Academic gurus of a feather

Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy and the LUMS Management are the focal points of discussion by the concerned academic circles home and abroad. The point is not what Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy advocates and his debatable exit as a celebrated faculty by LUMS management. The one and the only point is how these academic and communication gurus, trend-setters for students, faculty and management, are at an unfortunate short and loss of tact and technique to communicate and convince on their respective stands with grace, dignity and honor amid vociferous alarms of chaos and callousness.

It is humbly submitted ‘to err is human’ even with the ‘gurus’ of brands and brand-makers. In question here is mostly a rampant crisis of communication referring to students, faculty, researchers, professionals and mass media so erroneously addressed by brand names in communication without naming but sharing respectfully for rectification.

The reality check of academic, professional and corporate nature and for social, print and electronic media shows an alarming lack of concentration span in verbal and written communication. Despite lofty ideals and rosy claims in educational, business and media excellence, lack of communication skills continue to rip social fabric apart at personal, professional and political levels. Lack of concentration span and lack of communication skills are two glaring question marks in this regard.

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First, ‘gurus, experts, specialists’ can answer with all the wisdom linked to their branded names or titles. For example, communication experts cut a ‘sorry figure’ when they present marathon, complicated and distracting courses in communication skills. It is a test of their devising and conducting courses catering to low concentration span of students, teachers, researchers, media and professionals; for instance, reducing four long and boring pages of a course into a couple of clear, comprehensive and convincing paragraphs of a course outline. That means short, crisp, interesting and value-adding.

Secondly, with all the worldly and branded dignity and honor associated with our communication maestros and mistresses, they are expected to deviate from the set and stereotype methods in communication skills to innovate and present the same with convincing and overwhelming traits and habits in positive thinking so that future professionals and politicians become accustomed to and acclimatized with learning to co-exist mutually and cheerfully with conflicting viewpoints. Tough ask in innovation and insight from none but our illustrious and branded communication gurus.

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The writer contributes to media on national and international affairs. [email protected]