Gerald D'Cunha

  “Aggression has no ears.” Mahrukh Memon I am a believer in ambition. Honestly, to realize any of our dreams – whether it means academic excellence, good health, good relationships, success in business, or even conquering the world like Alexander-the-Great – yes, the way through is only ambition. Saints and Satans, both, are driven by the same fuel - ambition… But, but, but… The difference in our approach lies in the ‘means’ we adopt to achieve our respective ‘ends’… As Mahatma Gandhi said, our means are as important as our ends. I would go a step further and say, our means are more important than our ends! As humans, you and I want to progress in life. None of us looks below for our inspiration; we all look above. So, the rich and the famous, the bold and the beautiful have always been our weakness. And, along that route, some of us lose our way… Some of us, mercifully, don’t… Dhirubhai Ambani built the largest business-empire in a very short time. But, his means, a...

“Slow down... Life is crossing the road.” ―  Debasish Mridha R ight now, my body, mind and heart – all three yearn to rest. “Enough of aggression,” I hear them remind me, “Slow down… Keep your tools down… Just yield.” Almost four to five hours in the morning, today, I found myself in an aggressive mode – aggressive in the sense: I was result oriented, my words were piercing, patience was on the edge… and I could feel I was getting the work done from my students. Yes, there was that immediate sense of achievement… But, when it was all over, I could also feel the vacuum… the energy was all depleted… all my students gone and I was left alone, here, to wonder: If there was another way of going about it… A way where my energy would be conserved, words not as pricing as they were and patience not as edgy as it was… So, now, when I have dropped my tools and aggression and able to reflect, yes, I do feel, that there certainly was anoth...

“As he was valiant, I honor him…  But as he was ambitious, I slew him.” ―  William Shakespeare ,  Julius Caesar T wo similar events unfolded over past few days… Cyrus Mistry, the Chairman of Tata Group, was sacked. Arnab Goswami, the Editor-in-Chief of Times Now, resigned.  Or, was forced to go? For decades, I have been a loyal admirer of both these organization – Tatas and Times of India. Maybe, it is more a kind of sentimental attachment to these names, maybe, I am governed by the fan-psychology, which is more emotion-based rather than reason-based. Yes, with Tatas, I admired the conservative, trust and value based approach to business… Like so many around me felt, I, too, felt that Tatas believed in fair-play and integrity. I abhorred, always, the short-cuts to glory… I abhored making it too big too fast… People like Jamshetji, JRD and Ratan Tata have fascinated me… I have found them to be gentlemen in business. So, when Cyrus Mistr...

There is a Gambian saying: “If a donkey kicks you and you kick him back, you are both donkeys.” Whenever I get provoked by others and get into heated arguments with them, and, consequently, when I emerge bruised and wounded… I really reflect on my behavior and ask: Was it necessary for me to get into such a heated argument? Could I have taken some other route to handle the situation? Should each provocation be met with a tit-for-tat? Why am I left so disturbed after the argument, now? Had I chosen to remain poised, chosen my words and action wisely… wouldn’t I have been peaceful? Yes, I, invariably, go through this sequence of questions after a verbal duel with someone… I wish I hadn’t kicked back the donkey even though he had... I wish I had left him alone! “Why did I become a donkey?”… I cry out, let down by my own unmindful, impulsive behavior. To get even with another... This seems like a deep human thirst! I succumb to it, ...