The final pillar of the case for keeping is understanding a fundamental piece of our cultural software: the inability to separate a problem from the person.

When presented with a problem or an unconventional choice, the default Indian response is not analytical; it is a Moral Diagnosis. The question is not “Let’s examine this issue,” but rather, “What is the character flaw in this person that led them to this issue?”

Separating Problem from Person: The struggle for analytical clarity

Consider the difference.

The Problem: “I am unhappy in my marriage.”

  • Non-Judgmental Analysis: “What are the sources of unhappiness? Communication? Finances? Intimacy? Let’s break it down.”
  • The Moral Diagnosis: “You are being selfish. You are not adjusting enough. Marriage is about sacrifice. What is wrong with you that you can’t make it work?”

The Unconventional Choice: “I want to take a year off to travel instead of taking that promotion.”

  • Non-Judgmental Analysis: “Interesting. What do you hope to gain from that experience? What’s the financial plan? What are the potential risks and rewards?”
  • The Moral Diagnosis: “You are being irresponsible and lazy. You are throwing away your future. You are ungrateful for the opportunities you have.”

The Moral Diagnosis: When personal choices are treated as character flaws

This reflex to perform a Moral Diagnosis is devastating. It shuts down all exploration, because people become terrified of even admitting they have a problem. It forces you to solve the wrong issue: instead of solving your actual problem (“How do I build a career I love?”), you are forced to solve a social problem (“How do I manage my parents’ disapproval?”).

Most importantly, it kills innovation at the root. An unconventional idea is an experiment. An experiment requires the possibility of failure. But when a Moral Diagnosis is the default, failure is not a data point; it is a permanent stain on your character.

This is why you must protect your new ideas. You must create a space where they can be explored and tested without the immediate threat of a moral judgment. You must learn to keep your experiments private until you have results. You are not being secretive; you are being a good scientist.