Gerald D'Cunha

“There is one spectacle grander than the sea, that is the sky; there is one spectacle grander than the sky, that is the interior of the soul.”  ―  Victor Hugo I joined the famed St. Aloysius School, in my hometown Mangalore, when I was in sixth standard. I did the rest of my studies – higher primary, high school and college – in this great institution. My self-confidence level, throughout my school and junior college days, was very, very low. I suffered from a killing inferiority-complex, which, they call ‘social anxiety’ these days. My changes had begun to take place only from my F.Y. B.Com days, when I sat in our class and admired my teacher, Prof. B.S. Raman. Even though I did not speak to my teacher, one-on-one, I learnt to teach and write like him, just by ‘admiring’ him. Ironically, in those days, I had never heard of ‘The Law of Attraction’ or ‘the spirit of Ekalavya'. But, yes, my self-confidence level was going up steadily… Than...

“T hank you Sir for sharing with us your inspiring journey… a journey from being worthless to worthwhile.” This’s what the lady lecturer said in her vote of thanks. It was a week ago, and I had just concluded a session for the BMS students on ‘Self-confidence and Communication Skills’. It was a reputed college in Mumbai. I suffered from a chronic inferiority complex when I was a High School and a Junior College boy. I was so self-conscious about myself and so anxious about my future, that I had slowly stopped facing public… “Everybody is watching me”… “Everybody is judging me, analyzing me, rating me”… This was how I imagined and tortured myself. People would not accept me with my limitations and flaws… I had nothing worthwhile within me… I was good in nothing… Looks were ugly… Family was poor… English was pathetic… No sports, no singing and dancing, no good in studies… And, you could add a dozen more ‘No-goods’ to this irrational and fictitious list! How on ear...