Often in my interactions with an audience, I ask them to raise their hands if in affirmation with my questions. The question is simple: Can you sing? Very few persons put up their hands.
Then I expand the question: Can you sing the ‘Happy Birthday’ song? Can you sing the national anthem? Can you sing ‘Hum honge kamyaab’ (the version of ‘we shall overcome’)? All put up their hands to confirm that they can sing!
The question posed in the same instance is understood differently by different persons! Some view it as a question of being able to simply sing and the others as a question of being able to skilfully sing as well as the ones they view as capable to sing.
In the first instance there is no burden of comparison. There is simple understanding that one can sing. May be one cannot sing as well as others but the question was more about one’s willingness and basic beliefs.
When posed the question, ‘Can you?’ we must be open minded and answer it is a straight question. We must not judge our capability in context with a better performer. We must declare our ability to do what we do so well by saying, ‘Yes I can!’
‘Can you’… if the question began
The answer should be ‘Yes I Can’!
~ Pravin K Sabnis
Then I expand the question: Can you sing the ‘Happy Birthday’ song? Can you sing the national anthem? Can you sing ‘Hum honge kamyaab’ (the version of ‘we shall overcome’)? All put up their hands to confirm that they can sing!
The question posed in the same instance is understood differently by different persons! Some view it as a question of being able to simply sing and the others as a question of being able to skilfully sing as well as the ones they view as capable to sing.
In the first instance there is no burden of comparison. There is simple understanding that one can sing. May be one cannot sing as well as others but the question was more about one’s willingness and basic beliefs.
When posed the question, ‘Can you?’ we must be open minded and answer it is a straight question. We must not judge our capability in context with a better performer. We must declare our ability to do what we do so well by saying, ‘Yes I can!’
‘Can you’… if the question began
The answer should be ‘Yes I Can’!
~ Pravin K Sabnis
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