Adult Education – A Story

ADULT EDUCATION

An Apocryphal Teaching Story

Short Fiction

By

VIKRAM KARVE

Here is an apocryphal story I conjured up long back when I worked in Human Resource (HR) Management and Training. 

I used to narrate this story to my trainees in order to emphasize the importance of “work life balance” . 

I called the story ADULT EDUCATION.

Do tell me if you like it. 

I will look forward to your comments and feedback.

ADULT EDUCATION – an apocryphal teaching story

A passionate HR Trainer once conducted an Adult Education Programme for semi-literate and poorly educated workers in his industrial organization.

The programme was conducted in the evenings after working hours. 

In order to ensure success of this adult education programme – both the trainees and the trainer were motivated by giving them generous amounts of financial incentives like overtime allowance for participation. 

This incentive of extra money ensured maximum attendance from the workers.

The trainer too got a handsome amount of money as incentive. 

Yes – the trainer got a generous amount of overtime for conducting Adult Education Classes. 

Also – in addition to overtime – he was paid an additional bonus per worker attending his classes.

All workers enthusiastically attended the Adult Education classes – except one.

His name was Sukhi Lal. 

Sukhi Lal was the only person who never attended Adult Education Classes despite the huge monetary incentives.

Sukhi Lal would rush home after work the moment the siren rang in the evening. 

Sukhi Lal was almost illiterate but he was not interested in learning anything. 

The Trainer was very disappointed with Sukhi Lal and he decided to motivate Sukhi Lal to join his Adult Education Programme.

One day the Trainer called Sukhi Lal to his office and asked him: “Why don’t you attend the Adult Education classes?”

“What is the use...?” asked Sukhi Lal.

“You will gain more knowledge...” said the wise trainer.

“I am not interested in gaining more knowledge...” said Sukhi Lal, “I am quite happy with whatever I know.”

Observing that the man in front of him was not interested in intellectual enhancement – the trainer tried to lure him with financial motivation.

So the trainer said: “Sukhi Lal. Think of the Money. Yes – you will earn a lot of money. You earn while you learn. You will get plenty of overtime payment plus a generous attendance bonus. You will make lots of extra money if you attend these adult education classes.”

“I am not interested in making more money. I am quite happy and content with what I get...” Sukhi Lal said.

The exasperated trainer then resorted to a last tactic to get him to attend the adult education classes. 

He decided to humiliate Sukhi Lal in front of his co-workers – the trainer decided to publicly shame Sukhi Lal.

Yes – shame is a great motivator. 

The trainer was sure this would hurt Sukhi Lal’s ego – and the public humiliation would surely motivate him to attend the adult education programme. 

At lunchtime – in the canteen – the trainer called Sukhi Lal and all the other workers who attended adult education classes. 

The trainer indicated to everyone else to keep silent. 

Then – in the presence of all the “educated” co-workers – the trainer asked Sukhi Lal: “Who was Issac Newton...?”

“I don’t know...” Sukhi Lal said.

“See. Everyone knows this and you don’t know. Just see how ignorant you are...” the trainer ridiculed Sukhi Lal while all the co-workers shook their heads in agreement and mocked at the ignorance of the clueless Sukhi Lal.

“Who was Albert Einstein...?” the Trainer asked Sukhi Lal. 

“I don’t know...” Sukhi Lal said. 

“Who was CV Raman...?” the Trainer asked Sukhi Lal. 

“I don’t know...” Sukhi Lal said. 

Everyone laughed and jeered at Sukhi Lal’s ignorance and made fun of him. 

But – the trainer was unrelenting – and he kept on asking a hapless Sukhi Lal question after question: 

“Who was Galileo… Faraday… Edison… Bhabha…?”

The barrage of questions and torment went on and on for a long time – until Sukhi Lal got fed up – and he decided not to take the humiliation any more. 

Sukhi Lal suddenly stood up and asked the trainer: “Tell me Who is Chhote Lal...?”

“Chhote Lal...? Never heard of him...” snapped the trainer angrily, “Who is Chhote Lal...?”

“See. You don’t know who Chhote Lal is. But I know who he is...” Sukhi Lal said to the trainer with an  air of superiority, “Chhote Lal is the man who makes love to your wife every evening in your bedroom while you are busy out here conducting these Adult Education Classes. It is you who requires Adult Education – not me.” 

