The tremendous success of '3 Idiots', in a way, reflects the popular viewpoint of the present generation. While hard work, commitment and devotion towards one's job and honesty were once considered to be among the most prized qualities in a person, today these have been replaced by creativity, inherent intelligence, and street-smartness (even if it amounts to deceit). Those working hard to achieve their aim, rather than searching for shortcuts, are often ridiculed.
The movie compares rote-learning to some grave offence. So, what should someone not as intellectually endowed as the protagonist do-simply accept that academics are not his cup of tea and sit back? Isn't it better to try and make up for the lack of natural intelligence by working harder than others?
Further, the movie highlights the loopholes in the country's education system. Many of these are exaggerations but nevertheless, the sentiment has found collective endorsement from everyone. Everyone jumped on the bandwagon just because criticising the education system and being a rebel is considered to be fashionable or the 'in' thing. In reality,most students do not favour even creative learning; what they really want is 'easy' learning. Anything that causes the slightest stress is deemed to be undesirable even if, once accomplished, its outcome is most likely to be fruitful.
Moreover, thinking outside the box is not opposed so vehemently as the movie portrays. No teacher tries to supress creative thinking even if they do not go out of their way to encourage it. What they actually comdemn is indiscipline and deliberate ignorance on the part of the students.
Undoubtedly, the movie is well-shot and is highly entertaining but it should be enjoyed merely as a work of fiction rather than being taken too seriously as a true portrayal of the current state of affairs.
Its nice to read your blog. Keep writing about contemporary topics of general interest.
ReplyDeleteCome on Nish….
ReplyDeleteDon’t underestimate a great work done. The qualities you talked about like hard work, commitment are still very much appreciated and can never be replaced. Just that in today’s competitive world, an extra bit of creativity and out of box thinking is rewarded abundantly.
Didn’t you notice the hard work and commitment put in by Rancho since he was a child. The only attribute which made him a genius was his interest in the subject. He just ridiculed mugging of books. I myself did a lot of cramming of topics, I never understood but that gave me grades only.
Did you notice Chatur approach towards study? When the prof asked him that he should better understand the speech, he said- samajhne ki zarurat nahin hain masterji, me yaad ker legi.
For him, a fat pay cheque and a big bungalow signify success. Sadly, these parameters are still considered accurate by a majority of peoples.
In my opinion this movie might be a work of fiction but truly reflects our current education system. Today this bloody pressure to come first is responsible for suicide in students. How much our institutions are spending on R&D? What they are concentrating on adding more seats, more colleges and thus more money.
See the movie in totality. After all, it is a commercial cinema so focus on the message.
So someone who is not as brilliant as the protagonist should not sit back but rather do what Raju and Farhan did.
Hey chacha,
ReplyDeletethanks for reading!
I agree that there are flaws in the education system but what i want to say is that the situation is not as bad as portrayed, nor are students always the victimised lot. A majority of the students today find the current teaching-and-evaluation methods convenient.
And i say that from personal experience - my entire class firmly protested when the teacher asked us to work on a slightly complex but innovative and useful project; suddenly everyone found the typical copied-assignments-and-tests regimen more desirable. These are the same students who then complain about the monotony of the education system.
And adding more seats, more colleges does not translate to making more money,rather it helps in reducing the pressure on students by making it less competitive to secure admission.So,it is desirable.
What i didn't like about the movie is the sin-like status that it accords to cramming. Personally, i don't find anything horrendously wrong with Chatur's approach towards study or his perception of 'success'. To each, his own. Ultimately, only he is responsible for his actions.
Also, not everyone has an inborn talent like Farhan. It may sound crude, but there are people who are not good at anything of consequence. So what do they do?
As for Raju, he didn't develop any sudden intelligence or interest in his course, he just put an end to his superstitions and started focussing on his studies, relying on hard work.
Nish....when I said more seats, more colleges means more money, I meant that education has become a business rather than a service.
ReplyDeleteThese colleges have just classrooms filled with peoples now knowing what they want to do with their lives. so less competition doesn't help them. they just want a degree!!!!!!!!!
Competition is healthy but should always be in the conjunction with creativity and understanding. We should compete in becoming successful rather than racing for the best mugger......
Your approval to Chatur's approach is reflecting what the majority find easy to handle. Just cram your books and duplicate it in the exams, get grades and move on to next class.
And not only Farhan but everyone is talented in his own ways. To find it and pursue it is what matters. And Raju, though not got blessed with intelligence all of a sudden but certainly developed interest in the studies. Rancho used to discuss his research with his students if you remember.
I've never seen people like Chatur doing great in their life. Give me a name who is really successful and doesn't love his or her work.
There is no substitute for hard work but if gets blended with interest, makes a mark.
chacha.....
ReplyDeletevot do u mean by -"I've never seen people like Chatur doing great in their life. "
chatur himself did a great job!!!!after all he owned a 3.5 million bungalow wid maple-wood flooring ,a heated swimming pool,a lamborghini....n dats enough a reward 4 his mugging!!!
n u wanted a real life example.....no???
u only sed in d previous comment dat u urself used 2 cram in skul......but u r doin so gud in ur life...even if not as gud as chatur ... :)
Sweetheart! where were you? I loved your writing this time. very unlike the emails.
ReplyDeleteFor you, Success is measured in monetary terms, for me you are successful if you are happy in what your are doing, people acknowledge and appreciate your work, your doings makes a difference in peoples lives etc.
Didn't you notice that chatur himself come begging to rancho who was not that rich as per your understanding.
Give me a real life example and not a reel one.
I did the same mugging in school and thats why I don't consider myself successful unless I do something I am happy about and make a difference.
Now I can see that you two sisters are united against me but I am sure Bhanu will come to my rescue!!!!!!
Bhanu- Mere Dost! Where are you????
i never sed anything bout rancho...yaa he 2 was rich because of those patents n ol......
ReplyDeleten chatur was happy with what he had achieved in life...!!!
and at last he came begging 2 rancho coz rancho was a bloody liar!!he hid his real identity 4m every1...voteva d reason might b!!!
ON A SERIOUS NOTE....IT WAS ALL A MERE EXAGGERATION!!
And ya ur only rescuer, Bhanu, is playing football..... ;)
i m totally agree wid u kamal chachaji..but kahi kahi i m agree wid nishta's views also...chachaji aap meri tarif kannu se sun sakte hai...really nikku, its nice to c ur blogs...keep it up..
ReplyDeleteThanks bhaiya-both for reading and for agreeing with me!
ReplyDelete