I ME MYSELF ( A Class Assignment - BRAND CALLED YOU)

Theodore Roosevelt said, “It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows achievement and who at the worst if he fails will never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat”.

That’s an apt description of me. I am a doer, a trier and a go-getter. Enthusiastic and ever smiling in the face of adversity. A non-conformist, not for the sake of being odd but because I always believe that there can be, and is a better and efficient way to do things. Ever willing to learn from my own mistakes and from others. I am an optimist who never gives up.

Like Buddha advised, “ Believe nothing just because a belief is generally held”, I like to question everything thrown at me just to understand the core concept behind it, rather than just accept things at their face value. I am unique, because I can work as efficiently in a team as on my own. I am a self-starter, an achiever and a firm believer in goals. Targets and challenges drive me.

My friends and colleagues would describe me as friendly, enthusiastic, motivating, hardworking and sincere and with a proven track record I am hard to beat. I doubled my export sales figure in 2001-02. Established and beat my targets for a new product developed for a specific domestic market segment in 2003. Developed and established a radical product for the Indian blasting industry. Re-engineered our production plant and process mapped the 12 key critical areas. Was an internal auditor for our ISO system implementation, while changing the certification from 1994 version to the current 2000 version.

A strong Engineering background, a varied and diverse on the job experience and expertise, and a humility to accept Gandhi’s saying, “It is unwise to be too sure of one's own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err” makes me a must have on any team.

This is ME.

LIVING THE DREAM

“Kindly fasten your seatbelts,” the voice from the speaker was instructing me. The last 6 hours had been a whirlwind and it had barely registered in my mind. As I fastened my seat belts I realised where I was. The adrenalin had carried me through these hours and I had barely felt any emotions, except that the job at hand had to be done. And now in the confines of the plane cabin, physically drained, the emotions surfaced. Luckily I was tied in, or else I would have jumped up. So this was it, I was leaving, in search of destiny, following my call.

This faith is such a funny thing, they say, “Without faith, nothing is possible. With it, nothing is impossible”. With only this faith as a guide, I was undertaking this journey. Dream no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men, they say, may be this was my biggest dream ever. You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it come true. But you may have to work for it, however.

Buddha says, “What you are is what you have been, and what you will be is what you do now”. Here I was doing something. Something, which I believed would give me happiness. But here inside the plane, tied to my seat, I realised how wrong one could be. I realised that I had wiped my life’s slate clean and I had to start all over again. I shuddered at the enormity of the task. Did I have it in me?? Self-doubt was gnawing at me. Along with that, the sorrow of going away from home & country, in search of the destined land was catching up.

Sometimes we just wish life could be easier and simpler. Wishing we never had to make these tough choices. “But the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”(Martin Luther King Jr).

By our choices and action, we create the person that we are. Our choices shape our destiny. Without our choices and actions, we could never have learned anything from life. We live, because we choose to live. We dream, because we choose to dream and we act, because we choose, what to and how to act. Our life is a progression of the choices we make.

And here, tied up in a small seat, squirming, I realised …… I had made a choice, a choice to follow my dream. And at that moment I choose to live my dream, come what may.

A Love Story (my friends contribution)

He was a great fellow... my friend... one of those rarer types... the kind whose worth you wouldn't know when he is around, however, would miss dearly when not. He was not a great speaker. But, what he lacked in speech, he made up in words. He was one helluva terrific writer.... Even now, when I don't have anything to do, I go and read his works all over again. ( I have made an archive of them. ) They make you nostalgic... make you want to kiss the feet of the person who invented prose.

One would not call him extravagantly handsome... the type who would make women turn and toss in their sleep; but he knew his share of women. Some did confide in him more than they would do with their other girl friends. He was a hit among his friends. Both men and women. Partly, 'cos he appeared more matured than the rest, and partly, 'cos he was a great listener. He was a like a sponge. The kind who could sit and listen to you for hours on end, without saying a word; without uttering a word of advice or suggestion.... A great listener... In more ways than one, he was much like me. One of the many reasons, we were on the same plane.

As I said, he was no stranger to women; and very few could rouse his interest in them. ( Mind you... am not speaking about sexuality.. ) But... she was different. He had been watching her since college. Many had vied for her attention and lost. It had been three years now. He was in the second year of engineering and.. there she was... walking ahead of him. He would see her every morning, while going to college, wanting to approach her, but daring not to.