MORAL OF THE STORY (4 Morals of the Story)

1. Educate yourself first – before you embark on trying to educate others

2. Distant Vision sometimes obscures Near Vision 

If you are a “visionary” – you always tend to look too far – and sometimes – you cannot see what is going on under your very own nose

3. Physician – heal thyself

4. Have your priorities right and make sure you pay attention to your “work-life balance”.

Yes – WORK LIFE BALANCE means getting a full value from life – by ensuring a balance between achievement and enjoyment in each of the four quadrants of your life:

1. WORK

2. FAMILY

3. FRIENDS

4. SELF 

On a daily basis – every morning – you must tell yourself:

1. I want to achieve something today – and I want to enjoy something today. 

2. I must manage to do both these things today. Then – for me – it is going to be a good day. 

3. Through “work-life balance” – I must manage to do both of these things each day of my life. 

4. Yes – I must achieve something daily – and – I must enjoy something daily – in all four aspects of my life (work, family, friends, self) – each and every day – for the rest of my life.

5. Then – I am going to have a good life - a happy, satisfying and fulfilling life – well lived.

Dear Reader: Do you agree...? 

Please comment. I look forward to your views and feedback. 

VIKRAM KARVE 

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work. 
© vikram karve., all rights reserved. 

Disclaimer:

1. This story is a fictional spoof, satire, pure fiction, just for fun and humor, no offence is meant to anyone, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh.

2. All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)

This Story Posted Earlier in my blogs a number of times earlier inculding at URL: https://karvediat.blogspot.com/2012/12/achievement-and-enjoyment-work-life.html etc 

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

 

Errors of the Past are the Wisdom of the Future

Lessons I Learnt in Life

MISTAKES ARE PORTALS OF DISCOVERY

Errors of the Past are the Wisdom of the Future

Musings of a Veteran

By

VIKRAM KARVE

This happened more than 27 years ago – in the early 1990’s – when we lived in the beautiful verdant campus of the erstwhile IAT (now called DIAT Deemed University) in the hills of Girinagar – overlooking the serene cool blue waters of Khadakwasla Lake – near Pune – with the mighty Sinhagad Fort towering above – as a sentinel .

We lived in a typical Military (MES) Accommodation – ground plus one storey with garages in between, four houses in a block.

Each house had a separate overhead water tank on top of the building and separate servant quarters behind the block .

We lived on the ground floor – and our neighbours who lived on the top floor above us were a young couple with a small kid.

Once there was a long weekend – 4 days off – 2 days Diwali holidays – followed by Saturday and Sunday.

Our neighbours – who lived above us – they decided to spend the long weekend in Mumbai with their relatives.

In contrast – a huge number of relatives had decided to visit us at IAT Girinagar – to celebrate Diwali – and spend the weekend in the picturesque surroundings on Girinagar – and do some sightseeing and trekking – climb up the Sinhagad Fort – and picnic at the Panshet and Varasgaon Dams – and stroll on the “beach” on the Khadakwasla lakeside.

The whole gang of relatives arrived early in the morning on the first day of Diwali.

We were enjoying ourselves – the children were bursting crackers outside – and my wife got down to making preparations for a festival feast for all of us – and we were looking forward to a delicious sumptuous lunch.

Suddenly – my wife came out – and she told me that the taps had run dry – and she said that water was not coming anywhere in the house.

This was surprising – since there was an abundance of water in Girinagar – and we had never faced any water problem.

I rang up the “pump house” – who confirmed that they had duly pumped water for 3 hours in the morning as per schedule – and there was no reason for a water shortage. 

The “pump house” supervisor suggested that I have a look at my water tank on the roof – and if there was any plumbing or piping problem – they would send someone to rectify the fault.

I climbed up on the roof – and – I was aghast to see that my water tank was bone dry. 

The lid of the water tank had been taken off – and the walls of the water tank had been freshly painted.

My neighbour’s water tank was full of water.

I came down – and I started enquiring – when my servant told me that she had seen our neighbour’s servant on the roof early in the morning.

I called the neighbour’s servant.

He said that before leaving for Mumbai – my neighbour had given him instructions to shut the inlet valve – drain the water tank – clean it up – dry it – and then apply a coat of paint – let the water tank dry for two days – and then – open the valve – so that the water tank would be full by the time they came back from their holiday.

