All about learning

Chittaranjan Andrade

Conscious learning often makes our lives a little easy

Learning: Forensic science teaches us that when two objects touch, each leaves traces of its identity on the other; traces that sensitive tests may detect. So too it is with people. We learn from others just as they learn from us.

Learning is unconscious. We absorb our value systems, our interactional styles and even our mannerisms from our parents, our teachers, and our friends. But, learning is also a conscious act.

In lighter vein, I learnt from an uncle that, when I lend my pen, I should hold on to the cap; only then will I remember to get the pen back. I learnt from an in-law that, if I want to send an important letter, I should send it with inadequate postage; the postal department will make sure that it is delivered to get its due.

I learnt from a colleague that I should never trust the wake-up call system in a hotel; if I want to catch an early morning flight, the best alarm clock is to drink four glasses of water before retiring at night.

When I was being ragged as a fresher in college, I was assigned the annoysome responsibility of washing the underwear of an entire batch of seniors. I discharged my duties with ingenuity, pouring a bucket of water upon the pile of garments before hanging them out to dry. I learnt that when I am dependent on those who clean and cook for me, I must make efforts to earn their goodwill.

I learnt from a patient that, if I am ill, it is more virtuous to stay at home and convalesce than to toil on, heroically, and communicate my infection to all in the workplace.

I learnt from a teacher that, if I want to succeed, I must make myself indispensable; if others can do all that I can do, they will not need me any more. But I also learnt from family life that being indispensable means having to do all the work.

By far the most poignant lesson I learnt was from a student who always signed her mails "Happiness and Sunshine" even long after she developed cancer. I kept in touch, but did not visit her during her last months because I was unwilling to see the curtain of night draw across the sunshine on her face. I hope that, reading this, her parents will understand.

Courtesy - Deccan Herald