NO BARRIERS written on 10 Nov'2025

Last Saturday was the Preview Night of ‘Festivals of Goa’ on occasion of the 10th anniversary exhibition at the Museum of Goa, celebrating Goa’s culture, community & heritage. It showcased over 90 artists and over 100 artworks, all celebrating the diversity of various art forms. 

Speaking on the occasion, founder Dr Subodh Kerkar underlined how the art & culture are unifying factors in times where divisive forces seek to widen the chasm between communities. He has been consistently seeking to connect and bring together artists to celebrate the joyful togetherness of distinct diversities.

 

Music, art, and culture are universal languages that transcend borders, boundaries and differences, connecting people from diverse backgrounds. They are powerful mediums of expression that know no bounds. They facilitate exchange and understanding among different cultures and communities. They promote inclusivity, embracing diversity and individuality.

 

We see genres like jazz, rock and classical music with global influences and appeal. Artists draw inspiration from diverse cultures. Cultural Festivals too showcase global cultural richness. The creative arts bring people together, overcoming barriers. Cross-cultural influences spark innovation and creativity. They foster empathy and understanding among diverse groups.

 

However, respecting the cultural origins of others remains a challenge. Also, protecting traditional arts in a globalized world is crucial. It is important to ensure inclusivity and access to cultural expressions. Music, art and culture are bridges that connect humanity, celebrating our shared creativity and diversity. They help the world to be one of no barriers!

 

'No barriers' will make our world so fine

In harmony, diversity will surely shine!

 

~ Pravin K Sabnis

 

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Willing to Wait

Shafali Verma wasn’t even part of the team. She was called up when Pratika Rawal was injured. She played the stellar hand in winning the Women’s World Cup for India. She opened with the bat, scoring a brilliant 87 at a quick pace.  

South Africa were going well with the chase when the skipper asked Shafali to bowl. She got two wickets in two, one of which was of the star, Marizanne Kapp and India got the match under control. This was special as Shafali is not a regular bowler.

 

She accepted the opportunity when offered, first shining with the bat and later unexpectedly with the ball. There were other good performances from other team mates, but Shafali’s efforts are special as she came in last minute.

 

She was watching the matches on TV. Yet she showed that she was fully aligned to playing the game, when called to play. Although not in the playing team, her focus and zeal was not lesser than the ones on the playing field. It was no mean task to have the willingness to wait!

 

Teams are empowered by the ones who are not weighed done by the ‘waiting’… by those who maintain the preparedness to play. We must be willing to wait and willing to play, when opportunity comes our way!

 

Be willing to wait when out of the way

Give only your best when called to play!

 

~ Pravin K Sabnis

 

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Flawed

’You are imperfect, permanently and inevitably flawed. And you are beautiful’  - Amy Bloom

 

All of us want to be the best or the second best. Similarly, when we build our team, we seek for perfection. But an obsession with perfection is detrimental. It makes us unable to accept our flaws, other people’s flaws and unable to accept untoward events that happen in life. 

 

In ‘Don’t sweat the Small Stuff’; Richard Carlson suggests ‘making peace with imperfection’. A vicious cycle begins when instead of conceding the error; we engulf into guilt and berate ourselves. We refuse ownership of the mistake and enter a state of denial, often blaming someone else. 

 

The fact is, we will err, and often we will err repeatedly. We must be patient and calmly note the reasons for the mistake, and simply try to avoid it in the future. Making peace with flaws extends to others as well. It is unreasonable to expect perfection from our colleagues, particularly given our own lack of perfection. 

 

Life is imperfect. Things go wrong. We must learn to accept such things. The world is imperfect, we are imperfect, but that need not stop us from being happy. Happiness comes when we come to terms with our flaws and those of others. 

 

Accept that you will find yourself flawed

Others around too are of the same board!

 

~ Pravin K Sabnis

 

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LIGHT WITHIN

Today we celebrate the Festival of Lights where the lights signify victory of good over the evil. Diwali or Deepavali has many legends associated with it. In North India, it is associated with Ramayana where people of Ayodhya welcomed Rama (after a 14-year exile) by lighting rows (avali) of lamps (deepa). In Goa, it is commemorates the defeat of Narakasura at the hands of Krishna & Satyabhama.

