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Sentiments

by Jitendra Mathur
(India)

Sentiments are an integral part of human life. What’s life sans sentiments? It’s the sentiments only which convert a dry and colourless life into one full of colours and flavours. A life devoid of sentiments may be useful but its utility will always remain limited only. If an individual is devoid of sentiments, neither his talent can be exploited to the full, nor can his endeavours be successful in their entirety. It is, therefore, very significant to be sentimental in life.


Often it is said that life should run through logic and brains and not through sentiments and heart. It’s right to some extent in the practical life, especially in the times of crisis because sentiments sometimes block the thought-process in difficult times. However, this is equally true that the bigger the crisis, the stronger should be the resolution and any resolution is directly linked to the heart which is further connected to sentiments. The resolution not having any sentiment to back it, may find itself broken like a fragile tree in any windstorm of life-events.


Now the question arises as to what’s meant by being sentimental. Should an individual shedding tears and having a throat blocked by their emergence every now and then be called sentimental? Should a person be considered sentimental if he gets frequently carried away by emotions and acts accordingly? In my opinion, the answer is NO because there lies a subtle difference between sentimentality and emotionality which pertains to the maturity level of the individual in question. Over-emotional person cannot handle himself properly in times of crisis. He may find it difficult to help even himself, leave aside the others. Whereas a sentimental person is one who knows how to strike a balance between sentiment and duty, who keeps his sentiments intact in his heart but without allowing them to interfere with the performance of his duties.

Renowned Hindi author – Sudarshan had written a classic story decades back, titled as ‘Shreya Aur Preya’ underscoring the fact that it’s the most important ability of an individual to differentiate between Shreya (the correct thing to do) and Preya (the thing which is dear to heart) and to choose Shreya when the moment of choice arrives. And the true sentimental person is one who can correctly differentiate between these two, giving priority to Shreya in his life.


Human sentiments are of various types but when we refer to a person being sentimental, we mean positive and desirable sentiments only which contribute to making life more meaningful and more valuable for the world.


An individual can rise above petty self-interests and think about others, appreciating their beauty and empathizing with their grief if and only if he is sentimental. Such a person only can turn his life into a publicly useful one because his sentimentality stops him from being self-centred and selfish. A sentimental person only can be kind towards humans and other living creatures and benevolent towards the aggrieved and the needy.


I have one more personal thought in this perspective that a person should be sentimental towards others but should never desire anything in return for his sentiments. When the desire to get return / reciprocation starts dominating other sentiments, then the kindness and internal beauty of the individual concerned start depreciating without his knowledge. Hence a sentimental person should give the sentiment of giving the apex position in his heart but without a desire to get something in return. It’s pretty difficult, no doubt but this selflessness only converts an ordinary being into an extra-ordinary one and propels him on the path to greatness. Nevertheless, if at all he wants something, then he should only want that at least a part of his kindness gets transferred to those who come in his contact and get influenced by his sentimentality.


Since sentiments are a tender aspect of personality, hence it is desirable not to hurt anybody’s sentiments in any manner. By hurting a person’s sentiments, we strike at the positive aspect of his personality which ultimately brings about negative results at individual and social levels. On the contrary, by respecting someone’s sentiments and reciprocating positively to his sentimentality, we can exasperate the bright aspect of his personality. Sympathy and love are such positive sentiments which may convert even the devil into god.


Summing up, sentimentality is that aspect of human personality which makes it succulent and which does not allow it to become selfish and heartless. Sentiments are God-given gift to mankind and it is the individual’s own function to keep them intact and develop further. His family and social environment also play a significant role in that. This is to be understood by the society also that a sentimental person only can be socially useful. Let’s understand the value of sentiments, be sentimental ourselves and make our positive contribution in turning others too into sentimental beings.

The end






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Feb 02, 2012
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Sentiments
by: vimala ramu

Welcome to IWW, Mr Mathur. I have been familiar with your name with your frequent comments on Geetasree's articles. You have studied the topic SENTIMENTS deeply and have been able to express them well.A right balance of practicality and sentimentality (or its better version, a human touch) is what ensures a complete human being.

