When
you are invited to a seminar, draw a deep breath and think deeply. Is it a topic you are greatly interested in?
What is the duration of the seminar? Who are the speakers? Many a time I have
been sucked into a vortex of lengthy sessions concerning topics I am not even
vaguely interested in, because I lacked the courage to say "no". Age has taught
me better sense, as time is doubly precious.
There
are some seminars which are so meaningful, and leave you enriched at the end of
it. Some are textile seminars, like the one I was part of very recently. To
read a paper for 40 minutes is an
onerous task, and it called for hours of research and checking and rechecking
facts and sources and making sure you don’t step over the time limit. An
exhibition was curated of traditional old textiles, and the other was organised
by Co-optex, which displayed sarees which were revived for contemporary times
an eye opener. When the MD spoke about the handloom pockets they had worked in,
with a power point presentation enhanced with visuals of the sarees themselves, plus showing
them on stage, it made an impressive impact. The seminar was organised by the
CP Ramaswami Iyer Foundation, in a bid to keep our culture alive
and kicking.
Then
there was the Food Seminar to which I was invited some years ago. A lively
presentation of gourmet chefs who spoke of their experiences in hotels, and
other foodies, food writers and
restaurant owners who gave their
ideas on food and the associated stories kept you fully absorbed. If you are
just invited to attend and not a participant, the exit coast is clear if your
interest wanes, You wait for the
speaker to finish, duck and rush out and hopefully no one has noticed.
There
are other seminars, terribly boring
with the escape route blocked. Even if you are not a participant,
you might be an office bearer or on the organising committee, and need to see
the event to the very end.
I
have been part of such events as well, and, given the duty of scribe, I had to
sit right in front under the speaker’s eye, smaking copious notes. There is one
eminent speaker, brilliant and articulate. It is a joy to hear him speak as he
put forth every idea with astounding clarity. He classifies as an excellent
speaker and I am sure gets invited to speak at prestigious seminars.
Sadly,
after the first energising 15 minutes, I find myself being slowly lulled to
sleep, and definitely not because
the talk is boring. I suppose his well modulated sonorous voice has this effect
on me, and sitting practically in the front row, I dab my heavy eyelids with
wet wipes and will myself to keep awake,
This has happened to me with this speaker not once but many times. When
I look around at other meetings, I find that I am not alone in being
transported to lala land during speeches, and I daresay I derive small comfort
with this knowledge.
There
was a time when I was particularly pleased with the way my talk was going, as
usually I am quite critical of how I have rendered my speech. More so, I showed
some beautiful visuals to thrust home my message when I suddenly noticed
strange noises emanating from the second row. Thinking that a dog had strayed
into the hall, I took a quick look at the row not wanting to deflect from my
speech, when I noticed a bearded gentleman snoring gently but with wavering
noises in between, so much so that I was a bit concerned that he might be
having breathlessness or sleep apnoea. I need not have worried, as his friend
noticed my concern and gave him a dig with his elbow and he got up and smiled,
and I continued, but with spirits deflated realising that all would not
consider my talk so absorbing.
Some
words of caution, if you are clearly not a seminar person and you just need to
attend, look at the topics, go late to catch the speaker you would like to hear
out, and slip in unnoticed. Sit right at the back, or near the exit door. Look
for coffee or lunch breaks in the programme sheet and don’t forget to take a strong cup of coffee,
even if you are not in the habit. Some well meaning people I know, consider it
important to be seen at intellectual talks, or plays and the like and don’t
stay longer for more than fifteen minutes. A Mumbai friend told me it happened
in Prithvi Theatre all the time..
The
speakers need to be briefed about the time permitted. If you are among the
first three speakers, you might be tempted to overstep the time limit cutting
off the rest miserably as they would have to compromise on time. And, dear organisers, remember that some
intellectuals could be erudite and good writers but not good speakers, so
please consider the plight of the patient audience.
Oops
I better get back to my preparation for my next talk and God help the audience
if I don’t make it interesting…..