Previous Episode
Professor Dr. PL Darma is joining us today on screen for today’s Appreciative Inquiry series. The series of Appreciative Inquiry is based on the behavioral science of Appreciative Inquiry, originating at the National Training Laboratory (NTL) in America. It says: When you keep on identifying mistakes and resolving problems, you can only maintain the status quo. When you want to achieve something, you should do something else, and that is based on your inner strength. Whether you are an individual, a society, a family, a city, or a nation, you have to look upon your own strength. For the city, it is the strength of the people of the city, the human capital.
Transcript of the Interview
As Professor PL Dharma joins us today on screen, before he joined us, let us hear about him from the students.
Professor PL Dharma is a renowned academician. He communicates with the students and others with full openness, treating students as his friends.
Professor PL Dharma, in his spare time, goes to the government schools located in and around the city, encouraging students in their studies and other activities, developing their personality, identifying strengths, and helping to develop their skills. Professor Dr. PL Dharma is loaded with lofty ideas and gets involved with people and organizations that are human-centric. He loves nature. He is very supportive, understanding, approachable, and encouraging. He is thankful to a generation responsible for social transformation that has ensured human dignity to a large extent. He is very much concerned about the well-being of fellow human beings, particularly the less privileged. He is a high-ranking individual in the happiness index of a humanitarian world.
Dr. PL Dharma is an academician par excellence, a name personified. Professor Dharma is very thrilled with his own life experiences. He’s fascinated about the possibilities of the human race in resolving challenges individually and collectively. We are excited to hear his experiences and cherish his wisdom about success and human responsibilities.
Thank you for joining us today.
Today’s discussion is based on a behavioural science called Appreciative Inquiry (AI), which originated at the National Training Laboratory (NTL) in America. Appreciative Inquiry says that when we keep on resolving problems and correcting mistakes, we can only maintain the status quo. If you want to grow, you should do something else. Civilizations are formed on stories; religions are also formed on stories. If there were no stories, there would be no civilizations built. If there were no stories, there would be no religions formed. Success is all about stories from the past. With a strong past, we create a strong future. As you join us today, let us start by you telling a memorable story from your past, something that you feel proud about, a moment when you said, “I did this.” What is that one little story that you keep close to your heart, which you cherish?
Professor Dharma: It’s not basically a story; it’s a real instance that happened in my life. I completed my SSLC, and I was not able to continue my studies because my parents, particularly my mother, didn’t have money to send me. Immediately, I was looking for some opportunity. There was a Tailor next in our village, and he said to me, “Tomorrow, come and work with me.” I went to a tailoring shop, for six months as a trainee, and from the seventh month onwards, I started stitching. I was getting very little money, not much, but it was attractive because at the end of the day, you earn money and satisfy your boss. The guru appreciates your handiwork, like hemming and stitching buttons. It wasn’t a very risky job, but it was work. By the end of the week, I used to get a little money, which I went and gave to my mother. That’s how I started.
But suddenly, in the month of January, my maternal uncle, my mother’s brother, who was in the air force, came on holidays and saw me doing this work. He was not pleased and scolded me. The next day, he said, “You should stop this and go back to your studies.” That’s how I came to Madikkeri, which is almost about 70-80 km away from my birthplace. I stayed in a hostel, and that’s when things changed. I became the topper in the college, and the college gave me a scholarship. I passed my BA with just one pair of pants and shirt.
Then I came to Mangalore, joined MA Political Science, secured the 1st rank, and started living in Mangalore. I don’t want to call it a story, but I consider it important because I was able to come from a poor family, working-class family. My parents worked in a coffee estate, and I was the only person from my place to reach post-graduation. I consider myself blessed, and I thought I must do something seriously. So whatever salary I got, I returned it to my fellow family members who were working as estate labourers. Many people came from Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and they worked as labourers under feudal estate owners.
Their children were not going to school, so I started promoting the idea that every child should learn something and go to school. Going to school includes having a uniform and a slate. I started providing these essentials to them. Now, more than 200 students have been educated, from different communities. That’s another added advantage, having students from different communities. These 200 students have been placed in one way or another, and my sister helped me get 8 to 9 people jobs in Bangalore. I’m satisfied because I was able to give education to 200 students. It’s not just a story, but I wanted to share that whatever God has given me, I shared it with my fellow people in the estate who were essentially estate labourers.
