-The inspirational life story of Dr P C Thomas
Life
is given on a platter. It comes in all hues. It is for the individual to sketch
it the way he wants. Here is a man who envisioned and redesigned his life
amidst adversities and built an empire of trust, love and knowledge. I was one
of the lucky ones to secure a copy of the book ‘An event called LIFE: Dr P C Thomas in conversation with Shobhana Kumar’
on the day of its release. And I spent the rest of the day reading the
inspirational memoir of this extraordinary individual who created wonders out
of the ordinary.
Born
of a perfectionist mother from an aristocratic family, Thomas was fortunate to
get educated in the best academic institutions. The teachers spotted his
academic calibre, leadership skills and creative spirit early in his life. He
stood unique among his peers because of his innovative thinking, distinctive styles,
drive and determination. Cultural and social upbringing greatly influences in
shaping the personality of an individual. This is very evident in the case of
Dr P C Thomas. The initial chapters of the book contain interesting anecdotes
of his life in the ancestral house, cultural and religious exposures, and
interaction with several persons who made lasting impressions on him. One such
interaction was with C Rajagopalachari, who was the founder of the SwatantraParty and later became the Governor General of India and the Chief Minister of
Madras State. After a short interaction with young Thomas, he remarked ‘I am
impressed with your attention to detail’.
He
was a passionate teacher all along. Though, as a strict disciplinarian he
earned the nickname ‘Pinching Commander’, he was (CLICK TO READ FULL ARTICLE -->)
a teacher any student or parent could frankly share any problem with anytime. He is ever grateful to many mentors whom who came across later in his life. He used every such opportunity to sharpen his skills, to focus on his goals and to create fresh benchmarks for him. ‘Thomas can build an empire out of a fruitful conversation’: One senior IAS officer remarked after observing how Thomas utilized an opportunity given by him. It is very interesting to read his narration of his encounters with people and certainly the readers would get motivated with those experiences shared in the book.
a teacher any student or parent could frankly share any problem with anytime. He is ever grateful to many mentors whom who came across later in his life. He used every such opportunity to sharpen his skills, to focus on his goals and to create fresh benchmarks for him. ‘Thomas can build an empire out of a fruitful conversation’: One senior IAS officer remarked after observing how Thomas utilized an opportunity given by him. It is very interesting to read his narration of his encounters with people and certainly the readers would get motivated with those experiences shared in the book.
Thomas
is a visionary in the field of pedagogy. He is pained to see that the divine
profession of teaching has long been given up over other lucrative careers and
has lost the pedestal it once held. Interestingly he believes in the advantages
of rote learning followed widely in Indian educational system. However, Thomas,
who successfully introduced four different streams of internationally recognized
patterns of learning in the Good Shepherd International School, located in the
beautiful hilly town of Ooty in Southern India, aspires for a perfect mix of
various learning systems to derive excellence. Latest addition to his diverse
ventures is the Good Shepherd Finishing School located in the same Campus
spread over 90 acres of verdant hills.
Dr
Thomas is known for his sincere involvement in various charitable activities.
However, one would not find any detailed narration of those philanthropic
initiatives. Thomas believes in the great biblical verse,’ do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing’. He has been a
sincere Rotarian all along and he never viewed it as a means of gaining
acquaintances or establishing fruitful business networks. As Rotary
International Director, he brought in several new projects for leadership
promotion, public welfare and organizational effectiveness. Dr Thomas and his
team at Good Shepherd International School and Dr P C Thomas Foundation
supports more than 1500 families, who are mostly from the disadvantaged
sections of the society residing in the nearby villages for their livelihood. Thomas has narrated his deeply gratifying
moment when he was conferred the ‘Service Above Self ‘award, the highest honour
bestowed on a Rotarian. If someone asks him, from whom he drew inspiration for
his work, he would quote the words of Harry S Truman: ‘It’s amazing how much
you can accomplish if you don’t care who gets the credit’.
Dr
Thomas recounts the support and care of his life partner Elsamma Thomas while
he climbed every single step in his life. Now, he says, his daughter Julie Pradeesh has
stepped in, almost effortlessly to give him a helping hand in completing his
mission. Thomas believes that troubles
and ills are because of choices and prayer helps one make the right choice.
The
book is a primer for anyone who wants to achieve success in life. He has very
vividly narrated the unique strategies that he developed to achieve success.
One could immensely benefit from the experiences shared by Dr Thomas, as many
of these practical tips for success would not be available in any motivational
best sellers in the market. Shobhana Kumar has done excellent work in reproducing
the valuable words of Dr P C Thomas into a beautifully readable format. This
book could be a valuable addition to the library of all educational
institutions. All young entrepreneurs would also find this book informative and
inspiring.
The Book: “An event called LIFE. Dr P.C. Thomas in conversation with Shobhana Kumar”
Hitech Universal Printers and
Publishers (I) Private Limited, Coimbatore, India
(aneventcalledlife@gmail.com). The book was released by Shashi Tharoor
Sibichen K Mathew
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