A message for Rasik Shah- our Principal

Paren Shah
California, USA
Date: May 1st, 2008

Dear Rasikbhai,

I do not have your email address or other contact info, but I’m sure this message will find it’s way to you, find you well and still pursuing your passion…being a teacher.

When I received a note from one of my ’82 batch mates about having a 25th year reunion, I was astonished! Suddenly my mind was flooded with memories of my beloved school, my favorite teachers and friends, the “Hall”, the prayers every morning and our school anthem.
I found myself experiencing joy and pain at the same time. I felt joy because I remembered everything….everything good that happened in school. I felt pain because I forgot. I forgot to express my gratitude for 25years, I felt pain because I realized I hadn’t done enough for my school and my teachers.
I’m sure you’ve had hundreds of students you’re proud of and considering my lack of academic prowess, I may perhaps not be one of them, but I’d like to let you know that I certainly am proud of you and of my school.
Life has taken me through many ups and downs, from a successful romance to a failed marriage, from being broke in Singapore (of all the places!) to designing life saving surgical robots in California. One of my mentors often said “it’s not the size of the dog in the fight; it’s the size of the fight in the dog that matters”. Sure, I got my Master’s degree in Engineering and acquired all the skills and finesse to compete as an engineer, but I must admit, Jamnabai is where I acquired the “fight”, the “love” and the “passion”.

There are three things I learnt in Jamnabai that have become my guiding light and my source of strength and courage, and 25 years later I am honored to share them with you.

The first is our school motto “ vidya param balam”…knowledge is strength supreme. It’s no surprise that this subconscious suggestion, being hammered into my feeble brain for 10 years has had some positive effect. Whenever I’ve been faced with failure, I often turn to discovering more about the problem, I don’t just believe, I know that if I know more about the problem than the problem itself, I will eventually be able to overcome it…”women” by the way are exceptions! I hope to pass on this important lesson in life to my children and grandchildren.

The second lesson is “love”- it’s not hard for me to recall the first time I fell in love, since I am still in love…..with blue prints and models. When William Carey started teaching me how to build aero-models, I listened completely enthralled. I remember not remembering to eat (or to do my homework) when I started working with blue prints, balsa wood and glue. It took days for me to build my first model and the anticipation of seeing it “fly” kept me awake at nights- the joy I experienced when it took off and soared high over the trees on it’s maiden flight is simply indescribable. I was hooked, I am still hooked. These days I am designing robots that will someday be implanted in our bodies and replace the functions of failed organs…..the anticipation of seeing them work still keeps me awake.




The third lesson is a little advice from the “Gita” that has literally changed my life….thanks to you and Shirishbhai.
karmani ewa adhikArah te mA phaleshu kadAchana mA karmaphalahetuh bhooh mA te sangah astu akarmani 2.47
"Thy right is to work only; but never to its fruits; let not the fruit of action be thy motive, nor let they attachment be to inaction."

“……bring into the activity all that is best in you and forget yourself in the activity. Such inspired action is sure to bear fruit and immediately it is its own reward. 9.6”

For years, I could barely even say the “shloka” right, but I learnt it’s meaning in school and I will never forget it.

Rasikbhai, some of us students are planning to have a 25th reunion here in United States on the 4th of July, 2008 and we would absolutely love it if you could attend and perhaps teach us one more lesson. I will feel truly honored if you will accept my humble invitation and grace our 25th reunion in US on an all expenses paid trip, stay and visiting California for 1 week.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Regards

Paren Shah
Class of 1982- Jamnabai Narsee School