Unlearning the new Mantra ; Why follow?

I seem to be spending this particular period of my life thinking over my existence. Is it worth something or rather anything? Am I here to perform something substantial? Or should I continue breathing away my life just the way I have been doing since I had a mind of my own? What if I do not want to flow with the river and wish to make my own path which may not be as exciting as flowing with the water?

Since times immemorial we all have been under the aegis of our guardians. Someone once rightly told me that in an Indian environment you’re always kept under a protected guard by your progenitor, always avoiding us from committing any foolish act, thus stopping us from thinking. Forcing us to enter a framework already established by supposedly experienced insane mortals. The result being every child in this particular environment follows the child ahead of him (ahead in the sense of queue and not intellect), none of them bold enough to take the much needed risk to break free of the shackles

The concept of lateral thinking seems to be fading in the hazy nebula. Edward de Bono though trying his best to propagate the concept.

The inherent attribute of man which has led to the globalization and technology was risk taking ability. Rigid Mechanical Framework can never lead to innovation. But the day we start exploring world outside the module we might achieve the much needed thought progression

Some of the compartmentalization was evident in ancient India as well. When a carpenter’s son was carpenter; a blacksmith’s son was blacksmith; a vaidya’s son was a vaidya.

Improvement of the human race takes place when a blacksmith’s son questions his forefathers and the environment why he can’t be a goldsmith or a soldier or for that matter be nothing and live an ascetic life

This ‘break the shell’ bug does not bite every individual. Hence the mind numbing size of individuals getting their degrees and diplomas in a particular concentrated field is very high. The grim reality is not the astronomical size of concentration in a particular arena, but the reason behind it. Almost 40% of the population ended up where they are not because they wanted to be there but because everybody else was heading there so none care to question other people’s authority

Till the day we do not commit foolish acts, lose fights, lose money, face criticism and end up bruised we do not learn. Learning is a gradual process and if observed the largest proportion of our knowledge has been acquired outside the framework, especially when we questioned the system and refused to follow something because the world follows it. Hence today’s mantra would be to unlearn.

The power of ‘WHY’ is immense.

Season has well and truly begun

The management entrance test season seems to be in full flow with 3 exams down and 5 more to go. With SNAP coming up this Sunday and XAT, FMS, NMAT, CET to follow the coming months may well decide my destiny

I have well put the debacle of 3rd Dec behind me. It started on a bad note with a tiff with mom, which left me in an irascible state. I started my grumpy ride towards my centre hoping that my slot would get an easier nut to crack. After a horrendous start to the D-Day I found some relief in the train. Unusual as it may seem it took a brawl in the local compartment of train to cheer me up. And believe you me it was hilarious. Pardon my attitude, such sadistic pleasures do not excite me but I was really irritated with my mom’s reckless behaviour on the morning of such a crucial exam in my life. The best part was that it was one of those typical fights in which no blows were exchanged instead both the parties engaged in what we call “Bol Bachan”. These fights are not new to mumbaites especially those prone to trains.

I reach the centre bang on time to meet my friend who seemed to be armed with all the essentials to crack the exam. The next 2 hrs were spent by us discussing the strategy.

I was thoroughly impressed by all the snazzy gadgets at the centre-Lenovo LCDs, Biometrics, Digital Cameras etc. Just when I was going gaga over the professionalism shown by prometric came the bomb, our systems crashed. Then started the long agonizing wait on the chair for 6 hours with no provisions of food or water. I had selected the morning slot of 10-12 since I am a morning person and can concentrate better in the morning. Ended up giving the same exam at 3:30 slot, which ended at 6

Calls started coming immediately (Not the GD/PI’s sadly but telephone calls) but by that time was exhausted to talk to anyone, worn out to discuss, tired to blame prometric, dog-tired to give CAT again. The feeling was that of relief, relief that it was over

Just when I thought it was over got the worst attack of migraine that night and could not sleep till 11,did later only after the doctor administered sleeping pills and some strong doses of pain killers. Guess the exhaustion took its toll over me