Touch Base

The phrase comes from the sport of baseball where both runner and fielders have to ‘touch base’ in order to be safe or record an out. The corner bases are stations with which a runner must make contact before being put out or, perhaps, the need for a fielder possessing the ball to make contact with one of the bases to record an out.

The current idiomatic use of touch base implies a meeting of sorts between two people. One possible explanation for the derivation could be that the idea of base as a home or headquarters might lead to the suggestion of a salesman in the field returning to headquarters to meet with a client or colleague.

Our base could be close family, core team or our passion, our reason for true joy. Every time we touch base, we reconnect to people and priority. It is said so well that not keeping in touch is injurious to relationship. When we reconnect we are reenergised and also connect to initial vision and mission.

Touch base is not just meeting or reconnecting. Often it needs seeking or searching for the base as we may have strayed far away from that base. We may have lost sight of that base. Hence it is important to maintain the conscious link to our personal or collective base. When we touch base we reclaim original purpose.  

Do not run around an aimless race

On a regular basis… do touch base!

- Pravin K Sabnis

Possible

At a workshop for students, Pravin Kakode shared the story behind his popular slogan. He would help his daughter get ready for school. After she wore her uniform, he would help her put on the tie, as the clip of the tie needed to be locked behind the neck.

 One day, the little one was not eager to go to through the routine. The father firmly asked her to be independent & dress on her own. She was upset but did so grudgingly. She managed to wear the tie all by herself and happily said in Konkani, ‘zai naa ashe kai na’ (Nothing is Impossible)

 It became a war cry at his business, aptly called Upgrade and a lot changed since. It empowered ownership and commitment to a solution focused on 'can do' attitude. The tag line has helped people beyond Upgrade as he loves sharing his motivational quote with everyone he interacts with.

 The word ‘possible’ refers to not just what is attainable but also what can be done only if we were to put sincere efforts. Over the centuries, the unimaginable has been achieved because someone did not let doubts to deter the determination. The greatest of inventions seemed impossible yet they came to fulfilment

 We must choose to believe in the power of the possible. We must step beyond the restrictive limits of what is practical and holds confirmation of feasibility. We must align to the attributive angle that rises from conviction that it is always possible!  

 Heed that no deed is impossible

Positive belief makes it possible!

 - Pravin K Sabnis

 

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is an act of fraud. It involves both stealing someone else's work and lying about it afterward. Watching someone else take credit for your idea can be one of the most infuriating things to happen. While it is unethical and unfair, it is important not to lose cool. We must calm down and think about the real source of the anger…

Why are you reacting so strongly? Do you always feel undervalued and underappreciated? Is credit important to you? Finding out what it means to you can help you tackle it reasonably. It can also reveal the stories you tell yourself; sometimes we connect events that have no external connection.

We must frame our claim as a question, so the colleague has a chance to explain his or her actions. This could involve directly asking the credit-stealer about what happened, in neutral language. ‘Talking about the project, why did you say ‘I’ instead of ‘we.’ It sets strong boundaries by letting the plagiarizer know you know what they did.

You ultimately defeat plagiarism by making it clear who did what, so make sure your contributions are known to those around you and above you. And if credit-stealers persist, enlist your friends and colleagues to stand up on your behalf. But the best way is to focus on ‘doing’ things that are better. They can’t compete there!

plagiarism pirates can be challenged for false credit

but they cannot steal your inner process that led it!

- Pravin K Sabnis

Learning Curve

The learning curve model is used commonly in organizational or industrial management to improve output by way of improving performance of the human resource. The model was widely applied during World War II when it was realized that the cost of aircraft decreased with the increase in production performance. It was later taken up by the industrial and business sector for a variety of performance improvement applications

There are many variables in learning that impact the rate of progression and cannot be accurately reflected in the learning curve model. In learning to read, the variables could include phonetics, vocabulary, type of reading material, teaching methods, motivation, previous knowledge or experience, quality of practice, and much more.

