Mum’s the word

People who know me will say ‘look who is talking’. I am known as a chatterbox and everyone thinks it’s difficult for me to keep quiet. Since childhood everyone said I talked too much. My dad even gave me five rupees, a princely sum those days, for being mum for half an hour.

But I am not talking about keeping quiet per se. How mum can you be in keeping others’ secrets? How mum you can be in an argument? How mum you can be in a crisis? How mum you can be to introspect? How mum you can be to lick your wounds and carry on?

If we can not keep anyone’s secret, if we always have to have the last word and we can not keep quiet by ourselves for just fifteen minutes a day, then it does not matter if you don’t talk too much. If we cannot keep our dignity by remaining mum in a crisis and you cannot deal with your issues by introspecting and keeping mum, then it doesn’t matter if you are a quiet person.

On the other hand, you may be a talkative person and may dominate every conversation and may win every argument but if you don’t raise your voice against injustice, your talking is in vain. If you can not raise your voice in protecting a vulnerable, your being a chatterbox is useless.

So we have to use our discretion. That is the crux. Go ahead, talk till the end of the world. But also talk about the issues which matter and which can make a difference to our society. Don’t betray a friend by telling tales behind their back but do talk when you see gross injustice being done . Mum is not the word there.

So be it!!!