For yourself, do for others too

MK Kohli 

WAY back in 1951, I was a BA student of DAV College, Jalandhar, and living in its main hostel. I had taken up history and Sanskrit as elective subjects, but had not studied the latter during my intermediate. So, I needed some assistance in the subject through private coaching,  in addition to my regular academic study in the college. 

I came across a young man who was a “Shastri” by qualification. He was preparing for his matriculation examination in English. He agreed to teach me Sanskrit on the condition that I would teach him English. So, it was an exchange of knowledge without involving any money. It was agreed that he would come to my hostel room in the evening for this purpose. 

I sensed that Shastriji was financially not sound. I came to know about his real poverty the day I noticed that he had come to the room barefooted. When asked the reason, he said he had no shoes. But the very next day he walked in wearing shoes. When I asked him to explain, he said he had bought a pair of second-hand shoes the previous day. 

Taking pity, I introduced him to my hostel superintendent, who was preparing for a competitive examination with Sanskrit as one of the subjects. He accepted Shastriji’s services in Sanskrit against the payment of a suitable amount. After about six months, the superintendent got him employed as a teacher in a private school. Shastriji specially came to my room to thank me for being an instrument in getting him settled in the teaching profession, which was after his own heart. I felt glad I could be of use to someone.

It was some years before I was able to help another young man. I was working as a lecturer in English at Government Higher Secondary School, Jagadhari. One day, one of my old students, Prithvi, came to see me and said imploringly: “Sir, I shall remain grateful to you for all my life if you can help me get some job.” I curiously asked him what kind of job was he looking for. “The job of a tubewell operator,” he said. 

I promised him that I would definitely try. It was a Saturday evening. 

It so happened that an SDO with the irrigation department, who was also my former student, was visiting me the following day. I mentioned the youth and his predicament to him. “We need a tubewell operator,” he said, “let him join on Monday.” 

Those were the days when there were no mobile phones. So, I went to inform Prithvi on my cycle. There were tears of joy in his grateful eyes. And I felt glad.

Now in both the cases of helping young men, what did I gain? Extreme satisfaction, I would say. I quote a poet: Mitegi aapke dil ki chubhan zaroor,/Kisi ke paer ka kanta nikal kar dekho.