seed of change.

No matter how many times you're shut down, ignored, or ridiculed, don’t stop. Keep questioning. Especially when you’re told not to. That is when it matters the most.

Over time, I’ve come to understand that disobedience is not a weakness, especially for women. It is a vital tool for change. In a world that teaches women to obey before they learn to think for themselves, saying no becomes revolutionary. Every time a woman refuses to conform, she cracks the system open just a little more.

Disobedience is how women reclaim power—not just for themselves, but for those who come after them.

Disobedience is not a flaw; it’s a force.
Especially for women, disobedience is essential to challenge the norms that were never built for us. In a society that survives on our silence and submission, every act of questioning, resisting, and refusing is a step toward change.

For women, obedience has never been safety; it's been surrender.
But disobedience? That is where freedom begins.