Once upon a time, a student was considered very intelligent in studies. His dedication and intelligence were talked about in the entire school, but suddenly he fell victim to a serious illness. Due to being bedridden for several days, his attendance at school was greatly reduced. The situation became such that he could not even fulfill the condition of appearing in the examination.
This matter became a matter of great concern for him. He began to feel that it was certain that he would be left behind by a year. His mind was filled with panic and despair. Ultimately, to lighten the burden of his mind, he reached out to the renowned scholar and guide Madan Mohan Malviya ji. The student expressed his grief in a trembling voice, “Babuji, I will not be able to appear in the examination due to illness. It seems I will have to remain in the same class for one more year.” Malviya ji kept listening to him with great attention. Then he said very calmly, “Tell me one thing son, is reading a good thing or a bad thing?”
The student immediately replied, “It is a good thing.” Malviya ji smiled and said, “Then why be afraid of studying? The student should leave aside the thought of grade, class, year and concentrate on learning with all his heart. Man has made these grades for his convenience, knowledge does not accept them.”
The student’s face remained sad even after listening to him. Seeing his disappointment, Malviya ji explained in a deep voice, “Believe me, real learning is not limited to the four walls of school and college. Those who really have to study, they learn in every situation.
To attain knowledge one has to do penance and this penance continues throughout life. “Experiences, circumstances, sufferings of the world – these are the biggest Gurukul, for the one who has the fire to learn, being left behind for years is no hindrance.” He further said, “We learn many things in life not from books but from circumstances. Illness, difficulties, struggles – all these are also teachers.
Therefore, if you really want to become a scholar, then leave aside the worries about status and follow the path of knowledge.” These words of Malviya ji lightened the burden on the student’s mind. He understood that studies are not just a means to pass exams, but a spiritual practice that gives the right perspective to life. He returned filled with new enthusiasm. The truth is that for one who has a learning heart, every day, every experience, every struggle becomes a new school. This is the message of this story.-Nripendra Abhishek Nrip
