VOLUME VII – CHAPTER 6
BOW CAPS – SATISFACTION AND FULFILLMENT
FROM KANYAKUMARI TO SRINAGAR
When a Principal says, “I am satisfied” or “Now, I have a sense of fulfilment.” What does he mean – the same idea or two different things?
One day when the author called his grandson and congratulated him on getting the first rank. He said, “Oh, this is usual for me. Why congratulate as if it is the first time?” Later when he got admission into the B.E. Course, he said, “I am satisfied. I have got the group I wanted.” After 4 years at the end of the course when “Wipro’ came for campus recruitment, gave written test for 450 students, short listed 18 for interview, select 3 out of them and offered him a posting at Bangalore on Rs. 27K p.m., he declined the offer saying he is joining Branden Burg University in Germany in the M.S. Power Engineering Course.
He told the author, “Now I have a sense of fulfilment. I have proved myself.”
When you become a Principal you have satisfaction that you have made the grade. After two decades when you get the National Award, you have a sense of fulfilment, that you have ‘Arrived’, completion of simple task, achievement of short term goals, reaching small targets-give you satisfaction. This feeling should increase in its size like concentric circles, as years roll on and you slowly graduate from simple to complex tasks and greater responsibilities are given. A new Principal may be asked to organize a short one week course in his school. But he will not be entrusted with the responsibility of organizing a National Athletic Meet or a National Jamboree for Scouts and Guides. So, we shall try to find what gives satisfaction and what gives fulfilment and what you should do to proceed from Kanyakumari (S) to Srinagar(F).
In the early stages satisfaction comes when you do something which benefits the institution for which you are commended later on. As you get more attached to and involved in your work which culminated in a National Award or your school is selected as one of the top 10 best schools in the country, you have a sense of fulfilment that your work has been recognized. All great achievers are more committed to their work irrespective of the organization.
A question arises – why not all schools be rated as best – why not all Principals rated as good enough for a National Award. Two students passed out of the same College of Education. One retired as a teacher – the other retired as Director of School Education – why?
One remained limited. The other stretched his limits. Happiness with the status quo and fear of the unknown – these are the twin factors preventing one from stretching his limits.
BE AN INSPIRED TEACHER
According to Ajay K. Jain, Professor of Management, successful people keep their mind reconditioned – i.e. he/she have an attitude to take risk, learn to unleam, live simple and are always optimistic. They develop a self-leadership model wherein they search for a meaning in life, always work for a meaning in life, always work for the welfare of the community, focus on the work, are neither motivated by success nor disheartened by failure and always perform excellently. Through this they get fulfilment.
You are always satisfied when you first attempt or for first experience goes off well. The author had this satisfaction on six occasions.
As a teacher, on the first day (28th August 1951) his Headmaster called him and said, “I am happy. You told me yesterday that you have chosen teaching. Now I want you to start your work by taking class XI in the second period (My class) just five more minutes to go. Get ready.”
The author went to the class and first addressed them as “Dear Brothers & Sisters,” which was reciprocated with a thunderous applause. He told them, “Do you know why I called you like that?” All of you should be around 16 or 17 years and I am 19, it is very small difference. Perhaps I finished my M.A. degree early at 18. That is all. I am not going to take any class. Just we should understand each other. That is all. Now, how many of you have been to a jail – none. I have been in a British lock up for 6 hours when I was 10 and in class 8. We, a group of 20 students, went to the police station and wrote Quit India on its wall. So the Inspector pushed us inside the
lock up. I went and hit the stone wall. A big bump rose on my forehead. From 4 to 10 p.m. we were inside singing Bharathiyar songs. At 10 p.m. he gave another push. I hit the opposite wall. The bump got broken. Blood flowed down when I came home my father (also a freedom fighter) praised me for having spilt some blood for the sake of the country, took me to the hospital and got the wound sutured. Do you see a scar, a line on my fore head. That is the present given to me by my country.
During my student days I could have only one meal a day. I walked 16 miles a day to my college. But I was happy that my country gave me at least one meal, gave me Education with a scholarship. Never say, “My country has not done anything for me. Always ask yourself, “ What can I do for my country?”
I will say one sentence. I want all of you to repeat it and be like that –
“Sink or Swim, Live or Die, Survive or
Perish, my hand, my head and my heart
To my country and to my country alone”
In the coming days let us all learn together.”
