The waves of fashion move fast and take the masses along. But where do they finally drop them?
COMPETITION: THE FACE IN FASHION
If Abu Salim could bring a transformation in his appearance and people can dye their hair red, brown and yellow or change their styles in line with the latest fashion, why can't we expect the same with the spirit of competition ? When Neena Gupta in one of her episodes of "Kamzor Kari Kaun" had sarcastically remarked, "Rajneeti ka shadyantra racha ja raha hai. Sabse mazboot kari ko bahar nikal do, taaki kamzor kari jeet sake", she had portrayed a mirror image of the latest connotation of competition in social reality.
Yeah! That is the transformed face of competition trend in fashion today. Well, there is no harm in welcoming this trend in fashion. And it is equally beneficial to be ardent followers of this trend with faith no less than the faith in one's own diety. And why shouldn't it be? Name one field where followers of this trend have fallen into the ditch ! "Do your best and leave the rest to God" - No way! This phrase is now outdated. Whoever coined this proverb must have been passive and timid, lacking the modern competitive spirit. The principle currently in fashion and being followed by a majority is - No matter what you do, but don't let the other person show his or her best be it any walk of life. People have been thriving and flourishing on this pedestal. Putting down others to defeat them makes more sense to these new-fashioned competitors than improving upon their own capabilities. Our young generation too is acquiring these skills with all sincerity, for, they are intelligent enough to distinguish between theoretical knowledge and the trends in fashion being set as examples to them by their own society around them, high and low. They are equally sensitive to understand how people who make rules are also the ones to break them too. And finally, they would soon be independent enough to make the right choice for themselves, say what you may, for, they too are high on competitive spirit and want to flourish.
After all, results are important, not the process ! But they need to be taught morality, whatsoever. After all there is no harm in expecting mangoes from an apple orchard !
One can always feel proud of great men like Mahatma Gandhi, Lord Ram, Guru Nanak, Muhammed - the Prophet, Jesus Christ, Swami Vivekananda, King Harishchandra and many others who sacrificed their lives for honesty, truth and righteousness, and whose lives have become a memory of the past alone. Their names are either made to rest in books or else, are made to dance on wicked tongues for vested interests! Actual thoughts and deeds have nothing to do with their lives. Well, it's fine for many, that's what it is ! And so what even if one walks against the tide set by them? It's amazing how they never kicked their competitors to win the race! They never stood on someone else's shoulders to show their height! They believed in ethical processes - Saccha Rasta, Sahi Raasta. How funny and outdated, isn't it? The new-fashioned competitors of today enjoy more respect than they did.
There are still some old-fashioned competitors today, who are following, not this trend, but the Saccha Rasta, but I wonder how long they will be able to survive in today's competitive world, sacrificing their own light to illuminate the twinkling stars standing on their shoulders. I think we are in urgent need of Lord Christ, Guru Nanak, Lord Krishna and The Prophet to set the things in order once again.
QUALIFICATION: THE MEANING IN FASHION
The word "qualification" might have a dictionary meaning- "attribution of quality" or "degree of excellence" (since the word crops up from the word Quality), but today, it also has a second functional meaning or the meaning of convenience, because how many people look at quality anyway ? Accordingly, educational or professional qualification no longer connotes the quality of education or skills but the quantity of degrees added, no matter by whatever means. It no longer connotes the degree of excellence in knowledge or capabilities. You may not know the basics of your subject or vocation well or their application in real life, you may not know how to respect the qualities (capabilities) of others, you may use your thinking skills not to solve problems but to create problems, but if you have added a number of degrees to your career, you are highly qualified.
But then, why can't all the D.Lit. holders in English literature of today beat Late Dr. Rajendra Prasad in the mastery of English language skills ? Likewise, Gandhiji neither had an M.A. in Sociology, nor in Psychology, nor even in Theology. Yet he moved the whole nation, uprooted the British Empire and got encrowned with the title of Mahatma. That is what "Qualities" are all about and that is where "Qualification" really resides. As per the meaning of Qualification in fashion today, we can have a number of people having many degrees, but many of them may not be even qualified (capable) enough to understand the real meaning of the term "Qualification".
By Saloni Chawla