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| Sunday, 12 January 2003 |
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Some things never change Life was not that bad while studying. It turned worse after the so called "higher education". The gates of the university closed when one was 27, leaving two roads open. One lead to hell and the other to heaven. The problem was, no one knew which road led where, till one chose it, and travelled half way. You could always turn back (Thank God!), but by then you'd be almost 40. (At least in the mid 30s). What a time to begin life all over ones again? Like most graduates, Suresh too left university learning nothing much but a degree, a few large and valuable books, some worn-out shabby clothes and an old red and blue mattress. He didn't know which road to choose. Learning in theory was over. It was time for practical training or 'learning through experience'. Suresh was not disappointed when he realized that he had chosen the wrong path. Or rather he couldn't afford to be disappointed. It would only waste another three to four years of his already exhausted youth. Suresh had been a fool. He had made his first wrong decision the day he decided to enter university. (Just imagine! The Examination Department had ranked him 66 in the island for all his knowledge and brains.) His second stupid decision was to wait for a job that made use of his trained and educated brain. By the time he realised that he was "Over Qualified" or "Not Experienced" a good half of his life was wasted and his 'education' had got jammed in his unused mind. He couldn't remember whether Nietzsche talked of 'Totenism' or whether it was Karl Marx. (Surely he had not learned about an Emile Durkhim.) Well it was O.K. None of his employers or interviewers knew of one Mr. Durkhim. All his education was in vain. At the time he chose to shift roads, Suresh hardly knew how to turn a coconut husk to a rope, (How could he? Charles Darwin or Sigmund Freud never talked about such things!) though he lived in a village where people eked a living out of the coir industry. Even though his mother did wonders with coconut husks, she never expected her son to learn the art. (Bachelor of Arts meant more). Suresh, age 32, disillusioned,the prime of his youth wasted, made his 1st wise decision when he determined to learn the 'art'. His mother, who had no degree thought that Suresh was a fool. Her son! Bachelor of Arts! Engaged in the coir industry! He must be mad!' she thought. Suresh, a part of the country's labour force; trained in one thing and engaged in business in another thing; turned out to be an 'enthusiastic young entrepreneur' at the age of 36. He manufactured comfortable mattresses and used red and blue coverlets to attract attention. Gradually he became established, and started walking confidently on 'the road to heaven' His red and blue mattresses were widely known for quality; marketed islandwide; donations were made to university hostels; youth were encouraged in education. His uneducated mother, the Supervisor, the Financial Controller and Lifetime Partner managed the business better than him. Suresh the graduate, ran to her for every business tip, applied them with modern techniques and made finer red and blue mattresses. His staff, all graduates; learners of Communist Manifesto; never struck or grudged on Minimum Wages, Extra hours of Work, Under Employment, Exploitation or Supper Exploitation. They knew that their job was 'take it or leave it' type. If they left it, there were lots to take it. Thus the red and blue mattress business succeeded like the French Revolution of 1917. It was when Suresh was 64, that his son Shan entered the Faculty of Arts; with nothing much; few books. Some posh clothes and a new red and blue mattress. Some things never change. -by Ruth Cole |
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