The Duality of Human Nature

Some 20 years ago, I was appearing for the Rubber technologist’s examination. Every day after office, Mr Marathe a renowned Rubber Technologist would teach me from 9:30 PM to 11 PM at his house. He was working in a leading rubber manufacturing company. One day, he called me at 7:30 PM and said that his mother had passed away, and hence that day he wouldn’t be able to meet me. Although he had lost his mother, he was thinking about my inconvenience. After taking the examination, I insisted that he should take professional charges for coaching me; however, he never took a single rupee. His motto was “we are on the earth for a short time and we should help each other to the best of our capacity”.

Yesterday, I had an altogether contrary experience. A few years back, I attended a certification programme on leadership. The trainer mesmerized us and during the closing hour, he said “participants are very important in my life. Your batch is so special; you have engraved your names in my heart. In future, you can ask me any questions and doubts. Considering this assurance, and with a lot of faith in his words, yesterday I contacted him and asked one question. To my surprise, the response was, “you join my next certification batch, and you will get the answer to your question!” In today’s world, I am not saying trainers should give free advice for professional help; however if you are answering a simple question, then don’t make false promises to the participants. Professionalism does not mean we become dry and so money-minded that we break our empathetic relationship with the people that have faith in us as teachers.

These two experiences have taught me immensely about the duality of human nature. I wish we had the power to recognize people before any transaction with them.