The world owes almost all of its success and progress, not to those who agreed with the way everybody was thinking, but to those who disagreed with the rest of the world. It is the people who disagree with the common thinking, who invent or discover new things for everyone else to benefit and enjoy.
Aeroplanes were invented by people who disagreed with the belief that only things that are lighter than air can fly. They proved the whole world wrong, and made aeroplanes that weigh hundreds of tons fly through the sky. Everybody else said they were wrong. It wasn’t possible!
· Telephones were invented by people who disagreed that the only way to talk to others was by sitting next to them. To everybody’s disbelief and criticism, they believed that there should be no reason why people could not talk to each other when they were far away. Then some others even disagreed that the only way to talk long distance was by a wired telephone. Why, they said, can’t we talk without telephone cables? And then, the walkie talkie and soon the mobile phone were born! Everybody else said it wasn’t possible!
· The i-pod was born when some people disagreed that the only way to access music was by owning cupboards full of cassettes and CD’s. Why, they said, can’t there be an easier way to have music available on the go, instead of carrying huge CD players and cassette decks? Everybody else said it wasn’t possible!
To look for new results when something is not working is to ‘Disagree’ with the worldview. That ‘Disagreeing’ is necessary. And if approached correctly, always seems to open new doors and bring a new set of achievements for those who kind of ‘dare’ to disagree. Guru Nanak invented the Sikh religion because he dared to disagree with the Hindu view of religion.
Guru Gobind Singh invented the Khalsa because he dared to disagree with many of his relatives and the masands who were saying that Sikhs should not raise an army because by doing so, the emperor from Delhi will come to destroy them. They said that if they didn’t make the emperor angry by raising an army, all will be fine and he would just let them live happily ever after!
The world has continued to advance because of those who DISAGREED with the commonly held ideas and views. So, to all of us in the Mission, and to those who find our work exciting, never be afraid to disagree with the common thinking. The common thinking is usually an obstacle to progress. It makes people accept things the way they are and stops them from changing things to make them better.
Recently, I was talking to someone over a cup of tea. He started to speak about my work and my articles and blogs. Citing an example of a proposal of mine to the Sikh World, ie, Guru Jhal Ceremony, he went on to appraise me of the ‘opposition’ he had received over a lunch time discussion he had had. He highlighted one or two views that had surfaced. Then he informed me that from around the table of friends having their lunch, only two people seemed to agree with the concept of ‘Guru Jhal’.
I immediately congratulated him and myself too. “That’s great news”, I said. Then I know for sure that we are on the right track. That means that our thoughts and ideas are ‘uncommon’. Just like all the inventors who disagreed with the rest of the commonly held views, we too are sure to find great success with our Mission. If there are people who can’t agree or accept our ideas, we are definitely on the right track!
Satnam
By Sukdev Singh