A few minutes, later the H.M. called me to his room, gave me a sweet and said “I am happy, I have found an inspired teacher. You will become a teacher of Teachers.”
That was the first experience of satisfaction by the author.
After hearing (standing in the corridor) my first lecture in the Teachers’ College my Director and Mentor Sri Avinashilingam Ayya Avl. said, “Simply wonderful.” That was the second occasion.
GO FULLY PREPARED FOR A MEETING
Next, as a Deputy Director I was asked to address a batch of 60 I.A.S. probationers on Community Development, in 1962 at Bhavani Sagar. Before the afternoon discussion session started the Principal of the Orientation Study Centre there – a senior State Govt. Officer – told me, “Every year I find at the beginning of the discussion session one trainee asking a mischievous question to show their I.A.S. colour and make the speaker feel some discomfiture. So be prepared.” The author said, “I shall take care of him.”
As predicted, one trainer said, “Our first question – Can you please tell us how you felt when you met a District Collector for the first time?” The author said, “A fine question it was nothing unusual – just a meeting between two men of almost the same age, same qualifications, same kind of rigorous testing before selection. He had passed the I.A.S. Exam. I had been selected as one among the 20 Fulbright Scholars to visit USA after a gruelling 3 stage test. His jurisdiction was one District – say one dot. Mine was a straight line which is only several dots connected together. His area is restricted. Mine is spread over the 4 Southern States, 6 Panchayat Samithis in every other State – Andaman, Pondicherry, Goa, Lakshadweep and Tanganyka in Africa. My work makes me deal with the Chairmen and Commissioners of 1500 Panchayat Samithis, 200 District Collectors, 24 Secretaries all over India. Whenever I have to meet a District Collector (as a Psychologist) I gather all back ground details about him so that I can plan my strategy.
Now even before coming here, I have gathered from the States to which you have been allotted details about the Community Development work going on and the problems faced and also about each one of you.
I hope I have answered your question. Now I will start the discussion in an alphabetical order taking each State and make you understand the work awaiting you?”
The whole discussion for the next two and half hours was a friendly chat.
The Principal said, “You have floored him, a fitting reply which would have shown him his place.”
That was the third occasion.
NO WORK IS HIGH OR LOW
In 19th July, 1967, the author’s first day as Principal in K.V. Cochin Naval base. After prayer he told the assembly, “I am happy that God has chosen me through KVS to be with all of you as the Principal servant of this school. I have heard much about this Base and its training schools. I am staying in the Officers mess only. It will help me to know and understand more about the Base. I have visited Annapolis in U.S.A. where the Naval Officers of U.S.A. are trained. I am sure this will be equal to it.
In our school we have people of different religions, languages, communities and regions. But the one great connecting factor is that we are all Indians.
Last year Master Srinivasan has got the All India First Rank in the Board Exam. I want every one of you to become like him. You should make this school the best in the country.
I always want to say proudly about you, “They are all my students.” If anyone does something wrong I will seek pardon from God that I am sorry you have not behaved like my student.
The peon is as important to the school as the Principal. If the Principal is away for a week the school will even then run, but if the peon does not come for a day, the toilets will start stinking. The school can’t run. Remember that no work is high or low. Each one is important to the society in its own way.
May God Bless You.”
The Senior Instructor of the Base (a parent) came next morning and said, “Mr. Principal, Yesterday it was a very emotional, patriotic speech you gave to the children. We are all happy that the school is in safe hands.”
That was the Fourth Occasion.
TALK TO THEM IN THE LANGUAGE OF THEIR THOUGHTS
In December, 1962, I attended the first meeting of Directors and Deputy Directors at the Krishi Bhavan, Delhi. Seventeen Dy. Directors of SEO’s Training Centres and thirteen Directors of Orientation and Study Centres attended. The author was the youngest and Sri. I.D.N. Sahi, I.C.S. Secretary used to call him, ‘Chota DD.’ Nearly two hours after the conference started, Sri. Sahi said, “Our Chota DD has not spoken.” Sri. Avinashilingam sitting next to Mr. S.K. Dey Minister of Community Development said, “Now he will say.” Then the author said, “From our interactions with villages we have found that based on their native and practical wisdom they have come up with significant achievements. Our centre Trainees feel that similar may be the case in other States. So they suggest that such achievements in the various Panchayat Samitis of each State may be compiled and published in English and the language of the State first and then these may be got translated into the other languages of the other States. In this way the successes of different Panchayat Samitis all over India in various fields like Agricultural, Health, Transport and Education. Social transformation can become known and shared by the whole country.” In this connection, I only wish to conclude by saying, “If we want to induce people to do or buy something, we should talk to them, in their language, the language of their thoughts.”
