I for Identity

"This blog has moved." ~ Amar Mainkar

And why did it move? I was sick of having a pseudonym. I mean, what's the point? Blogging offers a channel for people to express themselves. Many famous bloggers blog under a pseudonym but I have come to believe that being under the cloak of anonymity is like accepting that you could be panned for your posts that might rub a few people the wrong way, so you must hide your identity.

Many of my posts discuss burning issues the country faces and many a times I am merciless when it comes to making my feelings public. I should not be worried about they will be received and I have a right to speak out. So for me, having a another identity equals living under fear. Not in India, but in many countries, bloggers have been jailed and tortured for their posts. India is a democracy and a free country and I have right to express myself just like anyone else.

But shedding pseudonyms and changing blog addresses brings more to me than simply a change of an internet identity. It means my thoughts and opinions are now public. So I now shoulder a certain responsibility. That I need to be more responsible and level-headed, also nonpartisan when it comes to having an opinion on an issue. I am now accountable for my posts and take full responsibility for what I write.

I have had instances when people were not quite in agreement with what I wrote, and I have had my share of brickbats, and I am sure I am going to have some more. But that's what it is all about isn't it? Having a meaningful conversation with rest of the world through your blog.

So I'd like to see how this blog shapes up in its new avatar. But no matter how it goes from here. you know it will be tagging along with me...

Say I!
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