Why No One Asks Why?

Editorial:-
As the makers of a popular mint lozenge taught us about evolution in one of their advertisement spots –allow the brain to light up [batti jala-de] and experiment and one will change, grow up from the experience and, well, evolve above others. Clearly then, on the flip side, regressive attitudes and closed minds announce a society in decay, the first signs of which manifest with declining inquisitiveness. It is because of their uninhibited inquisitiveness that children learn so much more than we ever do comparatively as grown-ups. A flagging inquisitiveness reflects a society growing indifferent to information [without which there is no grist for inquisitiveness]. Such a society stops to be dynamic, without which there can be no growth. Stop growing and atrophy sets in, and then everything tosses into a downward spiral. It goes without saying that it is inquisitiveness that led mankind out of the cave and into the world of microchips; developed language from monosyllables and clucks to discourses and epics and communication from shouted greetings to mobile phones. It is curiosity, not necessarily necessity, that triggers invention, changes mindsets. An inquiring mind strengthens democracy, reinforces accountability and substantiates public opinion. Stop being inquisitive, give up asking questions and its back to the Stone Age when everything happened because it was destined to and no one was wiser.
Turn the mirror on Sikkim. Whys and wherefores do not infiltrate conversations here which are invariably just litanies of complaints… a finality in dejection. And therein lies the root of most of Sikkim’s problems from corruption to a poor human resource development. The inquisitiveness appears gone, replaced by a negativism of distrust. Yes, it has to be the latter that has snuffed out enquiry. People have grown too distrusting, scoffing at imagined “ulterior motives” before they give any gesture a try-out. Once someone is convinced that a conspiracy is afoot, everything becomes suspect leading to an acceptance of failure and deflating of the energy to launch inquisitions. Examples proliferate. The government, for instance, takes a decision and while everyone nags, no one seeks an explanation or justification. But everyone speculates, and that is not necessarily healthy because before one broadcasts a speculation, enough enquiry should have been made to firm up the arguments. Don’t do that, and its only conjecture that abounds. There could be two reasons for this- one, that the people have given up hope of getting answers and second, the people believe they know the reasons. Both are dangerous signs. People cannot give up their inquisitiveness, not in a democracy where it is not only their right to ask questions, but also their responsibility. As for the belief that they know the answers, this is even more dangerous because the belief is not an informed one, it is inferred and it is in situations like these that rumours and canards gain credence.