The learning curve model requires that one variable is tracked over time, is repeatable and measurable. Individual motivation, for example, would be difficult to measure. As a whole, learning to read is a complex procedure involving many variables and is not ideal for a learning curve.

An example of where a learning curve can be applied could be a measurable task like a factory worker learning to operate a new machine that requires specific, repeatable steps. As the worker learns to operate the machine following the procedural steps, he becomes faster and more proficient at using it. A learning curve would measure this rate of progression and mastery.

A learning curve is a graphical representation of the relationship between how proficient someone is at a task and the amount of experience he or she has. Proficiency usually increases with increased experience… the more someone performs a task, the better he or she gets at it. Hence every time we move on to learn, we progress up the curve

Don’t stay static in a cocoon curled

move ahead with the learning curve!

- Pravin K Sabnis

etc

Etc is the abbreviation of the Latin phrase, Et cetera. Et means ‘and.’ Cetera means ‘the rest.’ It is used at the end of a list to indicate that further, similar items are included. It also indicates that a list is too tedious or clichéd to give in full.

So often, so many of us go on and on. We have the choice to trim our talk, our presentation. When we use ‘etc’ we refrain from the unnecessary, the obvious and the tedious. ‘Etc’ says it so well that ‘the list goes on’.

At most formal functions, introductions of the speakers are long winded as all needless details are listed by the speaker when he passes his bio-data. It is enough to state the highest qualification, latest position and the most significant achievement.

But we stray from brevity. Think of bull’s eye. We have to focus on the central goal. The periphery is distracting and disturbs our aim. Let’s edit the pointless and get only to the real point of impact.

Let’s choose to keep it in brevity dye

Et cetera is about impact bull’s eye!

- Pravin K Sabnis

Distracted?

A man was complaining to Pedro, ‘my child is perpetually distracted’.  Pedro queried, ‘positive distractions or negative distractions?’ The man stopped playing with his mobile and asked, ‘what did you say?’

 A distraction is something that takes your attention away from what you are supposed to be doing. If you cannot keep from checking your social networking forums every ten minutes, that's a distraction that's going to interfere with your other priorities – family, work, passions, people.

 However a distraction can also be a refreshing change. If you are worried about your presentation tomorrow, watching a mindless show on TV may be a welcome distraction that helps you relax. The word comes from the Latin dis (apart) and trahere(drag). So distraction is when you're dragged away from your task or from your worries.

 Positive distractions divert you from negativity and help you emerge refreshed to take on priorities. These include choices like going on a trek, playing sports, attending dance or singing classes, watching entertainment, pursuing some hobby or even talking with friends and family. Social networking sites, television, gadgets easily turn negative distractions when done in excess. However, in moderation, they can be refreshing too.

 We play many roles and cope with varied challenges and pied priorities. The key to happiness and success is to involve in multiple positive distractions. If we do not choose positive distractions, we will tend to be attracted to negative distractions and allow them to turn into bad habits that take focus off our task.

 We must identify what makes us happy and also confirm that it does not estrange us from the people we love or distance us from the things we really want to do. We must let these positive distractions impact our focus. Then, we would not have time and space for worries or negative distractions to intrude, except moderated indulgences.

Ensure relationships are reflected

choose to be positively distracted!

 - Pravin K Sabnis

Lip service

The Latin phrase, ‘Acta non verba’ means ‘Deeds, not words’. It is used to make it clear that you don't kindly suffer those whose behavior doesn't match their words. It is an easy way to make it clear that you won't stand for lip service.

Lip service is ‘something proffered but not performed, service with the lips only. It is an insincere profession of good will. Offshoot terms in same sense was ‘lip-labour’, ‘lip-wisdom’ (the wisdom of those who do not practice what they preach), ‘lip-religion’, ‘lip-devotion’ (prayer without genuine faith or desire) and ‘lip-comfort’.

