It is a coincidence that I am posting this on Teachers Day. But this is something in my heart all the life.
That was the day when me and two of my classmates were studying in the night. Our final year exams were just 20 days away. Suddenly my another friend in my coloby came to me and informed that my father was hospitalized. We all four rushed to the King George Hospital only to know that my father was no more physically. I was in a state of shock and took time to digest. Very soon I realized my first task was to take care of my mother. Like in our community, the rituals went for 16 days and I was left with 4 days to prepare for my final examinations. My brother who was working in Allahabad told me not to give up as I had the chance to achieve the Gold Medal and asked or rather ordered me to sit in the exams. My 3 close friends helped in all aspects especially in providing emotional support.
I started studying again. Every day night I used to read the entire day, attend the exam, sleep in the afternoon and continue studying in the night. But I realized this was all to ensure I am prepared well and didnt waste time. But the reality was that I already prepared more than enough. That was all because of my Professors. The notes I prepated in their classes was sufficient for me to understand all the concepts. And the kind of assignments given by the professors tested my understanding throughout the year. I can single out the professor SuryaRao who conducted 1 test every week without giving any choice. In Theory of Machines I score 93 out of 100, and probably it was the top mark. And you know, I remember all I learnt and applied wherever I got the opportunity. It was not something I learnt by heart and forgot after the exams, this was the case with some of my friends but not to me. My teachers gave me a direction, and just by following it, I could grow as a good human being and knowledgeable person. And ofcouse I also reached my targets irrespective of the biggest tragedy of my life before exams.
My teachers also taught me how to live, how to show concerns to others (My father was the biggest among, he always used to tell me that my freedom should never obstruct the convenience of any one else. Today when I see lot of youngsters who just compete get their best share from common resources, I feel they are not brought up properly). I can digest when I see some one on the road impatient to get the way by all others as if he or she is the person to be given priority.
My father who borrowed good part of socalled communism taught me on sharing whatever you have. He said I must learn enjoying if my tree provides shade to someone, if my varandah gives resing place for another, and if some of my money gives life to another. He used to laugh at people who spread their legs in the train to make sure no one else sits even though I hated them.
My father taught me trusing the people unconditionally. I asked him how long can I trust people. He replied that I need to trust till I am cheated. It provided me a different dimension in life. We start relations always with no trust and then move to trusting once the relation is strengthened. Whereas I learnt to start the relation with trust and continued till I am cheated. There were a few cases when I was cheated. But many cases, it was not.
My teachers in the schools taught me the true secularism. They just made me feel quite natural to live with all other communities irrespective of caste, religion and language. They never taught me anything specific or exclusive about the socalled secularism. They just explained various living styles from all parts of the world. Today when I see a different color of community consciousness I am scared about what happens to my kids. I am trying my best to make sure they are not influenced by these elements.
There was a great influence from two people in my life. One is my childhood friend Balaram. And another is my senior leader in one of my organizations. They taught me the importance of taking care of parents. I knew all about my parents, but after the inputs from them, I acknowledged the kind of pains and sacrifices made by my parents and what is my responsibility now. I hope I will do my best to do my duty to my mother and keep her happy.
My daughter is also my Guru. She taught me the humanity by simple and fundamental statements. I remember the incident, when I fed a street dog as some astrloger told me to do it everyday. I infact seached and chased the dog to feed some milk. My daughter said we will bring him up. I didnt want that I replied her saying that, the dog is not disciplined and will spoil our house. She said it is not his fault and we will train her. She also asked me, what were I doing, when she also didnt know anything in the age of 1 year (When she told this, she was 5 years old). I just had no answer and what she said was right. We decided to bringup the dog sincerely even though the dog absconded after a few days :)
There are many more Guru's and I salute all of them. Their guidance is driving me everyday.
That was the day when me and two of my classmates were studying in the night. Our final year exams were just 20 days away. Suddenly my another friend in my coloby came to me and informed that my father was hospitalized. We all four rushed to the King George Hospital only to know that my father was no more physically. I was in a state of shock and took time to digest. Very soon I realized my first task was to take care of my mother. Like in our community, the rituals went for 16 days and I was left with 4 days to prepare for my final examinations. My brother who was working in Allahabad told me not to give up as I had the chance to achieve the Gold Medal and asked or rather ordered me to sit in the exams. My 3 close friends helped in all aspects especially in providing emotional support.
I started studying again. Every day night I used to read the entire day, attend the exam, sleep in the afternoon and continue studying in the night. But I realized this was all to ensure I am prepared well and didnt waste time. But the reality was that I already prepared more than enough. That was all because of my Professors. The notes I prepated in their classes was sufficient for me to understand all the concepts. And the kind of assignments given by the professors tested my understanding throughout the year. I can single out the professor SuryaRao who conducted 1 test every week without giving any choice. In Theory of Machines I score 93 out of 100, and probably it was the top mark. And you know, I remember all I learnt and applied wherever I got the opportunity. It was not something I learnt by heart and forgot after the exams, this was the case with some of my friends but not to me. My teachers gave me a direction, and just by following it, I could grow as a good human being and knowledgeable person. And ofcouse I also reached my targets irrespective of the biggest tragedy of my life before exams.
My teachers also taught me how to live, how to show concerns to others (My father was the biggest among, he always used to tell me that my freedom should never obstruct the convenience of any one else. Today when I see lot of youngsters who just compete get their best share from common resources, I feel they are not brought up properly). I can digest when I see some one on the road impatient to get the way by all others as if he or she is the person to be given priority.
My father who borrowed good part of socalled communism taught me on sharing whatever you have. He said I must learn enjoying if my tree provides shade to someone, if my varandah gives resing place for another, and if some of my money gives life to another. He used to laugh at people who spread their legs in the train to make sure no one else sits even though I hated them.
My father taught me trusing the people unconditionally. I asked him how long can I trust people. He replied that I need to trust till I am cheated. It provided me a different dimension in life. We start relations always with no trust and then move to trusting once the relation is strengthened. Whereas I learnt to start the relation with trust and continued till I am cheated. There were a few cases when I was cheated. But many cases, it was not.
My teachers in the schools taught me the true secularism. They just made me feel quite natural to live with all other communities irrespective of caste, religion and language. They never taught me anything specific or exclusive about the socalled secularism. They just explained various living styles from all parts of the world. Today when I see a different color of community consciousness I am scared about what happens to my kids. I am trying my best to make sure they are not influenced by these elements.
There was a great influence from two people in my life. One is my childhood friend Balaram. And another is my senior leader in one of my organizations. They taught me the importance of taking care of parents. I knew all about my parents, but after the inputs from them, I acknowledged the kind of pains and sacrifices made by my parents and what is my responsibility now. I hope I will do my best to do my duty to my mother and keep her happy.
My daughter is also my Guru. She taught me the humanity by simple and fundamental statements. I remember the incident, when I fed a street dog as some astrloger told me to do it everyday. I infact seached and chased the dog to feed some milk. My daughter said we will bring him up. I didnt want that I replied her saying that, the dog is not disciplined and will spoil our house. She said it is not his fault and we will train her. She also asked me, what were I doing, when she also didnt know anything in the age of 1 year (When she told this, she was 5 years old). I just had no answer and what she said was right. We decided to bringup the dog sincerely even though the dog absconded after a few days :)
There are many more Guru's and I salute all of them. Their guidance is driving me everyday.
