An open question – The Hindu

I believe there is no question about the fact that questioning, as a skill, is as much part and parcel of survival as it is of success.

Questioning is fundamental to everything in the life of a human being. An environment that encourages questioning and equally reciprocates answering holistically thrives to the satisfaction of all the involved stakeholders.

Most education systems in the world use questions and answers as the primary tool to impart education and evaluate students. The best teachers foster an environment where students freely question the teacher. The students who outshine other students utilise the environment to their best. Questioning leads to learning.

If there is one place where questioning, undeniably, plays the paramount role, it must be none other than the court of law. The one place where people have mastered the art of questioning. They directly question and cross-question the parties with different types of questions, like leading questions, open-ended questions, semi-open-ended questions, close-ended questions and rhetorical questions. Questioning leads to justice.

One other set of people who fundamentally use questioning are the medical professionals. The diagnosis basically begins with a question, “What’s happening to you?” Most often, the best diagnosis results in the best treatment. Questioning leads to better health. Likewise, questioning drives science. There is an unsettling question that led to every invention or discovery.

There is a general ground rule in sports that no one questions the referees but a few sports are an exception. Cricket is one. It best exemplifies the importance of questioning. First, it all started with a Test. A bowler who hits a batsman’s leg before the wicket, needs to ask the umpire “How’s that?” to get the batsman out. He can even question the umpire on an unfavourable decision and appeal to the third umpire which is formally called the Decision Review System. Questioning reduces and corrects errors.

Also there is a unique way of taking action on a person who had committed an offence by questioning him why action should not be taken against him. It is called show-cause notice. Questioning extends fairness and provides an opportunity.

India’s Constitution encourages questioning. It protects the citizen’s fundamental rights, especially freedom of speech and expression. The Right to Information Act empowers people to question the functions and services of the government. Questioning protects and improves transparency. In fact, Parliament has a zero hour, though not formally but as a practice, a time dedicated for the members to raise questions on urgent matters or concerns.

Questioning, if taken in the right context, is always constructive. For many, who fear it, it can be a threat to their ego, it makes them tread on uncomfortable zones, it can expose them, it can be a threat to their authority and it can lead to psychological breakdowns.

While the concept of one person questioning constructively and recipient answering responsibly works well in schools, in sports, in medical practices, in offices, in courts and in many other fields and institutions, the same concept, without any iota of doubt, can unquestionably do wonders in a functional democracy. Questioning leads to greater accountability. Wouldn’t you concur?

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