The courage to ask – The Hindu

Of all the memories from my schooldays, one regret stands out sharply: I did not ask enough questions. Like most of my classmates, I listened quietly, scribbled notes, and accepted whatever was taught as settled truth. We were obedient learners, not curious ones. At the time, silence felt like discipline. With hindsight, it was a missed opportunity.

This realisation returned to me recently at a seminar on the India-Pakistan war of 1947-48 — the first major military operation fought by the Indian Army after Independence. I had prepared thoroughly, revisiting books and archival accounts. Yet, despite extensive reading, several doubts lingered in my mind. I was looking forward to the interactive session mentioned in the programme — a rare opportunity to engage eminent panellists and seek clarity.

The schedule clearly allotted 30 minutes for questions and answers. On the day of the event, I listened intently, waiting for that session. To my surprise, it was quietly dropped. During the tea break, when I asked the organiser about it, he casually replied that it was not really required; it had merely been included in the printed programme as a formality.

That moment was disappointing, but it was also revealing. It underlined a deeper issue in our culture — we often undervalue inquiry. We speak, we lecture, we deliver presentations. But we rarely encourage dialogue.

I have noticed a curious pattern in many gatherings. After a lecture, when someone gathers the courage to ask a question, the entire audience shifts in their seats, craning their necks to see who is speaking. The attention shifts from the substance of the question to the identity of the questioner. It betrays a subtle discomfort with curiosity.

Yet questions are the lifeblood of progress. Without them, knowledge becomes static. With them, it evolves.

In every profession — be it education, the armed forces, medicine, or administration — learning does not end with instruction. It deepens through discussion. Particularly in the military, lessons from past operations must be examined threadbare within the system. While operational secrecy must always be preserved, critical analysis and candid questioning strengthen institutions. They prevent complacency.

Open discussion

I witnessed this culture first-hand during my tenure in Lebanon in 2007 while commanding 15 Punjab. I attended a military seminar in Israel, and what struck me most was not the sophistication of the presentations, but the openness of the discussion. Junior officers — men and women — confidently questioned senior Generals. Their queries were sharp, thoughtful, and sometimes challenging. No one looked around to identify who was speaking. All ears were tuned to the merit of the idea. Rank did not silence curiosity, but welcomed it.

That experience left a lasting impression. It showed me that professional excellence thrives in an environment where questioning is not seen as defiance but as engagement.

We, too, must cultivate that spirit — beginning at home and in schools. Curiosity should not be mistaken for indiscipline. Children who ask questions are not being difficult; they are learning to think. Parents must resist the temptation to silence persistent queries with impatience. Teachers must tolerate even the so-called “irritating” questions. Often, those are the ones that push boundaries.

The habit of questioning should extend beyond classrooms. In daily life, we must ask why things are done a certain way, whether there is a better alternative, whether established practices still serve their purpose. Progress comes not from blind agreement but from thoughtful examination.

There is a simple metaphor that captures this idea. We can choose to be like a pond — still, contained, and eventually stagnant. Or we can be like the ocean — constantly moving, renewing itself with fresh currents. Questions are those currents. They keep institutions vibrant and individuals intellectually alive.

The courage to ask is as important as the ability to answer. It begins in childhood but must be nurtured throughout life. When we encourage enquiry, we cultivate independent thinkers rather than passive recipients of information.

In the end, societies that question grow stronger. Those that remain silent risk stagnation. The choice, like the question, is ours.

advityanidhi14@gmail.com

Published – April 05, 2026 04:23 am IST