EduCatioN ~ FouNtaIn oF KnoWledGe.. (SoMe coMes tO dRinK, sOmE to siP & oTheRs jUst To gaRGle!!)

 I was reading an article last night, regarding our education system.. 
And it bring me into a thought, 'What is the purpose of our education??'

Someone has very rightly said, ~ "Many walking encyclopedians are living failures!"

I used to wonder 5W1H!!! And I was stuck.. 
But, last night, I found an interesting stuff while reading the article.. And it literally amazed me!

Let me share with you the story of 'Broad-based Education'.. 

Some animals in a forest decided to start a school. The students included a bird, a squirrel, a fish, a dog, a rabbit and a mentally retarded eel. A board was formed to determine the curriculam and it was decided that flying, tree climbing, swimming, and burrowing would give a broad-based education. All animals were required to take all subjects. 
The bird was excellent at flying and was getting A's but when it came to burrowing, it kept breaking its beak & wings and started failing. Pretty soon, it started making C's in flying and, ofcourse, in tree climbing and swimming it was getting F's. The squirrel was great at tree climbing, but was failing in swimming. The fish was the best swimmer but couldn't get out of the water and thus got F's in everything else. The dog didn't join the school, stopped paying taxes, and kept fighting with the administration to include barking as part of the curriculam. The rabbit got A's in burrowing but tree climbing was a real problem. It kept falling and landing on it's head, suffered brain damage, and soon couldn't even burrow properly and got C's in that too.
The mentally retarded eel, who did everything half as well, became the valedictorian of the class. The board was happy because everybody was getting a broad-based education.


 And it concluded: 'A true broad-based education prepare students for life, without losing their areas of specialization and competence.'



So..
What is education?? 
A fountain of Knowledge...!! 
Mmmm... May be!!
And..
Whom do I call educated then??
Those,
who comes to drink? I mean.. Walking encyclopedians?!
Or, who comes to take a sip? I mean.. The eel!!
Or, who comes just to gargle? I mean.. The dog, rabbit, squirrel, etc.
And, we are back to tier-I... Isn't it!!!

So..

I dig a little deeper to exactly understand ~ 'Whom, then, do I call educated??'
And I found something interesting.. And there, it's written:

"First, those who manages well the circumstances which they encounter day by day; and those who can judge situations (not people) appropriately as they arise and rarely miss the suitable course of action.
Next, those who are honorable in their dealings with all men, bearing easily what is unpleasant or offensive in others, and being as reasonable with their associates as is humanly possible.
Furthermore, those who hold their pleasures always under control and are not unduly overcome by their misfortunes, bearing up under them bravely and in a manner worthy of our common nature.
Most important of all, those who are not spoiled by their successes, who do not desert their true selves, but hold their ground steadfastly as wise and sober-minded men/ women, rejoicing no more in the good things that have come to them through chance than in those which through their own nature and intelligence are theirs since birth.
Those who have a character which is in accord, not with one of these things, but with all of them, these are educated - possessed of all the virtues."
                                                                                                              ~ Socrates (470-399 B.C.)
In a nutshell, educated persons are those who choose wisely and courageously under any circumstances. If they choose wisdom over foolishness, good over bad, virtue over vulgarities, regardless of the academic degrees they have, then they are educated!

RomE wasn'T buiLt iN a dAy..!!

Trimester 2 brought a significant difference in our academic arena. A new subject had been introduced ~ "Managing Knowledge in Economy (MKE)"!

"It's not Knowledge Management. It's far beyond that.." the sub-headline of the course pedagogy depicted. 

Knowledge Management has to do nothing with our concern. But the last word comprising of 7 golden letters ~ "Economy" bounded all of us to think... To think whether we need to revisit the Economics book or may be the entire course (for some).. The Economist guys of our batch seemed to be the happiest. The commerce guys seemed to be interested. The non-commerce guys seemed to be concerned. And there were some fellas like me, who totally seemed to be like crackpots!

IBA, Bangalore has a very unique strategy of conducting events. Be it a group-project/ skit/ corporate presentation/ business-week/ other events ~ it's all permutation and combination. So, for Trimester 2, we had a section change. 85% were new heads, new talents, new skills, new behaviors, new politics... A total new mess!

But scorpions will be scorpions. Somewhere we all were tightly LinkedIn. This is highly interesting fact that when it's success, then it's because of 'me'. And, when it's not, it's because of 'US'! Our external locus of control sucks.. After all, we're B-school students! How can we be wrong?! We're god's gift to mankind.. (Typical thinking of B-school students!)

So, the bell rang and the first session on MKE started. And.. something wonderful happened.. 

"Guys, it will be an open-book/ notes examination for this paper!" ~ Our Prof. said.

Literally all of us started monkeying inside.. Super happy we were.. For the first time in IBA, it happened for Economics..! Felt great.

