Kagum

Have we ever wondered why people seem to achieve many things in life successfully? What qualities do they have that make them where they are now? While looking from the bottom-up, our achievements are really modest, nothing near them.

I happened to discuss one recently, with the other half. A lecturer, who is a full fledged professor, a mechatronic engineer by profession, is an awe to all his students. What is it that makes him so special and a shooting star in his department? He has no problems with his colleagues. Yet, most would entrust him with roles that demands higher moral responsibility. He loves teaching and doing research, and accepting administrative job is not something that he wants. But he accepts reluctantly.

He is as calm as flowing stream, consistently sangfroid when facing adversities. Most importantly, he does not complaint while planning away on how to overcome the problem.

One quality for sure is he is a sensible workaholic. He works diligently, shorten his lunch time, breaks only for a sip of water or coffee when he needs a break, before resuming his job. His focusing power is tremendous. Distractions do not sway him off his path of determination. He is a tough disciplinarian in his own. Let me go briefly on his working hours.

He wakes up early at 3 am everyday to start work. By nine am, he is at the office already. At five, he would stop all work, and heads home. He will break for a short nap if he feels tired. If not, he will play with his children, and helping his wife out in the kitchen preparing for dinner. He is a family man too.

Though a workaholic, he still insist on going to the KLCC every weekend. It’s a ritual. He would bring along his children and wife to spend time with them. Not that he has an exhaustive list of shopping to do or a shopaholic by any measure, but he is just being appreciative of the awe inspiring engineering might of the twin tower. Such is the expression of love when one is passionate about the meticulous subject of engineering. Learning and teaching the subject is cliché in showing interest. But, by just stopping and staring in admiration is so simple yet fulfilling for him.

Dedication does not stop there only. Never once did he ever raises his voice to students. Never once did he ever condemns lassitude students. Instead, words of encouragement are offered for he knows that each individual has got his or her own troubles to deal with. Like himself, education never comes easy when money is a big issue. Thrifty livelihood that nearly succumb him during his student days in Japan taught him a lot on understanding his students. Students can careen to one side, but it is the sturdy keel and mast that kept them afloat fending against unforgiving storms of education. That brought them to this stage, where the survived fetus will head for real challenges in the world. Teachers provide the wind to stabilize it and guide it to where the treasures will be.

Yet, even in a prime institution, so called teachers  failed to attend to such sublime pedagogue. Probably it is unheard of to them. Most if not all, will show abominable ethics of a sycophant. Poignant.

But today, this man is no more walking this earth. While we may mourn his loss, the accomplishments and his fine attitude in life is exemplary. He appreciates his every blessings gotten over a short period of time he has on this earth to those around him - his wife, daughter, son, parents, his professors and not forgetting his students - by reciprocating in thankfulness.

May Allah SWT be pleased with you, sir. Even if I have never known you before.