WHAT’s THIS?

One day five men lost their way and were forced to spend the night in the dark woods. One of them heard a twig snap, and went over to see what it was that was walking by. He walked right into the side of an elephant. He put out his arms to either side, but all he could feel was the big body of the elephant. He said, "I think I have walked into a wall.” A second man grabbed hold of the animal's trunk and shouted, "This isn't a wall. This is a snake!" The third man touched the animal's tail. "This is no wall, and this is no snake. You are both wrong. I know for sure that this is a rope."

The fourth man decided that someone should really get to the bottom of things. So he crouched down on all fours and felt around the elephant's legs. "My dear friends," explained the fourth man. "This is no wall and this is no snake. This is no rope either. What we have here… is four tree trunks. That's it." The fifth man was not so quick to jump to conclusions. He walked up to the front of the elephant and felt the animal's two long tusks. "It seems to me that this object is made up of two swords," said the fifth man. Suddenly, there was a stroke of lightning in the sky and the elephant trumpeted a fearful cry. Now, the five men could see and hear the strange object that they had difficulty in identifying.

Surely, we find ourselves in similar predicaments. It is pertinent to note that that our minds are so prejudiced that quite often we are cheated by our tendency to jump to conclusions. We need to open our eyes, ears and our mind… both literally and in spirit. We need to unlearn our prejudices and ensure an open approach to fresh learning. It is a human tendency to be “judgmental” rather than “developmental”… and it is this very tendency that obscures our vision, cloaks our listening and masks our learning. Before we speak or voice our “opinions” we need to ensure that we “understand” all the dimensions before we take a “stand”… a proactive examination of the situation will be prudent!

Plain voicing of opinion is being judgmental…
‘Develop new dimensions’ to be developmental…

Regards
Pravin

RUMOUR UNLIMITED

The easiest way to fool anybody these days is to spread blatant falsehood through e-mails or SMSs on mobiles. The rumour is given wings by the tendency to press the forward tab without even pondering about the veracity of the fact, forget about researching for the truth. Even professors of history plead for “saving” the Taj Mahal as one of the seven wonders of the world, because they are blind to the obvious reasons of commerce for the cellular provider who earn loads of money due to the habit of the gullible to help propagate anything that reaches them.

The latest rumour doing the rounds is about the danger of brain tumour being triggered by receiving mobile calls from certain identified numbers. The “believers” insist that the “frequency” of the mobile triggers the formation of the brain tumour. And they choose to ignore the fundamental principle that the frequency varies ONLY between different service providers, NOT between different mobile numbers.

It is also pertinent to note that this rumour is a recycled one that had come seven years ago. It was countered effectively then, yet it has now returned back with a vengeance. More than three years ago, a worldwide study initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO), has found that there is no link between cell phones and brain tumours. The experts looked at links between mobile use and the incidence of glioma, the most common kind of tumour found in the head and found none.

Using the latest technology does not automatically translate into a “modern” attitude and approach. The highest of qualifications do not certify the absence of irrational blind beliefs. The great rationalist B. Premanand lamented that “education is in the hands of the unscrupulous who propagate miracles, superstitions, and blind beliefs. Unless our people are educated in scientific temper we have no hope.”

The Indian Constitution declares scientific temperament as a fundamental duty of all citizens… all we need is to embrace rational thinking and develop a questioning mind… Otherwise, rumours will continue to exploit our fears and also leave us poorer… we must explore the dimensions of the message we receive, before pressing the “forward” tab!

With rationality at sea, rumour-mongering is dangerously tragic...
‘develop new dimensions’ to cultivate the spirit of enquiry and logic!

Regards
Pravin

USELESS !

National President of the Indian Jaycees in the year 2000, Mukhinder Singh uses humour in a most effective manner. One such speech drew great laughter and even greater learning.

