When anonymity is a virtue

Who does not seek attention? Even a kid resorts to fake crying for the purpose. Remember that extrovert in your school who would do anything to be noticed? It is perhaps normal to seek attention though the degree may vary from person to person. We all get used to and take for granted, certain degree of attention from the surrounding, as we grow.

When I last visited my native town, I spent most of my time with my childhood friend, Manav. Well, he is not a celebrity, but he is known to most in the town. The roadside fast food vendor welcomes him with personal affection just as the steward does to him at the top-rated restaurant in town. I am sure it is not reciprocation for the hefty tips that he might be paying them in each of his visits. They have been seeing him being there for long; they know him for years. The temple priest calls Manav by name, the traffic police acknowledges him pass by the busy road near the High Court building. It appears as if the whole town knows him and he knows them all.

I am not sure if I correctly sensed a sign of arrogance in him, coming out of his being familiar with most people, places and processes that mattered in town.

I think he is missing the joy of being anonymous.

The anonymous is a free person; he lives his natural self. He has no social stereotype associated with his personality, and has no worries to meet others’ expectations at all times. It is wonderful to be one’s own self and enjoy true freedom.

I would not say that the anonymous does not seek attention. He creates his own small world of close friends and associates and goes in and out of it at will. The rest of the world is not unknown, but consists of individuals, who are strangers. A civic society is one where strangers respect each other and anonymity becomes a virtue.

A good civic society presupposes that the needs of the anonymous are met on merits rather than influences and connections. For example, if I have a problem in my fixed-line telephone connection, I should not be looking for a tout (middleman) or a known official in the telephone department for rectification; the matter should get resolved through a self-supporting system. Such a society empowers the anonymous and promotes the joy of living.

I am afraid Manav would disagree.

Author: Manoranjan Mishra

Interested in creative expressions. View all posts by Manoranjan Mishra