CRISIS –II
In avoiding the scope for crisis some traits or elements are important.
The elements-essential, but destroyed:
As a person grows, a few things should get into the personality of the individual. These include a sense of confidence, the tendency to strive and attain a good ability to communicate and a basic capacity for logical approach to ‘life situations’. These cannot be infused in to children who are pampered; instead they develop a tendency of looking down upon others as individuals who can “ill-afford”. This steadily establishes a mind for comparison on a “materialistic plane”. Once any human mind falls to this trap of assumed superiority, the individual tries to establish his or her supremacy among equals. An imminent outcome from this style of living is forming a group. Invariably, the group leader is the one who is materially affluent. This makes deep inroads in to all the essential characteristics of confidence-building, efforts to attain and strive for logical deductions because the young mind comes under the stranglehold of sycophancy. Apart from the individual getting ruined, many others of the group lose sight of the need for equipping themselves. They apparently feel secure or comfortable in the ‘providing’ company of the pampered leader. Students at the levels of 8th standard onwards, succumb to such situations. At that age, friendship has to be absolutely free from material considerations of running after the rich who may throw a few chocolates and try to command the not-so –affluent. To keep off temptations, calls for a maturity of sorts. But, a general cautioning at around the age of 7 or 8 while providing the basic facilities for learning, helps the child to analyze.
Also, if the children are confident of attaining by effort, they will generally escape from traits of sycophancy. The role of parents is quite important at these stages. Money-hunting parents cannot obviously, be aware of the impending dangers to their children, for, they believe that they can ‘control’ everything by money. The first thing they lose control of, is their children as the latter feel that they are in a resourceful ambience and their job is to utilize the resources. That is why, I insist on effort of attaining anything. Children not brought up on right modes of ‘learn, strive, exert and achieve’ cannot be expected to “develop”. At best they may grow biologically.
Any individual has to develop while still growing. Does our ambience favour it? Many may not agree with me on the plea that children need being taken care of. Yes, to a certain level until they are able to differentiate ‘our own’ and ‘not our own’. Thereafter, the ability to distinguish safe and unsafe courses steadily develops in the mind. From then on, obvious support must be slowly withdrawn, making the child understand that support can be sought only by making the right effort. For every effort the parent has to acknowledge by verbal appreciation. It is the right tonic that builds confidence. Confidence derived from effort helps to strive for more. With such efforts in everyday learning, the child grasps the nuances of learning. Mere completion of home work is not learning. It is but one step towards patient approach to learning. In these efforts, parents must spare time with the child in providing a moral support and get an opportunity to understand the difficulties of the child. These simple parental participatory efforts can ward off the scope for digression and the possibility of ‘mechanical’ home work that hampers the delight in learning. Children unattended to, lose inclination to learn, as they do not readily understand anything, unless properly narrated. This is the critical stage of foundation. Well founded early stages prove an asset in higher stages, since building on foundation is better than clinging on to scaffolding.
Effort and reward:
At the outset, let me make it clear that, reward that we conceive essential for human lives may not come forth as an immediate effect. But, certainly it will come not in a form conceived by us, but at a time and stage with such a telling effect that one can recognize the hand of Divinity therein. What I try to suggest is, any genuine effort of labour has to detach itself from immediate materialistic consideration. Study, character building, attitudes of righteousness are never meant to promote material wealth. Together they define the stature of a ‘perfect citizen’. Perfect citizens are those who can upkeep values even on the face of adversity. They will not be swayed by material considerations. To develop skills and stay balanced all through is the richest asset that any blessed soul can aspire for. What the rest of the society deems essential in the form of money power and positions of authority without being genuinely equipped are mere symptoms of the ‘fall –to-be’. These “efforts” of material ascension do not mean any safety in the sense that the very members of the family would indulge in dog fight over who should take possession of what, even as the man is languishing in bed for want of timely attention. Is it not a crisis to possess so much wealth that cannot buy your health? There is a clear bargain over the returns for every ‘service’ rendered by even children and grandchildren. Why all this? Over the years we focus on materialistic efforts and when it boomerangs all Gods delightfully watch your plight: not because Gods are sadistic but they keep “our life” under public gaze for others to take the cue from. But we are a clever lot taking the wrong cue of how to “out- perform” the richest man of our times. This is the thin line of demarcation between the clever and the intelligent. The latter chooses to be self-reliant by acquiring the essential attributes, leaving it to nature to take care of sustaining balance all through. The intelligent know the gap between eternal safety and the ephemeral tinsel.
Crisis in our work ambience :
Bad upbringing has a long-lasting effect and the effect integrates into the very attitudes of the person. A significant impact to the personality is an attitude of hoodwinking. Such persons make use of every occasion to drive a wedge of disharmony among people so that an element of suspicion fills the air. This polluted atmosphere comes in handy to for them keep everyone guessing. Why should a person resort to this strategy? The person recognizes that “I cannot match the requirements of the situation”. If a peaceful atmosphere prevails “I would soon be spotted as incompetent. Let me keep the atmosphere tense so that analysis is kept at bay”. As the next step, the inadequate person indulges in mudslinging and character assassination of more competent persons. This is crisis- self inflicted by the incompetent, instead of improving upon one’s own ability, downsizing the value of others is resorted to.
To continue Prof. K. Raman
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