He was contrite – and – he admitted that – by mistake – he had emptied and painted my water tank – instead of my neighbour’s water tank.

He had mistakenly assumed that my water tank was my neighbour’s water tank. 

That is why he had drained out all the water – closed the inlet valve – dried the water tank – and then cleaned and painted it.

My neighbour’s servant profusely apologised – and he said he was very sorry for the mistake 

But – I was furious – since – because of this man’s stupidity – we were going to have a water problem – and that too – when there were so many guests in the house.

I lost my temper – and – I started shouting angrily at the man.

As I started giving him a severe tongue-lashing – the man shivered in fright.

Suddenly – I noticed the man’s small son watching the proceedings.

The young boy trembled with fear – and – he had an expression of dread written all over his innocent face – as he watched his father being publicly scolded and humiliated.

I could not bear to see this heart-rending expression on the young boy’s face. 

I felt terrible that I had scolded the man in front of his son.

So – I stopped my invective tirade.

I told the man to go away.

Then – I went into my room to cool off. 

That day – I made a decision.

I resolved that I would never admonish anyone in front of their children or family.

Parents are heroes to their children.

So – the worst thing you can do is to humiliate parents in front of their children.

Similarly – it can be very demoralizing for an Officer – a Manager – or for any Employee – to be reprimanded by the Boss – in front of his juniors and subordinates.

I was in a profession where being “goody-goody” and “soft spoken” did not work in all cases.

So – occasionally – you had to shout at people and reprimand them – in order to get the desired results.

But – I ensured that whenever I gave a tongue-lashing to someone – I did so in private – by calling him aside separately to give him a dressing down.

Also – I tried my best to criticize the action and to ensure that I did not insult the person by making derogatory personal remarks about him.

I scrupulously tried my best to follow the dictum: 

Praise in Public – but – Admonish in Private 

I did lose my temper and yell at people in public sometimes – but I immediately made amends by apologising on the spot – or at the earliest opportunity.

We all make mistakes.

But – the trick lies in realizing your mistake when you commit one – learn from your mistake – take corrective action – and make sure you do not repeat the same mistake again.

Experience enables you to recognize a mistake.

As Cicero said: 

Any man can make a mistake – but only a fool will continue in repeating it

Mistakes are your best teachers.

Mistakes are lessons of wisdom.

And – as James Joyce said: 

Mistakes are the Portals of Discovery

I have made a lot of mistakes in my life.

I have tried my best to learn from my mistakes – and – I have endeavoured to ensure that I do not repeat my mistakes.

In some cases I have succeeded – and – in some cases – it is still an ongoing process.

As Tryon Edwards put it: 

“Some of Best Lessons we ever Learn – we Learn from our Mistakes and Failures. 

The Error of the Past is the Wisdom and Success of the Future...”

I will end with a quote by Wang Yang-Ming:

“The sages do not consider that making no mistake is a blessing. 

They believe rather that the great virtue of man lies in his ability to correct his mistakes and to continually make a new man of himself...”

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved) 

     

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

 

This article is a revised re-post of my article MISTAKES ARE THE PORTALS OF DISCOVERY posted by me online earlier at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/10/mistakes-are-portals-of-discovery.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/08/lessons-i-learnt-in-life-mistakes-are.html  and https://www.quora.com/profile/Vikram-Karve/Writing-by-VIKRAM-KARVE/A-Life-Lesson-I-Learnt-21-years-ago-%E2%80%9CPraise-in-Public-but-Admonish-in-Private%E2%80%9D?share=1&srid=5Hkq and http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2017/10/mistakes-are-portals-of-discovery.html etc

New Year’s Resolution 2019 – “To Do” – or – “Not To Do”

My New Year’s Resolution 2019 is to Make “Not To Do” and “Not To Meet” Lists and follow them to the extent feasible.

Here is how I am going to do it.

Why don’t you try it out too...?

“TO DO” or “NOT TO DO”  –  “TO MEET” or “NOT TO MEET”

My New Year’s Resolution 2019 

By

VIKRAM KARVE 

“TO DO” LIST  

When I was in the Navy – I always had a “to do” list or a “slop chit” (in Naval parlance).

