Flow

Once, when asked to describe a friend, I used the analogy of water. It appears in three states of matter and can transform interchangeably between vapour, liquid and solid. It takes shape of the vessel it is put into and finds its own level. While these characteristics depict adaptability, the greatest value comes from its ability to flow.

Flowing water is the most active landscape‐transforming agent on the earth's surface. Waterways erode, transport and deposit rock and sediment to produce landforms such as canyons, valleys, deltas, alluvial fans, and floodplains. Running water creates waterfalls, streams and brooks that break into pleasing song.   

The analogy was used to describe Dadu Mandrekar, a man of many parts! Like the flowing waters, he travelled from one interest to another, from one skill to another, from one place to another. He was a prolific poet, writer, journalist, editor, photographer, historian, nature enthusiast, social activist and a champion for the reclamation of human dignity.

Sadly this analogy was shared again when, Dadu made an early exit. The man with a mission, to take the intent and content of the Constitution of India to every home and heart, passed away on Constitution Day. His achievements were a result of his tendency to be on the constant move, adapt to newer experiences and produce literature based on the learnings.

Like water, Dadu’s life was a restless flow that achieved significantly to produce deep valleys of knowledge, develop rising new skills, create lakes of synergy, unleash waterfalls of expression and irrigate a better understanding of human dignity and social justice as envisaged by his inspirational icon Babasaheb Ambedkar.

Dadu had great eye and ear for observation. He was a committed learner who kept moving around… flowing to learn and unlearn…. He made an impact because he refused to stay still and stagnant. He learnt fresh stuff and applied it to fresh performances. The flow may have stopped but the humanscape he carved out is a testimony to the impact of his flow!

Do not stagnate… move & go…

Learn & unlearn with the flow!

- Pravin K. Sabnis

Teach Right

President of State 1 of Samraat Club International, Dr Uday Kudalkar was speaking at a seminar. He shared an advice he when he joined as faculty of anatomy at the Goa Medical College. The Head of his department told him, ‘Do not teach wrong!’

The instruction was to only teach what one is sure of. ‘If in doubt’, the senior told, ‘ask for time and return with the right information or clarification.’ What the elder expert was sharing with his young colleague was the mantra of ‘teaching only right’!  

The learners must not gullibly accept anything and everything the teacher says. But since they trust the teacher, teachers can be careless in passing on what they may not know at all or not know enough. This results in a breach of trust.

The present times are called the Information Age. However it is pertinent to note that it is also the misinformation age. Social media is becoming a fast track for quick ‘gyan’ which is creating ‘teachers’ who ‘teach wrong’. In the hurry to pass on, what is shared is oft wrong.

We must sift facts from the fiction. We must unlearn conditioning and overcome limiting prejudices. We must confirm the learning before we pass it on. We must learn right lest we teach wrong. We must be careful that we do not teach wrong. We must teach right!

Sift the chaff from the grain

Teach right so learners gain!

- Pravin K. Sabnis

Tolerance

The word ‘tolerance’ refers to varied meanings:  endurance, fortitude, stamina or even the permissible deviation of a standard. However, it is pertinent to note, on the International Day of Tolerance, the relevance of the word in context of this era of rising violence and widening conflicts that are characterized by a fundamental disregard for human life.

On 16 November 1995, UNESCO's Member States adopted a Declaration of Principles on Tolerance. They affirm that tolerance is respect and appreciation of the rich variety of our world's cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human. Tolerance recognizes the universal human rights and fundamental freedoms of others.

People are naturally diverse; only tolerance can ensure the survival of mixed communities in every region of the globe. Tolerance is not only a moral duty, but also as a political and legal requirement for individuals, groups and States. All stakeholders should ensure equality of treatment and of opportunity for all groups and individuals in society.

Education for tolerance should aim at countering influences that lead to fear and exclusion of others and should help young people develop capacities for independent judgement, critical thinking and ethical reasoning. The diversity of our world's many faiths, languages, cultures and ethnicities is not a pretext for conflict, but is a treasure that enriches us all.

Eventually it is about acceptance that comes from being open minded. It is about recognising the dignity of every human being and the right to be and seem different. When we reach out to the commonalities despite the differences, we find it easy to connect with the reality that we belong to the same family of Homo Sapiens.  

Everyone can enjoy their deserved dignity
Tolerance will enhance human personality

- Pravin K. Sabnis

Youth are Now!

Yesterday, a protest meet was organised by traditional fishermen and others to oppose a proposed marina in Goa. In between the speeches, a group of young boys and girls moved in to the empty spaces between the crowds and broke out into a dance to the tunes of a protest song.

The youthful moves had an uplifting effect on the audience… more so from the words spoken by two of them to explain their distress as well as resolve to save their land, lives and livelihoods. The young man decried the patronizing line ‘Youth are the future!’ He firmly declared that ‘Youth are Now!’

He is right! Youth are side-lined despite all promise of being torchbearers of the future. They are brushed aside by the older generation as being naïve and inexperienced. The irony is that the wisdom of experience comes only through going through the act of experience. Seniors deny the youth the freedom to participate beyond being foot soldiers in their cause.

Those in positions of power, whether political power or those within civil society, recognize that youth can easily be mobilized with great effect. What they forget is that youth are active agents of change, first for now and then for the future. The ‘today’ in their hands will create the ‘tomorrow’ that will be.

Youth must be allowed to spread their roots as well as shoots and grow into capable canopies! The ones who are good enough to vote at the age of 18 years are surely adept to make other choices, too. Remember that youth icons like Bhagat Singh made significant contributions in thought and actions before being martyred at the age of 23.

Youth are Now! Let them root…

To aim at the future to shoot!

- Pravin K. Sabnis

Way to go

Ejji K Umamahesh passed away a day before his 72nd birthday in Chennai on 16 October. When he went for a high risk heart surgery, he wrote his own obituaries, asking his family to put them up in case the surgery is not successful. The obituaries reflect the way, the actor chose to script his life… and death!

For Facebook, the former car rally driver wrote: ‘I regret to inform you that my vintage vehicle that was being restored, in spite of the best mechanics in India with mastery over their craft, modern tools and expertise at their command, did all they could to revive it, but unfortunately did not succeed…’

For the newspapers Ejji declared that ‘he lived on his own terms as a Religionless Citizen of the World on Village Earth…’ To his ‘friends, enemies and those in-between’ he wrote, ‘Thanks for sharing my exciting life. My party is over, and I hope there is no hangover for those I leave behind. Time is running out for everyone. Live well, enjoy your life…’

Ejji started off as a toilet supervisor at a Theatre, went on to be a successful businessman and eventually quit the rat race to do exactly what he really wanted to do. He lived his life to the fullest and by his motto, ‘Live! Don’t exist.’ But while he indulged in his many passions, his life was not of self-centred spoils but of progressive thinking and responsible living.

An ardent advocate of unostentatious weddings, his non-religious marriage cost just sixty rupees in 1975. He kept evolving his thinking and other skills. He involved in many social organisations pursuing humanitarian work. Ejji willed his usable organs for transplantation and his body for medical research. In life and death he chose the way to go!

Ejji showed all of us the way to go…

In life as well beyond death’s door!

- Pravin K. Sabnis