I cook and I know that there is nothing gr8 about it!!

     Friends, we have many beliefs and dis-beliefs and I wonder how firm we are with these. Let me share an interesting incident happened to me few years back. I had a lecture at 8 a.m. and it was around 8.30 a.m. and students were still dropping in. Our college location is bit harder to reach with a public transport and few years back it used to be quiet an annoying task to reach college that too in early morning hours.  I am somewhat liberal to my students in case of timings for first lecture as I have seen few students losing their lives while traveling to colleges on bike. I have scary experiences that prevent me to take any action on my staff and students against late arrivals.

     Apart from this, being a teacher and because I was discussing a critical topic in class, I angrily asked them justification or clarification about why they were late.  They defended with their own reasons but I continued saying that what do you all have to do to come to college. Just get up in time and be ready to come. Look at us, being working ladies we get up early in morning, cook food, make our kids ready for school……bla bla….What is your problem? Do you care for grocery…vegetables and all at home? Do you cook? One student calmly answered… Yes mam! I cook. I care for grocery…vegetables and all things that are required at minimum to run a house. I curiously asked him how? He answered that he along with his elder brother stays in a flat. He was from a village in district nearby.  His brother was working. It was hard to spend money on costly food in city like Pune out of limited earnings of his brother. Both of them used to cook according to turns. He said that it is economical and healthier option instead of having spicy food outside.

    Since then I think twice while scolding students on attendance issues. Different incidents have taught me that “LIFE IS THE MOST DIFFICULT EXAM. WE FAIL TO JUDGE PEOPLE BECAUSE WE FORGET THAT EVERYONE HAS DIFFERENT QUESTION PAPER”.