A week ago, a principal said that he had just come back from his master’s course. His friends congratulated him.

He just smiled and said that it was a hectic job studying in old age. Some one piped in saying that it shouldn’t have been much of a problem. As a teacher he should know what learning is all about.

Every one had a good laugh much to his consternation.

All the jokes aside, we all know that learning is a lifelong process. And for a teacher what s/he may learn may be useful not only to him/herself but also ultimately to the students.

It has often been asked: what is the point of learning at an old age? Perhaps in the earlier years, one could even say that and accept it as a fact. But not now, any more.

In the past, the generation that was in the age group of the 60s and 70s must have felt that way. Well, if that was the case then, the PM and his whole cabinet should be carrying the Chem and turning the beads.

It is not saying that old age incapacitates you. In fact the experience and knowledge of the past is something that the future can always harvest upon.

Wisdom comes from age. When the old wish to know from the young, it should be taken as a lesson and encouragement. It is a compliment to what is youthful, and to what youth can achieve. It is also an unspoken realization what they could have done if they had known it.

So, this middle-aged principal who came back from his master’s programme is indeed a sign of progress. He eldest child passed out from college only two years ago. His children or his own friends may joke about the efforts that he has been making but he is going to have the last laugh.

The thing is that you may have started the joke and started the whole world laughing. But only later you realise that every one was in fact laughing at you.

These are beautiful things that we failed to realise and understand immediately. It happens only late in life. Like stated earlier, the PM should be turning the beads and chanting the Baza Guru, if we go by the standard way of thinking.

But then who is going to run the government? Some one has to do it. Some one will have to do it. And he is doing it.

Well, the statement sounds argumentative. Yes, it can be viewed and argued from both sides. It all depends how we view it. The ‘view’ is what matters most in life. It has the possibility of changing everything in life and society.

That must be the reason for the principal to undergo the master’s programme.

Perhaps, this story of a 60-year old woman, who decided to attend college, is appropriate to mention here. Old age, it is believed can be quite boring. Now don’t tell us that, we who are nearing that stage, should keep ourselves busy with the grand children.

The point is that like the school principal who came back after his master’s, this old lady must have felt the same urge. She had. And she died five days after she graduated. The whole college turned up at her funeral.

For, they learnt what it meant to keep on learning.