Sorting out what’s good and bad is the province of ethics. It’s also what keeps priests, pundits, and parents busy. Unfortunately, what keeps children and philosophers busy is asking the priests, pundits, and parents, “why?”

“Beta, these traditions have been going on for ages! We are just following the footsteps of sages.”
But, ever since my days of early youth, right when my mind started to form an independent worldview, 
I’ve had trouble accepting things preached to me as the absolute truth!
Just think about it — What are the origins of these rules?

Today, I’d like to take you on a journey with me through this piece,
Portray that it’s not so difficult to question obsolete beliefs.
Would a poem full of questions and observations make you ponder? 
Would it inspire you to wonder about the status quo? 
Would you question ideologies even if critical reflection is not applauded by our society?

“Beta, women can’t enter the kitchen or the temple when they are bleeding.”
What makes the color pink feminine?
Dowry is still the norm in our weddings.
We see people in hardships and often attribute it to their past sins.

What’s wrong with people who love dressing up or doing make-up to express their sexuality?
Our beauty standards are defined by the fashion industry, unfortunately. 
Why are emotional men considered weak and ambitious women selfish or bossy?
It’s funny that we believe penis sizes are a sign of masculinity or sexual abilities.

We elect politicians with criminal histories and spend all our savings to make our weddings extra fancy.
But, does it matter how we’re perceived by “society” when we can’t even look ourselves in the eye?
Anytime we consume news on TV, why do we not question who, what, when, where, and why?

“Beta, ask your chemist to wrap your pads in a black bag”, we’re told.
We're sold to suffer to follow meaningless religious rituals. 
How are we so easily manipulated to hate people who follow a different faith?
Is it the fault of any human who gets raped?

Our score in one exam (JEE, CLAT, NEET anyone?) determines how smart we are.
Isn’t it bizarre that women are responsible for finishing household chores after office work?
We’re guilty of rushing to astrologers at the first sign of trouble.
Everyone’s doing it but we are still not talking about sex enough.

“Beta, money doesn’t grow on trees”. 
Who taught us life is a cut-throat competition? Life is no zero-sum game, it’s abundant. 
We will drown ourselves in all sorts of distractions but won’t be alone.
When will we come out of the victim mode and take control of our decisions?

Tell me, why do we listen to our elders, parents, teachers, and politicians blindly?
They can be wrong too!
What do we get by massaging their egos?
Why is therapy for depression and anxiety considered taboo?

Are we trying to control our children’s lives when we can’t control our thoughts?
Why are movie stars adored and not freedom fighters or entrepreneurs?
It is so easy to be aggressive online when we are so timid in real life.
“Beta, make sure you’re home by 7 pm.” How can we teach our sons to be better instead?

Why do we crave fame without understanding what it entails?
What must we say about “Kanyadaan” or giving our daughters away?
We get so shocked when our kids come out as bisexual, asexual, lesbian, or gay.

“Beta, learn to compromise and be a “good girl.”
But, how can the expression of love by abuse or cruelty?
Why should we suck up to others at the cost of our sanity?
Why do we imagine material things will make us happy?
Isn’t it hypocrisy that we will go to any lengths to keep our houses clean, but the roads not so much?

Women can’t go to the burial sites to perform the last rites.
These days we care more about our number of Instagram followers than our number of kind deeds.
How does a tiny bit of validation from the opposite gender skyrocket our self-esteem?
We’re so ashamed of admitting our grief.

“Beta, It’s bad luck to follow a black cat crossing the road.”
Do we still trust random superstitions?
We believe appreciating kids would make them arrogant.
Who taught us that all strangers have malicious intent?

Is it easier to deny that love is real than the fact that it might be missing from our lives?
Our egos are so fragile that we escalate before we reconcile.
Why is fear driving our lives?
We start abusing people on the road at the slightest mistake.
Why must we be fake and have skin in the game only for the namesake?

We’re compelled to conform when we don’t have all the answers. Like what to pursue in our careers.
Why do we negotiate with the sabzi-wala but don’t mind spurlging on a fancy dinner?
Why do financially independent women expect their partners to be the primary caretakers?

We’re only thinking about our past or future and not caring about our present.
Why do near-death moments or terminal illnesses only remind us of what’s important?
Why are we sitting and complaining so much on Twitter?
Have we come to terms with how we want to be remembered?