The First Mistake

Little Lakshmi returned home from her school in the afternoon. Her mother was busy inside the kitchen doing some work. It was a hot afternoon as the sun was blazing outside. After the short walk from the school on the burning day, Lakshmi was feeling very thirsty. The first thing she wanted was some water to drink. She saw the bottle of water kept on the table. She took it and drank from it urgently even as her mother came out to receive the daughter who had just arrived from school.

The little girl started screaming. It took a minute for the mother to realize what had happened. The liquid in the bottle kept on the table was not water, but the liquid used for cleaning the house. Mother had just finished cleaning the house but had not yet put the cleaning liquid in its place in the bathroom. The colorless liquid looked like water. The practice of keeping water in used plastic bottles made Lakshmi believe she was indeed drinking water.  The liquid contained dilute acid as an ingredient. However much dilute, acid is acid. Acid did not know that Lakshmi drank it by mistake. It did its job. It was mother's first mistake to keep it on the table. It was Lakshmi's first mistake to drink it. Neither knew that it was indeed a mistake. But the damage was done.

Raju, an electrician, was not available for a few months. When he was seen around later and asked about his absence, he narrated the case of his daughter Lakshmi. The girl was rushed to the hospital and given immediate treatment. Her gullet was burnt badly and had to stay in the hospital for months. Even now she is unable to speak properly due to damage to the throat. She may have to put up with it for the rest of her life. Her first mistake was not condoned by the acid. The financial burden of hospital expenses added to their misery. The first mistake turned out to be very costly for her and her family.

*****

Ramesh was recently promoted as a Branch Manager in the bank. He was full of energy and wanted to prove his worth. As all first time branch managers, he wanted to be ahead of the rest of the pack and move up in the organization. There was a loan account in his branch which was due for annual renewal. The party had requested for enhancement of limits. The account was conducted well and enhancement was indeed justified. On his recommendation the enhanced limits were sanctioned by the higher authorities. The facility was duly released to the party.

There were some sticky loans in the branch. As per usual practice, an inspector came to the branch for investigating the causes for the loans turning sticky. The inspector made a thorough study of the loan accounts. He submitted his report in due course. The report had mentioned that two of these loan accounts were guaranteed by the Managing Partner of the firm for which recent enhancement in limits were given. The report also mentioned that while recommending enhancement, branch manager had not mentioned the fact that two other loan accounts in the branch, guaranteed by the Managing Partner of the firm, had turned bad. In the ensuing enquiry proceedings Ramesh pleaded that this was an oversight and he had no intention of concealing the information. The enquiry held him guilty and he lost two increments. His promotion ambitions were set back by at least four to five years. It was his first mistake and it did not matter.

Ramesh pleaded his case with authorities in person. He was told that the punishment was light because it was his first mistake and apparently there was no intention on his part to conceal the facts. Otherwise the punishment would have been even more severe. Condoning first mistakes would be very costly for the organizations as there would be a spate of first mistakes if all first mistakes were condoned.

*****

There are many definitions of mistake. On-line dictionary defines a mistake as "an error in action, calculation, opinion, or judgement caused by poor reasoning, carelessness, insufficient knowledge etc". We all commit mistakes regularly and almost on a daily basis. Fortunately, most of them are harmless. We get away with those mistakes. But there are some mistakes that prove to be very costly. Some of them are deadly. What was the reason for the mistake does not count when the consequences arrive. Reasons do not alter outcomes.

There are many views on mistakes. People often quote Thomas Edison who said that he did not make mistakes but found 1000 different ways that did not work. Mistakes are stepping stones to learning, some say. Committing mistakes only shows that we are humans, goes another quote. These are all true when seen in proper perspective. In the context of research and invention, what Edison said is acceptable. Mistakes that happen in the course of learning are also acceptable. But mistakes that happen in the area of personal safety, compliance and following laid down rules and guidelines are on a different footing altogether. They extract their due and do not forgive even the first mistake. The price paid is often very heavy.

*****

There is a tendency among some in the younger generation to commit mistakes and then plead that it has happened for the first time. There are also assurances that they will not repeat. Both these repeat with unfailing regularity. 

It is wise to remember that there may not be a second time for many mistakes in life. Respecting rules and regulations, compliance with the required guidelines is always a safer and better option.