Founder of Jainism, Mahaveer is said to have attained Nirvana on this very day. Additionally as the day, chief disciple of Mahaveer, Gautam Swami attained complete knowledge, makes Diwali an important Jain festival. Sikhs celebrate Diwali as the day of the release from prison of their sixth Guru, Hargobind along with 52 other princes with him, from detention in the Gwalior Fort in 1619.

For the Hindus, the festival marks the triumph of good over evil and the homecoming of goodwill and faith. For the Jains it is a celebration of complete knowledge. For the Sikhs, it is a struggle for freedom. And it is a confluence of all these reasons that will add meaning and purpose to our lives.

To banish the darkness, it is not enough to light lamps. The battle for freedom from darkness needs the lighting of the lamp within. We have to connect with values of equality, justice and peace for all. We need to connect to knowledge and a better understanding with what’s happening around us.

To banish the darkness shade
Light the lamp within instead!

 

~ Pravin K Sabnis

 

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Super Moon

The full moon today marks the first supermoon of 2025, as well as the first of three supermoons in the next three months. This full moon will be the closest of the year, making it a special supermoon: large, bright and golden. 

A supermoon occurs when the moon is full and its orbit is closest to Earth. Because of this proximity, the full moon looks brighter and larger than a regular full moon, which is why it's called a supermoon

 

Perigee-syzygy is a term that observers of astronomy use when a full moon coincides with a close advance by the Moon towards the Earth. Perigee is the point at which the Moon is closest in its orbit to the Earth, and syzygy is a full moon. 

 

Modern superstition is full of doomsday predictions due to the ‘supermoon’ – a term coined by an astrologer, Richard Nolle in 1979. It is pertinent to note that earlier ‘supermoons’ was distorted by doomsayers to buttress their business of fear.

 

However inquisitive minds strive to know whatever possible impact due to perigee-syzygy. Obviously, the biggest impact of this event is that people have a choice to be better at analytical observation and critical thinking. All it requires is a thirst for facts and a fascination to unravel the unknown.

 

Look up to see the super moon and sift fact from fiction

View perigee-syzygy as a time for rationale validation!

 

~ Pravin K Sabnis

 

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Pass the Torch

 The term ‘pass the torch’ has its roots in ancient Greek traditions, where torch relay races were an important part of religious ceremonies and Olympic Games. The act of passing a lit torch represented the transfer of knowledge, civilization, and responsibility. 

 Passing the torch is a symbolic expression that means transferring responsibility, authority, or leadership from one person to another. It signifies handing over a job, duty, or responsibility to a successor, often in a leadership or professional context. 

 

The idiom is commonly used in succession planning, mentorship, and knowledge transfer. The phrase can be used in various settings, such as business, sports, or politics, to describe the transfer of leadership or responsibility.

 

The true value of leadership is in handing over the reins, the smooth transfer of control and responsibility. Passing on the mantle requires us to give up authority and gracefully handing over the role to the next in line to now hold the light. 

 

Pass the torch, yield your role’s might

Let the successor now carry the light! 

 

~ Pravin K Sabnis

 

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Right Focus

A story by Idries Shah tells us about Mulla Nasrudin was searching for something under a streetlamp. A passer-by asked, ‘What are you doing?’ Nasrudin replied, “I've lost my keys.’ The passer-by joined the search.

 After a while, he asked, ‘Where exactly did you lose them?’ Nasrudin said, ‘ in my house.’ The other person was puzzled and asked, ‘Then why are we searching for them here?’ Nasrudin replied, ‘Because the light is better here.’

 

This story teaches us about the importance of focusing on the right place or approach when searching for solutions. Often, we might be looking for answers in the wrong places or using the wrong methods. We need to think clearly and approach problems with a logical and focused mindset. 

 

Search in right place with clear prong

Right focus will bring solutions along! 

 

~ Pravin K Sabnis

 

 

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