It is essential at times to let people laugh at you in
ridicule or for that matter even insult you.
I remember vividly two such occasions when I was
laughed at and ridiculed and also insulted.
Both of these proved to be good for me in the longer run.
First was when I had opted for English compositing in
my Graduation. One of my closest friend’s
uncle on learning that I had opted for English Composition had ridiculed me
with a big laughter in a big gathering and had discouraged me by saying that till
date no one in Vikram Deb College, Jeypore had scored more than 38 marks in the
subject. I had kept quite and had
decided to prove him wrong. When the
final results were declared I was extremely delighted because I had scored 57
marks in English Composition and was glad when my friend’s uncle had
appreciated it.
Second occasion was during my final year of Post
Graduation. Though I had done my schooling in an English medium school, only a
handful of teachers including my Principal were in fact from English medium
background but majority of the teachers were from Govt. School background. In VD College, Jeypore too there wasn’t much
of an exposure for learning English. Inspite
of these shortcomings couple of my friends and I were keen to pick up the
language.
I had selected English Literature as my subject for my
Post Graduation from Ravenshaw College, Cuttack. It was a challenge to study
there which was considered to be the best college of North Eastern Part our
country along with 87 students who were originally from the same college
itself.
Those days I used to survive on Rs. 450/- to Rs. 500/-
per month. (1983 to 1985)
I had noticed that few good students used to go to one
Mr. Sadanand Parida sir who was good in his subject knowledge for guidance for
which he used to charge Rs. 300/- per month.
This was a huge amount for me so I wasn’t able to afford the same. However, I had planned to go to him in my
second or final year when last six month would be left.
But when I had approached him in my final year for
taking me in as his student I was deeply aggrieved when he had bluntly refused
by saying, ‘It is not possible to include new student in my batch. You should have joined the batch in the first
year itself.’ He had further added that, “Moreover I take in students in my
home batch only when I have confidence in them.” This was quite insulting for me because he
had said all this in a gathering of 10 to 15 students.
All students basic target in those days in Post
Graduation class used to be to score above 54% marks for becoming eligible for
becoming a Lecturer.
After Sadanand Parida Sir’s denial to guide me at his
house I became more serious and went through all the original text books of
both the years.
When the results were declared I was extremely happy
to note that including me only 5 students of our batch had managed to score
above 54% marks. With 55% marks I was 3rd
rank holder in the college and 6th in the University.
On visiting the college I had gone to the staff room
of English Department and had peeped in.
I was in for a very pleasant surprise when along with other Lecturers
who were congratulating me on my success,
Sadanand Parida Sir had got up from his chair and had come towards me to
shake my hand and to pat on my shoulder.
He had said by pointing towards his chair, “Hello Sukhwant, now you are
eligible to join us and sit on this chair.”
I was extremely happy and elated.
Had my friend’s uncle not ridiculed me and had
Sadanand Sir not used those harsh words probably I would not have done so well.
Hence, I strongly feel that we should not let ridicule
or insult or harsh words get into our psychic and go into depression. Instead
we should take it as a challenge and prove the persons wrong.
S.S. Thaper
13.07.2018
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