‘May seem trivial but..’: Anand Mahindra shares Carl Sagan's 1977 interview clip

New Delhi,UPDATED: Mar 13, 2024 13:28 IST

Anand Mahindra's recent post on X has brought forth a timeless piece of wisdom from Carl Sagan, an astronomer and revered science communicator. The post features an old interview of Sagan, where he discusses the importance of nurturing the curious minds of children. According to Mahindra, Sagan’s simple advice holds the key to unlocking the potential of future generations.

Carl Sagan, during his appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1977, emphasised the impact of encouraging children to ask questions about the universe. He believed that curiosity is the cornerstone of an innovative society.

In the video, Sagan's message is clear: the questions posed by children, no matter how trivial they may seem, deserve our attention and encouragement. It is through this practice of nurturing curiosity that we can hope to build a society filled with individuals who approach life with open minds and hearts.

While speaking about addressing a child’s question like ‘Why is the sky blue?’, Sagan said,“That’s a good question Johnny, nobody knows. Maybe when you grow up you will be able to find out. I think kids are discouraged from asking those questions and wind up learning the lesson that there is something bad in using the mind.”

“Carl Sagan on how to answer a child’s questions. Old video and it may seem trivial, but it’s of profound importance. At the root of an innovative society is the encouragement of children to question things,” Mahindra wrote in the caption.

Watch the video here:

Anand Mahindra's post not only celebrates Carl Sagan’s timeless wisdom but also calls on us to act upon it, ensuring that the flame of curiosity continues to burn brightly in the hearts of children.