It was standard Naval Practice for Navy officers to carry a “slop chit” in their pocket at all times – especially in work-intensive appointments like those on board Warships and in Naval Dockyards.

At the start of the day – we wrote down all the jobs to be done on the “slop chit”.

When a task was completed – we struck off that entry – and whenever there was a new job to be done – we added that job to the “slop chit”.

The tasks which remained incomplete at the end of the day – we transferred to the next day’s page.

I am sure you maintain such “to do” lists too – nowadays you can maintain these “slop chits” in digital form on your mobile cellphone, smartphone, ipad, tablet – or on your laptop too.

At work – these “to do” lists are “obligations” you have to perform in return for the money your employer pays you as salary.

Sometimes, the “obligations” can be non-monetary too – like marital obligations towards your spouse – or familial obligations towards your family, children, parents or relatives – or a commitment you have made to someone.

In short – “to do” lists are related to “obligations”.

“NOT TO DO” LIST

Now that I have retired – I have a “not to do” list.

Now – for a Veteran like me – there is no need for a “to do” list as far as “work” is concerned.

Once you retire – you don’t work for anyone – you do not have an employer who pays you money – so you have no obligations as far as “work” is concerned.

There is no “job” for you to do – and hence – there is no need to maintain a “slop chit” or “to do” list as far as “work” is concerned.

In most cases – by the time you retire – your children have “flown away” from your nest – so you do not have any parenting responsibilities either.

Yes – even after retirement – you may have some “bare minimum inescapable obligations” – like essential daily chores, paying bills etc.

In India – even after retirement – they hassle you with sundry issues.

For example – all pensioners have to visit their banks in November every year to render a “life certificate” in person in order to prove that they are alive.

Various types of bills and taxes are to be paid, returns are to be filed, banking work has to be done – but you can reduce these to the bare minimum inescapable requirements.

You must try to delegate these tasks to someone else.

Or you can use information technology to do these tasks online with minimal effort.

To put it in a nutshell – once you retire – your aim should be to minimize these sundry tasks to bare minimum.

Now – once you have reduced these so-called “inescapable” tasks to the bare minimum – almost zero – then you will find there is no need to maintain a daily “slop chit” or a “to do list” for these very few “inescapable” tasks.

However – in order to enjoy bliss – you must make sure you do not get tied down in unnecessary “obligations” which will eat into your time (like Parkinson’s Law).

In fact – after retirement – what you must do every day – is to maintain a daily “not to do” list.

Yes – you must maintain a “not to do” list.

“TO DO” or “NOT TO DO” – The Secret of Blissful Retirement

After retirement – you are supposed to enjoy a peaceful and blissful retired life “doing nothing”.

Every person has a different concept of how to enjoy “blissful retirement”.

I like to spend my time reading, writing, blogging, social networking, watching TV and taking long walks – especially food-walks.

Some of my ex “fauji” friends like to play golf every morning followed by chilled beer with their Navy buddies talking of the “good old days”.

There is a crazy guy who is enjoying his retired life indulging in adventure sports – despite his age.

Some like to spend their time indulging in spiritual activities.

Others travel – many take up a hobby – and some involve themselves in social activities.

Everyone has different ideas of “Bliss” – “to each his own bliss” – as they say.

I know what “blissful retirement” means for me.

You know what “blissful retirement” means for you.

Every individual knows his or her idea of “Bliss”.

So – after retirement – “blissful retirement” will be the only item on your daily “slop chit” or “to do” list.

Yes – after retirement – ideally – there will be just one item on your “to do” list – to enjoy “BLISSFUL RETIREMENT”.

Thus – there is no need for you to maintain an exhaustive “to do” list.

Now – you have only one “to do” item in your life – to enjoy blissful retirement.

“NOT TO DO” LIST

In order to enjoy retirement – what you must maintain is a “not to do” list.

Your “not to do” list will include all those activities which impede or interfere with the enjoyment of “blissful retirement”.

Whatever hassles you – those burdensome but unnecessary obligations and activities which waste your time and cause you stress – just put them on your “not to do” list.

I have realized that – after retirement – what you decide “not to do” is more important than what you decide “to do”.

The “not to do” list need not be not restricted to activities alone.

You must have a “not to do” list for people too

Maybe v you can call it a “not to meet” list.

Yes – your “not to do” list must include a “not to meet” list as well.

