The Parta System in Learning

My father has been a great source of inspiration in my life. I have come across only a few other people as well read and articulate as he. The fourth among his siblings, he lost his father when he was just into college. And then he saw himself from studying under the street lights to becoming a director in an insurance company. He has all along been a fighter and, even now, when he is immobile due to a leg having been amputated and lost vision in an eye, he has been able to write a book (on an aspect of Hindu philosophy) that was published early this year. We have the most enriching discussions and heated arguments - our very happening country gives us ample reasons to indulge in these! My dad always reminded me that “there is only one-way traffic in time” and that has egged me to love passionately, learn wholeheartedly and live fulfilling-ly. 

I remember having read about the ‘Parta’ system that was/is followed by the Marwari business community in India - accounts are maintained on a daily basis with a simple calculation: earnings-expenses=profit/loss. (This system was even practised in a few Marwari corporate houses!)

Going by my dad’s analogy of traffic, and I getting closer to my final milestone, over the last few years I have made it a point to learn something new everyday, trying to put the ‘parta’ principle to practice in my endeavour. We often associate learning to a reward of some form - learn to get a good grade in school, learn to land the dream job, learn to advance a career, learn to impress… We forget to learn with no strings attached, just for the love of learning!