MONDAY, MAY 06, 2024
Pradeep V Kamat
LISTS are Ubiquitous to say the least! From cabinet lists in politics to the ATS (anti-terrorist squad) list of wanted terrorists and assassins, and from the newly passed student's list of textbooks to the list of probables in IPL24 cricket series…; lists are indispensable, an integral part of our life.
Oxford dictionary defines a List as anything jotted down on a piece of paper for future reference or as a reminder. Whether scribbled on a scrap of paper or meticulously typed or kept in digital format (Google keep, Evernote, Microsoft one note…et el), lists have uncanny ability to tame chaos and bring order to our lives. They serve as roadmaps to our day-to-day tasks or future plans.
When one thinks of a list, always that long shopping list of housewives and which is always irksome to most of the husbands come to our mind. To cut down on expenses an average husband always omits one or two items on the list saying that they were out of stock in the market!
Husbands too prepare lists even on currency notes! But they are most of the time work related and other miscellaneous duties to be accomplished. Sometimes they remain in pocket untouched till they reach home! It is ironical that forgetful people take great pains to prepare list of the things to do only to forget all about the list itself. That reminds me of an interesting episode happened some years back.
Before Smartphone era, I used to make scribbled list of my patients visiting OPD, as well as house calls to be made, on daily basis, being their family physician (GP). It was my habit to put the list in my back trousers pocket. That was in early 80’s .One day the unattended list fell into the hands of my wife while washing the trousers. On the list, one item among several others was to go to ‘Sandra’s house’ after shopping. When her eyes fell on word ‘Sandra’ she was furious (Sandra 21 was beauty in our village) and came barging towards me and asked for the explanation. It was hell of a job to convince her that Sandra was my patient and had scooter accident that morning and that she was not alone but stayed with her parents and grandparents. So the issue was settled amicably and peacefully.
Being on the list at state or national level is a dream of every young, budding aspiring citizen. It is a great prestige and honour to the individual who has strived hard to achieve it. It may be in any sphere or field ..say sports (cricket, football, chess, badminton…) Music ,film and TV, literature, business and finance, fashion and design et el.
Personal Secretaries of politicians, VVIP, celebrities, CEOs… .prepare list of the points to be included in their speech. When they prepare it they have to be very careful, otherwise it backfires on them.
Once a minister lambasted his PA for preparing a long speech. “ I was supposed to speak for 10 minutes and your innumerable points forced me to speak for half an hour, shouted the minister.
“But Sir, the list was in triplicate” said the PA coolly!!.
