QUO VADIS ?-- III

Quo Vadis ? ---III

Follies -further:

Granting that every one desires being a professional, what prevents any one from mustering the right approaches to the chosen profession is still a mystery. Obviously, getting a degree seems the “be all and end all” of life. Strictly speaking at best one would have gathered the mere rudiments of a subject for a UG or a PG degree. Real proficiency has to be augmented by right approaches of making use of the knowledge. Most people seem to lay content that ‘I am qualified for my job; what more is there for me to learn?’ 

This contention is both vivid and rampant, even among teachers. Rote learning from notes has destroyed the aptitude for authenticity. Some who made it to teaching are miserable by attitude and aptitude. Instead of enhancing their skills as teachers by effort, they resort to ‘reading notes’ in class rooms perpetuating worse from bad. It may look anachronistic if I denounce these, as many are really unaware that they are mere butts of jokes among their own students. Ironically, the very same students stoop to the same methods if they turn teachers having no idea of “what is teaching”.

I do not mean to suggest that every other domain is better off. Those of other profession are equally bad, having not learnt things the right way. The malady seems to be widespread with every one concerned only of the final placement ignoring the component of getting equipped.     The scenario is dismal with no definite signs of any introspection in any quarter.

Ego inflation:

The most pitiable [despicable?] part of the happenings is the resistance against any suggestion intended to set notions right. I am reminded of a statement that reads “incompetent people are unconsciously arrogant”. The attitude seems to be a recent addition to the general inadequacy, partly acquired from the faith that “I am a qualified person and I need no one’s advice”. It is here that a subtle difference segregates the state of qualification from that of being equipped. It is the ill-equipped who raise the bogey of qualification in an attempt to shield the shortcoming. Other than inflating the ego nothing precious can accrue to any one who refuses to accept inadequacy. Ego can not help any peaceful approach to learning. Denouncing any well-meaning effort from the experienced persons will not lead us to progression. Ill-equipped, ego-inflated minds signify irreparable idiocy. The obvious loser is the person and not those who meant to help.

Limitations –limitless:

Thus far, I have summed up our attitudes to life especially to all domains that help our formulating our future. But, once in some job, people forget the sufferings their parents went through and become hardened and materialistic. They turn avaricious and try to fleece every one who runs into them for timely help. It is not that they are not aware of righteousness. Rather, they prefer being “money hunters”, though not conversant with jobs. The tendency is to learn all tricks and the various forms of leave that one is eligible for. There is very little of effort if any for gathering the nuances of right approaches to work. The whole process from start to finish appears to be on wrong lines, improper methodology, inadequacy in equipping, but aspiring to be on top with only ego as our achievement. None of these limitations drive sense in to the person. Shamelessly, they indulge in corrupt schedules of fleecing the unfortunate citizens in the name of doing  ‘our work’. With no remorse in sight, the whole society is heading fast in to catastrophe rich in inadequacy, incompetence, ego and greed. Where are we really going?

Apparently people are blissfully ignorant of what they lack because they have not earned their positions by hard efforts of painstaking approaches. The circle has indeed become vicious with more people joining the ring on issues irrelevant to the work on hand. None seems to understand the scale of requirement and is as such ignorant of the degree of shortfall. It is also quite unfortunate that there are no ideal versions to compare against. This effectively serves to sustain blissful ignorance. When it comes to answering queries from authorities people faithfully ‘repeat ‘ from old letters and modify only the date. In the process the reply carries data uncalled for or incomplete information –being a replica of an earlier response. The authorities being similarly incompetent do not cause any  ripple in the ranks of workers. A policy of appeasement is adopted whenever a higher official makes an inspection.-visit. The person is taken “proper care of” by providing all services as are desired by the inspecting authority. Can any one expect incompetence to be a tool?  So long as the system is not demanding, incompetence can dominate until the system succumbs to its own inadequacy.  Shame and ignominy are for those who have honesty and self respect. People who are gloriously incompetent and unmindful of it cannot help anything but collapse. It would then be the End and rightly so                                                              

Prof. K. Raman