35 Creative problem solving

The Crow and the Pitcher: A thirsty crow at last located a pitcher with some water in it. Unfortunately the water level was so low that the crow could not reach it. It appeared to be a case of so near and yet so far. The crow suddenly thought of a solution to the problem. It picked up small pebbles and dropped them into the pitcher until the water level rose to the brim of the pitcher. The crow quenched its thirst and happily flew away.

Neethi was born with multiple birth defects that needed corrective procedures. Her parents encouraged her to study and get ahead in life. She developed into a vivacious person with never-say-die spirit. She planned a career in Medicine to take care of herself.

At the age of 20, she developed late complications and needed a series of corrective operations. She then decided to go to USA. She qualified and migrated there to get treated and to practise medicine.

Comments

A typical Indian family considers a girl child with birth defects as a curse. The child is diffident, pessimistic and lacks self-esteem. She hides herself and never develops to realise her true potential. We need to adopt creative problem solving to cope with such problems.

Dr Stephen Hawking, a world renowned theoretical physicist, is another inspiring example of creative problem solving and never-say-die spirit. When he was in college, he showed signs of a progressive and fatal neuromuscular disease. Hawking learnt that his

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thought process will remain intact until the very end. He changed his study subject to theoretical physics and has done outstanding work in that field.

Though his physicians had predicted survival for about three years, he has lived for a quarter century and still going on. He is almost totally paralysed and needs a machine's help even to breathe. But he still works and gives scientific lectures through a computerised voice synthesizer!

Persons like Neethi and Dr Hawking are role models for coping through creative problem solving. There are many more like them. The media must throw a spotlight on such persons. Instead they tend to sensationalise destructive coping behaviour like assisted suicide and homicide.

In health care, the 'Jaipur Foot' can be cited as an exemplary creative problem solving done by an Indian doctor. It has put so many amputees back on their feet at an affordable cost.

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