What is the last thing you learned?
The narrative focuses on a curious septuagenarian who views learning as a lifelong journey. Despite facing challenges as a slow learner and societal pressures, his curiosity about nature and life drives him to embrace new technologies and hobbies like photography and language learning. His experiences, both successful and otherwise, reinforce the importance of adaptability and resilience. Observing his grandchildren grow ignites a renewed appreciation for learning, highlighting that curiosity transcends age. The story illustrates how lifelong learning enriches life, suggesting that enthusiasm for knowledge and exploration should always be nurtured, as they lead to personal growth and fulfilment.
Table of contents
Key Takeaways
- The narrative follows a curious septuagenarian who embraces lifelong learning despite challenges as a slow learner.
- His love for nature drives him to explore new technologies and hobbies, such as photography and language learning.
- The story emphasizes that curiosity and learning are vital at any age, inspiring personal growth and fulfillment.
- Failures can motivate learning, and it’s important to adapt and set clear goals for personal achievement.
- Curiosity remains a consistent theme throughout life, encouraging continuous exploration and knowledge acquisition.
Curious man
He has been a curious man who often squeals with joy when any natural drama unfolds before him. Anything from hovering insects on flowers, a praying mantis, sluggishly moving snail or happily waving foliage enthuses him. Watching interesting things, he tries to learn about them in more detail. The computer is a great help to him in accessing things quickly and with ease. It was not so convenient two decades ago.
Slow learner
Our septuagenarian friend still watches things with the curiosity of a child. Though seven decades of life have enriched him with ample experiences and knowledge, it was not always so. He seldom talks about himself, but once told that he was a slow learner. People often pooh-poohed him. He did not fit the established norms, and his curiosity was stifled by the prevailing mindset of that time.
Growth of a toddler
He is now a grandparent who observes small grandchildren growing up. He could not observe his child as he grew due to his work engagements. It is rewarding to see infants growing and learning. His one-year-old granddaughter is a crawling baby. The cute little baby squeals and claps as she inches ahead. Her first tooth is about to emerge; slightly protuberant gums look pretty and endearing when she giggles. He can see how the baby, after catching hold of a chair, successfully tries to stand up. She yelled in her sweet voice and celebrated her achievement. She learned to stand!
Learning
Learning is a continuous process. It is a journey that human beings undertake. Nature has bestowed on humans a sense of curiosity and eagerness to learn. They learn and grow throughout their lives, from infancy to old age.
Learning new things intoxicates. It is invigorating to learn something new; new techniques, new words, new language or anything that enriches knowledge and depth of understanding is rewarding.
Curiosity and learning
The common thing in the learning of infancy and the mature learning of an aged person is curiosity. It is present throughout a person’s journey. Curiosity leads to learning. Knowing and learning new things gives a sense of elation and satisfaction. He could clearly see that the sense of achievement was writ large on the face of the cute baby. She staggered to keep her balance but could not and sat down, clapping and squawking with joy. It encouraged the child to learn more. (Embracing curiosity and the joy of lifelong learning)
Learning boosters
Success or recognition are boosters which encourage learning. Failures are momentarily disheartening, but the prudence is not in sulking and brooding. It is in learning from the failure and getting the impetus to do better. Failures are intrinsic. It should act be taken as a driving force to achieve the desired goal. It is important to set a clear goal, and the efforts are honest and focused.
Judgemental attitude
During his childhood, people judged him not by his abilities but by his failures. He was a timid child. People judged him in the light of the prevailing thought process of the time. People think linearly. The thinking is influenced by the customs and traditions of the time. A heretic is tagged as a “revolting”. More than seven decades ago, the general thinking was to grab a job soon after completing studies and bring home a salary to help the family. It was the only goal and customary for the eldest son to earn and help in the career building of younger siblings and bear the burden of marrying sisters. There was no concept of personal growth, as it was “selfish” to think about oneself.
Family background
He belonged to a lower-middle-class family. The only wage earner was the patriarch. Managing the family affair was difficult with a meagre income. The family of eight remained poorly fed. Behind the curtains, the family environment was unproductive, abusive and quarrelsome, but still, the fake status was of prime importance. He has had no luxury of experimentation or taking risks, hence had no ambitions. Yet, there was a hidden wish to make an impact and show his worth. With time, the latent wish became suppressed, but it simmered somewhere deep in the subconscious. The difficult situations did not allow him to think further. His mind was apparently not receptive as was required, but he managed to clear his examinations. Occasionally, his suppressed talent would come out, but no one paid heed. He was good at drawing, papercraft, and even observing things and would make them as and when required.
