Act of Genuine Humility

“Hey Jay! Madam warned us if we are late, she would not mark our attendance. We spent entire break. Hurry up man.” Kuntesh yelled at me and suddenly I remembered madam’s strict warning. We had “Written Analysis and Communication (WAC)” lecture consisting of two sessions and in between we had a break of 15 min. Due to general practice of coming late in class, Madam warned us in last lecture. I threw tea-cup in dustbin and ran towards class.


As usual, I was late to return. But while taking my seat, I saw many other students entering class late. I looked at madam’s angry face; she was about to tell us off. Suddenly I heard knock at door; Ashish too came late. The moment he reached at his place and noticed that roll call was already taken.

He shouted “Madam, roll number 10”. “I announced in last lecture if anybody comes after roll call, I would not mark his/her presence.” Madam replied.

“Then what is the meaning of sitting in the class?” Ashish yelled.

“It is your choice Ashish. If you feel we are not doing anything worth in class, you can leave.”

“But madam, you can not be rigid not to take attendance even if a student remains present.”

“I made myself very clear. This rule not only applies to you, there are many who came late. None of them will be marked present.”

“If it is so, I do not want to attend the class. Whatever you are doing is just a waste of time. Your teaching style is not good and we do not gain anything from your lectures.” Ashish

Ashish put his bag on shoulder, stood up and started walking outside the class. He angrily added “I am not saying for my sake only but I m doing on behalf of class.” He looked at other students and said “Why are sitting like dump? We should all boycott this subject.”

“Ashish! You better leave the class. This is your personal matter and don’t pull entire class in.” Anirudhdh confronted him pointing finger at him.

“Who the hell are you? You keep your mouth shut if you don’t want to support us. And how dare you point finger at me!” Ashish eyes went reddish. I was shocked watching this quarrel.

“Ashish! It would be better if you leave the class right now. If you have a complaint, you can talk to management. Shouting in class is not the way; you should show respect to faculty.” Anirudhdh said

“Would be please let me manage this matter Annirudhdh?” madam stopped Anirudhdh and turned his face to Ashish with calm “See Ashish! I try my best to provide maximum value addition. If there is some problem with my teaching style, we can talk about this. But current issue is not about that. I asked you all to maintain some decorum and some of you failed. Hence there will be the punishment we agreed upon last time. I would not change my decision at all. You can leave the class if you want.”

I was really surprised looking at madam’s humility. Ashish sat quietly.

After lecture completed, I and few late comers went to madam. We asked for apology for not maintaining the decorum and also for Ashish’s misbehavior. Madam marked our attendance. Thought Ashish misbehaved, madam asked us for his roll number and marked his presence.

Tejas (who works in the same college in admin department and also studies with us) informed madam about Ashish’s misbehavior with other faculty members. Tejas asked to complain about him. And then what madam replied which I never forget:

“He is not a bad guy. He is dissatisfied with something. As a professor it is my duty to know why he is so upset. Complaining is not the solution. When you find someone unhappy with you, you have two options: ignore him or talk with him about the actual cause. I am delighted that his dissatisfaction came out today otherwise I would never know about that. Perhaps there is some problem with my teaching style; his dissatisfaction will help me find what I lack. Don’t bother about it, I will manage.”

I put myself at her place and thought what I might have done in such situation. Maybe, I have expelled him or thrown out of my class. I can’t be so generous. I looked at my past; I reacted at many places with aggression. I assure you any aggressive person present on this event, must have realized what harm anger causes and how powerful humility is.

In the Interim

Hi Friends!! First of all, I would like to apologize not to be in touch for a long duration. I am really sorry for that.

During this interim, I got everything that I always dreamed. I feel myself lucky as God has blessed me everything I wished and that also on right time. “Thank you God!! I honor you with my due respect and love you.” But today I feel it is good not to have all dreams coming true in life.

After having everything, something was pricking me. I have almost given away writing on blog. My mind remained so occupied during these days that I had been finding no words to speak or to write. I remember I told sandy, who inspired me to start a blog, that I would write something inspiring and about those things which help one to live a better life. Till I remain troubled with endogenous anxiety, I can not write something inspiring.

Now I am okay and regained my confidence and jolliness (Actually i wrote this word as someone told me that I was jolly. I hope he had not been flattering me). So I think now I can bore you by writing more posts ;)

By the way I would like to thank many readers whose comments on “A Salute to Woman” helped me to come back and continue writing, especially Jigna, Pranav, Kuntesh and Bhabhi. Thank you all.

The Achievers

Today I had organizational behavior class in college. Madam was to teach about team work. Generally madam gives an exercise to class and on that exercise, she explains particular topic.

Today she did the same. The entire class was divided into teams of 10 people. The exercise was common to all teams. First task was "Scavenger-Hunt". Each team had to first search for 12 objects in campus itself. Madam had already given check-list of all objects. They were Matchbox, Photos of each member, Book of Quotation, a stationary having University logo, A picture of any car, Cloth Duster, A string, a briefcase, a calculator, a CD, a bubble gum, previous year calendar.

Second task was "New Product Launch" where each team was required to select a product, give a name, create a logo, create a tag line, and prepare strategies to launch. A transparency was given to each team and we needed to make presentation of the product launch on it. Each team was allocated 30 minutes time to complete both the task. Whichever team completes Scavenger-Hunt first, had to present the product launch first.