And then, the most unexpected (vulnerable) statement, made by our Prof. ~

"Wait.. Wait.. Please listen.. Can there be silence.. See you all have to study thoroughly for this paper and each one of you have to make your own notes. Once I'll approve your notes, you may enter the examination hall with those notes. No piracy, please!" 

And... Within no time, we all were back to tier-I (i.e., the state of depression). Some intelligent fellow asked, "Sir, from where we have to make notes? Any references? Any book(s)?" 

"From everywhere.. Internet, books, journals (EBSCO, G-gate), etc. I'm also planning for you all to have a live project in this aspect." ~ said Prof.

Oh no! Again Economics project.. Means again group-activities! Again lots of drama and conflicts.. The history, once again, is going to be repeated. Hey.. But wait..

"This time it won’t be any group activity.. It will be individual and it carries the maximum weightage." he declared.

Some days later... (after having a couple of sessions)

One mail has been circulated by our Prof., he sent us a list containing a large number of different interest fields, viz., Research Paper, Data Analysis, Model Conceptualization (using podcast/ monographs/ videos/ articles), Literature Analysis, Business Model Design, Art/ Painting/ Sculpture, Dance/ drama/ ballet/ folklore/ puppet show, etc.

Rule No. 1: Only 15 pupils may opt. for a specific interest field.

Rule No. 2: Its first come, first served priority basis.

Now, the real game is ON! 166 heads of PGDM 2012-14 were stuck! Probably, all they've thought of, is playing on perceptible numbers; like we did prior, in the simulation game.. Ooops!! This time.. There's no shortcut guys! Rock on!! I said in my mind and giggled.. 

Tough time started! It was actually fun time for us (the crackpots).. Why? This was the time we all gonna recognize 'who's who!!' I felt a sense of belongingness (being mischievous)..

After a week..

We all now had our own choice of interest field to work upon.. I had chosen ~ 'Business Model Design'.. And don't think it was easy.. I had to negotiate real hard for it with my Prof. Actually; I was the 16th person taking this subject. I broke the rule. And I still remember the day..

One afternoon, an email came to my outlook by Prof. It was written ~ 

"Dear Debolina,

You cannot take this topic. This slot is already full. You’re the 16^th person submitting the same topic. And unfortunately you are 19 seconds late with respect to your predecessor. So, please re-select a relevant topic as per your interest and submit it within next 24 hours. Or else, you’re liable for imposing penalties.

Regards,

Prof.”

19 seconds.. WTF!! Immediately after, I ran to his office. I thought it’s the best time to negotiate with him regarding the issue. I entered to his cabin and asked ~

“Excuse me, sir. May I come in..”

“Yes come.. What’s the matter?”

“Sir..”

“Yes..”

“I..”

“Proceed further Debolina..”

“Sir.. I’ve.. Actually I’ve started to work upon the project.. And I’m doing well.. enthusiastically!”

And I realized that he almost caught me.. As because, I was goofing off!

“Hmm.. Since when?”

“Aaa… Since yesterday..”

“Okay! And what exactly you’re doing on the project?”

Gossshh!! What to say now..

“Aaa.. I’m working on Shoe Industry..”

“Which one? Nike? Adidas? Reebok?”

“No.. No.. I’ll build model of my own Shoe Industry..”

“Hmm.. Done some primary research??”
“… Kind of…”

“What is the Industry penetration in the National market?”

What! I mean that’s horrible now..

“Sir.. Google it..”

“Is that your answer? It’s your project or mine?”

“No.. I mean.. I’ve to google it..”

“Better.. Send me the soft copy of your research by tonight.. Then we’ll talk..”

Yaay!!!

“That means.. I can move ahead with the topic?”
“Not really.. We’ll talk once you send the report.. Okay?”

And.. Here I go..

Rushed and came back to my room.. Ignored my roomie’s hot-gossips’ about X,Y,Z..  And solely spent 4.5 hrs on my lappy with 1 ‘coke can’ and 2 packets of ‘lays’.. Oh.. Please, when you really do work hard, you need some energizers.. And what  all I did is ~ ‘doodled the Google!’

Suddenly  ‘all goddesses of mishaps’ had appeared within an hour or two in my room.. I mean.. My unwanted neighbors..

“What are you doing for so long?” ~ 224

“Yeah.. I’m a lil bit busy now..” ~ said I

“It’s evening-walk time.. Let’s go for a tea break..” ~ 222

“Sorry.. I’ve already fueled it up!”

“What?” ~ 222 (annoyingly)

“Don’t you see, she’s busy.. Let’s go!” ~ 224

Both of them gave me weird facial expressions like hell. And left!

“Hell.. What was that??” asked by my roomie.

“Ammm…. May be..”

