For a while now, my mind has been occupied by thoughts on the nature of leadership we need in society. Perhaps it has to do with my workplace which has given me an opportunity to interact with people from diverse backgrounds. Or my profession, which in essence is about helping unlock the inherent potential of people. Or, as is likely, it may be a deeper, latent desire to contribute to development of people in a setting in a broader sense than I have been able to do thus far. Whatever be the reason, I often find myself contemplating on this subject. And in an attempt to progress from thought to action, I have decided to put pen to paper and see where that leads me.
So here goes…
Leadership conjures up many different images, and there are literally millions of views out there about what it means and how it can be developed. There are theories which on the one end of the spectrum derive lessons from history and ancient scriptures, and on the other end offer instant ‘leader-in-a-minute’ solutions. I don’t intend to enter into any debate on the meaning or definition of leadership, nor propound new theories. In my simplistic mind, I think about leadership in a pretty wide ranging sense…from the political arena to the creative and the professional. My thoughts are about leadership that benefits the society and humanity…hence it encompasses a vast array of fields including government, politics, academics, science and technology, arts, sports, business, philanthropy and entrepreneurship.
The question that has been twirling around in my brain is – what traits should our next generation of leaders embody?
There are three that resonate most with me – Competence, Character and a Desire to Excel. Here is what I mean by each of these…
Competence is the culmination of skills, knowledge and aptitude. We commonly focus on helping people acquire skills and knowledge which are considered essential for them to be employable and productive. However, I feel this focus addresses only one dimension of the equation. By providing skills and knowledge to millions of people, we can create a society where individuals can be self-sufficient. And also self-serving. Skills and knowledge can be effectively imparted through education and experience. The other part of the equation is aptitude, i.e. the innate abilities that each human being on this planet possesses. If we are able to provide skills and knowledge to people in line with their aptitude, we get competence. As a society, we can create a generation of competent leaders if we are able to identify the aptitude of people early, and then power it with the right set of skills and knowledge.
Character is all about doing the right thing. And to do the right thing, one needs to know what is right, and also who it is right for. Contemporary institutions of learning (certainly several that I am familiar with) teach people to do the right thing for themselves. This is further reinforced when people enter the professional arena and learn the harsh realities of the real world, which incentivises and recognizes material individual success over all else. As to those less fortunate who do not have access even to basic education, such lofty questions don’t arise as they fight with fellow human beings every step of the way and for every morsel of food. However, building character in leaders is important for societies that want to progress. Character is about knowing and doing what is right for oneself, one’s immediate surroundings (family, friends, organization, etc.), as well as the community in which we grow up, live and work. Character is about knowing one’s obligations and discharging those obligations. Character has to do with achieving alignment between one’s beliefs, intentions and actions.
A Desire to Excel is a desire to continuously push the boundary of creativity and innovation. It is an innate need to surpass one’s own limitations and those set by others. It is borne out of an unrelenting focus and the application of one’s craft, and dedicating oneself to the creation of wonderful products and solutions. Inculcating in people the desire to excel is to get them to reject mediocrity and lethargy. For those that choose the pursuit of excellence, it means learning to accept challenges, roadblocks and rejection as a necessary and welcome part of the path to progress. Finally, a desire to excel can be stoked only once people learn to value the virtues of industriousness and perseverance, and the knowledge that that there is no quick and clear destination…but that the journey itself is significant and joyous.
Why do we need to have leaders with Competence, Character, and a Desire to Excel?
I have grown up in India, a country of over a billion people. A country which now prides itself as an emerging global power and is regularly making headlines around the world…as the world’s largest thriving democracy, for having a uniquely talented workforce with skills that are globally relevant, and now also as the home to some of the world’s richest and most powerful people. Yet, it is also a country of rampant corruption, a society lacking in basic civic sense, a land of extreme poverty and vast polarization between the rich and the poor.
There are many reasons for why India is the way it is, but one piece of the puzzle lies in how we educate people, the values we instill in them and how we define, recognize and reward achievement.
Over the past fifty years, we have made tremendous strides in emerging from subjugation into a global power. Today, India can produce two and a half million graduates every year and over ten million people enter the labour pool annually. We have clearly demonstrated the ability to produce a vast number of capable individuals…engineers, lawyers, technicians, academics, doctors, scientists, actors and sportspersons. We are blessed with having the youngest workers in the world at a time when most countries are dealing with issues of an ageing workforce. But as a society we have failed to be progressive. Our education system can produce masses of talented individuals, the values we inculcate in our children are about pursuing material individual gain, and what we recognize and reward are individual success stories. But we neither teach, nor value the role of individuals to act as a collective…thereby requiring the forthcoming generation to understand and discharge obligations as members of a society. We have been able to provide skills to our people and give them a livelihood, but we have not created vibrant and ethical citizens who can collectively propel a nation forward.
I believe it is possible to change this. It is possible for us to create the next generation of leaders who are talented and committed to a broader purpose and in a manner that is beneficial to the society and the country. And that this can be done in every arena – politics, government, judiciary, business, sciences, liberal arts, creative fields, as well as in sports.
I don’t have all the answers on how we can achieve this. I also don’t know whether this can be achieved at scale, or is a utopian concept which can only take root within a cocooned environment. But I do have some ideas which are slowly taking shape in my brain. These ideas have to do with helping build a new generation of leaders who will be Competent, have Character and a Desire to Excel.
I know there are people out there with similar intentions, and who may have taken many more strides in acting upon such ideas. I hope to find them so I can lend a helping hand. As I hope to progress my thinking into action…
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
A visit to India
In one of my previous posts, I had mentioned about the visit of my 20 year old niece from Sydney who stopped by in Singapore for a few days on her way to India. Well, she did a write-up on her experiences and has given me the permission to reproduce it on this blog. So here are the thoughts of Rimmika Shankar from her recent visit to India...
Destination-Barelli Express, Somewhere in North-West India 9:53 am-Thurs.
As I sit here in an AC tier compartment sipping on a Frooti, looking outside at the harsh, barren, arid sprawl of the Desert that lies all around, watching it go by, I've found some time to reflect .
So off I go.
My plane arrived in India 9:30 pm Local time, Sunday.
It is now Thursday morning and the only word I can use to describe the past few days is 'Amazing'.
Everything has literally left me gob-smacked because India is like it has been described countless times before-truly Incredible.
Starting from the lady that cleans our Toilet in ‘Chowki Dhani’( a completely make-belief village) to the man who attended to us in the Institute of Town Planners Guesthouse (who also happened to look like Superman)-Pan Singh.
