The first lesson
A girl, not older than nine or ten years, was looking out of the glass window of her air-conditioned train compartment. The train was speeding through the scorching heat of an Indian summer. As she watched the world passing by, her eyes suddenly stopped at the other train's coach in front of hers. "Dad," she asked innocently, "why are people sitting on the stairs of that train? Why are they not sitting inside?" Her father looked outside. It was the general coach, overcrowded with passengers. People were standing shoulder to shoulder. Some were hanging near the doors, while others sat on the metal steps, exposed to the burning sun and hot winds. The father replied immediately, "They cannot afford the ticket for an AC coach. They are poor and have not earned enough in their lives. My girl, you need to work hard so that you can enjoy the best that life has to offer and never face such situations." He continued, "You must study well, work hard in scho...