I never disclosed this to anyone, but I’m sharing it with you because God says that whatever you do, whatever you are, your left hand should not know what your right hand is doing. I’ve maintained that until now. But since you wanted me to tell a story, I’ve shared my real-life story with you.
Paul Chairman Global TV: You’ve told us a wonderful story. It’s so inspirational. Now, tell us, Sir, what made you tell that story?
Professor Dharma: Generally, what happens is people have the attitude of not remembering the past. Each one of us needs to know that we have a past, and it may not be the same for everyone. Our past is our treasure. You can be a good person, polite, and a responsible citizen if you connect with your past.
Most people don’t do that because their past might be a mix of bitter and sweet experiences. But regardless of the nature of your past, you need to know how it has shaped you and brought you to where you are today. Your experiences are your true teachers. You are who you are today because of your past. So, I urge everyone to connect with their own life experiences, no matter how bitter or sweet they may be. It’s essential to understand how your past has shaped your behaviour in the present. We behave according to our past, and our past experiences influence our actions and reactions. That’s the message I want to share with the younger generation.
Paul Chairman Global TV: What message do you have for youngsters in your story?
Professor Dharma: Life is not easy; it’s full of struggles. The standard of living has improved compared to our parents’ and grandparents’ time, but many youngsters today take life for granted. I don’t want anyone to take life lightly. There is so much struggle behind everyone’s life, and each one must value the effort and hard work put in by those who came before us. We are happy and have a peaceful life today because of their sacrifices. We have food to eat and shelter because of their hard work and blessings from above.
The youngsters today should realize the significance of the life they have and understand that hardship is the key to success. They may have fast money, but money cannot buy everything. True happiness comes from within. Happiness comes from being contented, doing your duty without expecting immediate rewards, and living a life that aligns with your values. So, my message to youngsters is to understand the value of hard work, connect with their past, and appreciate the sacrifices of their elders. They should carry on their family’s legacy and strive for a happy and fulfilling life.
Paul Chairman Global TV: You’ve seen the world, and many topics come to mind as I listen to you. What are your thoughts on happiness, both inner and outer happiness, and the difference between them?
Professor Dharma: Happiness has two dimensions: inner and outer. Outer happiness is often material and depends on external factors. It involves how you present yourself to the world, how you interact with people, and how you navigate various situations. Outer happiness can be influenced by your surroundings, your social interactions, and your material possessions. It’s often a construct, a way of adapting to different situations and pleasing others.
On the other hand, inner happiness is spiritual and comes from within. It’s about finding contentment and peace regardless of external circumstances. Inner happiness is cultivated through your values, your sense of duty, and your inner state of mind. It doesn’t rely on external validation or material possessions. Inner happiness is about doing what you believe is right and finding joy in the process, without expecting immediate rewards or praise from others.
In essence, outer happiness is a construction influenced by external factors and societal expectations, while inner happiness is a cultivation of your inner state of mind and values. True happiness often lies in finding a balance between these two dimensions and aligning your actions with your inner values while adapting to external situations.
Construction, as I was explaining, often involves adapting your behaviour, attitudes, and identity based on the people or situations you encounter externally. This is like putting on different masks or roles to fit in with different social contexts. It’s a common practice in the world where we often adjust ourselves to meet the expectations or norms of society.
However, this external construct can sometimes lead to a sense of inauthenticity or disconnection from your true self.
On the other hand, cultivation of happiness is an internal process. It’s about finding contentment and fulfilment within yourself, independent of external circumstances or the opinions of others. This inner happiness is often rooted in a deep sense of purpose, values, and a connection to something greater than yourself, whether that’s your own sense of spirituality or a higher power. Cultivation is about being true to your authentic self, living in alignment with your values, and finding joy in your own actions and contributions to the world.
In essence, construction is driven by external validation and the need to conform, while cultivation is about inner authenticity and self-acceptance.
Many spiritual and philosophical traditions emphasize the importance of inner cultivation as a path to lasting happiness and contentment. It’s a journey of self-discovery and personal growth that can lead to a more meaningful and fulfilling life.