In all its expanse and what can at times be a fairly depressing amass of population, people seem to from what I could see be happy, or at least complacent to a degree.
There is somewhat of a social Divide where the rich can afford almost anything but there is a large population that can’t.
Living simply is not one concept that the upper middle class accept and living gallantly and flamboyantly is somewhat of a business churning out a profit within the millions. All you need to do is visit the country clubs in Gurgoan and spend a night celebrating a one year olds birthday as I did, where the bar tab easily exceeded a mark of about 50,000 Rs, maybe more.
The traffic so chaotic and loud, the common man has time for little but their own worries-worries so vast I can imagine that it leaves little room for consideration of others, let alone the environment.
Failure to give way to an Ambulance in crowded peak hour and leaving rubbish on the train and even going to vast lengths to conceal the removal of rubbish in a manner that evades prying eyes and looks of disapproval, yields to me a sentiment that reflects a subtle resignation from the need to advance.
Covering your bodies with just the leather band of a seatbelt, laying across your chest -merely expressing the appearance of a fastened seatbelt-although signals a defiance and lack of obedience of the Law, it displays a complete disregard of concepts and ideas put in place for the safety and protection of its own citizens.
This disregard can only stem from what I believe is a 'what’s the point' belief which harbors a deep saddening tone which I can’t seem to grasp-only feel greatly at a loss for, on behalf of all the citizens and well intentions it had first been established to protect.
In a country where people are so vastly abundant, you cannot go for a second without seeing a fellow being, if consideration for others still exists I wonder where this unique and spectacular display of human behavior showcases its colours.
It may be a country of colour and beauty, contrasts and comparisons, constantly confronting and of everlasting entertainment but this great, vast land leaves has a somber undertone and I feel nothing but saturation at each point.
With the Image of the unending rows of motorcycles parked outside the office of Dainik Bhaskar (a Local newspapers' office in Jaipur)-I start to not only grasp the vast number of people that inhibit this greatly overpopulated and dense landmass, I start to sympathize and try to imagine what it must be like dealing with the state of affairs of this nation on a ritualistic basis.
Why should I give way, when my way involved shortcomings, deception, corruption and connivery?
Why should I not spit on the road when I feel like my dreams have been spat on and left on the railway tracks in a drain blocked and cluttered to the rim.
Why should I keep my area clean when regardless of how clean my area gets there is a slum just outside which thrives on the piles of plastic and paper, selling the pieces -making a relatively meager, modest living.
But even in all this, I have the belief (dreamy-eyed as it may be) that hope may prevail.
Victories and triumphs do occur like the fisherman outside Amer Palace, catching fish from what would have at one point been a water catchment area, outside the palace. Now however ashamedly dried up. As he threw his fishing net into the pitch dark , murky waters full of muck and filth harbored by local boars and wild pigs, many stood as I did watching in silence with a slight feeling of victory within us all when he caught amongst the muck a single fish and on occasion-two.
Perhaps at times slivering in disgust not delight, failing to rejoice with a song and dance for his achievement- I do however think on a small scale we were left better assured that the fisherman’s efforts did not go unrewarded and as unhygienic as the fish that he caught might have been, we walked away with the assurance that he had some, if any fish at all.
I should also mention this palace was one where we were denied access, regardless of whom or how far many had travelled, all turned away as the Film shooting of a Salman Khan movie carried on within in enclosures.
In a country where 'The real India' is what I set out to see, my very real experiences although harsh, full-frontal and however immense in nature they might have been, they delighted, surprised, amazed and recreated an image in my head of the India I left behind, the India I have returned to and the India I hope it may or may not transform into.
Till then I wait in anticipation and hope that I might someday be able to contribute and lead this country in the direction of that positive vector.
A venture I hope yields respect for self, thy country and thy neighbor and of course, the Environment.In hope that the innocence captured in the eyes of a child leads this great nation to unleash its vast untapped potential, open its eyes to its beauty and that progress may come to one and all, inextricably.
Destination-Barelli Express, Somewhere in North-West India 9:53 am-Thurs.
As I sit here in an AC tier compartment sipping on a Frooti, looking outside at the harsh, barren, arid sprawl of the Desert that lies all around, watching it go by, I've found some time to reflect .
So off I go.
My plane arrived in India 9:30 pm Local time, Sunday.
It is now Thursday morning and the only word I can use to describe the past few days is 'Amazing'.
Everything has literally left me gob-smacked because India is like it has been described countless times before-truly Incredible.
Starting from the lady that cleans our Toilet in ‘Chowki Dhani’( a completely make-belief village) to the man who attended to us in the Institute of Town Planners Guesthouse (who also happened to look like Superman)-Pan Singh.
In all its expanse and what can at times be a fairly depressing amass of population, people seem to from what I could see be happy, or at least complacent to a degree.
There is somewhat of a social Divide where the rich can afford almost anything but there is a large population that can’t.
Living simply is not one concept that the upper middle class accept and living gallantly and flamboyantly is somewhat of a business churning out a profit within the millions. All you need to do is visit the country clubs in Gurgoan and spend a night celebrating a one year olds birthday as I did, where the bar tab easily exceeded a mark of about 50,000 Rs, maybe more.
The traffic so chaotic and loud, the common man has time for little but their own worries-worries so vast I can imagine that it leaves little room for consideration of others, let alone the environment.
Failure to give way to an Ambulance in crowded peak hour and leaving rubbish on the train and even going to vast lengths to conceal the removal of rubbish in a manner that evades prying eyes and looks of disapproval, yields to me a sentiment that reflects a subtle resignation from the need to advance.
Covering your bodies with just the leather band of a seatbelt, laying across your chest -merely expressing the appearance of a fastened seatbelt-although signals a defiance and lack of obedience of the Law, it displays a complete disregard of concepts and ideas put in place for the safety and protection of its own citizens.
This disregard can only stem from what I believe is a 'what’s the point' belief which harbors a deep saddening tone which I can’t seem to grasp-only feel greatly at a loss for, on behalf of all the citizens and well intentions it had first been established to protect.
In a country where people are so vastly abundant, you cannot go for a second without seeing a fellow being, if consideration for others still exists I wonder where this unique and spectacular display of human behavior showcases its colours.
It may be a country of colour and beauty, contrasts and comparisons, constantly confronting and of everlasting entertainment but this great, vast land leaves has a somber undertone and I feel nothing but saturation at each point.