Then one day, he mustered up enough courage, and went up to her and spoke. God... Was it awkward.. remembers he.. with a wry grin on his face. But to his surprise, she was far different than what he had thought. She was great..... She was not witty.. but she would make him smile. She would not spare him, if he was wrong, lashing at him... but she would make him proud. She would never make herself up for anyone.... but she never needed to.. In short, she was wonderful... A perfet companion..

They would meet every morning, and walk those two minutes, talking about everything under the sun. He would laugh... She would laugh.. And both would laugh out loud... making the early morning joggers turn and smile thinking, "They would make such a beautiful pair.."

She would confide in him that he was the only man she was close to so much... She had never known that a man and woman could be such wonderful companions. That they could share such a beautiful and pure relationship... But he would only smile when she would say that. He knew that the time was near. He was nearing the end of his engineering; only a month to go.... He knew well what her response would be... He dreaded it... He knew it might as well be the end of their relationship... But he had to say it. He had to tell her that he had grown to be fond of her. That he was in love with her.

And.. then, so it happened.... He said it... She felt betrayed. He did not want to look into those eyes. But he braved himself to. "Even you turned out to be the same.... Even you..." they said.

They met the next morning again.. Walked those two minutes, she didnt utter a word. He said he would wait... wait for her reply, as long as he can... and left...
Three years down... he still loves her. Everytime he thinks of her, a smile breaks on his lips.. She could make him happy.. Very very happy... Everytime he walks down that lane, he is reminded of those two minutes they used to share... and laughs involuntarily.. Oh ! Yes.. She could make him very very happy.. He is waiting to ask her again. Ask her hand in marriage again... But he dreads that.. No.. He doesn't even want to think about it...

But everything happens in this world as he dreads..... He comes to know that she is married.. married and happy. Married.. not to him... But happy nonetheless... A wry smile breaks on his lips.. Selfish though he was, isn't that what he too had wanted.. To keep her happy.

He felt exhausted.... spent... he had spent all his love on her. He believes he cannot love anyone... not after her... not anymore...

I believe so too..... I believe that he is truly spent...and he can never write about love again....

LIVING

The announcer was announcing the arrival of my train. i was standing on the edge of the platform & I peered in the direction of the expected arrival. The trains hooting announced its arrival. A sigh escaped me. I had just finished my last day at work and i was on my way home

HOME. I thought that this would be redemption, joy, happiness, bliss ... how wrong i was. The only thing i now felt was pain, a sense of loss .... a sense of loneliness, a void gnawing at my heart. I dreaded that i had made a mistake. I wanted time to rewind, wishing that this moment had never arrived, wishing i could get another chance. But would i get it right then ??? ... SIGHHHH

It was not a sigh of happiness,at the train being only an hour late, but that of despair and agony. Why was life like this ?? WHY ?? I was leaving behind three years of my life. Three years that taught me what 22 yrs before that couldnt.The images of my life flashed before me.
The joy, the pain, the happiness, the agony, ... the whole gamut of my emotions were laid bare by these fleeting images. And i desperately tried to hang onto them, dreading even to blink, lest i loose these precious
glimpses. There i was staring into space. But it was like holding onto sand and clasping the fist.

Suddenly a flurry of activity broke out around me, jolting me into reality. Other passengers and coolies got ready to embark the approaching train. Everyone strode around with a purpose. I was the only person unsure. Unsure whether i had done the right thing, unsure about the future and what it had in store, unsure whether i could handle it all. I faltered.

The hooting grew louder and the train moved onto the platform. Its somberness & girth dwarfing me. Challenging me to board it, daring me, enticing me. Suddenly a coolie bumped into me, the spell was broken, i
shook myself and reminded myself - " nothing is permanent but change" So i decided to take up the challenge, and i boarded the train. I decided to LIVE

Life in its myriad form is a gamut of images, emotions, people and experiences that each of us go through. I decided then, To live life as it is, not worry about what was and what will be, but live what is. I decided
to move on and let bygones be bygones. May be this is what LIVING is all about .. i will never know however hard i try.

And someday i will know whether i have done the right thing,but i will have no regrets, for i have decided to LIVE and i guess thats what LIFE is for.