There is a series of some brilliant podcasts by Malcolm Gladwell called Revisionist History. In each episode, he takes a look at some events in history and analyses them, bringing in some mind-blowing insights and the implications of a seemingly insignificant incident on the course of history. If you have read any of his works, you will definitely know the kind of genius that he is. This is no different.
However, that is not the point (this blog article was not sponsored by Malcolm Gladwell. Just saying). I was listening to one episode where he talks about the problem with trying to finding talented individuals in the poor and marginalised communities. The question he asks is that if there are so many institutions that are willing to offer free education to talented individuals, why are there so few takers for it? Is it because there is no talent among the poor? Well, needless to say, that is not the case. There is a lot of talent, everywhere. So, where are they getting lost?
The answer, he says (which, in hindsight seems rather intuitive. But that is how hindsight works, isn't it?), lies in the fact that if you wait untill university to open the gate for talent to come in, it is too late. Most of the talent gets lost in the struggle for existence. By the time the kids reach high school, if they are not identified and taken away from their existing condition, it is alomst too late.
And when I heard that, I was instantly taken back to my fellowship days, where I spent 2 years among some of the poorest people. It was also the 2 years where I met some really talented children. But there was this one boy's face that immediately popped up in my head when Malcolm spoke about how its too late to wait for talent to survive beyond a certain age. It has been more than 3 years since I left Udaipur and I have forgotten the boy's name. But, somehow, I have not forgotten him. He is still there, at the back of my head.
As Malcolm kept speaking, I could not help but wonder, what happend to him? He was in class 5 when I last met him. He must be in class 8 now. Will he get out of his poverty and make it? For he definitely has the talent. But, If Malcolm is right (which he most likely is), his chances are slim. The stories that we hear of some fighting against the odds to make it big are mere exceptions to the rule.
I hope he is the exception to the rule.
However, that is not the point (this blog article was not sponsored by Malcolm Gladwell. Just saying). I was listening to one episode where he talks about the problem with trying to finding talented individuals in the poor and marginalised communities. The question he asks is that if there are so many institutions that are willing to offer free education to talented individuals, why are there so few takers for it? Is it because there is no talent among the poor? Well, needless to say, that is not the case. There is a lot of talent, everywhere. So, where are they getting lost?
The answer, he says (which, in hindsight seems rather intuitive. But that is how hindsight works, isn't it?), lies in the fact that if you wait untill university to open the gate for talent to come in, it is too late. Most of the talent gets lost in the struggle for existence. By the time the kids reach high school, if they are not identified and taken away from their existing condition, it is alomst too late.
And when I heard that, I was instantly taken back to my fellowship days, where I spent 2 years among some of the poorest people. It was also the 2 years where I met some really talented children. But there was this one boy's face that immediately popped up in my head when Malcolm spoke about how its too late to wait for talent to survive beyond a certain age. It has been more than 3 years since I left Udaipur and I have forgotten the boy's name. But, somehow, I have not forgotten him. He is still there, at the back of my head.
As Malcolm kept speaking, I could not help but wonder, what happend to him? He was in class 5 when I last met him. He must be in class 8 now. Will he get out of his poverty and make it? For he definitely has the talent. But, If Malcolm is right (which he most likely is), his chances are slim. The stories that we hear of some fighting against the odds to make it big are mere exceptions to the rule.
I hope he is the exception to the rule.
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