With the Image of the unending rows of motorcycles parked outside the office of Dainik Bhaskar (a Local newspapers' office in Jaipur)-I start to not only grasp the vast number of people that inhibit this greatly overpopulated and dense landmass, I start to sympathize and try to imagine what it must be like dealing with the state of affairs of this nation on a ritualistic basis.
Why should I give way, when my way involved shortcomings, deception, corruption and connivery?
Why should I not spit on the road when I feel like my dreams have been spat on and left on the railway tracks in a drain blocked and cluttered to the rim.
Why should I keep my area clean when regardless of how clean my area gets there is a slum just outside which thrives on the piles of plastic and paper, selling the pieces -making a relatively meager, modest living.
But even in all this, I have the belief (dreamy-eyed as it may be) that hope may prevail.
Victories and triumphs do occur like the fisherman outside Amer Palace, catching fish from what would have at one point been a water catchment area, outside the palace. Now however ashamedly dried up. As he threw his fishing net into the pitch dark , murky waters full of muck and filth harbored by local boars and wild pigs, many stood as I did watching in silence with a slight feeling of victory within us all when he caught amongst the muck a single fish and on occasion-two.
Perhaps at times slivering in disgust not delight, failing to rejoice with a song and dance for his achievement- I do however think on a small scale we were left better assured that the fisherman’s efforts did not go unrewarded and as unhygienic as the fish that he caught might have been, we walked away with the assurance that he had some, if any fish at all.
I should also mention this palace was one where we were denied access, regardless of whom or how far many had travelled, all turned away as the Film shooting of a Salman Khan movie carried on within in enclosures.
In a country where 'The real India' is what I set out to see, my very real experiences although harsh, full-frontal and however immense in nature they might have been, they delighted, surprised, amazed and recreated an image in my head of the India I left behind, the India I have returned to and the India I hope it may or may not transform into.
Till then I wait in anticipation and hope that I might someday be able to contribute and lead this country in the direction of that positive vector.
A venture I hope yields respect for self, thy country and thy neighbor and of course, the Environment.In hope that the innocence captured in the eyes of a child leads this great nation to unleash its vast untapped potential, open its eyes to its beauty and that progress may come to one and all, inextricably.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
A new generation of leaders?
I chanced upon something I found truly thought provoking and enlightening - building leaders of character and calibre.
This talk by Patrick Awuha is the story of one man's endeavour to build the next generation of leaders in Africa. As one listens to him, the issues he highlights are not isolated to his home country, Ghana. Much of this resonates with me given the part of the world that I come from. And his approach is simple, elegant and built on strong conviction. Couldn't help posting it here...http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/patrick_awuah_on_educating_leaders.html
This talk by Patrick Awuha is the story of one man's endeavour to build the next generation of leaders in Africa. As one listens to him, the issues he highlights are not isolated to his home country, Ghana. Much of this resonates with me given the part of the world that I come from. And his approach is simple, elegant and built on strong conviction. Couldn't help posting it here...http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/patrick_awuah_on_educating_leaders.html
Sunday, April 19, 2009
One Month
That is how long it has been since I last wrote on this blog.
The last 30 days have gone by in a haze and a blur. I spent three weeks in USA traveling to various cities. I started off in Chicago and then went to Detroit. Returned to Chicago. Then off again to Pittsburgh, followed by a weekend in Long Island...and back again to Pittsburgh before making the long flight back home. I had jet lag on the way in, jet lag through much of my stay…and jet lag for a whole week after I was back. I really don’t know why I have such great difficulty dealing with long distance travel. Partly it has to do with insomnia. Just when I thought I had seen the end of it, back it comes with a bang and haunts me for weeks. I could hardly sleep on the 19 hour transatlantic flights, even though the airline does much to make things very comfortable for the long distance business traveler. I tried every trick in the book – switched to the new time zone by staying up during the day time of the destination, ate little, drank little…and that too only a bit of wine hoping it would put me to sleep. But no. Neither would I be able to sleep, nor could I be productive as the brain would be whirring around in circles and refuse to centre on anything of consequence. The haze would envelope me for days…and it is only recently that I feel it lifting. Anyhow, enough whining! Like many other things, insomnia too tests one’s endurance and persistence. It challenges my ability to be productive. As it does my resolve to open the laptop and give a coherent outpouring to my thoughts through the means of this blog. So after a hiatus of a month, I am determined to resume my tryst with myself and a few other people who sometimes drop into this little corner. I feel rusty…somewhat like out of form sportsmen desperately trying to get back their rhythm. But try I shall!
The trip to USA was interesting. I have been a regular visitor there, especially in these last couple of years, and have closely observed changes in the mood and public sentiment. Not very difficult to do in a country of fairly expressive people! A common theme evident to me over the past year has been a sense of resignation, apprehension, stress...even tiredness in the people of the nation. You would expect that in an economy which was steadily sinking into recession. And now, that sense is pervasive across the globe as the vast majority of countries are reeling under the impact of a wave that emanated from Wall Street, spread to Main Street and has engulfed vast portions of the world.
But during this visit, I did discern signs of change. Not that anything was fundamentally different– the economic indices continued to point downwards signaling further troubles, the financial institutions were still battered, the iconic automotive industry gasped for breath and unemployment levels continued their upward surge. More and more people – vastly experienced corporate, economic and political leaders - have stated that these are the toughest conditions they have experienced in their lifetimes. However, the pervasive sense of doom and gloom has now given way to something one had not felt in a long time. Hope! Very subtle and not evident at the surface, but I am sure I sensed it. And given that I had visited after a long, harsh winter which had also heralded one of the greatest and historic change in the political landscape of this country, I am bound to attribute this hope to the one man who is looking to chart a new course, not just for the people of his wonderful country, but for much of the modern world. Barack Obama - the man who can do no wrong! He has indeed inspired the people of US to see beyond their troubles of today and strive for a better tomorrow. I wish this new age icon is able to realize his dreams and those of the nation he now leads.
However, as I said before, there is no evidence of this change at the surface. What is visible instead is the effect of recession in daily life. At the airport, passengers are made to pay for their carry on baggage, up in the air they are not served snacks and drinks, restaurants in downtown areas bear a deserted look. And the malls! An endless array of sales with each retail outlet jostling to outdo the other to capture the attention of passers by…but still not much luck! Clearly more people are browsing than purchasing. Not something I had seen at this time of the year and at such scale. So…what few visible effects I could capture digitally found their way onto this blog in the post below.
