"The
way to gain a good reputation, is to endeavor to be what you desire to
appear".
-
Socrates
I spent most part of the
last Sunday, writing and editing the below article. It is based on a series of
incidents in a life of a professor, which were narrated to me by one of my former
professors.
If you google the name Gene
H. Golub, besides his personal webpage at Stanford University, you are likely
to come across numerous theorems and research papers. Like most professors, he
too had a tremendous track record, both in terms of teaching as well as research.
However that’s not my focus of writing. The manner in which, he led his life,
is what inspires me.
In his twenties, after
obtaining a PhD, Prof Golub got an opportunity to travel to University of
Cambridge in the United Kingdom, for carrying out further research. While at
Cambridge, one day he came across a beautiful young lady and immediately got
attracted to her. They say computer scientists and mathematicians can never be
that guy at a bar, who can just go and talk to a girl and impress her. This is
probably the reason why Prof. Golub could not express his feelings and few
months later returned to the United States, making a firm decision that he will
never marry any other girl.
Probably this decision
worked in his favor. He continued doing great research all his life and shaping
many students’ careers. He built such good relations, especially with
international students, that they would even live with him, as his house guests
for several days. Likewise, when he travelled abroad, he would be hosted mostly
by his former students.
Nearly thirty-five years
later he again got an opportunity to travel to Cambridge. And guess what? He
again came across the same lady, who was probably as beautiful as then, but
certainly not young. However this time around, Prof. Golub expressed his
feelings openly. As she had been widowed this time, she did agree to marry him.
By the time when most people in his age group retire, he continued to work, as
he was newlywed and had to deal with the starting expenses of new life.
Some years later they separated
and Prof. Golub continued devoting more time to his teaching and research. He
worked till he died at the age of 75, in the year 2007. He did great work, got
whom he wanted to be with, and amidst of that he was genuine do-gooder. Now isn’t
such a life awe-inspiring?
