"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?
8 comments:
Sure is!! But please, get a wife before he did, ok? LOL
Ha.. Ha.. :) Thanks Wanessa for your comment!
Need to consider that option soon.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm very interesting...... but the ending is a bit sad though that they separated after few years. :) But loved Wanessa comment :P and support it also.
@Sutapa:
The ending isn't sad. They seperated because she insisted on moving back to UK and lead a more peaceful life of retirment, while he couldn't think of life without teaching and research. It was an amicable seperation!
Considering on Wanessa's suggestion for sure :)
I think you should understand that not all your readers have the same opinion as you. You need to give more freedom to your readers. Don't impose your views on others.
@Anonymous:
From your comment, I can conclude two things:
1) You seem to be over-judgemental
2) You have totally misinterpreted this article, as I don't get where I have given a hint of imposition of my views on others.
His life according to me is not inspiring at all. 35 years is too much of a time! U didn't specify what was he doing in those 35 years. Something is amiss over there. Did he love somebody or did he not? If he didn't he certainly doesn't inspire me. :p
Highly,
Thanks for your comments. Well, what he did for the next 35 years (on his personal front) is not known. However, he is supposed to have done great research during then and he claimed that absence of a woman helped him focus better (I can assure you that's a correct statement. Personal experience, you see). However it's an inspiration of different kind!
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