“No please.. Why you always have to go with them for tea?? I’m your room-mate.. You can sometimes be with me also..”

“Yeah.. Sure!”

“Let’s go today then..”

“Honey! I’m really busy.. Some other day??”

“I doubt it.. bye!”

I sometimes wonder, does all this melodrama happens in boys hostel also?? I mean if you don’t give time to your roomie & neighbors for a day or two.. They will shoot all impossible rebuttals on you blaming, “You’ve changed a lot.. / You don’t need us anymore../ What do you think yourself? A topper?/ You’ve got new friends.. /I thought you understand me better.. But I was wrong! Blah.. Blah..”

Trust me.. You better be quite.. Or else, you may have to take ‘Saridon’ for the fortnight..

Anyways.. I was obsessed with my report that time.. I ignored all the melodrama consciously and backed to my work.

Ctrl+C  Ctrl+V  Ctrl+C  Ctrl+V  Ctrl+C  Ctrl+V.. Ctrl+S.. Uploaded attachment.. Send! And my report is complete and sent!

Next day..

I went to Prof.’s cabin with a bright pride face..

“May I come in sir..”

“Yes.. Come..”

“Sir.. How was my report??”

“A good use of copy and paste buttons!”

Hell…..

“Now.. What should I do?”

“You’re liable for getting negative marks.. Choose any other project field..”

“……” almost sobbing.. Thinking how hard I ‘doodled the Google’ patiently, sitting at one single place for almost 5 hours.. compromised with the hot gossips with my fellas, tea break, etc.

“Now.. stop doing that..” ~ said Prof.

“What is primary research Debolina?” he asked.

“..mmm… Questionnaire..!..and..”

“Yes! You should have done a small market research before moving into such detailed demographics..”

“But you gave me only one night.. It’s very short time..”

“And you told me you’ve already started working out on your project..”

“I… I… I’ve lied..”

“Hmm.. I knew that..”

I was feeling ashamed and bent down my head..

“Don’t lie when you’re not confident about what to tell and what not to..”

“Hmm.. Sorry sir..”

“But I’m really looking forward to do my project in this field.”

I don’t know what moved him that day.. My enthusiasm.. Or my sobbing.. He told me ~

“One week..  for the report of your primary research.. Or else, you’re out!”

Well.. That was the entire episode of my weird negotiation. After that I formed a questionnaire and within one week got 60 odd responses; formed the report. And yes! This time without the help of ‘Ctrl+C Ctrl+V’.. And guess what! It was accepted with grace.

Let’s come back to the main stream now..

The MKE sessions were not actually monotonous. But the deliverables were such that one cannot easily gasp in. I’d never been able to concentrate on a single class of MKE. Not because,

-         I was dumb

-         I was not an economist

-         Or, I was lacking ‘the burning desire’ to learn

This time I was lacking ‘the sense of belongingness’. Why? No practical implementation of the thought process and the delivered knowledge. Before the project had started, I used to think ‘what the hell will we get reading this subject?!’

But.. The project had made a drastic change in my thought process and the way looking towards it. I can tell only one thing, flaunting of knowledge doesn’t encourage & engage efficiency; it’s their applications that count.

 “Rome was not built in a day..” True! I think this statement is damn true with everything that we do! Everything needs a constant effort.. A constructive, progressive effort..

Well.. They say, no project finishes on time.. May be projects are meant to be under construction with certain periodic intervals.. Like, building a home.. It goes on & on.. Modification.. Super Modification.. Mega Modification.. and so on..

Same with my project.. I cannot claim my Business Model is complete.. It’s still under construction.. And at every interval it requires modification, in bits and pieces, from everywhere, everyone and every now and then!

But.. You may think, what’s the benefit then??

And I’ll say..

It enhance and enrich your robustness of thoughts..

We were supposed to submit the answer script along with the notes which we were supposed to prepare beforehand. I don’t know, how you all will take this.. But only I and the Prof. know what all I had written in the examination paper. I never required any written notes to express my robustness of thoughts and conceptualize that. My notes were being made by my roomie who was actually worried about my preparation aghast. Okay.. I know.. That’s too much flaunting.. But really.. In the examination hall, I wrote only what I knew and understood through my practical exposure. I never required consulting my notes for even a second. After that, I got some acclamation from Prof. in terms of various modes of appreciation which I think is more than enough to measure my efficiency over the subject! And finally landed up with the 3rd highest grade in the entire batch.. Being a self-considered crackpot, it made wonders for me.. And created a significant difference in my life..

There’s a saying..

“I hear.. And I forgot; I see.. And I believe; I DO.. And I understand!!” ~ Confucius

And all I can conclude is..

Feel the sense of belongingness to whatever you’re doing.. If you cannot feel it.. You cannot achieve it! If you don’t belong there.. You do not exist there!!