The term ‘lip service’ is first recorded in ‘A treatise against witchcraft’ by Henry Holland. The second instance is found in ‘A Saint or a Brute. The Certain Necessity and Excellency of Holiness’, by Richard Baxter. In the Introduction, he quotes Jesus from Gospel of Matthew: ‘This people draweth near me with their lips, but in their hearts are far from me’

It is deeds that truly reflect true intentions and convictions. Mere statements mean nothing if not backed by aligned actions. Often people agree and concur but they may not walk the talk. It is clear hypocrisy of refusal to practice what we preach. We must keep away from the pretence of lip service.

Walk the way about what you say…

Lip service is integrity gone astray!

- Pravin K Sabnis

Parity

 Today in 1973, an unique battle took place on the tennis court… the Battle of the sexes! An advocate for gender equality for women from a young age, Billie Jean King accepted a challenge to play a match against former number 1-ranked tennis player Bobby Riggs.

 Riggs, a top men’s player in the 1930s and 40s, was now a 55-year-old self-described hustler and male chauvinist. He claimed the women’s game was so inferior to the men’s game that even someone as old as he was could beat the current top female players. He challenged and defeated Margaret Court 6–2, 6–1.

 Billie Jean had previously rejected challenges from Riggs but accepted his challenge and beat him in straight sets, 6–4, 6–3, 6–3, and earned the winner-take-all prize of $100,000. In doing so, she launched her fight for parity into the worldwide limelight.

 Parity is the quality or state of being equal or equivalent. Women have fought and continue to fight for parity with men in the workplace and elsewhere. The Battle for Parity await the deniers as well as the aspirants. And it must be fought to dispel the unfair disparity.

 For our world to overcome disparity

Get set ready for the Battle of Parity!

 - Pravin K Sabnis

 

Pretext

Pedro visited his friend in the village for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. He was aware that the road was all broken, but he did not want to break his commitment to the annual visit. His friend was happy to see him but he said, ‘I would have understood your reason if you were not to make it like the many others who did not come due to the bad roads!’

Pedro retorted, ‘No! You do not understand! Announce a big party next week and see how many avoid it due to bad roads. Those who do not come for the lucrative occasion are consistent in their reason, the rest are just offering a pretext!’

 A pretext is an excuse to do something or say something that is not the real reason. Pretexts may be based on a half-truth or developed in the context of a misleading fabrication. Pretexts have been used to conceal the true purpose or rationale behind actions or words. Pretexts are exposed when motive or purpose is changed.

 It is pertinent to note that pretext is a false, contrived, or assumed purpose or reason; a pretense. Pretense is a more overt act intended to conceal personal feelings. While pretext is often used to hide the truth, pretense is commonly used to stretch the truth. When we use a pretext, we delude ourselves into a position that cannot be stuck to.

 Remember commitment is the real context

Let go of the pretense, let go of the pretext!

 - Pravin K Sabnis

 

Educating

‘Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel’- Socrates

Our personalities are moulded by valuable lessons that we learn from various educators. These include parents, formal teachers at school, skill teachers who teach music, sports, as well as peers and even students. But the roles of parenting, educating and mentoring generally come into two types.

Many see the role as one that moulds the personality, akin to a potter shaping a lump of clay into a magnificent creation. However, each child is a living being with infinite potential and is a future tree waiting to grow and bloom. Hence effective educators choose to be gardeners to the seed of potential that lies in the learner.

While the potter breathes life into dead clay, the gardener has to take care about not stifling the very life of the seed. In their professions, the potter and the gardener assume appropriate roles. However in educating, gardener’s approach can shape a personality and script a destiny, potter’s path can result in tragedy or cause a mutiny.

However, the role of a gardener is not as easy as it looks. It requires us to be better at tolerance, facilitation, allowing space and empowering the learner’s right to make a choice. William Arthur Ward said it so well: that ‘a mediocre teacher tells, a good teacher explains, a superior teacher demonstrates and a great teacher inspires!’