A robust man called up the police to complain about a robbery at his house. The thieves were a couple of thin and rather weak men armed with only a small knife. The constable was amazed to write down a seemingly unending list of valuables burgled… In exasperation he asked, “Did they leave any valuable behind?” The complainant promptly replied, “my pistol worth Rs 80,000/-“

The cop was curious, “How did they miss the gun?” The beaming complainant said, “I was sitting on it.” The shocked officer asked, “Why didn’t you use it to stop the thieves?” The man sheepishly replied, “Oh, it never occurred to me? I was too worried that they might see it and steal it because of its expensive worth…”

It is pertinent to note that a thing intended for his protection was useless because it was not used. His “using” the gun would have saved him. We may laugh, but it is true that we could well be like the man who did not use what he had! For instance, our ability to smile can tackle a difficult situation. Nevertheless, it is in a difficulty that the smile is not used!

We possess knowledge and skills, a brain and a heart, our senses and our emotions. We possess a range of dimensions in terms of abilities and potential. However, if we do not use the dimensions that we have, then the most valuable of our qualities and our strengths are of no use. More importantly, it is not enough to only “use” but also to use “enough”. If you “use less” then our strengths are rendered “useless”!

Don’t grieve over what’s missing in your possession
“Use” what you have to “develop new dimensions”

Regards
Pravin

HANDS OFF!

While studying in Don Bosco School, we were stunned to read the news of a teacher being suspended for hitting a student. We could not imagine complaining about a similar thing. The reason was that most of the teachers who would hit an erring student, behaved as if the child was their own. The sentiment of concern and affection went hand-in-hand in most such cases.

One such student, who grew up getting punished, continued his mischief in college, too. Once a lecturer just suggestively raised his hand to halt his mischief, my friend cautioned him saying, "You have no right to touch me. Do anything you want, but don't touch me."

The right to touch another person is not a prerogative, it requires the consent of the other person. Touch is not one-dimensional, it can be a good touch and it can be a bad touch. Sex education in schools is making a significant difference to the child knowing its rights to resist a bad touch. However, some of us tend to treat the issue in a frivolous manner.

Recently, a lady lecturer accused her male principal of sexual harassment. Whether the accusation is true or not needs investigation, but our tendency to mock the victim is appalling. Some reactions have gone on to ask "what's the big deal?" and even accuse the complainant of being narrow minded.

Touch is a symbol of the many dimensions of love. In love it is okay to fight, it is okay to get angry, it is okay to sulk… but it is definitely, not okay to force your physical love on any body. To touch is not our exclusive right; it has to be exercised with great responsibility… To touch is a wonderful instinct but it should hold the same positivity for the one who receives it. Let's use it without the dimensions of misuse and abuse.

"Hey, keep your hands off me; it is not your prerogative
'Develop new dimensions', but exclude the offensive!"

Regards
Pravin

“SANGODD”

In 2001, at the International Goans Convention, the poet with the silver mane enthralled the audience with yet another golden speech. Manoharrai Sardessai was always an inspirational muse to scores of the loyal fans of his poetry, prose and philosophy. On that day, he was speaking about the Konkani quotation “Don Voddeani paim…” (feet in two canoes) which highlighted the futility of doing so. However, Manoharrai was unveiling a new dimension… the ancient Goan tradition of combining two boats to create a larger platform called “sangodd”.

Last Friday, recorded a full year since the demise of Goa’s most adored poets. But his take on things, both, Goan and global, continues to hold immortal inspiration. Manoharrai Sardessai’s poems and songs, speeches and talks, writings and musings continue to be a guiding light as we stand at the crossroads pondering over looming questions. Whether to go global with English in primary education or embrace the mother tongue, Konkani? Whether to stick to the Devanagri script or patronise the Romi script? Whether to pursue development or bother about the environment?

Sardessai’s message of the harmonizing dimension of “sangodd” assumes greater relevance in today’s times when every question arouses diametrically extreme viewpoints that spark off bitterness and hostility. His own life reflected the “sangodd”. Sardessai wrote mature political ballads as well as delightful songs for children. While he wrote extensively in Konkani, Marathi, Hindi and other Indian languages, he also indulged in the mastery of French, English, Portuguese and other international languages. He was a fine teacher who never gave up on studying. He would write about rationalism and socialism and simultaneously pen prayers to Shantadurga and Jesus. He initiated the publishing of his books in both Devanagri and Romi scripts.

