Portado Story by Sudha Murthy 💯

Summary

The speaker recounts a story about a college classmate, nicknamed 'Potato,' who prioritized connections over education. Despite his intelligence, Potato habitually skipped classes and crammed for exams, securing good grades but lacking deep knowledge. Years later, he regrets his choices after struggling in his career due to a lack of discipline and knowledge. The speaker emphasizes the importance of hard work, discipline, and respect, noting that success in life has no shortcuts. The story serves as a lesson on the long-term consequences of neglecting education and discipline.

Takeaways

• 🎓 The importance of attending classes and being disciplined in education was emphasized, as it lays a strong foundation for future success.
• 🏆 Despite getting good grades through strategic study methods, true knowledge and understanding are essential for long-term professional success.
• 🕒 The speaker's classmate 'Potato' initially prioritized social connections over education, which later led to difficulties in his career.
• 🚫 The consequences of lacking discipline and proper time management were highlighted, as it can lead to job loss and a struggle to find employment.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The classmate's regret for not valuing education more and the impact it had on his family, particularly his daughters, was expressed.
• 🌟 The speaker's success was attributed to hard work, discipline, and a focus on knowledge rather than just grades.
• 💼 The reality of the professional world was underscored, where knowledge and competence are more valued than mere academic marks.
• 🏫 The script conveys a deep respect for the educational system and the role of schools in shaping individuals' lives.
• 💰 The classmate's advice to contribute back to one's alma mater once successful, recognizing the value of the education received there.
• 🌱 The transformative power of education from raw potential to a refined, knowledgeable individual was discussed, highlighting the school's role in this process.

Q & A

Who is the main character referred to as 'Potato' in the script?

Potato is the nickname for the narrator's classmate who was from Goa and attended the same engineering college.

What was Potato's daily routine in college?

Potato would come to college late, around 9 or 10 o'clock, attend a few classes, and then leave. He would also come for the lab in the afternoon.

Why did Potato believe in the importance of building connections rather than focusing on education?

Potato thought that connections were more important in life than education, as they could help in various ways when one is young.

What was the narrator's background and how did it influence their perspective on Potato's approach to education?

The narrator came from a middle-class family with a father who was a doctor. They did not understand the concept of building connections as emphasized by Potato.

How did Potato prepare for his exams?

Potato would study intensely for a month before the exams, eliminate question papers from certain months, and create an approximate question paper to focus his study.

What was the outcome of Potato's approach to education during his college years?

Potato managed to get first-class marks in all four years of college, despite his unconventional study habits.

When and where did the narrator meet Potato again after many years?

The narrator met Potato again in Dubai in 2008 or 2009 after a long gap of 30 to 35 years.

What was Potato's career situation when he met the narrator in Dubai?

Potato was working in a managerial position in Dubai, but he had faced difficulties in his career due to a lack of knowledge despite having good marks.

What lesson did Potato want to convey to the narrator about the importance of discipline and hard work?

Potato wanted to emphasize that discipline and hard work are crucial for long-term success in life, and one should not rely solely on connections or shortcuts.

What advice did Potato give regarding the importance of education for his daughters?

Potato advised that his daughters should study well and not follow his path, understanding the value of knowledge over just getting good marks.

What did Potato mean when he said the school is an 'Alma mater' and why should one help it?

By referring to the school as an 'Alma mater,' Potato meant it is a formative place that shapes one's life. He suggested helping the school as a way of giving back for the lifelong benefits it provides.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 The Importance of Discipline and Knowledge

The first paragraph narrates the story of 'Potato,' a classmate who was intelligent but prioritized social connections over education. Despite attending classes irregularly, he managed to secure first-class marks by focusing on the end-of-year exams. However, he later realized the importance of genuine knowledge and discipline when he faced professional setbacks due to lack of real understanding. His encounter with the narrator after many years in Dubai served as a turning point, where he confessed his regrets and emphasized the value of hard work and discipline in education, rather than just pursuing marks.

05:01

🏫 The Role of School in Shaping Life

The second paragraph discusses the transformative role of school in an individual's life. It likens a student to raw material that is shaped and refined by the educational process into a finished product. The narrator stresses the significance of the school environment and the efforts of teachers and parents in nurturing a student's growth. The paragraph concludes with an appeal to give back to one's alma mater, acknowledging the profound impact it has on shaping one's future and the importance of supporting it in return.

