My experience with ‘Others’

Abstract

This is an autobiographical paper which intends to explore my ‘Self’ and my relationship with ‘Other’ in the continually changing world. It is presented in two parts. The first part is comprised of some discriminatory norms which I have identified in my lived experience from the very childhood. These norms are usually unwritten, but embedded in rituals, cultural traditions and discourse. I have tried to define my perception of ‘Other’ with respect to the agents of these norms in my life journey. I have always been in suspicion with such agents as they usually create pressure, put someone on the margin, and try to deprive one of exercising one’s agency. Interestingly, I observe that my relationship with ‘Other’ is not also static. My emotional reaction associated in the journey of perceiving ‘Others’ has also been changing with time. The second part of the paper tried to explore these interactions in my professional life with a client of mine in my counseling chamber who came to seek professional help and whom I perceived as an agent of the discriminating dominant discourse. I have tried to explore how I suffered from a role conflict; a split between ‘me’ and ‘the counselor in me’ and how I could slowly resolve the split and enrich my insight both as a human being and as a professional.