Whoever keeps harping on that notion that Goans are socegado, and uses this in speech and writing, should have been present at the Kala Academy last week. Over a period of five days hundreds of Goans made it a point to spend their evenings at the Kala Academy to listen to top achievers in their respective fields. They listened attentively, asked questions and walked out discussing what they had heard. There could have been more entertaining events happening, but it was the D D Kosambi Festival of Ideas and five men of repute had been invited to Goa to speak on topics of their expertise.
The Dinanath Mangueshkar Hall was packed with people standing on the sides and the aisles, and the Black Box which had a screen showing a live feed of the talk was bursting with people. It was left to accommodate the other attendees in the foyer of the Kala Academy where another screen showed the lecture live. It drew a large number of individuals who are hungry for some intellectual stimulation that comes Goa’s way rarely. Many may shrug off the numbers saying that a large section comprised children in uniform brought from schools, but it is precisely school children who should attend such lectures as they tomorrow will be the leaders of this state and country. It is for them that such festivals should be held. The D D Kosambi festival should not be just for the grey-haired and the serious academics, but it should be a must for the children in uniform who will learn from them and be able to use what they have learnt in their life.
In one particular session, that of Prof Anil Kumar Gupta, the IIM professor and founder of the Honey Bee Network, there was lots that the youth and young children could learn. Gupta stressed repeatedly on why it is important to listen to little children who are the most innovative of all. He gave a series of examples of how simple ideas from children, some in conversations with parents, have turned into the creation of workable instruments and gadgets which are solutions to problems and can be produced and sold in the market. Many of them are being sold, he said, encouraging children to find solutions to problems. A simple example he gave was of a child watching his father with a vacuum cleaner suggested that his shoes that squeak every time he walks could also be a mini vacuum cleaner. The principle is the same and idea is being worked on, said Gupta, and suggested that there should be innovation clubs in every school.
Starting innovation clubs is surely one of the many ideas from the festival of ideas that has to be taken seriously by the State. What purpose would the festival of ideas serve, if what emerges from it is not put into practice?
An innovation club is a simple idea that would not demand any major financial allocation from the government, but if every school has one then it would offer children a place and a chance to bring in their ideas, pool them and then present a solution to a problem. The problem need not be anything major, even the smallest of problems could be tackled. Gupta left the auditorium asking the students in the audience to write ideas and give to him, promising them a reward.
There are people around the country ready to listen to Goa’s children and their ideas. Can Goa listen to its children?
It is time it should and it should create the environment where the children are allowed to ideate. The State doesn’t have any forum where children can meet and have free discussions. For this an innovation club is a must. What we need in Goa are competitions, open competitions, where children are invited to give their ideas that can be then collated and the best sent for further refinement and to determine whether they can be practical.
This DD Kosambi Festival of Ideas was in itself a great idea. It is time to put those ideas that have come up from this festival into practice. If not, then perhaps there will be reason to say that Goans are indeed socegado.
