When Humility Becomes the Highest Medal
When Humility Becomes the Highest Medal
A Morning at Priyadarshini Park
Opening
Silence has its own language.
The Incident
This morning felt unusually calm, as if time itself had decided to slow down.
I reached Priyadarshini Park around 8:00 a.m. for our institute’s annual sports meet scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. What I encountered before the event was not just a venue—but a heavenly pocket of serenity, far away from honking roads and towering buildings.
Lush green trees surrounded the jogging tracks. The vast sea stretched endlessly, its rhythmic waves forming perfect trigonometric curves, as if nature itself was teaching mathematics through motion. Athletes were practicing with full focus—running, stretching, jumping—each movement disciplined, purposeful, and sincere.
Morning walkers, celebrities, and high-profile individuals blended seamlessly with athletes, performing light yoga and exercises. There was no noise—only positive energy.
My attention lingered on short-distance racers, then shifted to long jump and triple jump athletes. Their stamina and energy left me in awe. Soon, the professional practice session concluded, and athletes began dispersing.
That’s when I noticed one girl athlete.
While others moved on, she stayed back—patiently collecting steel hurdles and stands, arranging them neatly aside. The work was simple, often considered insignificant, yet she performed it with total devotion, as if it mattered the most.
Something within me stirred.
Unable to resist, I walked up to her and appreciated her patience, dignity, and dedication. She responded with a gentle smile and a graceful “Thank you.” I told her that our learners must learn from such devotion—how every related task carries value.
Assuming her to be a state-level athlete at best, I blessed her, saying, “You must be at least a state champion.”
What came next humbled me.
With complete humility, no trace of ego, she replied, “Sir, I am an international triple jump champion.”
I was stunned.
Her name—Bhairabi Roy.
Later, a quick search revealed her achievements: national and international gold medalist. Yet there she stood - grounded, respectful, and devoted to work many would ignore.
I saluted her spirit. We spoke briefly. I introduced myself as a mathematics teacher who connects math to real-life situations.
She smiled again.
In that moment, she unknowingly taught me mathematics in its purest form.
Reflections
Right there, before my eyes, mathematics transformed into life.
- Rotation - her body twisting mid-air in triple jump
- Translation - the seamless shift from effort to humility
- Reflection - values mirrored in actions
- Enlargement - character growing far beyond medals
All transformations became crystal clear - not on a blackboard, but on the ground of life.
Greatness, I realized, is not loud. It whispers through behavior.
Takeaways
- True champions respect every task, big or small
- Discipline is visible even when no one is watching
- Humility is the rarest and highest medal
- Learning does not always come from classrooms - it walks past us silently
From the Desk of the Author
This experience gently reminded me that one layer of emotional writing has ended, and a deeper layer of reflection has begun.
Life teaches best when we pause, observe, and remain open.
As educators, we often aim to shape minds—but sometimes, a single human moment reshapes the educator himself.
Question to Introspect
When no one is watching, how do you treat the work that seems insignificant?
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With heartfelt regards
- Rakesh Kushwaha
Educator | Writer | Founder – Mathivation HUB
Connecting Mathematics with Life & Meaning ✨
Very true sir. I really admire your creativity of linking these concepts to Mathematics. Rightly said Math is the language with which God has written the universe
ReplyDeleteThank you for your thoughtful words 🙏🏻
DeleteMathematics truly helps us observe order, harmony, and truth in the universe.
If these connections encourage deeper reflection, I feel grateful to be a medium.
Wonderful experience that was!!! Through your write-up I felt as if I have personally met that champion who made nation proud. At the end, the essence of being human is how you behave with yourself and worship things that matter to you. At an apparent level, all will think that the person is standing with chin up but the true satisfaction comes when you behave good with yourself and make your values & manners come in action.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this thoughtful reflection 🙏🏻
DeleteI’m glad the experience reached you beyond words.
True pride is indeed quiet—it reflects in how we treat ourselves, our values, and the work we do, even when no one is watching.
Grateful that this essence resonated with you.
The nature is above all the other things. The make up of the natural environment is fundamentally embedded within our human body which performs work in a balanced manner.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this beautiful perspective 🙏🏻
DeleteNature indeed sets the original balance within us—when we observe it closely, we begin to understand ourselves better.
This harmony is what quietly guides both learning and living.