I was at Kolkota yesterday and was keen to see the new engineering marvel. So, I travelled to Espalanade to take the first under water metro in India. As I was about to board the metro, a young kid asked her grandmother at the platform “Where is the water?”. I was amazed at the “curiosity” of the child. On the other hand, a few co-passengers commented after passing through the under water stretch that it was not a big deal – that is called “judgement”.

As children, most of us are curious and are keen to know ,everything around us. We are not afraid of asking the fundamental questions of “What, How, Why or Where? However, as we turn into adults, curiosity dies within us and we tend to judge on most occasions or sometimes fail to express our curiosity ,so that we are not judged by others.

This phenomenon is true within families, organisations or societies. Parents are keen to answer the questions of children ,when they have their first child and do not consider anything silly. But, as the child grows up or gets a sibling, parents tend to shut up the child ,as they think it is obvious. We may not realise that what is obvious to us, may not be obvious to the child.

A similar phenomenon is seen in the precincts of organisations. When a young trainee arrives on the scene, the trainee is curious and wants to learn everything around. They do not mind asking the questions and more often than not, get their answers. But, as the employee matures from trainee to a mid level or senior level employee, everyone assumes that they are expected to know everything around them. If a mid level employee asks a doubt, it is frowned upon and they are judged. So, curiosity of a trainee dies as they grow in seniority.

The society around us is equally ,non-forgiving. If a child asks a fundamental question, everyone around the child is keen to answer the child. But if a teenager or adult asks a similar basic question, they are looked down upon. This attitude to life and living ,makes us less curious in life and we become like robots ,reacting to situations and environment around us.

It may be time to ask – “How do we keep the curiosity alive in us ,right through our lives ?” It may be a journey of life long learning, if we are curious rather than judgemental. Curiosity quenches our thirst for knowledge ,while judgement kills it. It may not be difficult to preach but a challenge to practise ourselves.

Let the journey begin with our family today. The extension to organisations and communities will become natural . Let us start asking “How do bots work ?” Or “Why will AI take away jobs in the future ?” And trust me ,our future generation will be a learning generation.

Let us start with ourselves today.

S Ramesh Shankar

7th April 2024