Failure to get over 'I Know Everythng' syndrome


”As for me, all I know is that I know nothing,” said Socrates

Many a times we tend to feel as if we know a lot more than we need to know. The thought turns a bit more than strange when we not just claim but also allow this thought to settle in our mind that we know ‘everything’.

This looks a naïve claim when we are reminded by someone or by incidental reading of a thought how even the highly learned, not educated, individuals never claimed being a learned person during their lifetime. It is others who come to know about them or take a note of their works or contribution in others’ lives or small works that earn them recognition of being a learned person or intellectual.

Interestingly, most of the people today consider themselves as ‘learned’ even when they are not beyond an old student, who is eager to get rid of his or her personal level of ignorance about life or any particular issue. Some people in their pursuit of gaining some in depth knowledge get lost in the ‘tags’ others stick on them like ‘intelligent’, ‘intellectual’, ‘studious’ or anything similar.

Away from all these things there are many individuals who develop a sense of learning unmindful of their age. These people develop a deep interest over a period of time followed by initial curiosity about any issue usually.

Noted Bengali director Tapan Sinha, in his film Ek Doctor Ki Maut (Death of a doctor), a 1990 award winning film, depicted the ostracism, bureaucratic negligence, reprimand and insult of a doctor and his research, instead of recognition. However, it also showed the kind of resilience a knowledge- seeker has to develop for the big goal, is an inspiration and education for many such knowledge enthusiasts as shown in this Pankaj Kapoor-starrer film.