Feb 05, 2012
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Thanks
by: Jitendra Mathur

Sincere thanks Vimla Ji. I am overwhelmed by the praise from a seasoned author like you. Though I am a man, I hope to be useful on this forum for women writers.

Regards.

Jitendra

Feb 06, 2012
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Mathur Sahab! Namaskar!
by: Geetashree Chatterjee

What to say! Thanks for taking out time from your hectic schedule and penning this lovely short essay on "Sentiments" which are so important yet underrated or overlooked in today's times.

Hope you would come up with more such eloquent, thought provoking pieces in future.

Thanks once again!

Feb 06, 2012
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Your article
by: Sneha

A very well-researched, well thought-out article. There's an age old tussle about sentiments and practicality - - and, on a lighter note, we've no winner yet.

Feb 06, 2012
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Welcome aboard!
by: Lakshmi

A hearty welcome to iWW community.

Though iww is primarily a women community,like any other women magazines, we do welcome and appreciate our male-writers who are our well-wishers and supporters.

Thank you Mr.Mathur so much for your wonderful and thought-provoking article. You've rightly said ..'a sentimental person is one who knows how to strike a balance between sentiment and duty, who keeps his sentiments intact in his heart but without allowing them to interfere with the performance of his duties.' I really liked it!!

Thanks again for taking time to present such a well-written article.


Lakshmi





Feb 06, 2012
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Thanks Geeta Ji
by: Jitendra Mathur

It's because of you only Geeta Ji that I have come to this site as a contributor. The contribution is humble. I will try my best to spare some time out of my busy office and family life to make some meaningful contribution from my side as well as check the wonderful contributions of others.

Heartfelt thanks and regards.

Jitendra Mathur

Feb 06, 2012
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Thanks Sneha Ji
by: Jitendra Mathur

Thanks for the appreciation Sneha Ji. You are right (even when speaking in a lighter vein) that there is yet to emerge a winner between sentimentality and practicality out of the tussle going on for ages.

Jitendra Mathur

Feb 06, 2012
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Thanks Lakshmi Ji
by: Anonymous

I am grateful from my side Lakshmi Ji for you people to allow me to be a part of this forum originally meant for the female authors. It's a wonderful forum and I will be glad to make further contributions as well as read the wonderful writings of others in future too.

Jitendra Mathur

Feb 08, 2012
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Rudimentary elegance
by: Virat Nehru

Mathur ji,

I loved the beginning – you chose to begin with the word ‘sans’. It gave your piece a Shakespearean touch and afforded me an affable chuckle.

The next thing that struck me was the immediacy of purpose about the piece. I loved how you chose to define the parameters of a rather vast and indefinite topic. “Sentiments” is such an abstract topic, but you were exceptionally clear in the areas you wanted to cover. You posed a hypothesis and you answered/posed resolutions through the piece. This conflict/resolution structure gave an academic feel to a piece which could have turned out into an outpour. However, your clear sense of purpose made sure you reined your resources in and gave us just what you wanted.

I also loved how you put a positive spin on the whole issue. You started with the negative and then completely turned it on its head to finish each paragraph on a positive note. It’s a great skill that one, and quite a cheeky little literary technique as well. Great job!! Thanks for inviting me here.

Virat


Feb 08, 2012
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Thanks Virat
by: Jitendra Mathur

Virat,

I am really overwhelmed by the praise that you have heaped on me. The thing is - I am a sentimental person and that's why I could write it due to my own feelings and experiences in this regard.

Thanks a ton brother.

Jitendra

Feb 08, 2012
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Good to see this
by: Deepak

Mathurji,

Good to see you on this space. I have been reading Geetaji's articles here. Good to read your article, which is really well-written. Hope to see more from you here as well as in other forums.

Regards,
Deepak


Feb 08, 2012
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Thanks Deepak Ji
by: Jitendra Mathur

Thanks a ton Deepak Ji. It's a great morale-boosting comment.

Jitendra

Feb 09, 2012
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very well-written
by: khushboo khilwani

We do understand the value of sentiments … nice topic and very well presented.

Feb 09, 2012
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Thanks Khushboo Ji
by: Jitendra Mathur

Thanks a ton for the praise Khushboo Ji. And yes, understanding and acknowledging the value of sentiments is the correct thing to do in life.

Jitendra Mathur

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