An Imaginary Conversation

Once upon a time, there was a common man in the land of Gandhi, Netaji, Sachin, Amitabh etc.. and in the same country there was a philosopher. One fine morning, the two happened to meet each other. An interesting conversation took place as follows:

Common Man: Hello Mr. Philosopher. Good Morning.
Philosopher: Hello Mr. Common Man, what's happening in life?
CM: Nothing much. As usual.
P: I must say, you common people pretend to see life as it is, look around you my friend, so many things are happening, cars are polluting the environment, politicians are destroying the integrity of our country, terrorists are killing innocent people. Open your eyes.
CM: Very true, but don't forget, we are common man, our only democratic right is to vote, if that too is not rigged.
P: That's not true, you can always topple the Government, remember you have the power of mass, the power of numbers and the power of support.
CM: Now it's time to open your eyes Mr, do you really think in a country like ours, we can really do something?
P: Why not? You need to have the intent and the quality.
CM: Imagine a situation where every common man is trying to look after their own families, obviously they won't take part in any kind of movement which will jeopardise their constant source of maintenance.
P: You need to think above that, otherwise our country wouldn't have got freedom.
CM: There lies the paradox, my friend, if we think above that, no longer we are common man.
P: It's not a paradox, we try to fit our weaknesses and excuses behind the mask of a common man. The definition of common man itself is different. When the common people of a country thinks proactively, the country moves to progress.
CM: And what about the corruptions? The unethical forces and superstitions?
P: Don't you think the common people of the country are largely responsible for that?
CM: True, but what's the solution? We can't rectify everything and start from scratch again, it's out of control now.
P: It seems so, but there are solutions.
CM: Don't tell me that you are supporting certain terrorist activities in some states who claim to represent the common people and rectify the system.
P: Not really, because they don't have selfless motivation like our freedom fighters had.
CM: I understand, but we, people of this country are forcibly moulded into this kind of dormant, selfish and lifeless image, so we really lack the self-confidence.
P: Nothing is permanent my friend, you will realise that. Even in Purana also, it is said that new era begins after a deluge.
CM: Your words are inspiring, but we have to look after ourselves, we have to be selfish, we have to struggle for our families, it's not our choice but compulsion, we don't have ambitions, but we have to earn everything, we have to fight. We don't get opportunities, even if it's there, we are forcibly pushed aside to make way for leaders. We forget that people make leaders, we believe in our leader and they always betray us, and we search for new leaders instead of believing in ourselves. We worship God and leave everything to Him. We criticise others, but commit the same mistakes. We are common people, deprived, full of mistakes, selfishness and devoid of self-respect. You can't change that so easily.
P: I think our discussion is like two lines of the railway track, they tend to meet at a distance, but actually they are parallel and will never meet.
CM: That's why we should stop this non-sense before we ourselves get bored. Goodbye friend.
P: Goodbye.

And thereafter the common man went to his own way to earn living for his family. The philosopher started thinking about the outcome of the conversation. I don't know whether he was able to succeed or not.