Learning from Marina Beach Fisherman

A couple of days after his birthday in 1954, Rangan happened to be near the sea around 05:00 pm , when he was attracted by the sight of a lone fisherman remaining still , making small movements from left to right and right to left along the sea shore .  The fisherman was clad in just a towel tightly wrapped around his waist and had sensed a big fish being caught , having taken the bite attached to a long nylon rope, leading to the fisherman.   Out of curiosity Rangan was very closely watching the fisherman following his  movements . He was almost walking , giving more and more loose rope to the fish , and tightening the rope with utmost caution , without making the fish realise  that it has been caught. His action lasted for more than 45 minutes and he was just moving from Marina Beach along the sea shore , near Presidency College side to the place near the Vivekananda House.  Rangan was wonderstruck  when his patience and skill had resulted in the haul of an unimaginable huge fish. Soon after the ordeal , Rangan went up to him and congratulated him in simple words in Tamil . The fisherman had seen Rangan as a lone boy , following him during the past 45 minutes with curiosity , wanting to see the results. He was the happiest man at that moment, while Rangan was with him . Rangan could see a sense of achievement in the fisherman’s face. As he was waiting for his brother to come and sell the fish on the spot for a better price , Rangan struck a conversation with him. He has disclosed his name as Idumban. He just told Rangan that the bait, the hook, the nylon rope and the steel rod are only simple gadgets for the path he had chosen.  It is the skill combined with enormous patience that brings the results .On returning home , Rangan narrated this incidence to his father and playmates.  Father said ”A  good teacher need not be educated and the best philosophy of life can come from such simple fishermen”.