A culture of hope and promise

It matters not what one does for oneself but what one does for someone else.
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“Sanskar” is a very Indian concept and therefore to translate it into English will always be risking getting into the pitfalls of semantics. However if the word has to be understood in English, it has to be translated as best as possible. Simply put, it refers to the values or impressions one has received from one’s ancestors including parents. “Sanskar” also encompasses cultural traits.

One often hears of things like “To help fellow human beings is in his ‘sanskar’” or “To be selfish and think only about oneself is his ‘sanskar’” or “To donate to charities” or “to use others’ resources to further one’s own selfish needs or ends” are his “sanskar”.

It is not that people will forever be typecast in a certain “sanskar”. It is said that some learn from observing, some others learn from listening while most others have to personally and necessarily experience a situation before doing any course correction assuming that such an intent is there. Some who are associated with a certain “sanskar” do make an effort to change from a negative “sanskar” to a more positive and robust personality. This change however comes to only those who constantly review their words and deeds and have a desire to self-improve. One comes across people who talk big, promise a lot of things only to renege on every one of them or pretend as if there was nothing mentioned. Such people are not only fooling themselves but also letting themselves to be exposed as persons who lack sincerity and dignity in their words and utterances. Good behaviour and mannerisms are noticed as much as negative or insincere behaviour and both can be attributed to a person’s “sanskar”.

Very recently, the young World Chess Champion, Gukesh, all of 18 years and a few months, was seen rearranging the pieces on the chessboard not just of himself but also of his opponent (who had left soon after the match) after the championship match was over. He could have been excused in the wake of his memorable victory to leave soon after the match. But no, he made sure that he put not just the chessboard pieces but also his own chair back in place before demonstrating any form of celebration of his victory. Some would perhaps term this conduct his “sanskar”.

It is not just what one does but how one does it. It matters not what one does for oneself but what one does for someone else. Somebody might give something precious to someone but how one gives it matters a lot. Does he give it with grace or does he give it with an expressed feeling of loss or remorse?

I have seen sportsmen take a loss in their stride with great dignity and forbearance. I recollect the touching note penned by Roger Federer, one of the greatest tennis players to have played the sport, in memory of his arch rival and equally illustrious friend, Rafael Nadal, with whom he had multiple meetings — some of which he won while some others he lost — on the tennis court of various ATP and other tournaments. There is a recognition here that in the field of sports, there are bound to be wins and losses and one needs to take both in one’s stride. In the Tokyo Olympics, there were two athletes, one from Italy and the other from Qatar, who were vying for a gold medal in the high jump finals. Both were on level. It was at this juncture that the Italian got injured and was in no position to better his last jump. The Qatari could have tried for a higher jump and bagged a gold medal all for himself. But what did he do? He decided to forgo another try and instead he opted for a tie with the Italian and the Olympic Committee decided to award a gold medal to both the Qatari and the Italian. This was the “sanskar” of the Qatari which made him opt for this most graceful act.

There are so many anecdotes of people putting aside their own interests and instead focussing on helping their fellow humans. The “sanskar” of these people in such cases can be said to supersede their own interests. The good “sanskars” of life are the ones that shine like an incandescent beacon in this world of complexity, avarice and self-centred behaviour. The good “sanskars” also lend meaning, purpose and hope that there is optimism and positivity in today’s world however complex and humanistically hopeless it might appear.

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