724. The Professor's Defiance

Karunakaran, Head of the Department (HOD) summoned Professor Marudhamuthu to his cabin,

"Mr. Marudhamuthu! You have got the opportunity to speak in a national seminar, at this young age. Your breakthrough research has facilitated this. Though the seminar is being held in our college, professors from various other colleges will be attending the seminar. There will be some, who taking advantage of their learning acquired through their education and long experience, will pose tricky questions to you and try to confuse you and make you look stupid, in the presence of the educated audience. To prevent this from happening, I am going to announce, even at the beginning of the seminar that the questions have to be posed only after the speaker completes his presentation and that no questions should be asked during the course of the speech. Still, a few people may ask you questions, while you are speaking. If anyone does so, tell them politely that you will answer the questions at the end. Once you complete your speech, I will end the seminar, saying that there is no time for taking up questions" said Karunakaran.

Marudhamuthu nodded his head, in agreement. 

"In spite of my having told you clearly not to entertain any question during the course of your speech, you allowed people to ask questions. You even invited a few of the people who asked questions to the stage and asked them to explain the points they were trying to make" Karunakaran remarked in a tone of disapproval. 

"Sir! The questions asked by the professors helped me explain my point better. By listening to learned professors, when they came togain deeper understanding of some concepts" said Marudhamuthu.

"I was concerned that you were making yourself vulnerable, by going against my advice. But, I agree with your reasons for doing so. I observed that after your presentation was over, the audience was happy about the presentation. You have created a good impression about you in the minds of everyone. Congratulations" said Karunakaran, smiling.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 72
Divining the Mind

Verse 724 (in Tamil):
kaRRAruL kaRRA selach chollith thAm kaRRa
mikkAruL mikka koLal.

Meaning:

One should agreeably set forth their learning before the learned and acquire more (knowledge) from those who are more learned than one.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'sonnabadi En seyyavillai?' by the same author.) 

Verse 725 (Soon)
Verse 723