Friend, Philosopher, Guide

After completing my C.A. Course, I joined my college (Sydenham) again as a part-time lecturer of Accounting and also joined our family CA firm in practice. Soon enough, I realised by my Guru’s grace that I wanted to be only a teacher and that’s what I became full – time. My Guru, Haribhai Kothari said to me that it is a great responsibility to be a teacher as one becomes (or should become) a contributory in the character – development (not just personality development) of the students. I should be their friend, philosopher, and guide. I never stuck to just teaching the syllabus, but also shared with them the insights I had received from Haribhai and other philosophers. I spoke to them about life, living, loving, caring, relating, adopting and often joked “I charge for the philosophy, accounts is free.” Many loved it since most youth have no or little exposure to this sort of learning. Sadly, no educational institution (here or abroad) finds it necessary to include this learning in their regular curriculum. No management schools teach mind management and how to remain balanced within while facing varied life challenges. However, coming back, some were indifferent and sceptical of its practicality. They felt that all this is good to listen to, but not good enough to implement. And of course, some of them hated it outright. They were convinced that I was just wasting their time. They would say, “Please don’t give him the trigger or he will just take off.” But I ensured that all this would not be at the cost of not finishing their syllabus in time. I tried my best to make the whole thing extremely interesting by quoting my personal experiences. I knew that this philosophical few minutes in some lectures would not appeal to the students whose only goal was “Eat, Drink, Merry” or whose only thought was on marks, career, money, big cars, too much of professionalism (read greed). There were some among the scoffers and haters who came to me years later to thank me for the seeds I had sown in them (against their wish in class) as it enabled them somewhere in dealing with the harsh shocks and blows they got from life in later years. Just a few days back, a girl came to meet me after several years, sobbed and sobbed, and said she was sorry for all her criticism, and also for discouraging her friends to join my class telling them, “He talks rubbish most of the time.” She said, “Your rubbish made so much sense when I lost my beloved last month. Your previous article (about the agony of a father seeking treatment for his son at TATA Memorial without any money or house) stabilised me and enabled me to breathe easy after days of agony. I am sorry, Sir, please continue telling your students about life, living and loving.” In fact, she has started to attend the weekly satsangh I attend since years. The seed sown had sprouted finally. Very soon flowers will bloom and fruits will ripen. My Guru always said, “We don’t wind and set the alarm clock at the time it is supposed to wake us up. We do it in the night and it rings when we are supposed to wake up.” Indeed, we don’t go to take up an insurance policy after our house is on fire. In fact, most of us don’t even after that.

May I wish a Happy Diwali and Happy new year to each one of You! May we lit the diyas (lamps) in others life too on this Diwali. You know the word “diya” means “giving” in Hindi. Indeed you cannot light any ‘diya’ in anyone’s life till you become a giver, giver, and only a giver. Take Care.  

P.S. In case if you happened to find any cat, dog, pigeon, crow or any animal injured or sick, their feel free to call Welfare of Stray dog society. Maybe, you might light one more diya in the Lord’s beautiful world.

Mayur – 9819593335

Abodh - 9819100808