Heed the need of the worthy role of educating

The learner is a seed nurtured like gardening!

- Pravin K Sabnis

The Giving Pledge

 Warren Buffett’s fame rests on his startling achievements as well as philanthropic activities. He made the first investment when 11 years old by purchasing stocks of Cities Service for $38 per piece. He made $175 per month by delivering The Washington Post every morning when he was 16 years old. He also sold collector stamps, used golf balls and buffed cars. By age of 16, he made a wealth of $53,000.

In 1958, he has lived in a 5-bedroom house instead of moving into mansions or vacation homes. He never invested in expensive cars. He strongly believed that a good father would not pass on his entire wealth to his children, rather the role of a good father is to make his kids independent and confident.

He dedicated a large sum of his wealth to support charitable works. He pledged 85% of his Berkshire Hathaway stocks to charitable foundations. He gave away 99% of his wealth to Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. With Gates, he founded ‘The Giving Pledge’ in 2009 which motivated billionaires to give away half of their fortunes to charities.

Too many of us hold on top our wealth to be used for our children. However, Buffett said, ‘I want to give my kids just enough so that they would feel that they could do anything, but not so much that they would feel like doing nothing’. He chose to pledge to give and share with those who need it.

It is okay to be aspirational but we must also be responsive to the realities of our fellow human beings. The pledge to give is a clear commitment to share our riches by choosing simple living and high thinking. Although, it was an appeal to billionaires, not all pledgers are billionaires. Let’s pledge to give!

Wealth will surely slip through Time’s sieve

Let’s choose simplicity and pledge to give!

- Pravin K Sabnis

Pretender

Pedro was told about someone claiming to be a writer on the basis of a yet to be published book. The accuser argued that the person was pretending to be a prolific writer when he had no original writing to show other than passing off copied work as his own. He accused the pretender of being a fraud.

Pedro calmly replied, ‘Let the book come out. If it is not original, we will know whether he is pretender or fraud.’ His friend was confused, ‘what is the difference?’ Pedro replied, ‘None really!’

As nouns the difference is that pretender is a person who professes beliefs and opinions that they do not hold while fraud is any act of deception carried out for the purpose of unfair, undeserved and/or unlawful gain. Hence every pretender is easily a fraud and vice versa.

There are so many who pretend to be writers, orators, trainers, journalists, historians, performers & even professionals who pretend that they are experienced and competent. They lay claim to what they have lifted from others without giving any credit. They bask in fake glory.

But the biggest fraud that a pretender plays is on himself. He either deludes himself or lives with the burden that you do not deserve what you have grabbed. Either way it is a bad thing. We must choose to align with integrity rather than false claims. For pretence or fraud is just a mask that will slip one day.

The fraud is on me too, when I pretend…

Success is shaky when integrity is bent!

- Pravin K Sabnis

Occasional Emotion

In India, Independence Day is celebrated on 15 August by wearing patriotism on our sleeves. Our clothes, our Facebook status, our group SMS and everything possible, proudly declares our pride in being an Indian. Almost all such publicly stated sentiments of patriotic pride are genuine and sincere.

However, it is pertinent to notice the same sentiment in the same people on 16^th of August! Many years back, on the day after Independence Day, photo-journalist, Rajtilak Naik captured a plastic tricolour flag lying amidst similarly discarded garbage irresponsibly thrown along the sides of a road. 

On Independence Day that same flag must have been held firmly by a patriotically charged person. Often, love for the country is a superficial mask worn on occasions. In fact, posturing through only superficial symbols pushes us away from the integrity and earnestness of our real sentiments.

True love for our country is not about feeling proud, rather it is about doing our country proud through responsible and responsive deeds. What we do or say on Independence Day is an occasional emotion. What we do or say on 16 August, and other days, is the real emotion confirmed by consistent actions.

Love should not be an occasional emotion

let’s back intention with consistent action!

