The life of many people is a success-story for the Learning Man. People who on the bigger canvas of life are too small to be noticed may yet show such talent in handling life’s problems that a somewhat minute look at them would carry big lessons for us.

Devendran, the retired Deputy Director of Fire and Rescue Services, is one such person. After a successful career as a fire-professional, he is now working as fire advisor in a prestigious company. His son is a doctor married to a computer engineer and his daughter is a computer engineer married to a doctor settled in England. Devendran’s ambition is to remain active till his last breath. What fascinates me about him is the way he has attended equally well to all his roles in life. When he talks to you now, he seems to look back with satisfaction and contentment at his successful career, his well-settled children and his present job. Here is a lesson for us: don’t ignore any of your essential roles while it is time to pay attention. Otherwise, when you reach Devendran’s stage, you may look back with regrets at a lop-sided life.