Bachelors of Arts

I always face queer reactions and responses when I answer- “I have done my honors in BA”---
“Why BA? Why didn’t you take up science or commerce?”
“Oh I suppose you got less in intermediate!”
“Hmmm depends on intelligence...”Or they simply shriek” what? BA?”
Apart from creating anger and embarrassment, these reactions lead me to persistent questions like “what is wrong in doing a BA?” “Is Arts not a subject of study?”
I decided to probe for answers.
Asking a few friends and acquaintances I have come to understand that many misconceptions have been reared about arts since these past few decades—
“That art are very easy… That only less intelligentsia take up the course…and that they are irrelevant to the present”

It is piquing to accept these misconceptions (as art students) when we know it is so untrue.
The difference in the degree of prominence between arts and other disciplines is due to the change of emphasis in our thoughts, needs and social demands. While science and commerce disciplines cater more to livelihood, the Arts discipline is richer by a degree as it caters to life itself. Today Science and commerce rein the world and Arts has become ancillary. Amidst these gigantic disciplines, students competing against each other to grab engineering and medical seats, it’s natural to awe at a student who decides to pursue arts as a career.

“Why in the world has a student taken up Arts besides these competitive subjects?” is an imminent question!! In this write up, I endeavor to answer this question” why Arts?”

Arts are taken up for the sake of it. Picasso said” Art is a lie that makes us realize the truth”
Arts are the unique disciplines of knowledge that teach us life. They are called humanities as they deal with the basics of human nature and life. They deal with those subjects that can be implemented in all walks of life.
Literature, Economics, sociology, History, Psychology etc, they may not assure us an affluent life but they ensure our success as a full fledged human being. Each subject is a revelation of reality.
In literature, we are introduced to vast knowledge of life and its nature. Through the poems, novels and dramas we learn lessons through others experiences and expressions.
We read life and not just books!!
When we read Tennyson’s Ulysses we learn the importance of life, Tagore’s “where the mind is without fear” we learn to dream for a utopian world, Kalidasa’s ‘Abhignana shakuntala’ we learn the beauty of love and affection.

History introduces us to our rich tradition and culture. We learn the greatness of man through the large civilizations, the empires he built the conquers he made. We learn that to live we should strive. We learn the past and its impact on present. We understand the differences that caused change. We read History simply because History repeats.

While Psychology is the scientific study of Human behavior, sociology is the study of man as a social being. Economics, the pivot on which the whole world is balanced and Journalism equips us for effective communication.

Every subject is an art in itself. We must learn to enjoy life and art enables us to do so. It teaches us to look at life in a different perspective. Only a selected few who have the inclination for aesthetics can pursue Arts. Arts require patience and practice. I have taken up Arts by choice and not by chance---Just for the love of it!
It’s not important as to which stream you choose. All that matters is how you perform. Our excellence depends on our ability and not on the course we select.
If I echo the sentiments of Robert Frost and say” I chose the road not taken and that has made all the difference”