- Pravin K Sabnis

Indigenous

International Day of World’s Indigenous People is celebrated on 9 August every year. It seeks to spread awareness about the indigenous population around the world and to protect their rights. The indigenous population across the world stays in close contact with nature in places that are home to around 80% of the world’s biodiversity

The day recognizes the contributions made by the indigenous people to protect the world’s environment. In India, the indigenous are known as Scheduled Tribes. They are called Adivasis to refer to them as original inhabitants. Many of them continue to deal with marginalisation, extreme poverty and other human rights violations.

The term is also used for plants and trees produced, growing, living, or occurring natively or naturally in a particular region or environment. Most plants and trees are distinct as they are rooted to the place they are born in. As the shoots go high, the roots dive deeper.

We must learn from the indigenous people to give back to our roots… our land, our environment and our culture. So easily we go astray and confirm that we are not indigenous. Let’s choose to follow the indigenous who stay connected with where they came from… an attitude of gratitude towards origins and a response to give back!

Look at the indigenous people, how they live

For everything received, they return to give!

~ Pravin K Sabnis

In Vino Veritas

First, Bacchus is mery, Wine moderately taken maketh men ioyfull; he is also naked; for, in vino veritas: drunkards tell all, and sometimes more then all.

— Abraham Fraunce, The third part of the Countesse of Pembrokes Yuychurch, 1592

In vino veritas is a Latin proverb, translation of a famous saying of the Greek philosopher Zenobio, which literally means: in wine is the truth. The first to take up the Latin version of the proverb was Pliny the Elder: ‘in vino veritas, in Aqua sanitas’, that is ‘in wine there is truth, in water health’.

Ideas, thoughts and opinions are already present in the person, but it is in wine that the veritas comes out: Man says what he thinks and exposes himself with less inhibitory brakes, supporting what he believes. On the contrary, ‘in Aqua sanitas’ indicates that rational decisions are made sober, when one has the lucidity to decide.

It is pertinent to note that wine is not the intoxicant for human beings. Power intoxicates too as does false pride and faulty posturing. It creates a complacency that forces the hidden truth to slip out. It is better to be clean, clear and upfront like water. Not to be intoxicated is a healthy choice.

We must choose to escape the intoxication that comes from pride, prejudice and posturing. These are the traits that lousy politicians display. They think that they can fool all the people all the time. But when they are intoxicated with a false sense of power, they make the truth slip and that leads to a fall from grace.   

Keep off the intoxication, lest in vino veritas

Better to be truly open, like in Aqua sanitas!

~ Pravin K Sabnis

Stammer

Elamkulam Manakkal Sankaran Namboodiripad, popularly known as EMS, was a communist politician and theorist, who served as the first Chief Minister of Kerala in 1957–59 and then again in 1967–69. He was well known for his stammer.

When asked if he always stammered, he would reply, ‘No, only when I speak!’

To stammer is to speak with difficulty, repeating sounds and pausing before saying things correctly. But only one who speaks can stammer. The silent ones will not display any fault. And those who have the courage to move beyond the drawback will go far.

While speech therapists work on exercises and techniques to improve speech, a community support system helps individuals listen, share common experiences and support each other. The intra-personal resolve is also important.

Stop chasing fluency is the first lesson. Even if a person stammers on a particular word/syllable, they should continue speaking so that the stress and struggle is reduced. There are techniques of stuttering modification, prolongation and pause.

The break in speech due to stammer is just a pause. EMS was a role model for people with speech impairments for he chose to continue speaking despite the stammer. And many people were inspired and influenced by what he had to say.

Stammer in speech is no cause for tension

It is just a pause… not an end-punctuation!

~ Pravin K Sabnis

Preheat

I learn a lot from Les Menezes every time I meet him. One such lesson is when he makes me a cup of tea. While the tea is getting ready, he fills up the mugs with boiling water, lets it sit for a few minutes, dumps the water and then fills them with tea.

It is easy to get complacent when it comes to daily routines. We are habituated by ‘shortcuts’. But no such shortcuts for Les. He will meticulously follow the right process to ensure that the tea or coffee in the cup does not lose its heat to the container.

