Gerald D'Cunha

  “Find your rhythm in the grind.” From the movie ‘Rocky’   T his year, Silvester Stallone turns 80, and his cult movie – ‘Rocky’ turns 50… I turn 68… I haven’t become a legend like Stallone. It’s said, that during his struggling days, he had to sell his dearest dog for a few dollars, to survive in Philadelphia. Once he made millions of dollars when his movie ‘Rocky’ became a super hit, the first thing Stallone did was, that he bought back his favourite dog… In my struggling days, here in this big city of Bombay, I had to sell my favourite possession –- a Citizen watch (gifted by my elder brother) -- for hundred rupees. But, even though I could afford to buy a nice watch once I started earning, I decided not to wear a watch at all… Much later, I would learn about another struggler, who had arrived much before I did, here in this city. M. F. Husain’s paintings were sold for crores of rupees. But, to keep the memory of his struggling days alive, he had decided neve...

“Sometimes, the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up.” Brené Brown   O ur summer programme (spread over two months) is on... When I was growing up, the summers were a complete break from studies... I remember spending the entire summer vacation at my maternal grandparents’ place... Oh, that glorious village life -- ponds, running streams, fields, orchards of mangoes, cashews, jackfruits... no books, no studies, no exams... yes, no getting up, dressing up and showing up, no matter how you felt each morning. We returned from our grandparents’ place only late in the evening before our school reopened... Now, the summer vacations are no more meant to ‘break free’ from the routine studies and exams... For each kid, be it in the villages or be it in the cities, summer vacations are meant to do extra studies – with preparation for some entrance exams, or tuitions, or a dozen other classes – dance, sports, singing, computer or soft skills etc. I am guil...

  “He is a wise man who doesn’t grieve for  the things he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” Epictetus   T wo days ago, the mother of one of my Class-11 students was telling me, that she wanted her son to continue with me for Class-12 (Accountancy subject). But, she was saying, “Sir I want to send him for all subjects.” Well, this mother is a school teacher… The father is at home for years ‘doing nothing’… The family is starving for cash continuously… This was what I was told, and that’s the truth, in deed. I had reduced the fees for my subject by 75% in class-11, which was paid over 8 small instalments (one is still left)… So, when I heard ‘All Subjects’, initially, I tried to be courteous and advised against it. “Ma’am, it will make him more dependent… He needs to do things on his own, take risks, think on his own… This way, he will grow better, become more responsible and independent.” I wasn’t touching upon the family’s financial situation… “...

M any years ago, a 17-year-old girl was speaking in one of our Public-speaking sessions. She hailed from a family that ran one of the well-known hospitals in Mumbai. So, while introducing her, I, unwittingly, made a remark without a hint about what I would have to hear after that. I said to the audience, “They own one of the top hospitals.” The girl felt a lot embarrassed on hearing my words, “No sir… That’s my dad’s hospital. I have to earn my own place.” Mr. Ramakrishnan, our senior trainer, was so impressed by what he had just heard, he asked the audience to give her a standing ovation… The girl was even more embarrassed… When the ovation ended and all sat down, she said with equal grace and confidence, “I would rather earn a standing ovation for my speech than for that one remark I just made.” I do not know where this girl – now, a full-grown lady – today is… But, I do know this: wherever she is, she must have earned her own place und...

T he strength of one’s character is tested in tough times… and not when everything seems smooth and fine. When chips are down, when people around you accuse you despite being good and gentle… when they desert you while you need them the most - some of them who you trusted the most, who you helped the most and, even, gave your neck to, staking your life and reputation - yes, when these people around you make you feel lonely in times of your crisis, Life reveals who you are… your character! “Life is not a bed of roses,” in school, most of us wrote essays on this topic. But, at that age, we had hardly touched life, the real life. In a way, Life was a bed of roses for most of us, when we were young kids. It was only when we began to walk out into the real world, that we began to sense how it really was outside… You may find that people are selfish… They may not be loyal to you all the way… They may even turn into your enemies when you expect it the least… You may find...

Pic.: Pradeep Nanda I don’t like to write about party politics in my blog, just as I don’t like to talk about sectarian religion. But, because our lives are impacted by both political and religious climate around us, whether we like it or not, we need to be alive to what is happening out here… The latest is: the landslide victory of Arvind Kejriwal and his party AAP in Delhi elections. I am amazed just the way so many, all over the nation and abroad, are! Kejriwal is a resilient man. Very, very tough mentally. He wears an equally-thick skin which helps him negotiates through the merciless criticism and cynicism directed towards him and his party… And, because he lives with ‘little’ – doesn't care for his material needs, his family and his personal security - he is free to lead the way he does… These kinds of individuals are difficult to be subdued in, both, victory or defeats. There is lot to learn from them… So, though I...

There is a process through which the fragile glass is turned into ‘toughened’ one... There is a process through which pig iron is turned into shining steel... There is a process through which the clay becomes a beautiful pot in a potter’s hands…  And, yes, there is a process, through which the log of a tree, cut high up in the mountain-jungles, is expected to become tough wood by the time it reaches the low-land down. Tough things become tough because they have to pass through tough tests… Likewise, tough people become tough because they have to pass through tough times! Well, we know all these… That, we need to have great patience, trust, persistence and commitment to find precious diamond in black coal! That, trees don’t give fruits the very day they are planted… we have to wait, trust, hope and of course, care… That, a woman has to conceive and wait for nine long months… with love, trust, hope and prayer… ...

My young son was insistent that I should watch the first two editions of Christopher Nolan’s trilogy on ‘The Batman’. So, at home, he arranged to screen for me, along with his own authentic commentary, the first two Batman classics – ‘The Batman Begins’ and ‘The Dark Knight’. Yes, I had missed both of them when they were first released. This time, I truly enjoyed the ‘Super-hero’ drama… I was, particularly, overwhelmed by the genius of the filmmaker – Christopher Nolan… his convictions, his vision, his grit and his stupendous hold on the medium. And, of course, his infectious passion. It left me speechless… Inspired! So, this morning, I watched, along with my son, the last edition of the trilogy – ‘The Dark Knight Rises’… Where else?  You need to watch it only on a giant screen at IMAX, parked yourself on one of the top-most seats! I could realize the reason why my young son had gone all way out to watch the very first sh...

The morning Yoga session was ending.  “I am filled with love,” the Yoga teacher announced... “I am filled with love,” the class echoed.  “I love God,” the teacher declared… “I love God,” the students cried.  “God is great,” the teacher announced… “God is great,” the pupil followed.  “I am the best,” the master decreed… “I am the best,” everybody agreed. Last morning, I was passing by this temple where the Yoga class was being held. There were men and women - some elderly, some middle-aged and some young. The session was ending with those affirmations… those auto-suggestions:  “I am filled with love,”… “I love God,”…. “God is great,”…. And, “I am the best.” I could hear the chorus even after I long passed that temple… and even after hours long gone behind! In my office, I felt glad for all those people who were starting their day on such positive note. I felt glad for the teacher, too… ...