The Last Lesson

This one is from my days of higher secondary (Standard XII) . Am very fortunate to have met many good teachers and subsequently a few great mentors in my life. If I have to choose top 5 among them, my Physics teacher of +2 would definitely shine like a guiding star. He is one who taught me concepts of vector till power of electromagnetism. Honestly as I recount, what I learnt from him was priceless. He mentored us beyond physics.

2 months prior to the board exam he had completed the syllabus for us. We were still preparing. He conducted a few mock tests. I still recall the sense of fear which used to bubble up from stomach and press hard on heart when we got the marks for these mocks. Anxious parents used to be tensed more than us. His numbers were like indicators to entrance ranks and board numbers. You get it right - in '80 - '90 that meant a lot to aspiring middle class kids and their parents. We had limited options - at least that's what two generations - we and our parents thought!

It was the last class that we had gone to attend - more of pep talks. He casually said - "By now you have solved all the problems that were posed in the previous year. It is easy correct?"

It sounded like a chorus - "Yes Sir, too easy."

One of them was too excited to add - "Actually last year the questions were so easy,I fear this year it would be harder."

"Yes, actually it would be. "- he added. Group exuberance was shaping to be serious. But in his self witty style he continued - "I have been teaching for past 30 years.In general the question papers for the years before and after always look easier than the one you appear."

Most of us giggled and vowed to take his blessings before departing.

No joke - our Physics paper for the entrance exam was a difficult one ( I dare to compare with any other batch). But the incident remained with me. Situations that we face are harder than the harder problems in the Physics books. In a given context whenever failure strikes and more so when I get to see success around me, in some small corner of heart comparison starts brewing. Occationally start feeling .... others got a clean stride hence they made it, but mine was challenging. In such moments of crsis, I bank on the last lesson of my Physics class. It gives me immense courage to fight back to be a winner.

Gyan 8 - No one gets an easy game. Winner plays it well.