How long will this recession last? Will things get even worse? When will the stock markets rebound? When will companies offer a positive outlook? When will people be able to stop worrying about losing their jobs? For those that have lost theirs, when will they regain employment? Are we talking months, quarters, years???
All of us have these questions in our minds. And many have predictions…which range from a relatively quick rebound, to what is being referred to as the “long freeze”. Explanations abound on the causes of this recession. As can be expected, there are also a fair number of remonstrations of the “I told you so” variety. For a person that cannot fathom the various complexities and intricacies of this world, all I have been able to gather is that the prevailing climate has been popularly attributed to the unbridled greed of a few. Greed that pervaded the entire globally interconnected economic system which eventually collapsed under its own weight. I do not know which theory is right, what analysis precise or which prediction accurate…but I do feel that all of these are not of much consequence.
What really matters is the lesson we learn from this new challenge. As is the case with any challenge or calamity, this one too presents opportunity for learning. Some challenges that we face in our lives we attribute to our own actions, others to the result of collective actions of people. And then there are those whose causation is beyond our comprehension and we attribute it to the will of the almighty. Irrespective of its cause, adversity can be a great teacher…if only we choose to be keen students. So this recession can be a unique opportunity for individuals, organizations, and even nations to learn, adapt and progress. I do not have the wisdom to make predictions or offer lessons. But I do know that there are those who will emerge from this wiser, some will be wealthier and stronger, and yet others healthier and happier. A few will fade away with shattered dreams and broken wills.
Certainly virtue is like precious odors, most fragrant when they are incensed, or crushed: for prosperity doth best discover vice, but adversity doth best discover virtue. Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
The last 30 days have gone by in a haze and a blur. I spent three weeks in USA traveling to various cities. I started off in Chicago and then went to Detroit. Returned to Chicago. Then off again to Pittsburgh, followed by a weekend in Long Island...and back again to Pittsburgh before making the long flight back home. I had jet lag on the way in, jet lag through much of my stay…and jet lag for a whole week after I was back. I really don’t know why I have such great difficulty dealing with long distance travel. Partly it has to do with insomnia. Just when I thought I had seen the end of it, back it comes with a bang and haunts me for weeks. I could hardly sleep on the 19 hour transatlantic flights, even though the airline does much to make things very comfortable for the long distance business traveler. I tried every trick in the book – switched to the new time zone by staying up during the day time of the destination, ate little, drank little…and that too only a bit of wine hoping it would put me to sleep. But no. Neither would I be able to sleep, nor could I be productive as the brain would be whirring around in circles and refuse to centre on anything of consequence. The haze would envelope me for days…and it is only recently that I feel it lifting. Anyhow, enough whining! Like many other things, insomnia too tests one’s endurance and persistence. It challenges my ability to be productive. As it does my resolve to open the laptop and give a coherent outpouring to my thoughts through the means of this blog. So after a hiatus of a month, I am determined to resume my tryst with myself and a few other people who sometimes drop into this little corner. I feel rusty…somewhat like out of form sportsmen desperately trying to get back their rhythm. But try I shall!
The trip to USA was interesting. I have been a regular visitor there, especially in these last couple of years, and have closely observed changes in the mood and public sentiment. Not very difficult to do in a country of fairly expressive people! A common theme evident to me over the past year has been a sense of resignation, apprehension, stress...even tiredness in the people of the nation. You would expect that in an economy which was steadily sinking into recession. And now, that sense is pervasive across the globe as the vast majority of countries are reeling under the impact of a wave that emanated from Wall Street, spread to Main Street and has engulfed vast portions of the world.
But during this visit, I did discern signs of change. Not that anything was fundamentally different– the economic indices continued to point downwards signaling further troubles, the financial institutions were still battered, the iconic automotive industry gasped for breath and unemployment levels continued their upward surge. More and more people – vastly experienced corporate, economic and political leaders - have stated that these are the toughest conditions they have experienced in their lifetimes. However, the pervasive sense of doom and gloom has now given way to something one had not felt in a long time. Hope! Very subtle and not evident at the surface, but I am sure I sensed it. And given that I had visited after a long, harsh winter which had also heralded one of the greatest and historic change in the political landscape of this country, I am bound to attribute this hope to the one man who is looking to chart a new course, not just for the people of his wonderful country, but for much of the modern world. Barack Obama - the man who can do no wrong! He has indeed inspired the people of US to see beyond their troubles of today and strive for a better tomorrow. I wish this new age icon is able to realize his dreams and those of the nation he now leads.
However, as I said before, there is no evidence of this change at the surface. What is visible instead is the effect of recession in daily life. At the airport, passengers are made to pay for their carry on baggage, up in the air they are not served snacks and drinks, restaurants in downtown areas bear a deserted look. And the malls! An endless array of sales with each retail outlet jostling to outdo the other to capture the attention of passers by…but still not much luck! Clearly more people are browsing than purchasing. Not something I had seen at this time of the year and at such scale. So…what few visible effects I could capture digitally found their way onto this blog in the post below.
How long will this recession last? Will things get even worse? When will the stock markets rebound? When will companies offer a positive outlook? When will people be able to stop worrying about losing their jobs? For those that have lost theirs, when will they regain employment? Are we talking months, quarters, years???
All of us have these questions in our minds. And many have predictions…which range from a relatively quick rebound, to what is being referred to as the “long freeze”. Explanations abound on the causes of this recession. As can be expected, there are also a fair number of remonstrations of the “I told you so” variety. For a person that cannot fathom the various complexities and intricacies of this world, all I have been able to gather is that the prevailing climate has been popularly attributed to the unbridled greed of a few. Greed that pervaded the entire globally interconnected economic system which eventually collapsed under its own weight. I do not know which theory is right, what analysis precise or which prediction accurate…but I do feel that all of these are not of much consequence.
What really matters is the lesson we learn from this new challenge. As is the case with any challenge or calamity, this one too presents opportunity for learning. Some challenges that we face in our lives we attribute to our own actions, others to the result of collective actions of people. And then there are those whose causation is beyond our comprehension and we attribute it to the will of the almighty. Irrespective of its cause, adversity can be a great teacher…if only we choose to be keen students. So this recession can be a unique opportunity for individuals, organizations, and even nations to learn, adapt and progress. I do not have the wisdom to make predictions or offer lessons. But I do know that there are those who will emerge from this wiser, some will be wealthier and stronger, and yet others healthier and happier. A few will fade away with shattered dreams and broken wills.