This is something that we can observe during gongfu tea ceremonies. The term literally means ‘making tea with skill’. The teapot will be filled with hot water, it will be poured into the cups and then the cups are emptied before hot tea is poured into them.

Athletes have warm-up routines to reduce chance of injury and increase performance. Actors perform vocal warm-ups to increase articulation and to avoid potential stuttering. Musicians have specific warm-ups that benefit them and their instruments.

We must ask ourselves what is the ‘preheat process’ that we follow to ensure that we are fully warmed up for the performance. We should start it with our cup of tea or coffee and also apply to more things that we do.

Don’t you let the warmth go down

Preheating is a practice profound

~ Pravin K Sabnis

Jugalbandi

In Hindustani music, the term refers to a duet — two musicians perform on same stage, but in a different way from normal duets. The two sing common or similar ragas in their distinct ways separately one after the other. It is a sparring between two talents.

Jugalbandis are organised between persons of equal stature who could be both vocalists or both dancers or both instrumentalists. The combination are also a vocalist and an instrumentalist or a vocalist and a dancer or a dancer and an instrumentalist.

Last Sunday, Samraat Club Panaji organised a poetic ‘jugalbandi’ between two well-known Konkani poets, Ramesh Ghadi and Shashikant Punaji. Due to the pandemic, the event was held online. It was a success and it is interesting to know why.

Ramesh and Shashikant were well matched and had some commonalities. They came from socially active lives, rustic wisdom, rural vocabulary and an exposure to diversity of thought and experience. Each had a distinct identity but was this enough? No!

What worked was that both had respect for the other’s body of work. Without this mutual sentiment, their jugalbandi would have been will be a battle not a doubly enhanced performance. Jugalbandis are not competition. They are collaborations.

We know that collaborations require self-assurance as well as belief in the other’s capacity. It is a partnership that thrives on genuine regard for each other. Jugalbandis between the best of performers will not succeed without this shared sentiment.

Confidence in self is good, not detriment

But Jugalbandis need mutual sentiment!

~ Pravin K Sabnis

We killed an old man

Why the fury? Why so much ire?

for someone who refused to retire

He refused to stop his proactive plan

that's why we killed this stupid old man!

 

He refused to ignore like so many do

he taught others to ask questions too

To halt our progress, he thought he can

but our juggernaut will crush all such men!

 

Our development express refuses to stop

we will do everything to rise over and hop

We will jump over every stakeholder’s plan

we will break down resolve of such old men!

 

He wanted to save people as if his own

He taught them the right to voice and tone

But we know how to halt his every fan

by confining behind bars, their old man!

 

Call them anti-national to dump in jail

apply law that the Raj used to deny bail

Our gullible choir will join and raise cain

as we stifle and defeat their old guy main!

 

Our men seating in judgement seat

are blind to what lies at Truth’s feet

Mere accusation is enough to condemn

each and every one, young and old men!

 

The younger lot has a lesson to learn

By the way we prolong, twist and turn

It is easy with a fake nationalist plan

History is full of felling of such old men!

 

Now for the others we hold behind bars

more voices may say that we went too far

We may have to concede they are no fiends

we tarnished them, like we did that old man!

 

Watch the few that protest and cry

ensure the emotions recede and dry

Pull out the ones who together with him sang

they may undo the death of that bloody old man!

- Pravin K. Sabnis, 5 July 2021

(Indian tribal rights activist Stan Swamy died of a cardiac arrest today. The 84 year old Jesuit priest, suffered from Parkinson's disease, was consistently denied bail & moved to a private hospital in May after he tested positive for Covid. The oldest person to be accused of terrorism in India, he was arrested in October 2020, among 15 renowned activists, academics & lawyers, who were charged under a draconian anti-terror law. Swamy repeatedly denied the charges, saying he was being targeted for his work related to the caste and land struggles of tribals in Jharkhand state. At the time of arrest, his health was waning. But his bail appeal on medical grounds was rejected & National Investigative Agency (NIA) continued to oppose his release. In the eight months he spent in Mumbai's Tajola jail, his health declined)

Socials

Yesterday, Samraat Club Panaji organised a get-together of members and families. Since the pandemic, some members had met on occasions for meetings or club projects. But the get-together with family was happening after over 15 months.

