Innate violence —

We are given not to consider the fact that occasionally or under some circumstances we are inclined to the “violence” in our life.  We don’t count the presence of element of “Violence” in our life since we are groomed in an educated and cultured society. This culture has ever taught and made us learn  to live in peace and amicably. But despite of this hard teaching for cordiality we are prone to the “violence.” Our ancestors, forefathers, thinkers and seers were fully aware of the fact, if we constantly not kept away from this “element of violence” in our day to day life, it can revive in our person in its original primal form. Hence they incessantly efforted in their teachings to keep this element of violence at a bay distance.

Here, it may be argued, ” no sir, every person dislikes violence and always tries  to elude  it and succeeds in doing that as well.” At this point, we are bound to perceive this “element of violence” in its double facets format, i.e, Active violence and Passive violence. With a paradigm, we can elucidate it properly. Just I am asking you one question. When ever you happen to watch a movie, in that case whether all these chosen movies fall under the categories of ” social cum family movie or comedy movie” only. The simple answer emerges up, at some bend of age, man prefers to watch either romantic movie or action movie. Simple! His choice revolves around these two categories majorly.

Now, firstly we describe the romantic movie in context to its contents of script. No any romantic film can be completed without the presence of a “villain.” This villain is always supposed to conspire some plots to create some troubles in the life of lead characters( i.e. hero and heroine in the drama.) When this villain doesn’t succeed in in his covert maneuvers, he comes overtly in direct action mode. Here he openly physically assaults the hero(lover) in the movie or reel life. This sort of fighting (crime) scenes we commonly watch in the movie.

Here, the presence of “element of violence” is obvious but with a nuance. The supporting sentiments of audience circle is on the side of the hero. When this hero on the screen is being thrashed by the villain, the ache is felt by the audience and when villain is put back to a hard and revengeful beating, audience cheer up. Here, we watch two aspects of violence simultaneously.  It’s a truth, victory of righteous cause appeases every one. That is why when villain is being thrashed, it makes audience happy. But in one way or another, the element of violence is being appreciated. 

Likely to that, the same phenomenon is experienced with an “action” movie. The action movie is always based on the contents of a combat between good and bad. Almost to the entire length  of the movie, we engross in watching scenes loaded with violence. Surprisingly, audience watches that all with holding their breath. Further, if we talk of the “war movie,” they too have got a distinct effect. In case, if a “war movie’ is based upon the story on the war between a Nation ( belonging to audience) and another neighboring hostile Nation, then every unit of the audience feels, as if, he by himself is fighting on the screen for the cause of the Nation. We call it “patriotism.” But the main issue of the blog still stands on the same footings. In this way, we lionize the “violence.”

The only distinction is that of “Active and Passive format.” In our personal life we eschew the violence. This may have some reasons to back it. We may be law-abiding or pusillanimous, but along with foster a desire, some one else should fight for our cause. For that purpose, we approach the Police Department. Secondly, we know, if we get entangled in violence, that may afflict injuries upon us. In that way, we also try to evade the painful suffering also. But at the same moment, if some one succeeds to delve into our heart, he will find our heart filled with the feelings of violent reprisal. This is “Passive format.” The same kind of “passive format” we experience when watch a movie full with actions. Somewhere, it’s the supplementary substitution of our subconscious feelings.

Then, what the truth is? The truth is, the “element of violence” is rooted deep down into our whole being (physically and mentally.) As, at the beginning of this blog I have said, our forefathers, teachers, thinkers and seers knew this truth deeply, this forced them to teach us to live with peace and amicably. To check our this “violent tendency,” stringent laws and enforcement machinery was drawn up from the very beginning of our civilization. Why we carry this “violent tendency”? Answer lies into our evolution process of thousand of thousands years. In the stage wise evolution of reaching man from primal man to the civilized one, mankind has suffered a lot of miseries.

At the primal stage he was forced to survive in extreme adverse circumstances. He was to remain engaged in wild hunt for food and in doing that one was but to become wild and cruel. Later on the Natural calamities in shape of torrential rain, flood, wild fire and again the inter clans strife to loot each other ever kept him full of rage. The violence for thousands of years became the part and parcel of his being. In a sense, this cruelty got imbibed in his DNA.

With the passing of time, men became civilized but still the same animal instinct we carry in our genes. This may be observed between battling Nations every where. A long list of violence exists even today. One common occurrence is of  domestic violence behind walls. More aggressively, the spurting crime rates in every society is another example. The difference is only of format. When we directly participate in it, it’s an Active Violence, but when we watch that being performed on the screen and enjoy it in reel life, it is Passive Violence. The amusing fact is, somewhere, we some how also enjoys in watching the violent scenes, it’s innate in us. Penned by — Vinay Pharasi —–