Sri Sahi said, “Our Chota DD has given us a new dimension to think, a very useful technique to reach out. We shall act upon it.”
That was the fifth occasion.
ACT FAST
In July, 1979 when the author joined the Regional Office as Education Officer, the Asst. Commissioner immediately asked him to go to the High Court and assist our lawyer in handling a bunch of admission cases. When the lawyer Sri. U.N.R. Rao told the Judge Justice V. Ramaswamy that the Board of Governors of KVS has made a rule that only persons with a minimum of one transfer in the preceding 7 years are eligible for admission of their children in class 1. The judge said, “I would like to see the original minutes of the Board Meeting when this rule was made. Can you produce it?” The lawyer turned back and looked at the author who at once told him, “We will request the Commissioner to air dash it within 48 hours.” Coming out of the court, he asked the Asst. Commissioner to request the Commissioner and it came the next evening through a special messenger. On the next day when the Judge saw it, he said, “Now the rule is clear, so the case is dismissed; but ask the Commissioner not to cancel the admission I granted last month based on insufficient information.” Again when the lawyer looked back the author said, “It will not be cancelled.” Later the Commissioner congratulated the author for taking quick decisions and winning the case.
LEAVE THE WORLD A LITTLE BETTER
That was the sixth occasion but a sense of fulfilment came to the author in December, 1988 when he was asked by Sri. Ranga Ra, Director of Bharat Scouts and guides to introduce Swami Ranganathanandaji Maharaj of the Ramakrishna Order to the delegates of the Asia-Pacific Jamboree at Hyderabad. That he considered to be the greatest blessing conferred on him in recognition of all the work that he had been doing for several years.
Success is temporary and fleeting, but acts as a spring board. But fulfilment is the culmination of your life time work and it envelops your soul.
The author is a great admirer of the American Philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson and his thoughts on success have been the sheet anchor of his work. “To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to leave the world a bit better; whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition, to known even one’s life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”
ONE WHO KNOWS (VOL VII – CHAPTER 6)
(DIMENSIONS OF THE LIFE AND WORK OF A PRINCIPAL)
749) One who asks his students not to become slaves of a text book but kings of the subject.
750) One who advises his staff to always be the best and give the best in whatever they do. And that their work should be the signature they leave behind. He quotes the words of Mahatria Ra:-
“Work should be a happening and not a doing.
Work should expand your personality.
Work shouldn’t be an effort but it should be a flow.
Work should be a celebration.”
751) One who knows that if he spends a few minutes to ponder and change the way he looks at things, heroes may emerge in the form of the same persons who challenge him.
May be a difficult staff member who would have actually helped him see thro’ his weakness, a pupil who was bold enough to stand firm on his beliefs, a parent who helped you to rediscover your strengths, someone who helped him just by their presence, a person who shared his sorrow, a friend whom he trusted with his secrets and never once turned it against him, a watchman who escorted his son to a doctor in his absence, a cab driver who shared his anxiety about his daughter’s future, he is asking the driver to meet him after the result and the taxi driver refusing to accept any money from him – some persons comfort some challenge – all these reach him or he reaches them.
752) One who knows that if he takes a different path he will find a new destination for himself and knows that for this he has to adopt a big purpose in life to work for.
753) One who advises his staff that their only purpose should be to help each student ascend to the highest position in the area of activity he chooses.
754) One who advises his staff to split their each class into 30 minutes for the subject and 10 minutes to inspire and interact on human values.
755) One who knows that the greatness of his character should lie in thinking positive when everything is not going to the right way.
756) One who knows that he should always be loyal to the responsibilities of the chair.
757) One who tells his staff that the teacher-student chemistry is a mystery as you will never know when it will happen, with whom it will happen, why it happens and how it happens.
