Gerald D'Cunha

M any years ago, I was teaching a group (five) of T.Y. B.Com students. It was a late-night batch (9:30 to 10:30) and it was held at the bungalow belonging to one of the students. Akhil* was one of the five. He turned up to class, every night, straight from the workshop where he worked during the day; often, with his greasy hands. It was he who would drop me home on his motor bike after the class, every night… We remained good friends, ever since. I always knew that Akhil would come up in life as a self-made successful young-man. He did. My admiration for Akhil rose a few notches higher, when, one day, he came up to me and said, “Sir, I wish to help a couple of needy students by meeting their education cost. I also wish to sponsor a couple of deserving students, every year, for P.D. Programme of THE DAWN CLUB.” He added, “On the condition that they should not know about me!” It is more than twenty years now. Akhil has been, religiously, helping. Every year, a cou...

Pic.:Rajiv Sharma O ne day, I asked myself: Is my life contributing anything? To my surprise, I found that I was too busy ‘playing’, still indulging in those ‘loose talks’ with my friends, still using my parents as my crutches, and still expecting the world to make my life worthwhile… I was disturbed to see how comfortably I had embraced such a life, how worthless it had been! It was only when I realized, deep within me, that, I had at least some good things to contribute… yes, it was only when I embraced such a zest for life – I sensed that spring of motivation within me.   GERALD D’CUNHA P.S:  In 1990, THE DAWN CLUB had published a small book by the title – ‘The Zest’. It had carried some eighteen short and medium-sized passages written by me. The book instantly became one of our very popular books; and, eventually, it was reprinted several times. W...

I come across hundreds of students who are extremely shy to speak in public! I am not talking about speaking on stage, from a podium. I am talking about just in a class when the teacher is teaching… when she is asking a question. Yes, hundreds of students become tongue-tied, blanked-out… They forget what they want to say… They fumble, make more and more mistakes… And, then, they look around and assume that all others are ‘perfect’… They assume that others are laughing at their ‘mistakes’… They assume that something is wrong with them, only with them. So, they become ‘guilty’… apologetic… even angry with themselves… frustrated or depressed. I was one such student… Desperately shy… Chronically nervous in class and at every gathering! Speaking from stage was just unthinkable… Too terrifying even to think… leave alone attempt! In class, I had the right answers. But, I had a weak heart… too weak to raise my hand… leave alone stand up! ...

He shines there like the pole star - dramatically distinct. He commands that place, because, no one else in the world has scored so many Test and ODI centuries ... No one else has scored that many runs. And, runs and centuries are still coming. The game is far from over. He is live and kicking... and, it seems, his best is yet to come! This incredibly prolific run-machine, this enduring cricket legacy... Yes, he is what he is because he is an excellent 'team player'. He is Sachin - Sachin Tendulkar. Yes, Sachin Tendulkar should not keep wickets, should not bowl too often, should not lead the Indian team. He should do what he can - and does - best: batting. The best batsman may not necessarily be the best captain. Sachin couldn't prove himself to be a fine captain, when he had lead the Indian team. He has been, on and off, a successful bowler. But, the Team India can not count on him as the key bowler. The genius of Sachin lies in what he does exclusively his way: the battin...