“NOT TO MEET” LIST

Let me give you a simple example of a “not to meet” situation from my life.

Long back – in the Navy – I once had a “toxic” boss who I did not like.

This boss hassled me – and he induced stress in me.

Our “vibes” just did not match.

Even being in his company was stressful for me.

Now – this boss had decreed that he would have a meeting at 9 AM every morning.

He wanted everyone – including me – to be present.

Since I was working in the Navy – I had no choice but to put the 9 AM meeting on the “to do” list – though I would rather have this painful morning meeting with the boss on my “not to do” list.

In the morning – this boss would ask us about our work – and then micromanage – ordering us to report on progress from time to time – and though I hated it – I had to put all this on my “to do” list – the progress reports which entailed meeting or speaking to the boss – which I hated to do.

So – after meeting the bare minimum inescapable requirement of the morning meeting – I put my boss (and other “toxic” types) on my “not to meet” list – and – I adopted a series of “evasive measures” to discourage the boss from meeting me.

After some time – the boss got the message and he stopped trying to micromanage me or monitor me – he would never call me – unless there was a real emergency.

It is best to put people who hassle you on your “not to meet” list.

Now – I have retired – I am my own boss – and I am a “free bird”.

There is no obligation for me to meet anybody.

I can decide who I want to meet – and who I do not want to meet. 

So now I have a “not to meet” list of toxic people I do not wish to meet.

MAKE TWO LISTS  – “NOT TO DO” LIST and “NOT TO MEET” LIST

Yes – you must make two lists:

1. What you do not want to do – you must put on your “not to do” list.

2. The persons whom you do not want to meet – you must put on your “not to meet” list.

FREE CHOICE – “TO DO” or “NOT TO DO” 

Similarly – just before retirement – I was a Professor – and my “to do” list comprised the lecture assignments and guidance of research work which were an “obligation” – since I was paid a salary.

Now – after retirement – I am often invited to deliver guest lectures and conduct training programs – but since I am under no obligation – I am free to decide whether “to do” or “not to do”.

And – if I decide “to do” – then I do so on my own terms.

WHY WAIT FOR RETIREMENT...?

WHY NOT HAVE “NOT TO DO” and “NOT TO MEET” LISTS RIGHT NOW

I will let you in on a secret.

I had started practicing this “not to do” and “not to meet” strategy long back in the early stages of my career – albeit covertly and tactfully.

How did I manage “not to do” and “not to meet” lists during my career...?

Those tricks I will tell you some other time – but I am sure you can use your ingenuity to devise your own techniques.

For example – in order to make your “not to do” and “not to meet” strategy succeed – you may have to project an “abrasive personality” – and – you may have to practice “creative incompetence”.

As you grow wiser with experience – you will realise that the “not to do” and “not to meet” lists are closely intertwined.

So – you need not wait for retirement to make your first “not to do” and “not to meet” lists.

You can do it right now.

During your career you will have to be a bit canny while practising this – I could do it in the Navy.

Of course – once you retire you can do it brazenly.

So – Dear Reader – why don’t you start right now...?

Every morning – instead of a “to do” list – you must make a “not to do” list.

Of course – like I said earlier – the “not to do” list must include “not to meet” list as well.

Decide what “NOT TO DO” rather than what “TO DO”. 

Decide who “NOT TO MEET” rather than who “TO MEET” 

Implement this daily “life management strategy” – and you will see your efficiency rise – your mood become better – and – your stress will disappear.

As I said earlier – you will realize that – deciding what “not to do” may be more beneficial rather than deciding what “to do”.

Dear Reader: 

Why don’t you try this “not to do” “not to meet” strategy the New Year 2019...? 

Why don’t you make this your New Year’s Resolution...? 

Wish you a Happy New Year 2019. 

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the story are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)

     

© vikram karve., all rights reserved. 

This is an Abridged Version of My Article Earlier Posted Online by me Vikram Karve more than 5 years ago in the year 2014 at 3/28/2014 09:30:00 PM in my Academic and Creative Writing Journal Blog at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/03/to-do-or-not-to-do-key-to-life.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/12/not-to-do-and-not-to-meet-lists-to-do.html  and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/06/to-do-or-not-to-do-to-meet-or-not-to.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2016/12/new-years-resolution-2017-not-to-do-and.html etc