Keywords

💡Discipline

Discipline refers to the practice of training oneself to follow a code of behavior, or the order that is expected within a group or organization. In the video's theme, discipline is highlighted as a crucial factor for long-term success and is contrasted with the character 'Potato's' lack of it, which leads to his professional downfall. The speaker emphasizes the importance of discipline in education and life, using 'Potato's' story as a cautionary tale.

💡Knowledge

Knowledge is the understanding, awareness, or familiarity gained through experience or study. The video script underscores the difference between having high marks and possessing genuine knowledge. 'Potato' achieves good grades but lacks practical knowledge, which eventually affects his career negatively. The speaker advises that the pursuit of knowledge is more valuable than the pursuit of grades.

💡Connection

Connection, in the context of the video, refers to the relationships and social networks that one builds, which can influence opportunities and success. 'Potato' believes that connections are more important than education, which contrasts with the speaker's later realization that knowledge is paramount. The term is used to illustrate a common misconception about the path to success.

💡Education

Education is the process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university. The video script uses education as a central theme, discussing its importance and the difference between formal education and actual learning. The character 'Potato' undervalues education, focusing instead on connections, which leads to his later regrets.

💡Marks

Marks, in an academic context, are grades or scores that represent a student's performance. The script contrasts the value of marks with the value of knowledge, indicating that while 'Potato' achieved high marks, they did not translate into real-world knowledge or success. The term is used to discuss the pitfalls of focusing solely on academic results.

💡Respect

Respect is a feeling of deep admiration for someone elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements. In the video, respect is mentioned in the context of professional relationships, where 'Potato' loses the respect of his subordinates and superiors due to his lack of knowledge. Respect is portrayed as an essential element in maintaining a successful career.

💡Shortcut

A shortcut is a quicker way of achieving something. The speaker in the video emphasizes that there are no shortcuts to success, implying that hard work and dedication are the only paths to achieving one's goals. The term is used to convey the message that genuine success comes from effort and perseverance, not from taking the easy way out.

💡Hard Work

Hard work is defined as the act of exerting effort and taking the time to do something diligently or with determination. The video script uses 'hard work' as a key principle for achieving success in life. It is presented as the antidote to taking shortcuts and is contrasted with 'Potato's' approach to education and work.

💡Alma Mater

Alma mater is a term used to refer to an educational institution one has attended, often with a sense of loyalty or gratitude. In the script, the speaker reflects on the importance of one's school and how it shapes a person's life, advocating for giving back to one's alma mater as a sign of appreciation for the formative experiences and knowledge gained.

💡Raw Material

Raw material refers to the basic input used to create a product, often in a manufacturing context. In the video, the speaker uses 'raw material' metaphorically to describe students as they enter school, emphasizing the transformative role of education in shaping individuals into 'finished goods,' or well-rounded adults ready for life's challenges.

💡Competition

Competition is the activity or condition of striving to gain or win something by defeating or establishing superiority over others. The script mentions the competitive nature of the world, suggesting that while competition is intense, it is the knowledge and skills gained through discipline and hard work that will help one succeed in such an environment.

Highlights

The speaker's classmate, referred to as 'Potato', was a bright student who rarely attended classes or college.

Potato would come to college late and only attend a few classes, but still managed to get good grades by studying question papers intensively before exams.

Despite being intelligent, Potato believed that building connections was more important than education itself.

The speaker, coming from a middle-class family, did not initially understand the importance of connections that Potato emphasized.

Years later, the speaker unexpectedly met Potato in Dubai, where he shared his life experiences and regrets.

Potato admitted that skipping classes and not gaining deep knowledge led to difficulties in his professional life.

He faced challenges in his job due to lack of knowledge, which his good exam grades did not reflect.

Potato was eventually fired from his jobs due to his lack of knowledge and discipline.

He now works in a smaller job in Dubai, far from the success he could have achieved with proper education and discipline.

Potato emphasized the importance of pursuing knowledge over just getting good grades.

He shared his regret of not valuing discipline and hard work during his school and college years.

Potato advised the speaker's daughters to study well and not to follow his path of neglecting education.

He realized that shortcuts in life, like skipping classes, can lead to long-term consequences.

Potato urged the importance of discipline, proper communication, and respect in achieving success.

