EVERY CHAMPION WAS ONCE A CONTENDER

 



“The gem cannot be polished without friction;

nor man perfected without trials.”

Chinese Proverb

 

My wife and I had attended the wedding reception of Chandini, who was my student, ten years ago. Her brother Suraj and their father Prakash – all had been my students, particularly that of the Personality Development programme conducted by The Dawn Club. Chandini’s three cousins, Kanchan, Shradha and Sneha, and even Kanchan’s son Kapil – all of them had been students of these programmes.

Yesterday, at the reception, I had the privilege of meeting all of them and several more. I am talking about many students who crossed my path over past forty or so years. Almost all of them, are, now, well-placed in life. And, almost all of them tell me proudly, that they keep talking about me to their young children, who, now, go to the ‘finest schools’ around the world. Shradha, who lives in Netherlands, was so excited to see me, that she, oblivious of the guests around her, was announcing loudly, “Sir, I will be sending my teenaged daughter all the way from Netherlands to attend your sessions.”

That’s too much to handle for a shy man like me... I quickly diverted the topic.

Later, at the dinner table, there was Sanjay and his wife Kajal. Their two teens go to modern schools. But, they were constantly telling me, that kids needed more focus and direction. Their two relatives, who, too, were dining along with us, were stressing on the missing values and the resilience in life. “It’s not the fault of these kids if they are born to parents like us, who can give them comforts,” Sanjay was telling us, “There is no way we can compare today’s young kids to our times... They are growing up with their own challenges.”

There was merit in what each one was adding to the discussion. But, then, the consensus was clear: When young kids learn to value time, money and their privileges, they are sure to grow up into more sensitive and intelligent adults. “Struggles in life toughen us, values in life shape us,” was the clear consensus, last night.





Some months ago, a woman, who works as a maid in many houses, had come to meet me. She said, “Sir, I have two young daughters who study in local colleges. The older girl wants to do MBA (after brilliantly clearing her degree in Bachelor in Accounting and Finance) and is preparing for the entrance exam. She is a bright and hardworking girl. But, I cannot afford to pay the high fees. Is there an organization that can support us?”

On my way, today, this mother happened to see me. “Sir, sir, sir,” she came to give me, excitedly, this news, “My daughter got into the MBA course in so and so college. The two-year-fees was close to ten lacs. But, the Sir (a doctor in whose clinic she worked as a maid), helped me... I had to only pay three lacs in instalments.” She was profusely thankful to the doctor who came to support her daughter’s higher education...

I expressed my joy and wished the young one the best in life...

I remembered the lines from the movie, Rocky Balboa: “Remember, every champion was once a contender who refused to give up.”

 



 

Yes Sir. Where there is will, there is, always, a way. The ‘best schools’ need not necessarily produce the ‘best kids’. The ‘best’ comes, as I keep saying, ‘from the fire in one’s belly’. If privileges are there before today’s kids, they are there. How they view these privileges and what they make out of them – well, it’s always for each kid to decide. A sensitive mind, and a supple heart, always, help these kids to grow up into fine adults. Everything won’t be assessed in terms of their future accumulations...

Last night, at the wedding reception, when Shardha was making that announcement so loudly, oblivious of the guests around her, “Sir, I will be sending my teenaged daughter all the way from Netherlands to attend some of your sessions,” I might have run for cover to hide my shyness. But, in heart of my hearts, I knew why she was declaring it so loud, and with such conviction, last night...

 

GERALD D’CUNHA


Pic’s: 1. pixels /Vlada Karpovich  2. Pixabay/cowins

Video.:  @tech.basanwal

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