Certainly virtue is like precious odors, most fragrant when they are incensed, or crushed: for prosperity doth best discover vice, but adversity doth best discover virtue. Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Our role models
Aamir Khan
Akshay Kumar
Shah Rukh Khan
MS Dhoni
Sachin Tendulkar
Kapil Dev
Amitabh Bachhan
Very famous people in contemporary India! Also some of the most recognizable faces in the world. These are names that every child in our country has grown up loving, admiring, idolizing...even worshipping. They are our country’s great heroes and our biggest role models. Personalities that have excelled at their craft and reached the pinnacle of success. Some started out small and made it very big, at times with very little help and against astounding odds…the stuff that legends are made of. People who have earned tremendous fame and wealth by doing something they were really good at and loved doing. Their primary and often sole focus has been on building and demonstrating their own outstanding talent and abilities. They have been very driven individuals…driven towards achieving unparalleled popularity and wealth. Truly a source of inspiration for a country of a billion people.
Why is it that we are so inspired by people whose lives have centred around achieving fame and success for themselves, rather than by those that lived solely for the good of others? Why do we not find social entrepreneurs, inventers, doctors, writers, army generals, civil rights activists, monks and philanthropists amongst our biggest role models? Not to mention politicians…
These are some thoughts that play on my mind as I fly from one corner of the world to another on an extraordinarily long flight. It is not that I don’t have personal admiration for these personalities. I do. I have immense regard and respect for them and their unique abilities. Neither is this a lament on the current state of affairs in India, or for that matter the rest of the world. I am merely inquisitive about why our present day society values individuals with personal achievement and material success to such an extent. What does this mean for our culture and the values of our generation? What does this say about us?
If we had drawn up a list of the biggest role models in India fifty years ago, would it have looked any different? I was not around at the time, but here is my guess of possible names that would have shown up…
Rammohan Roy
Bhagat Singh
Subhash Chandra Bose
Sarojini Naidu
Sri Aurobindo
Swami Vivekanand
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
Reformers, social activists, spiritual leaders, freedom fighters…
What explains this change? Are our values different now and has our culture evolved from idolizing the selfless to worshipping self seekers?
I believe there has been a change.
The first half of the last century produced a generation of leaders that dedicated their lives towards the upliftment of India, and of getting us freedom from foreign occupation. They did this by effecting grass root change through education, empowerment, spirituality, organized protest, upheaval, as well as non-violence. They united a nation of diverse ethnicities towards a common cause. Their lives were characterized by personal sacrifice and even extreme impoverishment…and of espousing the supremacy of common good over personal gain. These people did not even possess much materially, if at all. But they left behind a lasting legacy and a nation that could hope to chart out its own destiny.
However, the next fifty years did not create any such leaders. Now that it was a free nation, our people were no longer unified by a common cause. Nor was this a land of prosperity. So along the way the society turned to seek individual gain rather than the collective good. People migrated from villages to towns and the big cities, looking for a better life. The focus was on one’s family – a secure job, roof over the head and education for the children. Somewhere I feel that we spawned a generation of people with mediocre aspirations, craving a life of little effort and average gain…not to say that there were no exceptions to this. There were several. But in general, that is how I feel about our society. The government became a huge and benevolent employer, giving opportunities to millions but not seeking any accountability for output. We produced lazy bureaucrats, negligent officers and a corrupt and criminalised political system. Even religion was not left behind and crafty godmen completed a compelling picture of a society with a gaping hole in value based leadership. Those with ambition to achieve and to live a life of relative comfort often chose to leave the country in droves…in what was famously referred to as India’s ‘brain drain’.
And for the one billion who continued to reside here… Where could we turn to for inspiration? There were always two places to look towards - cricket and films! We had one shot at global supremacy…and that was cricket. We produced world-class players with regularity and each contest carried with it the hopes of a billion expectant people craving national glory, which would rarely be forthcoming. While we had great players we were never known to be a great team, not until very recently. And so for a people starved of national heroes and tales of glory, all we needed to do was go to the neighbourhood cinema and watch the latest blockbuster. It would have all the necessary ingredients - the rags to riches story, the fairytale romance with song and dance, and the angry young man single handedly taking on the nexus of evil. This is what spawned the next set of national role models - our new idols. Cricket and film stars…who were elevated to demi-god status by an adoring and fawning public.
There are various views and beliefs about contemporary India and us Indians. Mine are one amongst them. I do not claim to have a correct explanation and I may be way off the mark. But I have not written this to invite a debate, nor to prescribe a view. These are my thoughts borne out of introspection and expressed as freely as they have arisen. Critical as they may sound, I believe them to be true. Yet, I am not at all devoid of hope…
I do believe that the wheels of our society are turning again, slowly but surely. I see a new generation of leaders emerging in the not too distant future. A generation which will be as inspirational as it will be charismatic. Which will make its mark by striving for the larger good rather than narrow, self serving interests. Leaders without dichotomy between what they preach and who they are. The Indian ethos is deep and our values are enduring. These values may not always be visible and apparent, but they exist. Sometimes I sense the manifestations of these values in interactions with people when we go beyond the superficial. At other times, I see them alive in people who live the change they wish to see… Yes, there are such people! Today they are not famous and may not idolized, but they will be in due course. And I see others who simply work quietly and without fuss, striving for a better tomorrow for our people, and without any ambition of being in the limelight. These are people who will lead from behind. People we ought to salute in a world where we have only been taught about leading from the front.
There is hope and there is excitement about the India of the future. I once heard Verghese Kurien, the man credited with turning India into the largest producer of milk in the world…father of the White Revolution of India. He expressed his dream of a resurgent India and he had no doubt that we would become a superpower soon. And he hoped that we would be a superpower with a kind and gentle face. I pray that this vision of India is true and that I get to experience it in my lifespan. I wish to contribute to such an India in my own little way. And as before, the famous words of Rabindra Nath Tagore ring in my head…
…into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake!
Akshay Kumar
Shah Rukh Khan
MS Dhoni
Sachin Tendulkar
Kapil Dev
Amitabh Bachhan
Very famous people in contemporary India! Also some of the most recognizable faces in the world. These are names that every child in our country has grown up loving, admiring, idolizing...even worshipping. They are our country’s great heroes and our biggest role models. Personalities that have excelled at their craft and reached the pinnacle of success. Some started out small and made it very big, at times with very little help and against astounding odds…the stuff that legends are made of. People who have earned tremendous fame and wealth by doing something they were really good at and loved doing. Their primary and often sole focus has been on building and demonstrating their own outstanding talent and abilities. They have been very driven individuals…driven towards achieving unparalleled popularity and wealth. Truly a source of inspiration for a country of a billion people.