758) One who tells his students that in discovering the teacher you will discover yourself and when the teacher sees something in you and begins to work with you, then you will proclaim.
“I am my Teacher’s Creation.”
759) One who tells his staff that more than their own success, the success of those who he has moulded is always closer to him.
760) One who advises his staff that when their work becomes their self expression, then money will come in search of them as a natural bye product.
761) One who asks his staff to ask themselves 3 question:
a) Am I doing justice to my potential?
b) Daily in how many lives have I become useful?
c) Everyday am I behaving in a manner which will take me nearer to God?
762) One who tells his students – “Your tomorrow should not be a repetition of today.” If you do the same thing daily, you will get the same results. If you want new results you have to think new and do new.
763) One who asks his students to ask themselves daily this question:
“From here – where – How?”
764) One who advises his staff that the question is not:
“Out of everyone who is the best?”
But “How to get the best out of everyone?”
765) One who interacts daily with –
5 Teachers
5 Students
5 Parents
5 Members of the community.
766) One who is willing to unlearn and relearn.
767) One who tells his students:
“Not every bamboo becomes a flute in the hands of a master. You have to be bamboo worthy of a Master. You have to be the one that is worthy of becoming his instrument of success.”
768) One who knows that he can’t escape 4 stages of progressive maturity:-
“a) Unconscious in competence (I don’t know. You don’t know)
b) Conscious Incompetence (I know that I don’t know)
c) Conscious competence (I know that I know)
d) Unconscious competence (What I do, I do well)”
(-Mahatriya Ra)
769) One who knows that competence crises out of 3 factors:
a) Information
b) Understanding
c) Experience
770) One who knows that –
“Expertise comes with time
Precision comes with time
Perfection comes with time”
771) One who knows that heavens are not beyond the horizon and knows that one who wins over forces well beyond his control emerges as a champion.
772) One who advises his staff that the first fire they see today is the little spark they missed to notice yesterday and the today’s problems are yesterday’s challenges overlooked.
773) One who tells his staff that God has created a world of raw materials (students) and has left it to them to make the finished goods from:
The unpainted canvas
The unsung music
The unsolved anxieties
In completing them they will discover the stuff they are made of.
774) One who tells his staff that the question is –
“It is not somehow! It is how!”
775) One who tells his staff that for the snail to move at a slow pace is success but not so for the rabbit and the inability of the snail to move fast is not fault/failure for the snail.
776) One who quotes Christ to his staff and says that the shepherd will not only be happy that 99 of his flock have returned safely. But will be concerned about the safety of the one which is limping.
777) One who gives his staff an example from building construction and says it is much easier to make correction at the blue print stage that at the level of the structure.
778) One who knows that in academics answers are dependent on questions. But in leadership situations define solutions and that instead of customising the circumstances, he should customise his approach to the circumstances.
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EMINENT THINKERS (VOL VII – CHAPTER 6)
(Whose ideas have been adapted for Education Management)
Hassan Kutty
520) Ayesha Sattar
521) Hassan Kutty
522) Gunjan Jain
523) Angela Duckworth
524) Udaya kumar Gopala Krishnan
525) Dakshiya Dass
526) Elizabeth Gilbert
527) Rakesh Sinha
528) Anil Dey
529) Dr. M.K. Mani
530) Karen Blumenthal
531) Carl Bernstein
532) Hillary Clinton
533) Gary Byrnes
534) Gail Sheeby
535) Gustan Le Bon
536) Arunima Sinha
537) C.R. Snyder
538) Shane Lupez
539) K. Suresh Kumar
540) K. Swaminathan
541) J.S. Raghava
542) Stanley Engerman
543) V.A. Vasudeva Raju
544) Thich Nhat Hanh
545) Laxmi Murthy
546) Mitu Varma
547) De Bono
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“Whatever talent a person has should be dedicated to the rest of humanity – indeed to all living beings. Therein lies fulfillment. All men are kin. They are of the same likeness, the same build, molded out of the same material, with the same divine essence in each. Service to man will help your divinity to blossom, for it will gladden your heart and make you feel that life has been worth while. Service to man is service to God, for He is in every man, and every living being, in every stone and stump. Offer your talents at the feet of God. Let every act be a flower, free from the creeping worms of envy and egoism and full of the fragrance of love and sacrifice.”
– Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
