This is not one of those times when there will be lot of morals and values. There will not be big verses and no long words required to be checked from dictionary before you use them. As the name suggests this will be a discussion of simple things.
First of all I want to define the word simple. This word does not refer to nature of an event or thing but it refers to the attitude. Something which seems to be simple to one can be difficult for others. So “Simple” is not an adjective, the way it’s generally used, but is thinking or mindset.
I will start with things that are said to be simple. I would include eating, sleeping, talking etc. Then I want to make a note of things that are suppose ably great. I would include building a bridge, climbing Everest, writing a thesis etc.
The reason I am stating these things in advance is because I want to talk about how greatest things are really simple for someone who does it. For instance human body performs thousands of operations involuntarily. Is climbing such a great thing? Is building a bridge such a great thing when compared to a child who grows on to become an adult?
So the million dollar question, if these things are not really so great then why are they called so? (And please note that often the word greatness is used to describe the level of difficulty) Why right from the childhood it’s imbibed that “we are simple people and greatness belongs to the chosen few”?
This is because most of us don’t really understand “greatness”. Greatness lies in simplicity. I don’t want to go into the philosophical aspects of the subjects. I want to comment on the general human tendency. According to science every man that walks this earth is different or “special”. Then why no kid is really raised as if he is an asset? The early measures, for security and social growth, that are applied during childhood not only deteriorate the mindset but also make him believe that being great is something, that is for him, virtually impossible.
Greatness is never bound to the age. Greatness is not bound to educational degrees. Greatness can never be based upon physical features. As a matter of fact greatness is the simplest commodity that can be achieved by anyone.
People praise “Dnyaneshwar” for writing “Dnyaneshwari” at such young age but no one appreciates a kid who makes surprisingly intelligent but politically incorrect comment. Teacher tells stories of Edisons and Einsteins who achieve things despite having reading or writing problems but they don’t seem to help pupils who actually have such problems. Everyone appreciates how so called great people were once simple. Yet no one buys the fact that every simple man can go on to become a great.
This is like that “four minute mile”. Earlier it was believed that no one can cross barrier of completing a mile lap in four minute until one runner finished it in less than four minutes. It’s this belief that “Greatness belongs to chosen few” stops many of us from actually achieving greatness in different fields. After all “Greatness is the greatest simplicity”!
Author-Devendra Oak.
