Distractions

One of my successful unlearning activities was triggered by a speech by one of my mentors -   John Silveira. I play the video of the song from the Hindi film Munnabhai MBBS, ‘Dekh Le… seekh le’ (C’mon see... c’mon learn…). Then I ask ‘You have SEEN… you have done DEKH LE… now tell me what you learnt… tell me the SEEKH LE you have done…’ Very few attempt an answer… The meaningful words have not been absorbed…

So often, we may not truly listen as we are distracted by the visuals. The song is filmed on a dancing-bar-girl sensually provoking a terminally ill patient to look at the positive side of life. The song exhorts to enjoy the journey of life while it lasts instead of wallowing in the despair of an impending death. The lyrics are truly inspiring. However the visual glamour of the girl takes our attention away from the powerful message contained in the song.

Even while listening to a song, many of us get caught only in the melody and miss the message. Although we possess the ability to simultaneously enjoy the multiple dimensions of countless beautiful songs, many of us pick up on only the most appealing and play blind to the rest. The conception of that song itself is a fruit of the many creative dimensions of different abilities.

We must be better in our ability to see and hear and understand all these dimensions. We must be better at overcoming the disruptive influence of distractions. As learners, we will prosper when we are able to listen despite the distractions. That is exactly what John sought to tell his audience: that the onus of learning is on the learner... not just DEKH LE we must also SEEKH LE…

Do not be sidetracked by disruptive distractions...

let’s BE BETTER at connecting to real connotations!

- Pravin K. Sabnis

Goa, India.