722. A Class for the Erudite

"You went to that coaching institute for an interview. What was the outcome?" Manavalan asked his friend Yogi. 

"They wanted me to take a class for their senior faculty members, who would be sitting in the class like students" said Yogi, showing his irritation.

"Why don't you do so?"

"I did. But those senior teachers, acting like dull students, asked me stupid questions, asked me to explain what I taught again, saying that they couldn't understand what I had taught and harassed me in other such ways. I gave up, feeling disgusted." 

"Oh!" said Manavalan and remained silent, as though thinking about what Yogi had said.

"Looking at the way you are thinking, I surmise that you want to try for that job!" said Yogi, mockingly.

"Yes. I want to make an attempt " said Manavalan.

"I won't like other people, especially my friends, to go through the ordeal I went through. But, if you want to get a taste of that embarrassing experience, God help you!" said Yogi. 

"Congratulations, Mr. Manavalan. Our team of senior faculty members has selected you for the job" said the Director of the coaching institute.

"Thank you, sir!" said Manavalan. 

"We expect our teachers to be well-versed in their subjects. That is why we ask people who apply for a teaching job at our institute to handle classes for the senior faculty members. The senior faculty members sitting in the class, being scholarly people, would pose incisive questions to the candidate who is teaching them. They would also check whether the candidate is able to explain the concepts in a way even students with below-the-average intelligence or leaning capacity can understand. The senior teachers would assume the role of a dull student and pose questions that a dull student would pose in a real classroom. We select only those candidates who are able to meet these challenges and perform to the satisfaction of the senior teachers, testing the candidate's knowledge and teaching ability. Only very few people are able to come out of this test successfully. There are many educated people in the world, but only very few of them are outstanding. You can take pride from the fact you belong to this tribe."

Manavalan felt proud and elated by the Director's words of appreciation.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 72
Divining the Mind

Verse 722 (in Tamil):
kaRRAruL kaRRAr enppaduvar kaRRAr mun
kaRRa selach cholluvAr.

Meaning:

Those who can demonstrate their learning before the learned will be regarded as the most learned among the learned.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'kaRRavar avaiyil' by the same author.) 

Verse 723 (Soon)
Verse 721