Correction

It is said that even a stopped clock is right twice a day. Its frozen hands match the repeating 12-hour cycle during both the morning and evening.

A clock that is wrong every time is the one that is running but on the wrong time. It is putting in the efforts but is just off enough to never accidentally show the right time.

That makes it seem worse than broken. A broken clock tells the truth twice by doing nothing. The wrong clock lies constantly by trying but repeating the error of being off time.

This is a good metaphor for people too. There are ones who keep doing the wrong thing because they are off track. It is important to start right and if not, we must get back to the right track.

However, not doing anything is not recommended even if you are right by some coincidence on random occasion. Most importantly, even if you are on the wrong track, you can always make the course correction. 

Don't play dead just to be right by chance

If the move is wrong, correct your dance

~ Pravin K Sabnis 

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One and the same

4 years old, Karga Tinkle Gongo, from Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, was recorded by her mother while buying icecream. Someone commented on the video, 'Why is this Chinese child speaking Hindi?'

Karga got sad and made another video saying, 'I am an Indian... Don't call me Chinese!' This video went viral on social media but we cannot be sure that all of us will learn the lessons taught by the little girl.

Being Indian was never about one face, one language, one look. She reminded us that India has always been a mix of different faces, cultures, languages and diverse indigenous communities. 

People from the Northeast are often asked 'are you really from India?' People from elsewhere are mocked as being lesser Indians, based on the demonisation of the State they come from or for other sweeping generalizations.

Hateful racist comments are unacceptable even as loose jokes. Karga said it clearly, 'it makes us very angry and very sad.' She was claiming her place. The lesson for us is to give that place.

Looking different is another excuse lame

Truth be told, we are one and the same!

~ Pravin K Sabnis 

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Laissez-faire

Laissez-faire leadership, sometimes called delegative leadership, is an approach in which leaders give minimal oversight and allow team members autonomy in making decisions and managing tasks. It is basically the idea that things run best when Government, bosses, or other authorities don't interfere too much.

In economics, it suggests that the Government does not regulate business. No price controls, minimal taxes, no subsidies. Businesses and consumers make their own choices and the "invisible hand" of the market sorts it out. In general it is about letting people make their own decisions without stepping in.

It comes from the French phrase 'laissez faire, laissez passer' (let do, let pass). The Physiocrats proclaimed laissez-faire in 18th-century France, placing it at the very core of their economic principles and famous economists, beginning with Adam Smith, developed the idea.

The positives of a 'laissez faire' approach are more innovation, efficiency, individual freedom. The negatives are that it can lead to monopolies, inequality, and no safety net when things go wrong. 

So the middle path while choosing the 'laissez faire' approach in economics, leadership or even parenting, should be less of 'no rules at all' and more 'minimal rules, maximum freedom to operate.'

The doctrine laissez faire is about 'let be'

But ensure the vulnerable are not at sea.

L

~ Pravin K Sabnis

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Citizenship Test

A citizenship test is an oral or written exam used by countries for Citizenship and Immigration Services. It evaluates an applicant's knowledge of local history, government, laws, etc before granting official citizenship.

Apart from those who have to take this test for acquiring citizenship, it would be interesting for us existing citizens to take the fun challenge to confirm our knowledge about our country.

For instance if we are asked which is the national language of India, many are likely to say Hindi, some may say English. India recognises 22 scheduled languages but has no defined national language.

We would be mistaken if we say the national sport of India is hockey or cricket. We do not have a national sport. We would make similar errors about simple questions about our geography, history and other facts.

When we declare we love our country, we owe it to ourselves to know basics at least. After all the real Citizenship Tests are about basics, not advanced complicated information. If we can't answer the obvious then it is obvious that our declared love for the country is weak.

Let not love for the country be a superficial emotion

Let's scale the easy Citizenship Test on every occasion

~ Pravin K Sabnis 

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Unfriending

LIn the Digital Age, we accept a 'friend' in a second. Unfriending takes longer. That makes it feel bigger than it looks. It may be a boundary, not necessarily a fight. 

Unfriending is removing someone from your social network so they no longer see your private posts, and you no longer see theirs. Unlike blocking, they can still find your public profile. Unlike muting, the connection itself is cut.

People do unfriending for various reasons. Some do it as Digital hygiene... to reduce clutter, doomscrolling, and posts that trigger them. It is like cleaning your room. For some it is about relationship drift. Unfriending just updates your list to match reality.

People also unfriend due to indignation triggered by political posts, hate messages, excessive business pitches, constant oversharing, trolling. When direct conversation feels pointless or exhausting, unfriending becomes the exit. Some prune friend lists for privacy reasons.

The psychology behind unfriending is that we treat online friend counts like social proof. So removing someone feels like rejection, even when it’s not meant that way. The upside is that unfriending is practice for real-life boundaries. 

Every time you remove someone who drains you online, it gets easier to say no offline too. Your feed starts reflecting people who energize you, not people you feel obligated to. It can be great for maintenance for your peace. 

If with sound thought you choose unfriending

It will enhance peace without the bending

~ Pravin K Sabnis 

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Deflection

Deflection is a psychological defense mechanism where a person redirects focus, blame, or responsibility away from themselves and onto someone or something else. It acts as an emotional shield to avoid discomfort, guilt, or accountability.

Deflection is when someone shifts the focus away from the current topic, usually to avoid answering, taking responsibility, or dealing with discomfort. It is basically a conversational redirect that seeks to divert discussion. 

There are various ways that people try to deflect an ongoing discussion. The most common is to change the topic. Another option is a counter accusation. Some try to minimize the scope or impact of the ongoing topic while some decide to get over aggressive about something else. 

Most people use it as a defense mechanism. Often it is because one has nothing really to say. Sometimes, it is just a matter of inflated ego. The goal isn't to address the point. The goal is to move you off it.

To respond appropriately to deflection, the first step is to notice it early. You may realise that your question never actually got answered, but the subject suddenly changed. The trick is to stay on track and return to the main topic by using methods of assertiveness like broken record, agree-in-part, etc.

Don't swallow the bait of deflection

A cool mind holds on to the discussion

~ Pravin K Sabnis 

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Anubhooti

In Sanskrit, Anubhooti refers to experience that comes after observing and living through something. It is not just knowledge from books. It is a realisation born out of an experience.

We can read about or be told about rain, but Anubhooti is to get wet in the showers, feel the water touch the skin and to smell the wet earth. Mistakes, joys, losses, and little daily experiences all become Anubhooti.

A guru, an artist, or an elder is respected not only for what they know, but for what they have experienced. Their words carry weight because they come from Anubhooti.

Educational institutions are now bringing Anubhooti back into learning. Instead of rote learning, learners are encouraged to do experiments, visit places, work on projects, and reflect. When a child grows a plant, cleans a beach, or interviews a grandparent, the lesson becomes Anubhooti.

Information is everywhere now, easy to download. But Anubhooti cannot be downloaded. It has to be lived. It builds wisdom because you start seeing learning beyond textbooks.

It is important to note that two people can go through the same situation yet walk away with very different understandings, because their experiences are different. Hence Anubhooti will differ from person to person leading to multiple perceptions and perspectives.

Immerse in the experience to learn and unlearn

Anubhooti will happen as an unexpected turn!

~ Pravin K Sabnis

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