In a world where people are constantly bombarded with noise, it can be difficult to tune out and still maintain a good mental health. Since the advent of technology, we have been able to connect with friends and family through social media. We can also take refuge in an online novel or movie that allows us to escape into a fictional world without leaving our living room. Nowadays, it seems as if movies go from being one-time releases on DVD to being available for streaming on Netflix or Amazon Prime instant video the day after they open at theaters. In fact, I have a movie on my computer waiting for me to watch it after I submit this article. But the question remains, is too much media exposure good for us or not? To answer this question, we will examine a story from the life of a man named Shankar Dayal Sharma. He was born on 18 June 1914 in Agra. At the time of his birth, India was under British rule and young Sharma lived most of his childhood under these circumstances. After high school, he went abroad to study at Cambridge University in England where he continued to excel as a student and honed his research skills as well as his writing abilities. After completing his studies, Sharma came back to India and was appointed the President of India in 1992. This article is about him and his time at Cambridge and it is written by a native of Cambridge who knew him. Sharma lived his life philosophically. His primary focus was spreading knowledge and encouraging others to do the same, no matter how great or small the difference they might make in the world. This philosophy of spreading knowledge is seen throughout his life’s work, but perhaps most prominently in his role as president of India. During his presidency he created the Sankar Dayal Sharma Fund for community improvement that contributed millions of dollars to cultural, educational and social projects throughout India. His philosophy that the little things we do every day to improve our lives and the lives of those around us make a big difference is something we should all strive to follow. Sharma spent his younger years as a devoted student and as such his time at Cambridge was an extension of those earlier formative years. His life could be broken down into two main phases: before and after Cambridge. Sharma readily admitted that if it were not for the people and experiences he encountered during this time, he probably would not become who he is today. Sharma first came to Cambridge University in 1931 to study engineering. He was a fairly typical Indian student at the time. He was a law unto himself, kept to himself and tried his best to get by without too much effort. He had come from a privileged background and did not have to work very hard to achieve anything in life. This way of thinking still prevalent among many young Indians today. They tumble through the education system, don’t learn much beyond what they need to learn to get by and then do reasonably well on standardized tests. Sharma said he would have been just another number had it not been for a few lucky breaks that changed his life forever. One of these breaks came when Sharma was taking one of his classes on thermodynamics taught by Sir George Thomson (1892–1975). 8eeb4e9f32 40
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