PUNCTUALITY - AN OBLIVIOUS WORD

Literally the word punctuality is best defined as being on time or keeping to the appointed time.The strength of the word seems to be almost fragile as its importance is never reflected in any domain of life today. Right from the students' community as well as in professional world the word has become meaningless. It is a well-known fact that the key to get success in life, punctuality is indispensable.

Today the importance of punctuality in learning institutions is almost forgotten. Even in business world professionalism lacks punctuality. We fail to find a reliable and trustworthy employee as they are far away from punctuality which is the stepping stone towards discipline. In fact, a punctual man, however busy or engaged, secures time for more work whereas a man without punctuality on the other hand finds difficult to complete an assignment on time.

In the military field, punctuality is of paramount importance. This signifies how important punctuality plays a pivotal role in military warfare. Similarly, in every walk of life punctuality is singled out to be an important component for successful completing of work. Napoleon, lost the Battle of Waterloo simply because a Marshal of his was late to take up his Chief's side. As a result Waterloo decided the fate of Europe for many years. Want of punctuality reveals want of culture and it is discourteous.

Punctuality builds up credibility and displays sign of professionalism and integrity. Today our brave doctors as well as health workers are fighting on war-footing against Covid-19 endangering their lives without medical kits and other medical requirements. The required medical equipment have not come as per requirement for their use in time because of lack of punctuality of delivery. "Punctuality" is, therefore, often used synonymously with "on time".

The importance of punctuality not only comes to careers, school but it has a wild fire repercussions on any committed assignment. Gandhiji was once pulled up in school for not being punctual to reach school on time. This impacted immensely on Gandhiji and he learnt the lesson on punctuality. Accountability and punctuality go hand in hand.. There is restlessness and indiscipline in school, college, office, political arena and in other social activities because the characteristic features of punctuality in completion of a required task or fulfillment of an obligation is ignored. 

While speaking of punctuality, a bengalee, in particular cannot forget Sarat Chandra Pandit lovingly known as 'Dada Thakur" who was a satirist, poet, writer, publisher and social critic. His ancestral house was at Dafarpur in Jangipur sub division of West Bengal. The story goes that once he had to supply question papers in a school but incessant rain caused flood and the railway tracks were under water. He waded through the water covering some miles to deliver the question papers before the commencement of the examination. Such was the sense of punctuality in him.

In fine, punctuality bestows integrity, dependability, reliability and enhances self-confidence of an individual.