"Daring to Dare not bunking classes?" A lesson for Solving an Ethical Conflict between Individual against Mob

"Daring to Dare not bunking classes?" A lesson for Solving an Ethical Conflict between Individual against Mob:

Enlightenment was groomed in disciplined family and disciplined neighboring atmosphere. Regularly going to school, playing and exercises, chanting hymns of god every morning and evening, reading news paper every day, Sunday house cleaning, respecting elders and older, regular homework, one hour meditation in the morning and in the evening, reading the best books, etc. were part of discipline. Up to school and higher secondary and 12th grade/ standard it was okay, and for his consistency Enlightenment was admired by all over in his small world and earned praise from all corners. Then he got admission in reputed engineering institute. He entered into the harsh real world where speaking and actions goes in exactly opposite direction while theory and practices goes 180 degrees opposing directions. For few months it was okay till it did not strike the ethical chord. However, later, in the month of October suddenly students started bunking classes. Finally, only student left was in the institute to attend the regular lecture was Enlightenment. Enlightenment did not know what was happening. The lectures were regular and only student in the class was Enlightenment. Professors said nothing. They felt Enlightenment will never know this all new paradigm, till Vicky arrives in the institute.

However, once after 15 days, due to sheer importance of the topics all the students attended the regular lectures of some subjects/ modules. After first lecture, one student came and loudly said, “Vicky has come into college and has asked to start bunking as Diwali / Deepawali is just one month away. Even day-scholars will not attend.” Everybody was happy. There was pumping in the air and joy all over. Enlightenment still kept attending the lectures. After 3-4 days, Vicky came to know that still institute is regular. He asked students since last 10 years it never happened. Few Students, tried to explain the situation to him. Finally Vicky ordered one student to send final warning to Enlightenment. On that warning Enlightenment said, “Let come that Vicky I’ll throw him on moon.” The message was conveyed to Vicky. Vicky and Enlightenment never saw each other till then. Hence, Vicky and all students laughed at the statement. In the recess, all students came into the class and said to Enlightenment, “Enlightenment Vicky has come, and requesting you to bunk the classes.” Enlightenment said, “No. I’ll throw him on moon, even if I was ill I had attended the classes since childhood then why should I do it now?” Suddenly Vicky appeared before Enlightenment. He put his hand on the desk and asked Enlightenment, “Ok. So try lifting my one hand only, you were to throw me on moon?” Enlightenment looked at the giant figure of Vicky 6 feet 5 inches tall with 18 bicep, who could bend the steel-rod at-will and was wrestling champion and used to lift 100 cc bikes up. There was situation and everyone was laughing. Enlightenment looked at the situation and started laughing. In fact, he laughed at himself and shook the hand and got rid-off from the classroom, no, ran, ride his bike and went at 100 kmph speed to home. While Enlightenment was running Vicky said, “Come in January only, Bunk has started.”

Later Enlightenment came to know that out of 2800 students in all the four years of Bachelor of Engineering, almost 2500 were from all over India and their travelling time was 4 to 7 days, hence there was huge union among them and were pressing Enlightenment to bunk the classes and get the obvious advantage. However, it was not conveyed to Enlightenment till then.

Enlightenment's point of view was, "I cannot afford to lose important lectures of stalwarts and I cannot afford the extra tuitions and classes. My house is 20 kilometers away and there is commutation problem due to non availability of vehicles and bad road conditions and heavy traffic. Hence I attend the classes as I learn almost 95% from the top class teachers themselves in the class. If I have problem I can solve it with Professor himself. Also, I like to do the entire Practical on own at least twice or thrice to master the theory as well as the practical applications."

As he had put this point earlier and hence no student took objection as such, hence, there was no fight till date. However, when only 15 days left for Diwali / Deepawali students made a nice plan and executed it in above mentioned fashion.

Those were Great promising days for all the new Engineering and Technological Institutes which had started due to new government policy on private institutions. Later an understanding was reached among all day scholars and out-siders and now I heard there is no problem or issue left in the Institute.

Another factor in this ethical conflict is going against the stream of flow, going against the mob, going against the public will, even if you are right. It also needs courage as well as understanding among individual and the public. Otherwise, students could have taken extreme step and Enlightenment could also had made complaint, and further possibilities were there. But there was positivism in daring and challenging the daring. Both sides were right and hence took it light heartedly.

The amicable outcome of this positive conflict in all this daring and the sheepish-lighter end was so fantastic that all other institutes in that part of India followed the same pattern for holidays. Later on for examinations style/ pattern was also modified to suite the students, who were the customers of new generation.

Thus, finally all humanitarian ideas always won, if they are dealt in humanitarian ways.

Dr. Ashish Manohar Urkude
http://managementengineering.blogspot.com/