Beyond traditional thinking

Updated on: Monday, January 25, 2010

FREE SPIRIT:Parents must give children the freedom to chart their career and the film ‘3 idiots' gives enough thought to ponder upon, especially when it comes to higher education and career designing.

It has been proven and supported by science that almost all human beings are born with an equal level of intellect. But then, how is it that one succeeds, while the rest do not or get stagnated at a particular level. Experts who deal with human intellect say, “The ones who succeed are among the ones who learn and practice the concept of ‘Out of the box thinking”. Even Nobel Laureate Albert Einstein once said “An average person uses only five per cent of his brain in his entire life”. So the funda is all about ‘thinking' and how ‘differently we think'.

There is a lot to learn about this aspect from the recent Aamir Khan starrer ‘3 idiots'. Apart from being a hilarious, out of the regular box office- themed movies and one with a very contemporary idea - it has a very strong message, especially for the students and the parents who believe in the ‘herding' concept.

Message-oriented

The movie subtly explores the idea of freedom for children. It may be a little harsh for all those parents who believe that there is nothing beyond the professional courses of engineering and medicine. But that's the reality, the mushrooming of over 700 engineering colleges in little over last five years, stand testimony to the ‘herding' concept.

Pritam (name changed) a third-year ECE student in an engineering college says, “I wanted to take up fine arts and be a painter. I had a dream to study at ‘Kala Bhavan' in Santiniketan. But it was quashed by my parents, who wanted me to be an engineer and join the rat race. Even my friends and classmates were also responsible for it. Whenever, I spoke of being a painter, I was ridiculed and isolated. My mind and heart is in fine arts and I am not sure how much justice I will be able to do as an engineer.”

It is the mind that charts the way to success and the mind works in rhythmic synchronisation with the heart. The former Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University L. Venugopala Reddy once said:

“Children should be left to do what they want to do or become. EAMCET is not the end of the world. Parents should think beyond professional courses, as there is a world of opportunity left untapped. One should go beyond the traditional thinking to explore the big world. If that's the thinking, then the sky is the limit.”

The Director of Conduira, an institution engaged in career and personality enhancement, Mohammed Abdullah adds that many young minds in engineering colleges do know or understand ‘why they are studying engineering'.

Why

“In seminars and workshops, whenever, I pose the question ‘Why are you studying engineering', the balance tilts towards the answer ‘our parents have asked us to do it'. While some just communicate with a ‘blank face', a few say that they are doing it just for the sake of a job and only a couple come forward to assert that they have taken it up for the sake of satiating their passion and liking,” says the trainer.

The entire process of higher education revolves round the model of goal setting and value identification. But to understand the ‘belief of goal setting' one has to have a clear perception of the values that are embedded in the goal.

Goal setting

“One should have a clear understanding of ‘why I am doing' rather than ‘what I am doing'. The values are inter-related to goal setting. One who takes up the profession of NGO, the value revolves round the idea of serving the downtrodden and the disadvantaged.

"The same should be the case for people taking up engineering or medical studies. Success is defined by values that are closely linked to goal setting and what one can give back to the society,” says the Director of CTC Communications A.S. Prasad. If not purely a motivational film, ‘3 idiots' definitely gives enough thought to ponder upon, especially when it comes to higher education and career designing.

Beyond traditional thinking

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