By: Femme Noble
“3 Idiots” is a movie that displays humor. But
aside from the humor, it also reveals and exposes great teaching and lessons in
life. Lessons that give us opportunity to ponder upon issues that calls for
change – disposition and outlook in life, educational system, choosing a career
and more.
The movie highlights a “traditional” academic setting. It
captures the perceptions of the learners and teachers on education. The fact
bears important perception on a popular academic setting with over emphasis on
grade, bookish knowledge and the teacher- centered approach in teaching.
Why 3 Idiots? The movie features three important idiots-
Farhan, Raju, and Rancho who shared the same room in an engineering college.
The term “idiot” is used to denote to “not someone stupid” but a “free thinker
who follows his heart”. Among the 3, Rancho is different. He is unique and he
challenges conventions at every stage. He has not been a machine while others
seem to be acting as robots following their professor’s commands. He is
naturally curious; sees things in different light and brilliance. It’s a story
of the impressive “Rancho” who has taught and made a difference in other’s
lives.
To the
people who have watched the movie, let’s recollect the main highlights of the
movie and see all what we can learn from them.
Lesson 1 – “Heart scares
easily, you have to trick it”.
These
were the words of wisdom from Rancho. He had a story about an old watchman in
the village. On night patrol, he’d call out “All is well”. And they slept
peacefully. Then, there was a theft and they learned he couldn’t see at night.
He’d just yell “All is well” and they felt secured. That day, Rancho understood
that heart scares easily, you have to trick it. However, no matter how big the
problem is, just take your hands, put it over your heart and say the words “All
is well”. Perhaps, it wouldn’t solve the problem but you gain courage to face
it.
Bottom-line:
Be courageous in life especially in difficult times!
Lesson 2 – “Teachers must
teach students learn with a purpose”.
In
a particular scene, Rancho taught us how to teach. As he expressed his opinions
freely, Prof. Virus, the terror president of their college, thought that he was
a self-proclaimed professor who thinks he was better than highly qualified
teachers. But all he wanted was to teach them how to teach. Standing in front
of them, he demonstrated what a good teacher was. He asked them questions, scan
their notebook for answers and he asked them to rewind their life for a moment.
He asked them the moment he instructs them to look for a certain answer, were
they curious? Excited? Or thrilled that they learn something new? No, all they
got was a frantic race. Sometimes, we just tend to learn just for the sake of
it.
Bottom-line: We must understand the real purpose of
learning and how it’s going to affect us, the people around us and what we
become in the future.
Lesson 3 – “Study with all
your heart, not just for grades”.
In
one scene, Rancho quoted a wise saying “Study to be accomplished, not
affluent”. Follow excellence and success will chase you. Farhan and Raju always
failed in the exams while Rancho topped in class. However, he’s a student who
didn’t care about ranks or grades in class. This is what he wanted other to
understand for it seemed that students just study to get high grades, to rank
high in class. For him, this system was like a caste system- A grades: masters,
C grades: Slaves. This is one of the most important lesson that students need
to learn.
Bottom-line: Have the interest in learning not just
for the sake of gaining high grades!
Lesson 4 – “Life is
cooperative, not competitive”.
Professor
Virus’ idea on education was a competition among all the students. He once said
“The Koel birds didn’t make their own nest. They lay their eggs on other nests.
And when they hatch, what do they do? They push other nests out of the nests.
Their life begins with murder. That’s nature compete or die”. Student’s lives
were compared to that of the eggs. It then created pressure at head. Instead,
why not help each other? As students, we don’t need to compete, instead help
and lift each other up towards success.
Bottom-line:
Learn to live together!
Lesson 5 – “Make your
passion as your profession”.
Rancho
believed that Farhan and Raju failed in class for not following their passion.
One lived in fear, the other in pretense. Raju loved photography but was
marrying machines to fulfill his father’s wish. Farhan, on the other hand, was
a coward--scared of the future. While Rancho excelled because engineering was
his passion. He once said, “If Michael Jackson’s dad forced him to be a boxer,
and Mohammed Ali’s dad forced him to be a singer, imagine the disaster. In the
end, they followed their profession and passion, became successful in their
career. So, always follow your heart, know your passion in choosing a
profession. If you pursue a career you don’t like, someday on your deathbed,
you’ll regret. Make your passion you profession then work will play.”
Bottomline:
choose a career yourself!
The movie underlines philosophies in life we need
to ponder upon. The most important thing to be done is to remember the
simplicity of life. Never run after
success, let it happen automatically in life. If some were taught that life is
a race, and that you don’t run fast you’ll get trampled”, we must learn that we
don’t need to run fast, instead we need to live each moment to the fullest.
Enjoy your journey.