Every fight is essentially started over a difference in perceptions. Many such perceptions are based on prejudices. An open mind is one that can combine diverse opinions to create a “sangodd” and develop new dimensions that will foster unity amidst hearts….

With a “sangodd”, it is possible to ride two boats
“Develop new dimensions” to cross every moat…

GOOD WORD!

Ram Puniyani - a Professor in Biomedical Engineering at Indian Institute of Technology, Powai – was pensive. Apart from his teaching and research activities, Ram pursued a parallel track concerned with issues related to social problems, particularly the ones related to preservation of democratic and secular ethos in the country. His European friend who had come-a-visiting noticed his distress and inquired about the cause for his sadness. Ram held out the day’s newspapers and said that he was disturbed by the “communal” incidents in the country.

“Why should “communal” incidents worry you?” the European asked, “communal activities are always welcome”. Their further exchanges and ensuing debate established a serious divergence in what they meant by the word “communal. Ram obviously was talking about oppressive tendencies and actions based on religious fundamentalism and fascism. His friend from across the continent had a totally different meaning of communalism as a word that spoke of a force uniting people into a community.

In most parts of the western world, the word is a modern term that describes a broad range of social movements and social theories which centred on the community. It is about putting the interests of the community above the interests of the individual, and this is done on the principle that the community exists for the benefit of the individuals who participate in it, so the best way to serve the interests of the individual is through the interests of the community. Communalism is also associated with various branches of socialism. The term "communalism" is often used instead of "communism" to denote those communal societies that are not based on Marxism.

However in South Asia the word “communalism” has only negative connotations. The word is used dark shades to denote a force separating different communities based on some form of social or sectarian discrimination. Ram Punyani, who was down in Goa last month, shared the irony of how we have allowed an originally positive word to become part of a dreaded vocabulary.

Mere unlearning of the wrong meaning will not suffice… We need to first explore the dimensions of deep prejudices and negative perceptions based on religion, race, caste, gender and language. We must challenge divisive arguments and develop new dimensions that embrace humane values in our behaviour and talk, too... Only then we will be able to worthy of using the word “communalism” in its rightful context.

“Let’s unlearn the depraved context of the word ‘communalism’
‘Develop new dimensions’ to actualise the principles of humanism!”

Regards
Pravin

MILKY WAY

“Everything is possible, especially the impossible” – Remo (song – Bombay City )

When I was a child, milk was sold in glass bottles. An aluminum card identified the number of bottles every family was eligible for. However, due to shortage of milk, only one bottle would be given at a time and one had to come back in the queue for another bottle. People would start queuing up at the milk booth, as early as 4 am in the morning, since the early ones improved their chances of getting more bottles… Some started “fixing” their position in the queue by marking their position with a stone; so that they could do other chores till the milk van came… others would throw way these stones and “usurp” a “better” position in the queue.

My childhood was full of incidents of “gentlemen” and “ladies” fighting out, every morning… over missing stones at the milk booth. During those days, if somebody were to say that it was possible to have as much milk as one required, he would be considered a fool or a madman. However, today India is a world leader in the production, distribution and consumption of milk. Today, milk is available in abundance and more importantly at any time of the day, anytime of the year. All this transformation was possible due to the vision of V J Kurien.

Kurien and his team have taught us a very important lesson: nothing is impossible if you are ready to explore new dimensions to what seems to be an unsolvable problem. It is said so well that answers are found in the questions themselves. Kurien identified that the shortage of milk was not in dearth of milk collection. The problem lay with the manipulative exploitation by the private traders and middlemen who controlled the marketing and distribution system. The alternative dimension was developed of milk co-operatives where the farmers were the sellers, with no middle men in between.

Thus the success story of the White Revolution in India was scripted.
The neighbours still fight, but not over milk!

Do not be overwhelmed by the hopeless situation,
Unravel the question to “develop new dimensions”!

Regards
Pravin