THE GOOD DAYS 'WILL' COME

Pic.: Chetna Shetty

Debates and Group Discussions are a part of our PD sessions. Our students are teenagers; but, they are young-adults. They live in a world of reality... in a thick climate of politics, religion, entertainment, gossip, relationship, fashion, fads and trends... social media and peer pressure... tobacco, alcohol, drugs and sex... Yes, can they afford to not know about this reality? Can they afford to close their eyes, ears and minds to this reality?

As a young-adult, I had to grow up in an identical climate, of course, of my time... There were no social media, TV and the gadgets the way the young-ones are exposed to, today. But, everything else was there: there was politics, religion, entertainment, gossip, fashion and trends... and, yes, there was tobacco, alcohol, drugs and sex!

So, as a responsible teacher and guide, I need to help our young-ones become conscious of this climate they all grow-up in... know about it, read about it, discuss about it and, finally, develop a mind of their own... an informed, strong and mature mind of their own. Else, I would be only raising them in a Fools’ Paradise!

So, they do take part in all these ‘reality shows’ of ours – the speeches, debates and group discussions!

Early in the morning, I had read the front-page report on today’s TOI: “Post-Modi win, friends ‘unfriend on social media.” I had immediately decided on the topic for GD which was to follow, soon, this morning:’ Achche Din Aane Wale Hai! – Is it hope or just hot air?’

There were ten young boys and girls discussing and voicing their views. There were couple of die-hard Modi supporters and a couple of Modi-baiters. And, yes, there were couple of moderates, who did articulate that, just as in our personal lives, the good days come, and good days go... The key is, always, to work and hope for not only for ‘good’ days but for the ‘best’ days: the ‘golden days’!

It is not only normal, but it is, also, very healthy – in fact important - that each one of us has a well-informed, intelligent and mature world-view. These young kids will be expected to voice their views in the years to come when they go for professional courses and jobs. And, they can not be expected to become Buddha’s – the enlightened ones – overnight, when they wake up, one morning!

However, I caution them: “Having your strong view and trying to impose it on another with an evangelistic fervor – almost fanatically – is going to portray you in bad light. It will isolate you in the society... Nobody likes to be ‘pushed’, nobody likes hard-selling... and, worst, nobody likes when you talk ‘ill’ about another for too long.”

“Only Fools and Fanatics are so sure of themselves,” I had come across this line, when I was very young. Ever since then, no matter how strong my opinion is, I try to make space - in my mind and heart both - for someone else’s too!

I am happy to live, here, in this amazing world of simple, aspiring, humble and pliable souls. The paradise of fools and fanatics is too dark... too scary and isolating... to live in!

GERALD D’CUNHA