 Family get-togethers mean songs, jokes and games. It was like before… a joyful informal atmosphere exclusive for Club members and their family. Of course, it was online but the need to meet each other was met.

 Besides food, clothing, shelter; humans ‘need to connect with other’ human beings. It helps connection (physical or emotional) that create. Regular connection with others gives us a sense of well-being that allows for self-care and bolsters self-esteem.

 Such connections best happen in ‘socials’ amidst family, friends and organisations. We are able to discover and disclose facets of each personality. The connections get better as all of us are ‘social’ animals.

 Most social organisations like Samraat, JCI, Lions, Rotary and Giants employ ‘socials’ to help bonding among members, But it is pertinent that ‘socials’ should not disturb other circles. Hence it helps to involve family members too.

 ‘Socials’ are not about indulgent partying. They must serve the purpose to connect with others. We must reclaim the child in us and others that leads to individual as well as collective joy. Even in virtual space the impact remains real!

Socials help connect with the other

Do it online if restraints are a bother

~ Pravin K Sabnis

Slow the pace

A young man was running to his meditation class. A wise master stopped him in his tracks. The young man pleaded, ‘Master, please let me go… I have to rush to get to my relaxation class.’ The master calmly replied, ‘You cannot relax if you rush!’

We have to step out of the race and relax. It is called the Rat Race of hustle-bustle, slam-bang speed. Rush, rush, rush seems to be our anthem of life. It isn’t good for us. In fact it harms our bodies and minds.

Sure, we may be getting ahead and ‘living the dream,’ but at a huge cost. We are exhausted and worn out. We miss out on many little joys on the way as we are hurtling at a furious pace. We must halt and take the time to consider our life’s journey.

We must escape the vice of hurriedness. We must enjoy the slower side of things. To be calm even in the midst of a world of chaos. To slow the pace of life and relish every second. Slow the pace. Such beautiful words that are full of meaning and purpose!

Keep going to your destination. Keep living your dream. But do not rush such that you miss out on the joys of living. Do not speed such that you suffer a breakdown. Slow the pace. You will find yourself refreshed and leading a fuller life with happy moments.

Quit the exasperating rat race

To truly refresh, slow the pace!

~ Pravin K Sabnis

Go to know

The Motorcycle Diaries is a 2004 film on the journey of a 23-year-old Ernesto Guevara, who went to become the iconic Marxist guerrilla leader ‘Che’ Guevara. It based on the trip diary of the young man who had taken a break from his medical studies.

The film recounts the 1952 expedition, initially by motorcycle, across South America by Guevara and his friend Alberto Granado. Besides being a road movie, the film is a coming-of-age film; as the adventure, initially of youthful pleasure-seeking, unfolds into life changing experiences.

Through the poor peasants and the inmates at a leper colony where they stay, the duo witness first-hand, injustices that the deprived face. They are exposed to social classes they may have never encountered otherwise. As a result, the trip plants the initial seed of cognitive dissonance and radicalization within Guevara.

Alberto said of the film, ‘it shows what we were, which was two young men who went looking for adventure and found the truth and tragedy of our homeland.’ And that is the most pertinent message of their trip. The truth is out there and we have to go meet it.

So often, so many of us build up our understanding on single perceptions from a static position. We must to step out of our comfort zone. We must wander to encounter and experience the predicament of underserved and deprived human beings.

Our privilege prevents us from noticing the obvious discriminations. It is only when we live alongside the strugglers that we understand the injustice of it all. It is the experience that will lead to understanding and empathy. Attempt for solutions will follow.

