Anupam- The Dreamer

Does God really exist?

Why does the rainfall happen?

How does the sun shine?

Is the earth flat or round?

Does the earth rotate around the sun or vice-versa?

Why does the apple fall towards the ground?

These are a few of the numerous questions that have intrigued humanity in the earlier times. And only because we asked ourselves these questions, it sparked curiosity in the minds of great men and women, who ventured out to find the answers to these questions. If we hadn’t asked the questions in the first place, it would not have been possible for the mankind to get the answers to make the life on this planet more comfortable, purposeful and fulfilling. The ability to question is innate in us humans, and it is because of this unique ability, we are way ahead of the animals. Animals don’t question anything. They come, they survive and they vanish just like that. But, the humans, have a bigger purpose in life. They seek answers to the mysteries and problems surrounding them, and always try to do something new and different.

The history is replete with examples that whenever the societies have questioned their way of living, they have come up with the solutions and have progressed. Take for example, the middle age Europe during the age of Renaissance in the 17^th century. It was the ability to question, ability to reason and think, ability to create and innovate, that made Europe the powerhouse of the world for the next 2-3 coming centuries. And conversely, the societies which lost their ability to question and reason and fell prey to orthodoxy, degraded and even were subjugated and demolished by the advances societies. I read a story in my schoolbook which enunciated the reason for the downfall of a big kingdom in the medieval India from the onslaught of a foreign ruler. The people in the kingdom had the superstition that till the time the flag is flying on the temple top on a hill, the Gods are with us and no army can defeat us. This secret was discovered by the foreign king, who in the garb of the night sent his agent to pull down the flag. As soon as the people in the kingdom found out in the morning that the flag is no more, they were demotivated and the army put down their arms. The kingdom despite being more powerful and wealthy lost to the foreign ruler, because they became orthodox and stopped their ability to reason with the ridiculous idea of relating the flying of temple flag with the Gods.

This lost ability to reason and critical thinking subjugated once prosperous India into orthodoxy and backwardness in the middle ages, which cost us our freedom and relegated the richest empire in the world to the status of the mere colony of a European nation. It was only after the awakening by the numerous social reformers, freedom fighters and intellectuals, that people in India realized their follies and started questioning the imperialist designs of the British empire. To quote Raja Ram Mohan Roy, “Just consider how terrible the day of your death will be. Others will go on speaking, and you will not be able to argue back.” So, he in a way equated the ability to not argue with as gruesome as “death”. The awakening in the minds of the people led them to raise their voices against the high handedness of the imperialists, and eventually led us to regain us our freedom.

But, after regaining our freedom, sometime later, there was again a relapse to our old ways of orthodoxy and non-reasoning. The authorities in power seldom favored the persons who questioned them. The culture of questioning has remained subdued in our country for long. With the advent of technology and spread of education, people have again started questioning the authorities and everything around them. This is an incredible break away from the past. It goes without saying that there must be logic and reason in our questions, otherwise the questions face the hazard of turning rogue, purposeless and a waste of time. A good question can awaken the minds, can solve a problem, can make our lives more productive and comfortable, and can hold the government accountable. On the other hand, a bad question (without any logic or reason) can destroy whatever we have built till now.

I once read somewhere that “If you ask a question, you remain fool for a minute. But if you don’t ask a question, you remain fool for the rest of your life”. I have had the good fortune of having a few teachers who encouraged asking of questions in class and college. Some would love me for the curiosity and sparked the love for learning. But at the same time, I had a few teachers who ridiculed me in front of everyone for asking questions. One teacher got annoyed just because I had raised a question, which he thought in his own head as questioning his knowledge, which I had no intent of doing so. But after the end of argument, he came near me and tapped my head gently. Maybe, he realized that atleast someone argued with him and that he had to defend himself which he was not used to and that only refined his own knowledge. I have had a few bosses in my professional career, who patiently listened to the differing point of view and gave their own opinions with reasoning and logic. But, there were some, who hated me because I asked a lot of questions, not because the questions per se were wrong, but because they perceived it as a challenge to their authority! What would I gain by challenging their authority, when we both are working for the same organization. But if we don’t allow healthy discussion and dialogue, how will the new ideas emerge and how will we build a culture of learning, unlearning and relearning?

In the political arena also, there are a few leaders who encourage the culture of questioning among people and who hold themselves accountable to the questions and issues raised by the people. But, there are others, who want people to be of herd mentality and follow them without reasoning and application of mind. There is an oft quoted saying in the political circles that “ना खाता ना बही, जो मैं कहूं वही सही”. And if someone dares to ask them the rationale of some decision, the voice is silenced. The mark of a good leader is to assuage the questions, concerns and issues raised by the people in an amicable and well-reasoned manner. Obviously, the same principle applies for the people also, who must ask logical, relevant and bonafide questions, and not just ask for the sake of asking. It is said that “No question is a bad question!” But there are indeed bad questions, which are absurd, contrary to the reason, asked with malafide intent, and have no purpose of asking. Such questions deserve no answer. Rest every question must not only be encouraged, but also shall be responded to and celebrated.

There is an amazing song which celebrates the art of questioning-

आसमां है नीला क्यूँ
पानी गिला गिला क्यूँ
गोल क्यों है ज़मीन
सिल्क में है नरमी क्यूँ
आग में है गर्मी क्यूँ
दो और दो पाँच क्यों नहीं

पेड़ हो गए कम क्यों
तीन है ये मौसम क्यूँ
चाँद दो क्यूँ नहीं

दुनिया में है ज़ंग क्यूँ
बहता लाल रंग क्यूँ
सरहदें है क्यूँ हर कहीं
सोचा है, ये तुमने क्या कभी
सोचा है, की है ये क्या सभी
सोचा है, सोचा नही तो सोचो अभी

We have to build a culture where the people are not afraid to ask questions- to themselves, to the people around them, to the authorities and to the existing norms and rules. Whatever is true today, may not be so tomorrow. The Earth was widely believed to be the center of the universe till Copernicus in the 16^th century advocated that it was the sun instead, which was not believed until further 100 years or so. But, what if Copernicus did not ask himself the question?

Many times, the questions may not lead us to the intended answers. But, certainly there are no answers (right or wrong) without the questions! So, whenever you are in doubt, you now know what to do- ask a QUESTION!!!!