Yesterady we were shopping at Nehrunagar and I was waiting for my wife to finish of the shopping. While I was waiting, a boy of around 14 yrs came to me with a around 90-100 wathces on a wooden frame. I was just another potential customer for him. He came and spoke casually “sahb, ghadiyal” (sir, Wathces ? ). I was waiting there and having nothing to do, I decided to know something about him and his watches.
The watches, he said are brought from Bombay by his employer. He will give him watches and at the end of day on the basis of the watches sold, he gets his share in profit. The design of the watches was excellent and could give any designer brand a run for its money. But they were blatantly duplicate. As I interacted, my interest got more into knowing the boy, how and why he does it?
He was an average looking boy, who can be unintentionally assumed as illiterate. But to my surprise he told that he was studying in 9th standard, in Pankaj High School. I really started to admire him for his extraordinary effort of earning while learning. At such an early age, it seems unfortunate that kids have to spend their time on earning for bread rather than learning for lifetime. I had no intention of buying watch but still I continued chatting with him so that I could learn.
We discussed that it would be great that if he can learn some English lines to attract buyers, he can really catch attention. He was excited by the idea. He immediately asked for some lines. I suggested him two three lines. He repeated them effortlessly. Again to my surprise he seemed to understand those lines without my explaining. (It was like…I can understand English but it is difficult to speak…so typical of Gujarati medium students.) He was excited by this realization of using language as an attention grabbing technique. He immediately replied me by saying ‘thanks’. I was not expecting such a courteous ‘thanks’ at the end of conversation. I think the strategy was immediately deployed.
When my wife came back from shopping, I discussed this with her. Suddenly I missed my last job at SCOPE, in which as a part of programme we tried creating English language proficiency among the youth of programme. I realized the importance of my last job. Simultaneously, became aware that everybody has a capacity to learn and excel. It’s just a matter of enthusiasm and focus. This children because of circumstances might not had chance to go to good school, but their capabilities are as excellent as any other kid. They also need space care and proper training to blossom. Probably these kids starting with little disadvantage, with life as their unforgiving yet best teacher, may show a greater intent and focus in achieving the excellence. The founder of Super30 has rightly said ‘Garibi ka baccha hi itihas banata hai’.
Ultimately, Education is about understanding life and making it better, for us and for others. Who else can do this except the persons who have experienced (and understood) the need(not desire) to change, rise and grow. Let our young generation go out and experience the world, as it is. Firsthand. Before becoming marketing manager lets sell a product once. Before teaching, lets be student first. Before becoming a politician, lets be citizen first. The watch boy of grade 9 just taught me, some marketing skill which I forgot to learn at MBA.
The watches, he said are brought from Bombay by his employer. He will give him watches and at the end of day on the basis of the watches sold, he gets his share in profit. The design of the watches was excellent and could give any designer brand a run for its money. But they were blatantly duplicate. As I interacted, my interest got more into knowing the boy, how and why he does it?
He was an average looking boy, who can be unintentionally assumed as illiterate. But to my surprise he told that he was studying in 9th standard, in Pankaj High School. I really started to admire him for his extraordinary effort of earning while learning. At such an early age, it seems unfortunate that kids have to spend their time on earning for bread rather than learning for lifetime. I had no intention of buying watch but still I continued chatting with him so that I could learn.
We discussed that it would be great that if he can learn some English lines to attract buyers, he can really catch attention. He was excited by the idea. He immediately asked for some lines. I suggested him two three lines. He repeated them effortlessly. Again to my surprise he seemed to understand those lines without my explaining. (It was like…I can understand English but it is difficult to speak…so typical of Gujarati medium students.) He was excited by this realization of using language as an attention grabbing technique. He immediately replied me by saying ‘thanks’. I was not expecting such a courteous ‘thanks’ at the end of conversation. I think the strategy was immediately deployed.
When my wife came back from shopping, I discussed this with her. Suddenly I missed my last job at SCOPE, in which as a part of programme we tried creating English language proficiency among the youth of programme. I realized the importance of my last job. Simultaneously, became aware that everybody has a capacity to learn and excel. It’s just a matter of enthusiasm and focus. This children because of circumstances might not had chance to go to good school, but their capabilities are as excellent as any other kid. They also need space care and proper training to blossom. Probably these kids starting with little disadvantage, with life as their unforgiving yet best teacher, may show a greater intent and focus in achieving the excellence. The founder of Super30 has rightly said ‘Garibi ka baccha hi itihas banata hai’.
Ultimately, Education is about understanding life and making it better, for us and for others. Who else can do this except the persons who have experienced (and understood) the need(not desire) to change, rise and grow. Let our young generation go out and experience the world, as it is. Firsthand. Before becoming marketing manager lets sell a product once. Before teaching, lets be student first. Before becoming a politician, lets be citizen first. The watch boy of grade 9 just taught me, some marketing skill which I forgot to learn at MBA.