Mohammad Anwarul Kabir’s Wisdom and Be-yond

One

Golam Kibria, the Philosophy professor of Ibrahim Khan college, has a reputation of being very student-friendly. He is so popular that the Principal himself is jealous of him. However, he has so far failed to create an excuse and complain against him. Mr. Kibria is a scholarly person, very serious about his job. Students have been achieving good grades in his subject in the board examinations as well as in National University exams. However, his hanging out with students on random occasions seems unpleasant to the Principal. Even though the he has already told Professor Kibria about this in a rude way, he doesn't seem to care.

He rather tells the Principal that to properly educate students, a teacher must maintain a friendly relationship with them. The Principal has not been able to come up with any counter argument.

Two

During break time, students hang out in the college field. They form a circle around Golam Kibria as they listen to his words. On one such occasion, he is heard to say, "Don't get married to the one you love...."

"Why not, Sir?"

Anik throws this question at him shrply. He has been in a relationship with his classmate Rina for two years. Most probably this is the reason why he got impulsive. Just like Anik, a lot of students keep on looking at their teacher eagerly.

Mr. Kibria starts laughing, "The lessons we learn at school come in handy in our professional lives, and sometimes they don't. But there are lots of lessons outside the walls of formal education that are earned through life experience. We can call these lessons pseudophilosophy or wisdom. I said that thing on the basis of pseudophilosophy. Get married to someone you've never been in love with. Lovers get married only to bring disappointment in their lives."

As soon as the professor stops speaking, the outspoken Dipon hurls a question, "Sir, is it based on your life experience?"

The professor gently smiles.

Three

The principal has made a serious complaint against Professor Kibria to the governing body, claiming that the teacher has been encouraging the students to be in relationships, but has also told them not to marry the ones they love. This issue will be addressed in today's urgent meeting. The Upazila chairman is present among them as the chairman of the governing body of this college. He asks the professor directly, "Are these allegations against you true?"

The court scene of Socrates' trial pops up before Professor Kibria's eyes and he smiles.

Mohammad Anwarul Kabir is a poet and micro-story writer, presently teaching Computer Science at AIUB; Subarna Khan is an avid reader and also publishes her poems and short stories and book reviews on G+, Mirakee, Wattpad and many online platforms.