Gerald D'Cunha

  “The only real prison is fear; and the only real freedom is freedom from fear.” Aung San Suu Kyi                                               Y esterday was the last day for my twelfth-standard batch (HSC). Even though my students get my daily dose of pepping – call it inspiration or pravachan – during every session, every day, all through their academic year, on the last day, when they go away from me, I have something spontaneous and special to tell them, always… Yes, that is when I truly feel the power and the privilege of being a good teacher: How much, willingly or unwillingly, my students realize they have received from me… And, how much I have received from my students! For some students, it may have been months and months of daily dosage… and, for others, it may be a single dosage… It’s just a little spark that sets a massive forest on fire, we kn...

  “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” A.A. Milne T he Google Maps – the live directions – have made driving, searching, finding and reaching easy… na? It seems, we all have put ourselves on an autopilot mode… Just tell “Google dear, take me here, and take me there… Alexa darling, play this for me, and that for me… and, now, with mind-blowing AI at our fingertips, we do not have to think at all… Are we thinking: Just some years ago, when there were no calculators or computers – how complicated our life was…Na? No pun intended, perhaps?   I think, the technology has to only help us do things faster, while it should not rob us of our powers – to think fresh, take risks, be curious, find alternatives, learn from our mistakes, trust self and trust people around, teamwork, and above all, to stay alert, agile and young… As the old saying goes about money, even technology should be a great servant – never a bad master… ...

    “Eagles come in all shapes and sizes, but, you will recognize them chiefly by their attitude.” E. F. Schumacher   E very generation has to deal with its own challenges. By challenges, I do not mean, only financial hardships that an earlier generation may have gone through. Every earlier generation has worked hard to provide a better living condition (material comfort) for the successive one. My grandpa was poorer than my dad, and my dad was poorer than I am, and my son, by all probability, will be richer than I am today… But, then, when I say ‘poorer’ and ‘richer’, I am only referring to financially – in terms of material comforts. Well, have there been some things, which regardless of passing generations, not changed? ‘Values’, they are… They are universal and timeless… No matter to which ‘international’ school we send our children today, we cannot expect our children to pick the ‘timeless values’ from these schools. With due respect to each institu...

  “We must adjust to changing times, and still hold steadfast to unchanging principles.” Jimmy Carter   P urpose in life keeps us productive, useful… Should I say ‘Youthful’, too? We just have to look at former American President Jimmy Carter’s life and legacy… He passed away, at 100, just two weeks ago. Barring a couple of years before that century-long life, he lived with a clear purpose through ‘Habitat for Humanity’, in which, he and his wife Rosalynn had involved immediately after his four-year-term was over as 39 th   President of America. Leading from the front, for close to forty-five years, since then, the Carters inspired countless volunteers to build thousands of affordable houses, both, inside and outside America… President Carter, through these years, survived brain cancer, a hip surgery, multiple stiches around his wounded eye and many other challenges. What has been endearing was the childlike enthusiasm and steadfast faith he and his wife exud...

  “You must not lean on a tree on Sabbath; if the tree might be dependent on you for support.” Ovadia Yosef I f Sunday is ‘Sabbath’ – the day of rest and prayers -   here in India and many other parts of the world, it’s Friday in many Arab counties… and, it’s not so in Israel, the land of Moses, where the concept of ‘Sabbath’ was first introduced… For the Jews, Sabbath starts at Friday sunset and ends at Saturday sundown… I think, whether Arabs and Jews are endlessly are at war with one another, and whether how a day of Sabbath - or the ‘Lord’s Day’ -   is observed is not at all important. To me, it has nothing to do with God. For, He will never ever ask whether or not we keep your tools down and rest on a Sunday or a Friday or any other day. What difference does it make to God… as long as we have rested, reflected, rejuvenated – sharpened the saw as Stephen Covey said? Yes, why fuss about - which day is ‘Sabbath’? W hen most of us rest, there are so many around...

  “The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” Shephen R. Covey   A 16-year-old girl has, many times, told me politely, but firmly, “Sir, I cannot connect online at 7.30 p.m.” Initially, being her ‘hallowed’ teacher, I remember asking her with irritation (call it arrogance of a teacher, if you like), “Why you can’t – May I know the reason, madam?” “That’s our dinner time at home, Sir,” the girl has made it very clear to me… Well, I have learnt to swallow my pride and respect that ‘space’, and explored other timings to connect with this young girl (My young teacher!)… F or last two weeks, I have been accompanying my wife to Hinduja Hospital for a root-canal procedure. Earlier, some of the private dental-professionals had suggested extraction. For that, her sugar had to be brought under control, else it would lead to complications. Considering this factor, we chose a reputed multi-facility hospital for this procedure. ...

“Man is a complex being: he makes deserts bloom - and lakes die.” Gil Scott-Heron   A small piece of agricultural land had come to me after our dad’s death. It was about 35 years ago. The land was used by my grandfather, later by my dad, to cultivate rice (paddy). A highway passed along its side, and the land did not seem profitable at all considering the deserted surroundings and low area which was prone to flooding. By then, I had migrated to Bombay (now Mumbai) in search of better prospects, assuming, that there was where gold grew, not paddy. So, when I needed some money to set up my small coaching centre, here in Bombay, I asked my widowed mom to dispose off my piece of land… Which, mom did, and sent to me the proceeds: Rs. 2,70,000! It was a ransom to one who badly needed it, at that time… Then, I simply forgot about what was once ‘my piece of land’… A simple man, a mechanic, was the new owner of that land, now. He erected a temporary tin-shed and ran his worksho...

  “If you have much, give of your wealth; if you have less, give of your heart.” Anonymous   O n the New-year day, I had called to wish one of my elderly relatives. This woman had struggled hard all her life and given her children quite a cushioned life… In the process, she hadn’t kept anything for her old age or medical issues. For past few years, her health has been waning and making her fully dependent – financially as well as physically – on her married children. During my conversation with this woman, she mentioned about one of her nieces, who is in her mid-sixties. “Gerry, she had called me yesterday and told me, that she had been very sick and nobody was     helping her. I feel bad… Her dad had helped me when I was young and struggling… I want to help her financially. But, you know my situation… I can’t take any decision on my own… I am completely dependent on my children… I am scared to ask them to do anything in this respect.” I heard out my elde...