On Certainty

Uncertainty is something that makes most of us uncomfortable. Be it a train delay without any prior announcement or the exam results that takes us by surprise or presidential polls or the time someone takes before accepting the red rose you offer – we are not comfortable anywhere. The common theme here seems to be “control”, or “ensuring certainty”. So we have a battery of tools to make life more certain – beginning from simple checklists to six sigma techniques, from a price list in a mandi to high-end gadgets that guide nuclear missiles, from horoscopes to mega investments in branding. Life is full of practices that are aimed at reducing uncertainties. We want our environment to obey our orders, or at least intimate us in advance whether we will be in control or not.
So far it is fine, but we also derive significant sadistic pleasure when we see people who are surrounded by uncertainties. That explains why cricket is a very popular game. The game is built of uncertainties (glorious?) of different varieties – batting, bowling, fielding, running between the wickets and these days even sledging and umpiring uncertainties. Did the spinner abuse the opponent’s forefathers or not? Such news makes it to the headlines. This liberal mixture of uncertainties makes it an enjoyable game. Player’s uncertainty; viewer’s pleasure. The IPL auctions also prove an interesting point – it is an extremely well-paying job to handle uncertainties. The profits an entrepreneur reaps is also exactly for the same – the reward for the risk she takes, the uncertainty she handles. The same case with cinemas or a story – the more thrilling (uncertain) it is, the more complex the story gets, happier the audience become. That explains why the so called art films or documentaries generally don’t do well, while masala movie makers have a bull run. Masala, by definition means a mix of varied flavours. It keeps one guessing – there’s a song now, humour there, anger here, some romance sprinkled, sentiments and stunts strewn. The finer the uncertainties are blend, more the producer earns. Here again we can not take extreme uncertainties - we always want the hero to win in the end!
So why is it we love uncertainty in others lives and not in our own? Is it because we want to be the most dominant one? There are many millions who are not sure about their next meal or whether they will live to see the sun tomorrow. Here certainty has to do something with the very basic question of survival. The gene inside them wants to live and replicate, drives them to ensure food, water and family. Or even here is it the question of who is dominant – who can find food, water and the best partner against all odds? Does everything in life boil down to what the genius said some 150 years back?