He acknowledged that schools play a crucial role in shaping individuals and should be valued and supported.

The speaker concluded by emphasizing the message that hard work, discipline, and the pursuit of knowledge are the keys to a successful life.

Transcripts

foreign

was my classmate he was reasonably

bright maybe very bright I suppose never

he came to school never came to college

I was in engineering College

he used to stay he was from Goa he used

to come he was in the hostel and he

never to come to college our College was

seven to eleven he will come around 10

o'clock or nine o'clock earliest nine

o'clock

and he will sit here sit there attend

two classes after that afternoon he will

come for the lab Etc end of the year he

will one month he will get up early and

he will study and you know there is a

method in college you take question

papers April and October whatever comes

in October will never come in April

okay I'm sure the school also you have

midterm will never come to final okay so

eliminate these question answers and

then make a approximate question paper

and study that and he used to get a

first class he did all four years like

this once I asked potato potato why you

you are such a bright person you don't

come to class if you come regularly he

can get distinction you can get a rank

he said sudha you do not know in life it

is not the education it is the

connection it really works and we have

to build lot of connections you know in

when you are young it helps you

I came from a middle class family my

father was a doctor a gynecologist

I never understood this connection all

those things because then he said my

father was in military we were in

Kolkata there was a club which we have

never seen in our real life so we

thought maybe the big man and it's not

beyond our hamara basket I felt it so

it's something new years passed in 1972

I finished my engineering so it was

potato and I didn't meet him for a long

time after 30 35 years I think 2008 or

nine I had been to Dubai to deliver a

lecture

and when the lecture was over I saw

somebody waiting for and then he said

ma'am I was waiting for you I was

surprised at a place like Dubai who will

wait for me

then he said I am potato I could not

recognize because in 30 40 years people

put on weight your hair will be gray you

know all those physical changes will

happen so they reported I would not have

recognized that I was very happy I told

him well let's have a let us sit down

and talk he said no I just wanted to

tell you one words

what happened he said

you know do you remember in college I

used to bank class I said of course I

remember you potato means banking class

he said I used to Bunk class and I

joined a job and because in those days

the moment your B is to get a job in my

time and my bosses came to know that my

subordinates came to know that I don't

have knowledge getting a first class

marks are different than knowledge

please remember parents your children

should be in the pursuit of knowledge

than the marks though it's a competitive

examination

I agree it is a competitive world it is

a competitive World competition is

thousand times so ten thousand time more

than what time I had but with all those

things the knowledge which always helps

you then your marks in real life so he

said I got marks but I did not have

knowledge once the subordinates know

that you don't have knowledge they don't

respect you once the boss knows you

don't have knowledge then he wants and

he wants a reason to kick you out I was

kicked out from one job then I took a

second job and I was so much used to

getting up nine in the morning I'll go

late to your office I was kicked out

there also over a period of time I

couldn't get job anywhere and now I have

a job as a manager job or a smaller job

in Dubai and my I have to I said what

about your family since I have two

daughters I left them in Chennai to

study I said what he said yes I want

they should study well they should not

become like me

I just waited for you to tell sudha one

thing

when you we were young I used to make

fun of you he used to tell me you are

like a you are like a running race horse

because the horse will see neither left

nor right it runs so anyway you always

wear academic and we used to make fun of

you today when we call you nerd and I

thought I was very smart you know today

I feel you are successful and I wasted

my life I just wanted to tell you if you

don't if you don't discipline

if you don't discipline when you are

school or in college you pay a heavy

price in later part of your life

discipline like coming up in a proper

way writing properly okay talking

properly communicating properly

respecting people properly this really

helps a long way in your life so I don't

want you should be like potato

regretting in your old age you should

remember that to be successful in life

there is no shortcut the only method is

hard work and straight away and that you

have to do and remember one more part

that your school you come as a raw

product to school like a raw material to

school school churns you out 14 years

and takes you out of the finished good

you come out as a young toddler here you

and you go out of the fine teenager the

school has done so much not for the fees

what you give your fees are minimal when

you compare to the kind of Advantage you

get in real life your teachers your

parents everyone put so much

hard work to make you a young teenager

please remember the school is your Alma

meter and when you grow big

when you make money more than what you

need you should always help your Alma

meter because that is the place which

has given you a life in real life