EVERYONE WANTS SHIVAJI TO BE BORN... BUT, IN SOMEONE-ELSE'S HOME!





A friend of mine has a favorite line, and he recites it in his chaste Marathi. I wish, I could reproduce it here with the same effect. Nevertheless, what he wants to convey through it is:

”Everyone wants Shivaji to be born… but, in someone-else’s home!”


Most of us are cribbers of the first order. We complain about everything and everyone, and we do it everywhere and everytime… Why something or someone is wrong, we are first to point out. Why can’t it be done this way or that way… Why can’t he do it this or do that… Yes, cribbing and complaining comes to us, so effortlessly!

My friend puts these guys – the habitual cribbers – to a simple test… He asks them to come forward… take up the responsibility to lead and manage. If they are genuinely interested in the progress of the place – organization or community – if they are sincere, if their intentions are good, then, they will surely take it up. If not, they will give a hundred reasons why they can’t take up the responsibility…

And, there goes up the favorite punch-line of my friend:

“Everyone wants Shivaji Maharaj to be born… but, in someone-else’s home!”

It makes me, really, laugh!


We want our community - our surroundings, roads, housing societies, our education and political system to be run well… We have great ideas and suggestions… Yes, we want change, progress… But, then, the moment someone asks us to come forward and help – take up responsibility, that’s enough to make us come out with our hundred lame excuses…

So, the moral of the story is:

“If you can’t do it, let others do it… Help them do it well. But, for God’s sake, shut your cribbing mouth!”


GERALD D’CUNHA

Pic.: Rajiv Sharma


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