Step out to truly know…

With an open mind, Go!

~ Pravin K Sabnis

One

On December 1, 1955, Rose Parks was seating on a bus-seat secluded for blacks. The driver demanded that she relinquish her seat to a white passenger. Parks refused and her subsequent arrest and trial for this act of civil disobedience triggered the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

It was one of the largest and most successful mass movements against racial segregation in history, and launched Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the organizers of the boycott, to the forefront of the civil rights movement.

Her role in American history earned her an iconic status in American culture. Her actions have left an enduring legacy for civil rights movements around the world.

We insist that ‘an individual cannot make a difference’. Rosa Parks taught a significant lesson: the power of one… the power of individual initiative. She did not wait for people to join. She had the courage to stand up for what she believed in.

Anyone can swim with the tide. It requires conviction and character to move against the tide. However she did not rest with individual action. She moved beyond to involve and consolidate the collective. The power of one increases with the addition of other ‘ones’.

But the onus is on the first one to take the first step. It may seem insignificant but when one stands for the right value, we add meaning and purpose to our life. We must own up to the aligned action that we know is for human good.

One does not remain a solitary intention
when collective gets together into action

~ Pravin K Sabnis

Discomfort

With the steep increase of Covid-19 infections, the frontline workers: doctor, nurses and their colleagues are working overtime to bring the situation under control and that too wearing elaborate protective gear and masks.

In a post shared on Twitter last month, Dr Sohil grabbed attention of netizens. The post has two pictures: one shows Sohil wearing the PPE kit and the other shows him without it but drenched in sweat. It brings to fore, effects of wearing kits for a prolonged time.

In his tweet he wrote, ‘Talking on the behalf of all doctors and health workers. We are really working hard away from our family. Sometimes a foot away from positive patient, sometimes an inch away from critically ill oldies... I request please go for vaccination. It's only solution! Stay safe!’

So often, so many of us make a fuss about the discomfort of wearing a mask. Actually discomfort is not always in the situation. Often it is because we have a choice. If there is no choice, the process of adaption moves faster. Our health workers see no choice but to do their duty. So they easily embrace discomfort.

On the other hand, we are in relative comfort zone. We may be worried, we may be scared but we may not accept that we have a single choice. Hence the feeling of discomfort is overwhelms to the extent that we try to escape the discomfort.

Discomfort is an uneasiness that is never only physical but also mental. And it is the latter that needs to be tackled. Health workers have a lofty motive to fulfil their responsibility to their profession. We need to connect to our social obligation of being responsible and responsive.

Mind it that discomfort is secondary

The larger collective good is primary.

 ~ Pravin K Sabnis

Lifelong

The white head-scarf, white beard, peaceful smile of Sunderlal Bahuguna made for a recognizable public face in the country and among environmentalists of the world. He made an exit at 94 years on 21 May 2021, felled by Covid19.

His life was dedicated to the conservation and preservation of the Himalayas, fighting untouchability and alcoholism, and promoting the movement of ‘ecology is permanent economy’. His commitment to the cause started young and continued lifelong.

Inspirational Icons like Bahuguna never stray from the cause. They internalise the ownership of their chosen commitment. They align their thoughts and behaviour to the mission they have embraced. Lifelong commitment leads to clarity of purpose of life as well as the satisfaction that comes from pursuing your vision.

So often, so many of us have the right intentions and wish for the collective good. However, we are afraid of a lifelong commitment to the cause, as we worry of implications. We worry about what we stand to lose. We hold back and refrain.

Bahuguna, Medha Patkar and others move on in an anguishing, uphill struggle full of roadblocks and hurdles. Despite the distress, they display a deep peace that comes from the satisfaction born of an unambiguous lifelong commitment. We too can gain the joy that follows a lifelong pledge to a specific cause for the larger good.

Choose a worthy cause for the good of everyone

Align to its values & make a commitment lifelong!

~ Pravin K Sabnis