தக்காளின்னா சும்மாவா

Well, I don't have the state of mind now as I had during the time of "தக்காளின்னா சும்மாவா" incident, hence it is hard to write this.

Like everyone, I had likings for some subject during school days, while to me, it was predominantly maths and physics. During those days I used think the whole world runs around Physics, while all other subjects were sub-set of physics. Due to the "poor" marks in 12th standard due to x-y-z reasons (drug), I didn't get engineering. Joined B.Sc Maths/Physics, however called from Agri Univ and took Horticulture.

At that time, to me, Horticulture (or most subjects in Biology) was a stupid one, because we only study information not reasoning and functions. I never had interest in biology in B.Sc. 1/2/3 years, and most time I only used to criticize our own subjects. Never studied anything properly. Every subjects within Horticulture, I saw only data and statistics. More importantly, those who are interestingly studying Horticulture appeared stupids to me. Internally, திமிரின் உச்சத்தில் இருந்தேன்.

It was an examination time (Vegetable course I guess). As usual, I was roaming in Tamizhagam hostel without (or partial) notes. Just randomly glancing the few papers, all I could see is, 30x40in spacing.., apply some fertilizer.., harvest xyz kg/ha.. All வயலும் வாழ்வும் stuff. Non-sense. I hate to read that. Thrown those papers and slowly went to the second floor to see, how other stupids (Genuinely that was my internal mind-set at that time) are handling this.

Ramesh/Venkatesh were calmly studying in their room. Sivakumar was comparing notes with additional information that he heard from Radio; Saravanakumar/Senthil was carefully studying that. Chellamuthu got things explained by Hariharan. But all of them were consciously studying for the exam (for obvious reasons). Although it was an expected atmosphere, I started, "it is hard to mug-up all these data" (to, me these were not even qualify as information). Each one had different view and went slightly heated argument. எப்போ பார்த்தாலும் spacing, பெர்டிலைசர் , climate, yield, cutting, roasting.. இதல்லாம் ஒரு சயின்சா..? Most of the friends in the room were slowly accepting what I was saying and further, "என்னடா பண்றது , நம்ம தலைவிதி இதை படிக்கணும்னு ..".

Until that time, Hariharan was calm and later exploded, “20x30in spacing is not just a data. It is all about how you see it; a simple tomato spacing has deep science involving plant canopy; root spread; optimal uptake; inter-cultural operations, right fit as yield business model and 100 other factors. We are yet to see that. Every sentence that you study in Horticulture has deep sense behind, just because you are not aware of it, it does not mean that the science is bad. தக்காளி ஸ்பேஸிங் பத்தியே தெரியாத உனக்கு, Horticulture பத்தி என்ன தெரியும். தக்காளின்னா என்ன சும்மாவா?"

I quickly came out of the room and took a slow walk towards Poosaripalayam alone for a smoke. எனக்கு முகத்தில் அறைந்தது போல் இருந்தது. எனக்கு எதுவுமே தெரியவில்லை என்பதே, எனக்கு அப்போதுதான் தெரிய ஆரம்பித்தது. என்னுடைய திமிரின் ஆழமும் புரிந்தது.

This is when I realized, subject boundaries are virtual, created only for our convenience. A Horticulture can have mathematics inside and Physics could be part of Biology too. This is when I started looking at our subjects with interest and with the “zoom lens” (not physically), although it was too late. This is when I realized, in the name of fun, how much I had troubled our teachers. And this is when I realized, I had already wasted 3 years in college with 11 arrears in array of subjects.

It all originated from தக்காளி. Honestly speaking, I have never shared this with anyone, (Why would I share my own stupidity to someone else), including the one who said, "தக்காளின்னா என்ன சும்மாவா?"

உண்மைதான்.

தக்காளின்னா சும்மாவா?