I WANT TO GO HOME

 



“Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain.

But, all the happiness and growth occurs

while you’re climbing it.”

Andy Rooney

 

Two days ago, my wife and I were watching the latest NETFLIX series ‘Hello Bachhon’. It’s the story of widely popular (and successful) teacher Alakh Pandey... how he started teaching Physics through YouTube and, eventually, became a sensation, scaling it up – and up – and up... into brand ‘Physics Wallah’.

Yes, like every success story of an underdog, we found it very inspiring...

Alakh Pandey Sir had a hard time while doing his studies. He genuinely wanted to help students who couldn’t afford to pay high coaching fees for competitive exams. So, from the depth of that sincere intent, his pursuit to reach a wider audience kept growing, and kept even growing...

There is this disturbing scene in the last episode... A young IIT aspirant, under tremendous pressure and frustration, ends up taking an unthinkable step...

Well, while watching that scene, most of us would be thinking about the plight of various competitive exams and the that of young students...




But, I, having spent over 45 years teaching students in a similar set up (coaching institute), wasn’t amused at all. I was thinking about not just the students. Instead, I was thinking about we teachers and everyone out there, in every possible field – competing... desiring to grow more and more and more. There wasn’t a single field – including those of spiritual gurus, holistic healing... lawyers, doctors, counsellors, content creators, movie stars, film producers, TV channels, politicians, political parties, industrialists... yes, from housemaids, hawaladars to countries of the world... I was finding the desire to grow to be universal...

So, I am not shocked when a young kid takes an extreme step, unable to cope with the pressure and frustration. As I said, the same thing drives the rest of us, too...

My own idea of success has undergone a sea change along my pursuit of it. I no longer get carried away by ‘huge numbers’... “Good for you,” I say, and move on...

In the midst of all the running and chasing, a strong voice has, constantly, pricked my conscience along my pursuit: “Why did you start teaching?” “What makes you feel fulfilled?”

And, why are you waiting to be ‘fulfilled’?

 

Pierre Cornielle reminds us:

“Desire increases when fulfilment is postponed.” 


“Beta, where you want to go from here?” Alakh Sir asks the student who is lying in pain on hospital bed...

“Sir, I want to go home,” is the answer... 

I see this answer metaphorically...


GERALD D’CUNHA

 

Pic.: pixabay.com

Video: NETFLIX India

 

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