I had taken a solemn vow to not watch the movie- considering how almost everyone who has seen it has sobbed his/ her eyes out after watching it. I wouldn’t watch it, I wouldn’t watch it. I wouldn’t. Na- uh. Didn’t need to go to a theatre to find something to cry about now, did I? Sigh.
But I did. I did watch it. Not in a theatre, but at home. If that helps with what you think of the strength of my will power. It’s super. Considering that I keep away from reviews until I’ve seen the movie, I had absolutely no idea what it was about. All I knew was that it made people cry. Hell it made Advani cry. There was a whole 200 word write up on that on the 3rd page, no less, of every national daily.
I had this extremely disturbing talk with a cousin of mine the other day. He wanted to send his 9 year old (or less) daughter to a boarding school so that she could be given the opportunity to hone the skills he knows she has. So that she’d be trained to face competition. A 9 year old.
Children are little. They're, for the lack of another word, precious. What they need is not to be taught about the whos and the whys and the wheres- they need color, exploration, stories. They have imagination that needs to be nutured. They have courage that needs to be given an outlet.
There'll be enough time later on for them to learn how to face the "world". Hell, they wouldn't require this so called training- because they'd have what was most important- your belief, your support, your love. And they'd have the security of having had the oppurtunity of being a child. Of having had the oppurtunity to explore. What, if not the courage to take risks and knowing what you do best, do you need to find success?
I totally support the need for all round development- I, myself, was fortunate enough to have been a part of not one school, but three schools, all of which believed in this very thing and hence, while academia was stressed on, so was what was put under “extra curricular”. I’ve also had the fortune of being blessed with parents, to whom I didn’t have to mutter a “I’m sorry” after I’d not won a competition.
But that's not what the movie is about. Or what I wanted to say. What I wanted to say was, that I had the fortune of coming across teachers, mentors, who saw beneath the surface. And sometimes, even when they didn't understand what they saw or couldn't really see- only knew that there was something underneath that was being kept hidden: they always showed faith in me. Believed in me. This movie is about exactly that.
The movie is about not blindly believing in what we see, but about trying to see and find out what lies behind- about questioning. About being convinced that the sun really doesn’t just go to bed while the moon takes on the night shift. It’s also about reading between the lines. Understanding silences. Finding the problem and tackling it, instead of just trying to eradicate the symptoms.
It’s about not telling your child what is what, but letting him find out what is well, what. About letting them find out what they’re meant to do, and giving them the courage to pursue those dreams. About giving them belief to pursue those dreams. And no, THESE things are not meant for only books and movies- I know of people who as teachers work on these principles, and I know of the results they’ve achieved.
It’s about not bearing a child down with chains.
It’s not something that will make you angry. It’s not something that will give you nightmares. It will make you sad. Or at least not for me. Because, it was an embodiment of all my beliefs. Of my dreams.
So, I can go to sleep knowing, that come one morning- I’m going to have the power and the resources to do the work I want to do. To be the change I want to see in the world.
What about you?
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'Funny that I should watch this movie, after my previous post. All things said and done, please please please DO watch the movie.
Oh and also- PAINT. No matter what you make, even if you're just splashing about with it- it's good for the soul. Either that or washing clothes. It's your choice!!
All my love.
alright so i watched it...not once but 5 times...once in theatre...felt extremely insignificant, wasted, useless, nincompoop...blah blah
also, i can't paint...i'd end up having paint all over my mouth if i did...so i wash clothes...atleast i get them clean by the end of it :P
The movie challenges the traditional mindset of the system of education established in our country, where you basically over-eat and throw up in most exams you give. Being an engineering grad, I loathe the way we are educated in India, coz the whole process of learning is lost in staying abreast in the competition and overcoming the fear of failure.
I think writing and photography are good soul-curators, especially considering how pathetic I am at painting, and how lazy I am to do my laundry.
@nav: No matter!! PAINT. That's half the charm. Just keep away from oils.
And seriously, 5 times?!! You are one jobless going-to-be-scientist.
@WS: Well, you're lucky!! I'm still on my way to "graduating"- and nothing could be worse. But in a way it's good- I'm paying for at least some amount of the sins I've made- lesser stuff to pay for ahead.
Yes, they are- but in very different ways. I write to get away from the voices in my head, or make sense of them. Painting helps deal with a lot of stuff you didn't even know you were dealing with. So, try it.
Thanks for taking the time to drop by, you guys,
SG.
hey i also work in the lab...almost overwork okay...actually been having some off time of late...and been sleeping it off :P
i'm useless when it comes to paint and brushes...i'm decent at photography (or so i'd like to believe)...is that ok?
No! No!! NOOO!! They serve totally different purposes!
Paint.
SG.
Paint definitely.
Or washing dishes.
Lol. :)