What a change ! Paradigm Shift ?

What a change ! Paradigm Shift ?


Svabhavo Duratikramaha !

It is said that human nature is difficult to change. V V Difficult. And in case of an intellectual person it is still more difficult. One may say that it may because of strong ego, or because of the pride of his high intellect. But it may not be that much true. Sometimes miracle takes place. People change from one extremity to another.
the nature of the person takes U-turn. And we get stunned.

Let me narrate one case-study actually happened where I was directly involved.

Few years back, I was in some prestigious statutory inquiry committee as a member. A case cropped in. A student of final year MBBS appeared before the committee. The examiner made a complaint against this boy. The examiner was not an ordinary person. He was a reputed, highly experienced Heart-specialist belonging to Parsi Community. He was examiner for UG and PG examinations in Medical Faculty for n number of years. An old tough guy. While assessing the answer-book of this student he became suspicious of the answers. He arrived to the conclusion that the answers are paraphrased for him by some other reputed person in Medical Faculty. According to him, the answers were definitely not written by the student. He vouched for it. He further said that he referred all the text books and the latest journal of international repute for verifying the source of the answers. But he could not get any success. Further to it, he used some of the medicines, mentioned by the student in the answers, in his actual practice and confirmed with the results positively. He was very much sure of the copy-case. He decided to expose the candidate and hence made an official complaint to the appropriate authorities and hence this way the case came for inquiry before our panel.

The student was served the show-cause notice well before the inquiry. The examiner was also requested to remain present at that time. In fact, he was damn eager to expose this case for his own interest. Nobody could fool him for such a long span of examinership, may be more than 30 years, he said. So he remained present well before time. We called the examiner first. We asked for the reasons of doubt. He explained all the points mentioned above. We politely told him, giving due respect to his finding and his reputed career that, he cant take part in the proceedings of the Committee. However, we requested him to give us few questions to be asked to the students, which would be pertaining to the answers written by the student. He did so. He insisted that the student be questioned regarding the source of the answers. We cautioned him not to utter a single word once the inquiry starts. We asked him to sit at the backside before we called the student in.

We called the student in. We were prepared to ask the pertinent questions one by one and were also eagerly interested in the source of the answers. We tossed the first question given by the Examiner. The student promptly answered it. We asked the source. He immediately told the name of the journal with other details like year, article etc. Second question was thrown. Answer flashed immediately. Source also followed instantly. Examiner became restless. He pulled himself in to ask further probing questions. But we persuaded him from doing so with a clear distinct warning. Third question also got the same treatment. Now the Examiner could not hold himself. He shouted, 'enough, I am fully satisfied.' We asked the student to wait outside. We were literally worried by the behaviour of the Examiner. How could he break the norms of the Inquiry Committee's proceeding? Every member was furious.

Once the student was out of the hall, we asked the Examiner about his interference. Quitely, the Examiner asked for the Answer-book. He assessed it and declared the marks. Cent percent marks were given to the student. The face was the Examiner was totally different than the earlier. His attitude was totally changed. His expression was showing utmost respect for the student. He expressed his mistake before the Committee. In the unequivocal terms he accepted his earlier firm opinion, based on which the charges were levelled against the student. The Parsi Old man was literally on the point of emotional outburst.

We called the Student in. This time we asked personal question to the student. Now it was our turn to become emotional. The things are written in the student's words as :

'I was studying in XII (HSC), when I lost my father. My father died because of lack of proper medicines in the hospital. I was elder in the family, studying in the college. Our financial condition got worsened. My mother was at home only. Uncle was helping us financially. I could not come out of the shock of my father's sad demise. I gave promise to the soul of My father. "I will become a Good Doctor in Medicine and serve the people by giving proper medicine". I vouched to myself to specialise in medicine. I studied hard, day and night. I got good marks and got admission in reputed Medical College. I dedicated myself fully for my studies. Every time I used to remember the Scene of my Father's death and the reason of lack of proper medicines, I used to get more involved in my studies. Dr Kapoor, a renowned Doctor used to take free workshops for Doctors and Medical Students in Birla Matushree Hall every Sunday, from 7.00 am to 2.00 pm. I started attending these lectures regularly from my first year of MBBS. I was totally influenced by his lectures. It was a real source of my inspiration. The lectures for 4 years gave the direction to my studies. It expanded the horizon of my Medical Knowledge. I was taking special interest while taking the rounds in the hospitals or following the given duties in the hospitals. I was just in the last phase of the completion of my MBBS course and the notice disturbed me a lot. It was a shock to me and my mother. I never used any unfair practices at the Examinations throughout my academic life. But everybody in the Family circle, except my mother, looking at me with dubious sight."

We saw towards the Examiner. The old Parsi man was literally crying. His tears were expressing the seriousness of the matter and his face the repenting gesture.

I introduced the Examiner to the student. I told the result to the student in that subject. Now I was concerned for his mother. I asked the student about the condition of his mother. The Student told that she has not taken a drop of water even for last 7 days since when the notice was received by them. I requested the student to use the phone to inform his mother the result of the inquiry. He told her the things in short. I talked to her and personally requested her to break her fast by taking some fruit juice. Ultimately we Committee Members were also human beings. She was happy and agreed to take fruit juice.

The Old man came forward, held the student close to him He said, " Son. Don't worry henceforth. I am there with you now-onwards. You study further. I will take care of everything for the higher education. My clinic and my library is yours from today itself. (The clinic is in the richmost area of Mumbai and the Library contains thousands of Books and Journals of International Repute.). Henceforth I am your parent. Go ahead and I am always with you."

A Paradigm Shift took place. I was the witness. I experienced 180 degree change in the behavior of a Well Reputed, Experienced, Renowned, Professional Doctor. All my prejudices and assumptions vanished in a moment.

Yes ! miracle happens. The nature of a person can change. The ego can wither away. The attitude can take a U-turn. But when ?

Have you came across such miracles? What exactly happens which proves the saying that the human-nature is difficult to change? (Sanskrit : 'Svabhavo Duratikramaha.').
If it is so difficult, than when and what makes the sea-change.

Help me to solve this riddle.

SNN
15-9-2009