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Chairman's Corner
Chairman's Corner
The 3 Quotes
The 3 Quotes
Ravi Ramakantan
Ravi Ramakantan
The internet is full of them - those quotations - the famous and the not so famous; by the known and the unknown,
The internet is full of them - those quotations - the famous and the not so famous; by the known and the unknown,
Inspired mainly by my former Anatomy teacher, Prof. Manu Kothari , who could effortlessly quote a thousand great minds from across the frontiers of knowledge, I got into the habit of browsing through these quotations and learning about their authors and the circumstances that prompted these quotations.
Inspired mainly by my former Anatomy teacher, Prof. Manu Kothari , who could effortlessly quote a thousand great minds from across the frontiers of knowledge, I got into the habit of browsing through these quotations and learning about their authors and the circumstances that prompted these quotations.
It is a fascinating habit. With Google, it does not take much time or effort. And even though a good number of them may fall by the wayside...not thought provoking.. nor inspiring. you will come across rare gems.. off and on.
It is a fascinating habit. With Google, it does not take much time or effort. And even though a good number of them may fall by the wayside...not thought provoking.. nor inspiring. you will come across rare gems.. off and on.
But the one that has endeared to me the most, is the one on Mahatma Gandhi by Albert Einstein -
But the one that has endeared to me the most, is the one on Mahatma Gandhi by Albert Einstein -
“Generations to come….upon this earth”.. Go Google it!
“Generations to come….upon this earth”.. Go Google it!
Caught in the conundrum of everyday work.. so many of us trudge from one chore to the other.. The ordinary ones, the 'have to be done' ones, the repetitive ones.
Caught in the conundrum of everyday work.. so many of us trudge from one chore to the other.. The ordinary ones, the 'have to be done' ones, the repetitive ones.
All this is fine. Most people in the world do it. You do it.. I do it.
All this is fine. Most people in the world do it. You do it.. I do it.
When I talk about how uninspiring all this can be , the common refrain from my friends is:
When I talk about how uninspiring all this can be , the common refrain from my friends is:
“ Why are you making a big deal of it?”
“ Why are you making a big deal of it?”
Because I am a teacher.. a teacher of medicine.
Because I am a teacher.. a teacher of medicine.
The one thing that my students of the long ago or just yesterday, those from far beyond our shores or the next door, often tell me is:
The one thing that my students of the long ago or just yesterday, those from far beyond our shores or the next door, often tell me is:
“Sir, you inspired us.. we still remember these.. words and phrases of yours”
“Sir, you inspired us.. we still remember these.. words and phrases of yours”
Obviously, I must be doing something right.
Obviously, I must be doing something right.
It is true, I have some original axiomatic favourites; but nothing that transcend the reality of day to day practice of radiology and medicine. By most standards, these are ordinary.. .. pedestrian.
It is true, I have some original axiomatic favourites; but nothing that transcend the reality of day to day practice of radiology and medicine. By most standards, these are ordinary.. .. pedestrian.
It is natural for me, therefore, to want to expose my students to great minds... great thoughts.
It is natural for me, therefore, to want to expose my students to great minds... great thoughts.
Off and on , in my lectures, I quote these.. They may not be deeply related to the subject I am talking about, but hopefully they will open eyes shut.. during those 45 minutes.
Off and on , in my lectures, I quote these.. They may not be deeply related to the subject I am talking about, but hopefully they will open eyes shut.. during those 45 minutes.
These are the small sparks, that I hope will light a few minds.. at least. You never know what it will eventually do.
These are the small sparks, that I hope will light a few minds.. at least. You never know what it will eventually do.
But then, there are these longish ones. I start with a little bit of them and I tell those students…. go Google these.. read the originals. But in my heart of heart, I know , just a few, if that, will do so.
But then, there are these longish ones. I start with a little bit of them and I tell those students…. go Google these.. read the originals. But in my heart of heart, I know , just a few, if that, will do so.
And so, I have given below, three of my all time favourites. All to do with education.
And so, I have given below, three of my all time favourites. All to do with education.
I hope students and teachers will be enriched pondering over these..
I hope students and teachers will be enriched pondering over these..
The three quotes.
The three quotes.
This first one by Sir William Osler, the great thinker, the father of Modern Medicine, the one that got medical education to the bedside.
This first one by Sir William Osler, the great thinker, the father of Modern Medicine, the one that got medical education to the bedside.
“Gentlemen, I have a confession to make. Half of what we have taught you is in error, and furthermore we cannot tell you which half it is.”
“Gentlemen, I have a confession to make. Half of what we have taught you is in error, and furthermore we cannot tell you which half it is.”
The second is from a short poem by a little known English poet Glennice Harmon
The second is from a short poem by a little known English poet Glennice Harmon
“They ask me why I teach ; And I reply, “Where could I find more splendid company?”
“They ask me why I teach ; And I reply, “Where could I find more splendid company?”
And finally, this is quoted by the legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden. He mentioned that the original author was unknown. Many have attributed this to Rudyard Kipling .. but that is not a fact. The late Dr. Sunil Pandya, the neurosurgeon from my alma mater, researched extensively to locate the original author - Arthur Guiterman who wrote this in 1939. The full poem entitled "Education" is here and those "four lines" are below.
And finally, this is quoted by the legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden. He mentioned that the original author was unknown. Many have attributed this to Rudyard Kipling .. but that is not a fact. The late Dr. Sunil Pandya, the neurosurgeon from my alma mater, researched extensively to locate the original author - Arthur Guiterman who wrote this in 1939. The full poem entitled "Education" is here and those "four lines" are below.
“No written word nor spoken plea
“No written word nor spoken plea
Can teach our youth what they should be.
Can teach our youth what they should be.
Nor all the books on all the shelves.
Nor all the books on all the shelves.
It's what the teachers are themselves”
It's what the teachers are themselves”
I can only hope that teachers of today who read these lines will feel inspired to lead by example.
I can only hope that teachers of today who read these lines will feel inspired to lead by example.
My teachers did!
My teachers did!
April 2020
April 2020
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