FALLACY

Some years ago, we were conducting training for an organisation. The lunch was served in their canteen. The person who accompanied us was very courteous but did not partake in the meal. He sheepishly admitted that he would not eat as his mother had instructed him to abstain from food during the solar eclipse that was occurring that day.

He told us that during the eclipse, all water and cooked food would be thrown out. After the end of the eclipse, all would bathe and fresh water would be filled from the tap and used to cook fresh food. He explained that during the eclipse, the food and water would be contaminated. My colleague asked him, ‘Do you empty the overhead tank, the reservoirs and rivers as well? Surely they would be under great exposure.’

Even the educated succumb to the fallacy, because we think that it does no harm to follow a tradition with seems to bring no harm. But a fallacy will eclipse our thinking abilities in more ways than one. While fasting during an eclipse, or any other time, is not bad as long as our body can take it; surely throwing away edible food and water is not condonable.  

So often we base our actions on erroneous beliefs. Premises based on invalid references lead to the empowerment of fallacy. False notions and misplaced logic leads to wrong conclusions. In fact, most fallacies are propped up by the crutches of distorted scientific principles. After all, we so easily allow our knowledge to be eclipsed by erroneous reason.

Let’s BE BETTER at keeping every fallacy at bay...

By not allowing reason to be eclipsed any way!

- Pravin K. Sabnis 

BREVITY

‘Brevity is the soul of wit’

In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the words are spoken by Polonius, whose various advices are often quoted by orators. However, the above quote is ironic in the context of the play, as Polonius is anything but brief in his long winded speeches. Hence, while it is an impressive line, its real worth eludes its own articulator.

The line implies that to be better at intelligent communication, we must go straight to the point and not beat around the bush. Being brief is an important aspect in today’s fast paced world. By being brief, our communication becomes better focussed and we create a better impact akin to hitting Bull’s eye.

However, we feel that to be impressive, abundance is a must. Indeed, when orators are asked to speak for three minutes, they wonder how it is possible to make an impact in such constratined duration. But it is pertinent to remember that Abraham Lincoln’ famous Gettysburg speech was just over two minutes as it included just ten lines.

Effective film makers are those who have the courage to edit and leave out the unnecessary, even if they are excellent shots. Ditto for effective orators, writers, communicators... Brevity comes with the courage and conviction to avoid the unnecessary and focus just on essentials.

Let’s BE BETTER at using words with rarity...

And make an expressive impact with brevity!

- Pravin K. Sabnis

INDIGNATION

The first edition of Aamir Khan’s television show exposed the brutal reality of the daughters of a nation fondly called Mother India. Social networking sites were full of expression ranging from appreciation to indignation… all in approval of Khan’s call to halt female foeticide.

This is not the first time that the harsh social inequality has been exposed. Way back in the 1920s, Katherine Mayo uncovered the shameful treatment of the women of our country. Over the years, sting operations by journalists have exposed the murderous ways of doctors, educationists, leaders and others. Social reformers have been working for centuries to reclaim human dignity for women. 

Indignation happens when somebody else commits the crime. When we are the culprits, justifications emerge. Ultimately, the killing of the girl child does not happen just as a foetus. Even when ‘allowed’ to exist, her aspirations and emotions are often fettered, stifled or butchered. When human dignity is trampled upon, mere indignation is not enough.

 It would be better if we indulge in empathetic introspection rather than merely declare our indignation towards injustice and indignity around us. We must investigate our own attitudes. Do we genuinely recognise the rights to equality, liberty, dignity and opportunity of all human beings? Do we shun irrational rituals that treat our women as commodities? Otherwise even well-intentioned indignation is just another transitory emotion with no connect to transformative and responsive actions.

 Sans responsiveness, there is little to indignation 
Dignity will BE BETTER reclaimed by real actions 

 - Pravin K. Sabnis