A Hundred Days Of This - Day 28

The other day I was watching a podcast of Permit Room with Chaitu Jonnalagadda and realised that he is the OG Tillu in real life. A 10/10 Secunderabadi and I could relate with what he said in most instances. Except for one point. He made a comment on how he is not using calculus and d/dx on a daily basis and was dismissive about why schools even teach these things to children. Okay, he is entitled to his opinion and I let that be. Yesterday, I have seen multiple posts on Twitter quoting that particular clip and glorifying the thought process and stating that he is spitting facts. Now that is where the real problem is.

Yes, there are a 101 issues with our education system and it needs a total revamp as soon as possible, but sir "I don't know how to address this topic without being disrespectful" is what the TFI banisalu caught onto instead of the actual point. And that is exactly why you need to scale up from basic mathematical operations to binomial equations to plotting a parabola to solving integrals and calculus. Because even if you do not use these in your day to day life, they teach you how to think critically. Sadly, apart from that everything else is taught in schools. Especially, how to pass the exams and not how to apply the things you have studied in schools and colleges. But how much spoon feeding is really enough? And in this day and age of widely available resources for learning why are we still blaming the teachers and schools? Having a great mentor/teacher/guide is truly a blessing as long as you are able to translate that knowledge into something meaningful. 

How about I offer a different spin on this? If you had to make a perfect chai for your evenings, you do know the measurements of milk, tea podwer/leaves and sugar, right? Ratios and proportions. If you had to plan for shopping on a rainy day, you do pick up the phone and check for a weather update, right? Statistics and Probability. If you had to set up your bed with the closest proximity to a plug point, you do have a calculation of which side it should face, right? Length and breadth. If you got late in office and have to rush to the Mahesh Babu's film in the theatres, you do think about the shortcuts and avoiding traffic, right? Time and distance. If you are an art connoisseur and like how perfect a paiting or a sculpture looks, your eyes do feast on the symmetry and angles, right? Golden ratio or the Fibonacci Sequence. Even if you take Chaitu Jonnalagadda's advice and put your school fee into real estate how do you know if you can sustain your lifestyle with that income? Business arithmetic and budgeting. And the list could go on.

One could say "my grandmother never went to school and she never used the precise ratios and proportions" or "my grandfather never needed a school certificate to succeed in his business". That my friend, is years of experience and practice. The same that is expected from you in a classroom repeatedly. Please do not mix up skill with talent and mistake it to be everything. And whatever you are taught in school, be it English, Physics, Biology, Economics, is not an alienated topic. These are taken from the everyday examples and whatever is happening around you. Make an effort to open your eyes and ears and pay attention. Yes, no one asks me about my 10th class marks but the score I got opened so many doors for me later in life. It might not be the only thing that matters but it also is a proof that I had the determination in me to crack difficult things. The sooner you learn this life lesson, the better. And wherever you go and whichever path you choose in life, these basics of (a+b)^2 will always come to your rescue, because there is no one definite way or a formula to arrive at the right answer. You will have to think and think quick in all career choices. After a certain age (ideally after 16) it becomes your sole responsibility to gather knowledge and use it to step up the ladder. Do yourself a favour and stop blaming and complaining.

I am yet to come across a person who said I regret studying too much. Most of us say "chadhukuni undunte inka baagundedhi". In the past few months I have told my mother number of times about how essential the basics of Mathematics and Statistics are to solve the simplest problems of life. You need logic, you need reasoning, you need problem solving skills to survive and I do not know of a better place than a school or college to learn the abc of these concepts. Now if you did master those and watched that clip from the podcast, you would realise that Chaitu was speaking from a position of privilege and financial security, which most of us do not have to begin with.

Andhuke chadhukondi fashtu and use your brain for improving your life. Knowledge has a compounding effect and never goes to waste, unless you let it. The joy of learning and solving problems is unmatched and one that everyone should experience while they are really young. Please do not be dismissive or disrespectful of your education and the opportunities it drops straight into your lap.

Excuse me, while I work on a DCF statement of a movie production company.

And that's Day 28 for you!