Dhvani-Explained: Are you Privileged?

By Anushka

WHAT IS PRIVILEGE ?

Privilege is a funny thing. Who is truly privileged in this world? Is it the rich and only the rich? 

Privilege has been widely associated with being rich or wealthy. But is it necessary for someone to be rich for them to be privileged? Is it not a privilege to be able to spend a day without a worry with your friends and family? If you say no, I would beg to differ because hundreds of people in India itself cannot afford a single day of relaxation, because if they did, there would be no food for them to give their children at the end of the day. Privilege isn’t being rich, it’s having parents, grandparents, friends, education, happiness or even sadness. The world has become so materialistic, that we have failed to realise how privileged we truly are just because someone else has it objectively better. For a person who has seen real poverty, earning a monthly income of 1000 rupees is a privilege. So why is it that we never appreciate the privilege of being able to complain, of being healthy and educated. The cliched line that parents overuse about there being people who are not fortunate enough to be able to eat, drink and learn, is the reality that we often tend to hate them for reminding us. It’s the sad reality of the world that we live in and human nature that we choose to ignore, because it doesn’t affect us directly. The reminder that our parents keep telling us, shows us how privileged we truly are. For us the reminder of poverty stricken households, who don't have enough electricity, food, or money to be able to live the way we do, is ‘annoying’ and ‘guilt tripping’ but for some people it’s the reality of their lives. It’s funny how we pity people for living like that, but don't lift a finger to help when we pass by them. It’s ironic how ‘privilege’ is a bad thing when the rich have it but when we have it, it’s a right. Privilege is not only material, for an orphaned person, privilege isn’t having money it’s about having a family. Being privileged means having opportunities and things that some people unfortunately don't get. Being privileged means being able to walk down a street without having to constantly look behind with the fear of being kidnapped or followed. Being privileged means not having to worry about what your future holds. Being privileged means being able to pursue your dreams without any worry. Being privileged is having food on your table. Being privileged is having the right to life. You are privileged too, even if you don't consider yourself as privileged. Opportunities are something that even if you are not presented with, can be created with hard work and resilience. It’s important that we understand that privilege is something that a person is born with by luck, and you are fortunate enough to be able to be one of those people. It is because we are privileged, that we complain about others being more. In reality, we don't have any idea of what it truly means being underprivileged. It's time that you look at your life and appreciate the opportunities that you were given instead of pitying yourself of the ones that you didn’t get. Privilege isn’t being rich; it's a special right that you were fortunate enough to get.