COLUMBUS DID NOT BELIEVE IN FLUKE






















I like the story of Columbus’ discovery of America. It is packed with inspirational stuff. 

Though I don’t have to tell you as to where Columbus had headed for… and, where he had, finally, landed… 

And, though I don’t have to tell you as to how, almost, Fate saved him from the angry men on that boat – all hardened convicts, who were handed by the King to be of a helping hand to him during his long, risky and uncertain voyage to discover the coveted land called ‘India’… 

Yes, though I don’t have to tell you that these frustrated men had no interest in the vision or ambition of Columbus… that, they were, now, all set to throw him into the raging seas…

Though I don’t have to tell you, that, finally when the ship hit the shores, it was the land of the native red people… whom he called Red Indians…

Though I don’t have to tell you, that, what Columbus had found was not India… It was today’s America. The great USA!

So, it looks as if a great land was discovered by sheer fluke. By default… Yes, not by design!... Yes, it looks so...

And, yes, that’s an old story… Our history text-books still tell it…

I like the man – Columbus. They gutsy hero…
I like Columbus for his clarity of vision… He wanted to discover a prosperous land called ‘India’. He wanted ships, money and people… So, he tried desperately to sell his idea to the King, for his patronage…

Nobody buys your idea unless you sell it with die-hard conviction, burning passion and bulldog determination. Columbus must have done that… Still, such ‘crazy’ ideas are too risky to play with. Sane men were not willing to be on his ship… Finally, King gave him some condemned prisoners; the convicts…

So, Columbus set on his historic voyage – to discover the great land called ‘India – on a ship accompanied by prisoners… and he sailed for endless days in a violent ocean with no hope in sight…

Columbus was a lonely man on board… Like Moses was… Like Gandhi was… Like Christ was… Like Martin Luther King Jr. was…

So, in the middle of the sea, when nothing goes right for you, when death and destruction only seem to be the only reality in front of you… when you find nobody on board believing in you anymore, and worst, they are, now, all set to throw you into the sea, yelling: “There go you and your bloody land of gold…!”



Yes, if you survive this ordeal, this test of fire…

 you are through.


Well, I am telling this story not to prove, that, great lands are discovered only by fluke. I am not a believer in chance…

Look, how chance favored only the brave… A brave-heart called Columbus!

And, I am remembering this brave-heart, today, because, a young-man - who was about to start his Commerce voyage - was telling me, with all his honesty: “Sir, I have taken up Commerce by fluke… I have no clue as to where I am going to land!”

I told the young-man the Columbus story…

Let me tell you, he had read about it in his school texts… But, he was never inspired…

Today, he was…

And, he told me that!

Sorry sir, in a voyage called Life, no land is discovered, just by chance… Just by fluke. No, never, ever!

GERALD D’CUNHA
Pic.: Mehul Bhuva



Comments

Lalita Shinde said…
The Columbus saga is really inspiring. You have brought it alive for us once again. Thank you.

Lalita
July 29, 2013 at 11:00 AM
Anonymous said…
Wonderful journey, inspiring one!
- Uma
July 29, 2013 at 1:17 PM
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