Why is it that we are so inspired by people whose lives have centred around achieving fame and success for themselves, rather than by those that lived solely for the good of others? Why do we not find social entrepreneurs, inventers, doctors, writers, army generals, civil rights activists, monks and philanthropists amongst our biggest role models? Not to mention politicians…
These are some thoughts that play on my mind as I fly from one corner of the world to another on an extraordinarily long flight. It is not that I don’t have personal admiration for these personalities. I do. I have immense regard and respect for them and their unique abilities. Neither is this a lament on the current state of affairs in India, or for that matter the rest of the world. I am merely inquisitive about why our present day society values individuals with personal achievement and material success to such an extent. What does this mean for our culture and the values of our generation? What does this say about us?
If we had drawn up a list of the biggest role models in India fifty years ago, would it have looked any different? I was not around at the time, but here is my guess of possible names that would have shown up…
Rammohan Roy
Bhagat Singh
Subhash Chandra Bose
Sarojini Naidu
Sri Aurobindo
Swami Vivekanand
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
Reformers, social activists, spiritual leaders, freedom fighters…
What explains this change? Are our values different now and has our culture evolved from idolizing the selfless to worshipping self seekers?
I believe there has been a change.
The first half of the last century produced a generation of leaders that dedicated their lives towards the upliftment of India, and of getting us freedom from foreign occupation. They did this by effecting grass root change through education, empowerment, spirituality, organized protest, upheaval, as well as non-violence. They united a nation of diverse ethnicities towards a common cause. Their lives were characterized by personal sacrifice and even extreme impoverishment…and of espousing the supremacy of common good over personal gain. These people did not even possess much materially, if at all. But they left behind a lasting legacy and a nation that could hope to chart out its own destiny.
However, the next fifty years did not create any such leaders. Now that it was a free nation, our people were no longer unified by a common cause. Nor was this a land of prosperity. So along the way the society turned to seek individual gain rather than the collective good. People migrated from villages to towns and the big cities, looking for a better life. The focus was on one’s family – a secure job, roof over the head and education for the children. Somewhere I feel that we spawned a generation of people with mediocre aspirations, craving a life of little effort and average gain…not to say that there were no exceptions to this. There were several. But in general, that is how I feel about our society. The government became a huge and benevolent employer, giving opportunities to millions but not seeking any accountability for output. We produced lazy bureaucrats, negligent officers and a corrupt and criminalised political system. Even religion was not left behind and crafty godmen completed a compelling picture of a society with a gaping hole in value based leadership. Those with ambition to achieve and to live a life of relative comfort often chose to leave the country in droves…in what was famously referred to as India’s ‘brain drain’.
And for the one billion who continued to reside here… Where could we turn to for inspiration? There were always two places to look towards - cricket and films! We had one shot at global supremacy…and that was cricket. We produced world-class players with regularity and each contest carried with it the hopes of a billion expectant people craving national glory, which would rarely be forthcoming. While we had great players we were never known to be a great team, not until very recently. And so for a people starved of national heroes and tales of glory, all we needed to do was go to the neighbourhood cinema and watch the latest blockbuster. It would have all the necessary ingredients - the rags to riches story, the fairytale romance with song and dance, and the angry young man single handedly taking on the nexus of evil. This is what spawned the next set of national role models - our new idols. Cricket and film stars…who were elevated to demi-god status by an adoring and fawning public.
There are various views and beliefs about contemporary India and us Indians. Mine are one amongst them. I do not claim to have a correct explanation and I may be way off the mark. But I have not written this to invite a debate, nor to prescribe a view. These are my thoughts borne out of introspection and expressed as freely as they have arisen. Critical as they may sound, I believe them to be true. Yet, I am not at all devoid of hope…
I do believe that the wheels of our society are turning again, slowly but surely. I see a new generation of leaders emerging in the not too distant future. A generation which will be as inspirational as it will be charismatic. Which will make its mark by striving for the larger good rather than narrow, self serving interests. Leaders without dichotomy between what they preach and who they are. The Indian ethos is deep and our values are enduring. These values may not always be visible and apparent, but they exist. Sometimes I sense the manifestations of these values in interactions with people when we go beyond the superficial. At other times, I see them alive in people who live the change they wish to see… Yes, there are such people! Today they are not famous and may not idolized, but they will be in due course. And I see others who simply work quietly and without fuss, striving for a better tomorrow for our people, and without any ambition of being in the limelight. These are people who will lead from behind. People we ought to salute in a world where we have only been taught about leading from the front.
There is hope and there is excitement about the India of the future. I once heard Verghese Kurien, the man credited with turning India into the largest producer of milk in the world…father of the White Revolution of India. He expressed his dream of a resurgent India and he had no doubt that we would become a superpower soon. And he hoped that we would be a superpower with a kind and gentle face. I pray that this vision of India is true and that I get to experience it in my lifespan. I wish to contribute to such an India in my own little way. And as before, the famous words of Rabindra Nath Tagore ring in my head…
…into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
A day of celebration
March 2. A date that now has more significance for me than any other day of the year, birthday included. It is a day of acute and intense realisation. Of acknowledgement. Of bowing to the powers above. Of celebrating this wonderful gift called life...
The year was 2007. Just two years ago. It had been two months since I had returned to work rejuvenated after a four month sabbatical. Time that I had taken for reflection...and to repair the damages caused by thirteen relentless years at work which had taken a heavy toll on the body. It was an opportunity graciously accorded to me by my generous colleagues who stepped in to handle different aspects of my responsibilities so I could focus entirely on myself.
I had utilised my break well. I relaxed, read, began to exercise regularly and walked for hours along the beaches of Goa. I rid myself of unnecessary habits like smoking. I went for long drives. And I undertook extensive therapy for my severe asthmatic condition, including spending a fortnight at a holistic healing centre under the care of a renowned doctor who had treated many difficult conditions. By the time I returned to work on January 1, 2007, I was healed and rejuvenated. Entirely ready to step back and take on work with renewed vigour and energy.
So the events of March 2 came as a surprise, not just to me but also to my family, friends and colleagues who had been delighted to see me back in action.