I was the part of team formed on left wing of classroom. We were 10 members in the beginning. But two members joined as they were late in class. We initially started with gathering all objects which were with us in the classroom. We almost collected CD, calculator, string, photos, calendar on first go. Two team members rushed to library and collected Book of quotation, a magazine having advertisement of a car, and pamphlet having University logo. They collected a matchbox from security boy while returning. Other two members went to canteen to buy a bubble gum and they bought a cloth duster that generally boys keep in vehicles. We collected 11 items in approximately 10-15 minutes. The problem was briefcase. The most senior member of our team went outside the class and did some magic tricks (as it is confidential how he did it) and brought the briefcase. We completed our first part and showed all objects to madam within 20 minutes. Our team was the first to complete this task hence we were in advantage.

Around six members of team had engaged themselves in searching all those objects. The rest including me had already started second task. We decided submersible pumps as our product. We used “Jaldhara” as product name. Two of these six members started preparing logo accordingly and others started making strategies. Tag line, we preferred “Bina Barasaat, Pani Hi Pani’ (Hindi). We made two advertisement lines for it:

“Jab Unchai Pe Pahochana Ho Pani, Aur Bijli Bhi Ho Bachani,
Jaldhara Pumps Hi Hai Sab Ki zubani”

and

“Pump Se Hogi Kheto Ki Samrudhdhi, Kheto Se Hogi Desh Ki Samrudhdhi”

When we jotted down enough strategies, around 3 minutes were left. We were all happy with our efforts and entire team went for presentation. Presentation was also superb as we had good orators in our team. When a team presented their work, other teams needed to rate product launch with four criteria: Product name, Logo, Tag line and strategies.

We did one mistake in entire exercise. Madam gave us a red marker to write on transparency. We wrote and draw using that marker only rather than asking other team to share markers of different color. Hence our logo did not appear that much impressive.

But lady luck was with us and we received highest rating in product launch. Moreover we completed the task before other teams; our team was announced as Winner.

“The Achievers proved their name."

The learning from this was how mutually team members coordinated without any leader or supervisor and every member was accountable for both of the activities. That is the main difference between a group and team…

A Salute to Woman

Yesterday I went to a coffee shop which I often visit when I have a plan to study for late hours. Just the moment I ordered a coffee, I saw a lady who was my colleague. I knew her by name only but I still wished to chat with her. I went to her and started talking with a smiley “Hi”. I misjudged her personality when I had worked with her; but as soon we started conversation, I was almost influenced by her nature. Suddenly conversation diverted to post marriage relationships of a woman (I don’t prefer use of word girl here). All of a sudden, I don't remember why but she advised me something “A woman who is just married is like wet clay. She is moulded in whatever shape you expect her to do. Please don’t blame what she has then become”. I raised my eyebrows with a surprise. I did not understand context of her advice still I nodded my head agreeing her point.

After returning my room, I spent few hours to study as I planned and then I went to my bed. Somehow I recalled that sentence and I was very curious to understand it. As I thought about it more and more I was agree with her by heart; she was absolutely right except subjected women. I will say, not only a woman who is just married tries to mould her; perhaps every woman in this world does the same. Every female in a male’s life sacrifices a lot and tries to be at her beloved’s expectations whether she may be in any form; a mother, a sister, a wife or sometimes being just a friend. And in return she receives only disappointments and frustrations. I saw many of my friends dominating their wives or fiancé. Why we men are all alike? Why do we not understand what will happen on a person who almost sacrificed everything to us happy? It must be killing her but what makes a difference to us?

Every mother sacrifices all of happiness to see her child happy as my mother did for me. But I remained busy in developing my career. I never get time to go back to her and say her how much I am thankful of her that she grew me so well. I wanted to go back and say her how much I love her. Not only my mother but all females including my sister supported me and gave me the warmth that someone is with me which one of my friends or brother did. Even though I never go back to them and say thanks for all the things they did for me.

More I thought of that sentence, more I regretted myself for not understanding this for so many years. I broke into tears and asked me why I was so hard. I heard a lot of times that a woman can not be understood. I refuse it; we don’t try to understand her. We don’t respect scarification she makes.

I thanked that lady for explaining me what I had never understood, and turned on my laptop and started writing my feelings. It is hard to accept but I don’t want you to follow the same path. Go to your beloved and tell her how much important she is in your life and how much you love her.

Ego - Let It Go

Before starting, I would confess that I am an egoist to a certain extent; and perhaps that’s one of the reasons why I am writing this article. I recently joined MBA study and very first lecture was on eliminating ego and open one’s mind to learn new things.

On very next day, I went to have tea with my friend. Suddenly we met one of my colleagues at the tea stall. As we continued chatting with her, she mentioned about her experience about ego. She was one of the committee members in selecting candidates in recruitment process. She came across a person used to say “I know” through out his interview. She suggested not selecting that person. Due to his extra ordinary records that guy managed to get the job in his hand. On joining the corporate, that guy was put in a training to have understanding of application he needed to work upon. But again his ego played a negative role. His trainers faced a lot of problems to train him; and in the end, they raised their hands. She concluded with a nice statement that I can never forget in my life “Until and unless you open your mind to learn, you can’t be a trainable material.”

I observed in my class where I sit among managers of various companies specialized in several sectors. I found a “Superiority Complex” in few of them. That thing may lead them to achieve success in their fields; but eventually prevents them to be liked. A “Bossy” behavior comes out as a result. Sometimes I myself act very rigidly due to my ego. There are cases where I involved in a tussle with my senior as I never tried to understand his suggestions that opposed my approaches. I later on feel that he was right; but my ego did not let me understand that.

Ego leads to a mental condition where you assume others to take all you say as granted. And that creates a distance between you and others who are closed to you. I learned only one principle - “I” is always capital and alone.