Simmering wishes
He did not aspire to achieve a specific goal, but the restlessness and eagerness to prove himself were always there. He often swayed with others’ ideas, as he did not know what to do. His family prodded him to take up a course to get a profession of repute, but did not give him proper guidance or resources. He kept hopping from one branch to another to get nothing except reprimands from family and society. The result was obvious. He did not end up anywhere. Amidst all, he completed post-graduation. An uncertain future loomed large. Time was slipping fast. With each passing day, he was inching towards being over-aged. Getting employment was a great urgency.
Got on the train
Betwixt all adversities, nonetheless, his curiosity did not die. His eagerness to know stayed kindled in his heart, though it flickered. Ultimately, at the pinnacle of desperation, a cold breeze gave him respite. He got an offer letter from a reputable company. It was like catching the last compartment of a moving train, just in the nick of time. Losing no time, he started off to join the job in a new city.
New journey started
Another phase of his journey had started. A raw man was in the office. It was his first day in a new city and a new set-up. He had to arrange for his residence. Luckily, he got one with the help of an old acquaintance from the old city. Soon, all his meagre money drained. He stayed without food for several days, eating a few biscuits and tea.
Waning hard times
The difficult days were gradually waning. Our protagonist friend had a regular job, and he could spread his wings. He started improving himself and learning de novo.
Learning new skills
It was the time when a new Era was dawning. Computers had started making inroads. Curious to learn new things, he began to learn them. He was a photography enthusiast, if not a passionate one, and considered himself an amateur. Honing photography skills was important, and he took it earnestly. The science background eased his understanding of the basics of picture taking. He loved holding a camera and peeping in its viewfinder. The world looked amazing through the eye of a camera. Blended together, curiosity and learning allow watching the unique world with a purpose and perspective. The sound that the camera shutter produced used to be a melody to him.
Camera techniques
Learning camera techniques and taking pictures were fun. Watching the natural world with the eye of a camera gives a dimension. Out of many genres of photography, Landscape photography and macro photography attract more. They need keen observation and an eye for natural wonders. Macro photography allows recording the incidents on celluloid (and now on digital mode) at high resolution, giving intricate details. It was fascinating.
Thrilling first experience
He often remembers the day of his school when he peeped into a compound microscope in his biology laboratory for the first time. The view of the stomata was thrilling. The aroma of reagents and stains is still fresh in his memory. The view of stomatal structures that he would see in his textbooks was real, right in front of his eyes. The thrill and the object under the microscopic lens stay etched on the child’s brain and heart.
Learning language
Learning a language is also fascinating. During student life, he started learning one of the prominent European languages and joined a course. Though he didn’t get the diploma, as he couldn’t appear in the examination. Additionally, he learned other native languages like Urdu by self-learning. It is noteworthy that he is not yet perfect in anything. History, culture and philosophy are also his likes.
Realm of words
Wandering in the realm of words is like wandering in Wonderland. Words are powerful. Besides being a potential tool to express feelings, they enrich the understanding of an individual. With time, his love for words grew. Deciphering the meaning of a word with its origin and etymology gives immense pleasure and satisfaction. It is mesmerising to know how a word was born and passed through childhood and adolescence, reached maturity and ultimately died down. Painstakingly, he tries to know the details of a new word.
Knowledge makes humble
Monotony and loquacious boastings should be a big NO. A down-to-earth approach is beneficial. Knowledge makes a person humble like a fruiting tree. A computer is a faithful friend in learning. Pursuance of hobbies and learning new things and genres is easy with computers. Knowledge is pious but not absolute. It changes with conditions and the availability of facts. One thing that appears to be fact at a given point in time changes after a new fact comes to light. Periodical testing of the relevance and facts is important for sustaining knowledge.
Learning is the precursor of knowledge, which in turn is the outcome of curiosity. It is, thus, curiosity which gives insightful knowledge. The flame of curiosity should stay kindled.
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Kamal Kishore Srivastava
A retired government officer turned writer and photographer, Kamal Kishore Srivastava is a regular blogger and essayist who explores life’s deeper meanings through immersive reflections on nature, impermanence, and happiness. On his blog Nature’s Narrative, he blends philosophical storytelling with practical insights. Writing 1200–1500 or more words regularly, Kamal is committed to refining his craft, expanding his audience, and building a sustainable space where thought and feeling meet.
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