I was on a business trip to Delhi. My wife had accompanied me this time as the upcoming weekend was Holi - the festival of colours – something we had missed celebrating for years having been away from the city. We were looking forward to catching up with our old friends. As was the norm whenever I traveled now, I exercised at the gym in the morning and proceeded for work to the office. I had a busy day ahead, full of meetings with various people. It was during one such meeting – I was in conversation with a colleague – when I started to feel a constriction in my lungs. Breathing became more laboured and I hastily ended the conversation, leaving him slightly puzzled at the abruptness with which the proceedings had come to a halt. When alone in the room, I broke into a sweat and struggled to breathe. Several puffs from my inhaler followed and I rushed out into the open for fresh air, desperately hoping for relief. Nothing worked. And finally, in a state of dizziness and asphyxiation, I stumbled into the reception and made a plea for medical help. From the corner of my eyes, I saw people converging towards me...and then I passed out. Blissfully unaware of the havoc I had unleashed around me.
Colleagues gathered around my unconscious body. One of them rushed to find oxygen. Calls were made for an ambulance. The first one to respond did not have an oxygen tank installed inside. Another call was made. I was lifted and taken down six floors in the elevator. A decision was being debated – should we wait for the ambulance or take him in a car? Will the ambulance with oxygen show up in time? Someone get a car quick!! Which is when, to everyone's relief, the ambulance containing oxygen pulled into the porch. Some colleagues jumped in. Others followed in cars. Needles and tubes were inserted to inject life into my body. I am told I fought valiantly to keep these off and needed to be forcefully pinned down to allow for the emergency treatment. The nearest hospital was a massive government institution not too far away. A call was made to my wife. She had gone to meet a close friend who had recently been blessed by twins. As I was wheeled into Emergency, a decision was made to move me to the ICU at the other end of the building. Colleagues and hospital staff ran alongside the stretcher, someone ahead paving way through the mass of people milling about so I could be reached there quickly. Another one holding up the transparent bottle containing precious life fluid. They ran a long way. And somewhere during this journey, my heart collapsed. By the time I reached the ICU, I had suffered a cardiac arrest – the breath was gone and heartbeat had stopped. Doctors put a machine on my chest to revive me. Unfortunately our public institutions are not always well equipped and the resuscitator did not start. Several doctors jumped in for CPR and with coordinated movements, they pounded on my chest. The medical report states that my heart had stopped for two minutes. The maximum it can last, someone said, was three. Finally, I breathed again.
When I regained consciousness it was past midnight and I found myself lying on a strange bed covered in a torn green sheet with needles and tubes all over my body. There was frenetic activity around me. Doctors were rushing from one bed to another. Shouting instructions at the nurses. What was I doing here?? I finally managed to get the attention of one doctor. I requested to be handed back my clothes so I could go home. I was ignored. A second attempt – more pleading than arguing now - and I was stonewalled again! No you may not go home. No you cannot meet anyone. Yes, your wife is outside. No you may not see her. STOP ARGUING!! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH?? YOU HAD ALMOST DIED AND ARE LUCKY TO BE BACK. THIS IS AN ICU AND WE HAVE PEOPLE TO ATTEND TO!! SO PLEASE JUST LIE DOWN AND SLEEP. By next morning, I realised that some co-patients in beds around me were gone...
The next couple of days were a blur. I was transferred – this time in a high tech ambulance – to a private hospital in the other end of town. It took a while for me to be able to see clearly. When the fog cleared somewhat, I got to look into the mirror...and could not believe it was me I was seeing. There was a bloated face with puffed up and bloodshot eyes. The blood vessels in my eyes had ruptured during resuscitation – not an common occurrence when you are subjected to that kind of a physical assault to breathe life back into the body, as I was informed later. My doctor in Bangalore joked that I should have had a couple of cracked ribs as well.
In the days that followed, I underwent a battery of tests. Everything turned out to be normal. I could talk, walk, see and hear. My brain functioned as before. The chances of escaping unscathed from such an ordeal are slim. I was incredibly lucky to have been returned to this world in the same condition as I had almost left it. Those that had been with me through this time said it was a miracle that I was back the way I was. My colleagues – people who till then I had seen in a different life - had saved my life. And they stayed to help with whatever else my family needed. My organisation rallied to provide support. The outpouring of concern, love and care that I received was overwhelming. Colleagues, friends and well wishers called and sent messages from around the world. Friends and relatives came in and out of the hospital all the time, helping with everything from meals for my family to researching the emergency equipment I would need to carry with me once I was out of the hospital.
I often wonder what this experience was meant to be...is there a message for me? I feel truly privileged to be here on earth, and blessed to experience such love and warmth of people. I also can't help feeling that I am on a journey someplace. After all, this was not the first such experience of my life. I have had close calls before. These have shaped the way I perceive the world and my responsibilities towards others. Many things that occupied mind share have entirely ceased to matter...and others have taken their space in my thoughts. More than anything else, I feel an intense desire to make a contribution to the world around me. A desire to not waste this precious life which has been gifted back to me. I am certain that there is a purpose for my being here. A purpose beyond what is evident. And I need to find it and do justice to it. I do not feel the urge to abdicate what I have – my job, my surroundings – as I seek that purpose. I feel they are intrinsically linked to my existence. So I try to discharge my responsibilities at work with sincerity and readily undertake any work that comes my way. I feel thrilled to have an opportunity to contribute. And I don't sweat the small stuff. Not at work and not in my personal life. I look to make moments count. Moments when people approach me for help or advice. Or when I am in the presence of talented and hard working people from who I could learn. I get a nagging feeling that I have a lot to accomplish to do justice to my existence. At such moments, I turn to write so I could at least express my wishes hoping for someone out there to hear and show me the way.
The second anniversary draws near, memories come flooding back and thoughts turn inward again. I remember with immense gratitude all the people who came close to me and my family in that one moment. I hope I will be able to do for others what they did for us.
I did not get to celebrate Holi that year with my friends. Nor have I since then. But we did get to celebrate life itself...this most precious gift of God!
The year was 2007. Just two years ago. It had been two months since I had returned to work rejuvenated after a four month sabbatical. Time that I had taken for reflection...and to repair the damages caused by thirteen relentless years at work which had taken a heavy toll on the body. It was an opportunity graciously accorded to me by my generous colleagues who stepped in to handle different aspects of my responsibilities so I could focus entirely on myself.
