Loss by Chance, Win by Choice....

I came by an interesting story worth sharing and drawing inferences from. It goes as...

In an academic class of 100 students, the professor once announced that there would not be the conventional grading system henceforth. The tests will be conducted as per normal rules but the marking system will be different. He said that all students will have the same grade irrespective of his/her personal score. After the results are calculated, the scores will be averaged and the average score will be the score of each and every student. So, there might be a few 90% scores while a few 30% scores but both these classes will have the same grade and marks according to the new system.

Naturally, the high scoring and hard working students were disappointed while the low scoring students were elated. Of course, it is assumed here that the high scoring students are nowhere connected to the state education board!!

In the calendar year there were 4 tests. In the 1^st test, the average score was 60%. Every student above 60% was dejected at his score and those below partied hard and enjoyed this unprecedented success. The 2^nd test had the average score of 50%, then 40% for the 3^rd and finally 30%, i.e. all failed for the last test.

Understanding the psychology of the students,

the high scorers started thinking, “Why the hell should I study so that all of them will get good grades? Anyway it is averaged so I will also enjoy henceforth!” Over time, they gave up preparing seriously for the exams which resulted in a lower class average eventually leading to all students letting go of excellence. But the low average did not bother the low scorers as they already knew that they will be in that zone and the new system was a bonus. It affected the intellectuals of the class the most. They were the hardest hit and despite their brilliance they failed and their careers were extinguished.

There is not much difference between this story and the current scenario of the country. The country’s intellectual minds are shunned away to the western countries. We lose a lot of talent which as otherwise will have definitely helped the country grow. The harder part is to fight despite all this happening. The hard workers continue to work hard and continue to be robbed of their merit again and again. Irrespective of whether you work or not the government jobs offer the same security and pay scale at a particular level. So, it does not matter whether you sleep at your work desks or slog hard, you are in the same boat with the next man!

This is not only seen in these jobs but also in our lives, taxes for example. The range goes from 0 to 30% of a person’s income. 30%! – that is a bad joke, a bad joke stressed too far. The taxes paid by us are smoked off by all those who want to catch a free ride, piggy back on the hard worker. Now, the question is not only about taxes but also about the country on a larger scale. My friends please don’t feed this bullshit. Wherever possible try and save your hard efforts and direct them to greater causes.

If the class scenario is given another thought, I feel there is a reason that all of it happened as it did in the story. Take the example of those hard working students. The story finishes there with their careers finished. Hardly any of them worked for excellence. They sacrificed excellence for those marks. They started studying less. They did not fight this injustice and mutely accepted it. It would not be possible that a person does not get what he deserves. The students got what they deserved. They deserved it as it was readily accepted by them.

"Defeat comes only when accepted"

Lord Krishna to Arjuna in Bhagavad Geeta

Here lies the difference between all of us and them. They felt they had no choice, they felt they had to tolerate injustice while we, we know we have choices, a choice to work to a common goal of “Akhanda Bhaarat” or to let evil take control. We can stare at all difficulties and say in a loud clear manner, "I will not accept defeat, till I don't I am still in the game." We can decide to excel and let success follow- it may be personal or be national. I found this story thought productive and indicative of the challenges we face today. Just by going through the world happenings and good articles we get to learn a lot.

There is a quote, “A wise man learns from his mistakes”. But this quote is obsolete in today’s world. It has been modified to- “A true wise man learns from not only his but also other’s mistakes.”

I know all of will take out the positives from this tale and learn from the mistakes of those good students. Fate was cruel to them, but they could have decided to get back up and face it. Let us decide to make choices for justice, to fight for it and not give up in the face of adversity. It is up to us to stop the outflow of the world's best talent, a home grown talent of this nation to other countries by inspiring all around us to give their all to the country.

I also had the selfish motive to not set hands to the task of a super power Bhaarat and run away to the western world with an intention of not returning back. I will clarify that I appreciate those who leave for studies and a good work place. If anywhere in their minds they think that Bhaarat is their country and consider themselves to be Bhaaratiyas, I assure them and you that their thoughts are fueling us to work for freedom. But I believe that more hands are needed on deck. As I have already mentioned in one of my blogs, there will come a time that the entire world will be jealous of us and will strive to be as Bhaarat. There will come a time when Takshashila and Nalanda will come home. This will happen when many of us sacrifice the fantastic infrastructure and benefits offered by the USA and others and will lay the seeds of the excellence here in this great land. By continued vigour and watering, we will see the best tree in the world. Someone or for that matter some small contributions by many people and ideologies have helped me change my view and decide to strive for the well being of my motherland. I hope all of us meet such great beings and they continue to inspire us and the chain continues.

I will end today's blog by a poem composed by one of our Truth Team members, Aniket Karandikar. He has titled it as 'My Country'. I appreciate the burning passion within him. I will also take this opportunity to invite all of you to contribute to this blog in any way you can think of one of which being the way Aniket chose. I hope this ends the day with tons of inspiration, dedication and freedom!

      My Country

      

      

      my country has a long lasting glory,

      so people here never bother to worry.

      they only strive for their plate of curry,

      but for others they will never hurry.

      invaders are welcomed here,

      and allowed to do wear and tear.

      if unfortunately they are captured,

      they are nurtured for years.

  

      law here is meant for good of evil

      and evil of good,

      so devils rejoice here, 

      showing their brotherhood. 

      

      corruption becomes key to success here,

      thus the corrupt doesn't even fear.

      yet, the media will advertise "clinic all clear",

      thus all earn good in this corrupted sphere.

      this bothers to hardly some, 

      that my country is a developing one.

      they dream of huge malls and tall towers,

      and say that one day,

      they will live in a super power.

      but no one takes the efforts to realize,

      that there is not any miracle to shower,

      to make the country,

      automatically a super power.

      

      efforts are to be taken by one and all

      so one day we stand tall, 

      and proudly say,

             "INDIA IS OUR COUNTRY AND WE ARE PROUD                  TO BE INDIANS"

                                                                                                                                                                                             

                                                                                                                                                                                            -A.V.K.

Jai Hind!