SIGNIFICANCE

 

SIGNIFICANCE.

Significance is the ruling factor that determines every one of our actions of thought, word and deed. On occasions we are able to preconceive it. Sometimes we do not bother to take cognizance of its value. But basically we try to assess the necessity for an act of ours to be clear and sure that there is some benefit for some one. It need not be that there is selfishness; but it has to be of some benefit to some one. If that does not materialize, the significance is lost. It is not my opinion to suggest that all our effort is directed to bring a clear benefit. Still, human attitude desires some tangible effect. Variations may be over the time taken for achieving the effect and the longevity of the effect. Naturally, all of life’s missions can be thought of as significance-oriented exercises per se.  It is not easy to perceive as to how / what people reckon as significance. It is highly variable. The contention can be understood. if we consider why people take to varied hobbies. For an on looker it appears that the person is pledging his time and money over something that does not inspire us. If we manage to recognize the magnitude of effort put in by them we wonder how they managed the time for all these. Actually it is the other way round. While many have not utilized their time, hobbyists make use of the otherwise squandered time. No one denounces the time / money spent for watching movies. Ironically, the easy route to “wastage” is movie watching. I know that people have their own value for movies and would not yield a bit even on the face of any severe adversity, leave alone heeding to advice. Thus, significance is what one perceives as good for self. Considering the value of significance has to accommodate for ‘strange’ perceptions. What is significant to one may mean nothing to another.

But, with all such clarity it is not possible to be “stand offish” in daily life. Some points are important for our analysis.

                

Likes and dislikes:  In resorting to take up or avoid a work, likes and dislikes hold the key. A number of secondary influences may also determine the attitude.

These are: the persons with whom the job has to be executed.

Other determinants may be the forms of return / cost benefits “later to accrue”.                                        Depending on the collective value of these parameters, the pace of execution would vary. Things that do not interest us somehow get postponed on some premise or the other. Ultimately they would be done when it can not be delayed any longer. Ironically some of the things which we really hate are also disposed off early to get rid oft them. Our mental disposition to a particular thing determines how long we take for that work.

Detachment:                    Detachment is what one should aspire for in life. But, in an ambience that is charged with “needs” detachment is a theoretical ideal.  People who are hardened by daily chores of attending to public grievance are the most detached and the least bothered. Think of the general hospital: The Emergency ward. The personnel there have no term like “emergency”. It is an emergency to the victim. The scale of detachment is even more pronounced at the mortuary. Their “detachment” is to the job and not for collecting their “dues from us”. The detachment professed for life is of a different stature. Everyone is expected to perform his / her duties without looking for returns from the beneficiary.    This has to be a part of work culture. People may laugh at my suggestion.

Please consider this.                  When a public servant sends signals for favour, how unhappy we are. We then go that far to lament –“these people are highly paid, and have no time for us. Already I have wasted 2 days with them for nothing”.     

 To continue         Prof. K. Raman