I had utilised my break well. I relaxed, read, began to exercise regularly and walked for hours along the beaches of Goa. I rid myself of unnecessary habits like smoking. I went for long drives. And I undertook extensive therapy for my severe asthmatic condition, including spending a fortnight at a holistic healing centre under the care of a renowned doctor who had treated many difficult conditions. By the time I returned to work on January 1, 2007, I was healed and rejuvenated. Entirely ready to step back and take on work with renewed vigour and energy.
So the events of March 2 came as a surprise, not just to me but also to my family, friends and colleagues who had been delighted to see me back in action.
I was on a business trip to Delhi. My wife had accompanied me this time as the upcoming weekend was Holi - the festival of colours – something we had missed celebrating for years having been away from the city. We were looking forward to catching up with our old friends. As was the norm whenever I traveled now, I exercised at the gym in the morning and proceeded for work to the office. I had a busy day ahead, full of meetings with various people. It was during one such meeting – I was in conversation with a colleague – when I started to feel a constriction in my lungs. Breathing became more laboured and I hastily ended the conversation, leaving him slightly puzzled at the abruptness with which the proceedings had come to a halt. When alone in the room, I broke into a sweat and struggled to breathe. Several puffs from my inhaler followed and I rushed out into the open for fresh air, desperately hoping for relief. Nothing worked. And finally, in a state of dizziness and asphyxiation, I stumbled into the reception and made a plea for medical help. From the corner of my eyes, I saw people converging towards me...and then I passed out. Blissfully unaware of the havoc I had unleashed around me.
Colleagues gathered around my unconscious body. One of them rushed to find oxygen. Calls were made for an ambulance. The first one to respond did not have an oxygen tank installed inside. Another call was made. I was lifted and taken down six floors in the elevator. A decision was being debated – should we wait for the ambulance or take him in a car? Will the ambulance with oxygen show up in time? Someone get a car quick!! Which is when, to everyone's relief, the ambulance containing oxygen pulled into the porch. Some colleagues jumped in. Others followed in cars. Needles and tubes were inserted to inject life into my body. I am told I fought valiantly to keep these off and needed to be forcefully pinned down to allow for the emergency treatment. The nearest hospital was a massive government institution not too far away. A call was made to my wife. She had gone to meet a close friend who had recently been blessed by twins. As I was wheeled into Emergency, a decision was made to move me to the ICU at the other end of the building. Colleagues and hospital staff ran alongside the stretcher, someone ahead paving way through the mass of people milling about so I could be reached there quickly. Another one holding up the transparent bottle containing precious life fluid. They ran a long way. And somewhere during this journey, my heart collapsed. By the time I reached the ICU, I had suffered a cardiac arrest – the breath was gone and heartbeat had stopped. Doctors put a machine on my chest to revive me. Unfortunately our public institutions are not always well equipped and the resuscitator did not start. Several doctors jumped in for CPR and with coordinated movements, they pounded on my chest. The medical report states that my heart had stopped for two minutes. The maximum it can last, someone said, was three. Finally, I breathed again.
When I regained consciousness it was past midnight and I found myself lying on a strange bed covered in a torn green sheet with needles and tubes all over my body. There was frenetic activity around me. Doctors were rushing from one bed to another. Shouting instructions at the nurses. What was I doing here?? I finally managed to get the attention of one doctor. I requested to be handed back my clothes so I could go home. I was ignored. A second attempt – more pleading than arguing now - and I was stonewalled again! No you may not go home. No you cannot meet anyone. Yes, your wife is outside. No you may not see her. STOP ARGUING!! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH?? YOU HAD ALMOST DIED AND ARE LUCKY TO BE BACK. THIS IS AN ICU AND WE HAVE PEOPLE TO ATTEND TO!! SO PLEASE JUST LIE DOWN AND SLEEP. By next morning, I realised that some co-patients in beds around me were gone...
The next couple of days were a blur. I was transferred – this time in a high tech ambulance – to a private hospital in the other end of town. It took a while for me to be able to see clearly. When the fog cleared somewhat, I got to look into the mirror...and could not believe it was me I was seeing. There was a bloated face with puffed up and bloodshot eyes. The blood vessels in my eyes had ruptured during resuscitation – not an common occurrence when you are subjected to that kind of a physical assault to breathe life back into the body, as I was informed later. My doctor in Bangalore joked that I should have had a couple of cracked ribs as well.
In the days that followed, I underwent a battery of tests. Everything turned out to be normal. I could talk, walk, see and hear. My brain functioned as before. The chances of escaping unscathed from such an ordeal are slim. I was incredibly lucky to have been returned to this world in the same condition as I had almost left it. Those that had been with me through this time said it was a miracle that I was back the way I was. My colleagues – people who till then I had seen in a different life - had saved my life. And they stayed to help with whatever else my family needed. My organisation rallied to provide support. The outpouring of concern, love and care that I received was overwhelming. Colleagues, friends and well wishers called and sent messages from around the world. Friends and relatives came in and out of the hospital all the time, helping with everything from meals for my family to researching the emergency equipment I would need to carry with me once I was out of the hospital.
I often wonder what this experience was meant to be...is there a message for me? I feel truly privileged to be here on earth, and blessed to experience such love and warmth of people. I also can't help feeling that I am on a journey someplace. After all, this was not the first such experience of my life. I have had close calls before. These have shaped the way I perceive the world and my responsibilities towards others. Many things that occupied mind share have entirely ceased to matter...and others have taken their space in my thoughts. More than anything else, I feel an intense desire to make a contribution to the world around me. A desire to not waste this precious life which has been gifted back to me. I am certain that there is a purpose for my being here. A purpose beyond what is evident. And I need to find it and do justice to it. I do not feel the urge to abdicate what I have – my job, my surroundings – as I seek that purpose. I feel they are intrinsically linked to my existence. So I try to discharge my responsibilities at work with sincerity and readily undertake any work that comes my way. I feel thrilled to have an opportunity to contribute. And I don't sweat the small stuff. Not at work and not in my personal life. I look to make moments count. Moments when people approach me for help or advice. Or when I am in the presence of talented and hard working people from who I could learn. I get a nagging feeling that I have a lot to accomplish to do justice to my existence. At such moments, I turn to write so I could at least express my wishes hoping for someone out there to hear and show me the way.
The second anniversary draws near, memories come flooding back and thoughts turn inward again. I remember with immense gratitude all the people who came close to me and my family in that one moment. I hope I will be able to do for others what they did for us.
I did not get to celebrate Holi that year with my friends. Nor have I since then. But we did get to celebrate life itself...this most precious gift of God!
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