School days were very special to me as I never found the time to

“School days were very special to me as I never found the time to complete my graduation.” Thus spoke Pankaj Kapur, a man of profound artistry and quiet depth, whose words carry the fragrance of nostalgia and the humility of wisdom. In this simple reflection, he reveals the bittersweet truth of life’s unfolding — that not every journey follows the path we imagine, and that sometimes the earliest chapters of our story become the most sacred, precisely because the later ones took us elsewhere. His quote is not merely about education, but about the passage of time, the innocence of youth, and the beauty of what remains incomplete.

For Pankaj Kapur, these words spring not from regret, but from remembrance. His school days were a time of simplicity — a world unburdened by fame, success, or the expectations that later life demands. In recalling them, he honors that stage of life when joy was pure and dreams were just beginning to take shape. Yet, he acknowledges that destiny pulled him swiftly into the currents of work and art before he could complete his graduation. In that honest admission lies a profound understanding: that life is not a straight road, but a tapestry of choices, chances, and callings.

The ancients knew well that life often leads us away from what we plan, toward what we are meant to become. The philosopher Plato once said that “the direction in which education starts a man will determine his future life.” But what is education if not the training of the soul through experience as well as books? Though Pankaj Kapur did not finish formal study, his life became a living school — his acting, his art, and his introspection shaped him into one of India’s most revered storytellers. What he learned beyond the classroom — patience, observation, empathy — became the foundation of a deeper kind of knowledge, one that cannot be found within walls or measured by degrees.

Consider, too, the story of Thomas Edison, who left school early and was considered a poor student by his teachers. Yet, his mind, unshackled by convention, gave light to the world. Like Pankaj Kapur, he found that education can take many forms — that life itself is a teacher for those willing to learn. Both men remind us that while formal education can refine talent, it is curiosity and perseverance that complete it. And though Edison and Kapur may have walked different paths, they both teach that greatness often blooms in the spaces where the expected path ends.

Pankaj Kapur’s reflection also carries a note of tenderness — a yearning for a time before responsibility took hold, before art became profession, before the soul was tested by the weight of adulthood. In his school days, there was still wonder; every lesson was discovery, every friendship a treasure. To call those days “special” is to confess that in the rush of success and struggle, something of that simplicity was lost. Yet, he does not mourn it bitterly. Rather, he cherishes it — as one might hold a childhood photograph close to the heart, knowing that though the years have passed, the light within that image still warms the soul.

There is, too, an element of humility in his words. In a world that celebrates titles and accomplishments, Pankaj Kapur speaks without shame of what he did not finish. He reminds us that completion is not the only measure of worth; that growth and wisdom are often found in the unfinished stories of our lives. He is a man who, though he did not complete his graduation, mastered the art of human emotion — who became both student and teacher through the theatre of life. This humility is a lesson for all: that no one’s value is determined by credentials alone, but by the sincerity with which they walk their path.

So, dear listener, take this wisdom into your heart: life may not unfold as you expect, but it always teaches. School may end, but learning never does. Cherish your beginnings, for they are the soil of all that follows. If your plans remain unfinished, do not despair — every ending opens a new classroom in the university of existence. And if you look back on your school days with longing, let it not be for what was lost, but for what was gained — the joy, the innocence, the spark of curiosity that still burns within you.

Practical actions for the seeker: Honor your education, whatever form it takes — formal or informal, academic or experiential. If you can complete your studies, do so with diligence; if life leads you elsewhere, learn deeply from that journey. Keep the wonder of your school days alive — keep reading, questioning, creating. When you feel weighed down by the duties of adulthood, look back to the joy of learning for its own sake. As Pankaj Kapur teaches, every path, even the incomplete one, can lead to fulfillment — if it is walked with curiosity, gratitude, and grace.