Rising One more Time....

I remember a story of intense passion and belief my father had once told me. Whenever I am down and out it is this story which reignites the desire to be better and stand back up.

There were 2 boxers, Axe and Ranko who always faced each other in every tournament final of their time just as it was the case of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in international tennis. Both had debuted around the same time and in 24 hours was the final of the world championship to which both of them had qualified. They had around same number of wins against the other in all international bouts and this final was to be the last game of their respective careers. Naturally, being the toughest of competitors, both Axe and Ranko were training very hard for this mega final and each wanted to sign of his respective career with a win over the other.

With 24 hours to go, each was at his training room boxing hard at his speed bag. Axe was tired out pretty much after intense training for 4 hours. Knowing Ranko to be of the similar stature & prowess and possessing the same desire to win, Axe imagined Ranko to be tired out just like him and sitting on the bench exhausted fully but now getting back up to practice more with the single thought of winning the World Championship by defeating Axe. Axe then said to himself, “I have to win at all costs” and so he got back up and started boxing the speed bag with greater vigour till another 4 hours passed. It was too long a training session for Axe and again he imagined Ranko, exhausted to the very brink like him but training harder even now. So, once again he rose to practice and started boxing the speed bag with an unprecedented force and intensity fuelled by the staunch desire of excellence. This continued for 6 hours till the time when Axe felt every muscle and fibre of his body screaming in protest to the amount of exertion it was put through. With no energy left in his body, Axe collapsed onto the floor out of breath and dead tired. He was finding it very difficult to breath and his head was spinning. As he closed his eyes to take rest then and there itself he imagined Ranko to be in the same state as himself. He imagined Ranko of resting for a while and proceeding to take a shower and get a good sleep before the Final. Axe thought, “I am a champion. I don’t give up”. Thus, when Ranko proceeded to take a shower, Axe got back up, coaxed his mind, body and soul to be tough and focused and started punching the speed bag again.............................

There is a strange Aura around this story. Many a times in life, we seem to think that we can take no more when we are actually giving up too early.

“Many a life’s failures are because people didn’t realize how close they were to success when they gave up”

Thomas Edison

Life is going to be tough and challenging. It is going to push us hard. It is not a question whether we push back harder but it is about negotiating that push to one’s advantage. Axe had a great desire and perseverance. He wanted to win and loss was not an option to him. He was motivating himself continuously by imagining Ranko was practicing harder. It is human nature to perform better when a goal is to be achieved and especially when an opponent has to be defeated! True motivation comes when we start competing with ourselves and concentrate making the self better every second!

Now if we bring this story in our context and apply it to the situation we face today to change Bhaarat we can motivate ourselves to the extent of Axe and way beyond it I hope. I imagine that the anti-nation forces are going strong after our homeland and training more and more to fragment it, I tell myself to keep going in my efforts no matter how strong the elements of false are working against me and my countrymen. We need that strong will power to win against all odds. I am sure that like me, even many of you hear the statement, “Nothing is going to change here, this is India”. Then that is what we want to change, right? We have to change India to Bhaarat, to Hindustaan and then the other changes will follow sooner rather than later! To effect that change, we have to be the uncommon man from the common man! That intense desire is all that would work against this mass pessimism.

In the pre-independence era, there was an astounding desire and faith to obtain Independence from the British and this acted as a binding factor to all in which all the diversity of caste, creed and religion was kept aside. We are lacking a ‘visible’ factor in today’s times. I place importance on the word visible because there is the necessary factor which is hidden from view but very much absolute in its presence. The total freedom from fear is required along with the desire of a super power.

I recall another instructive story when I mention desire.

Socrates was once visited by one of his pupil. The student asked the master that how can enlightenment be achieved. Socrates took him down to a nearby river and when both of them were waist deep in the water Socrates forced the student’s head inside the water. He would not let go for a long time and only when the student was about to pass out did he pull him back up. Socrates asked him, “What did you want the most when you were underwater?” The student replied, “Air!” Socrates said, “Now if your desire to achieve enlightenment is as strong as your desire to breathe in air when you were underwater you will get it!”

If that desire to take the nation to the zenith is now of such ferocious intensity then I don’t think anybody can stop us! There will be failures and defeats. We will feel pain and disappointment but then that is the essence of life.

“Success is getting up once more than the times you fall”

Oliver Goldsmith

Remember these golden words of Oliver Goldsmith. My friends, do not be discouraged by the wrong doings around you. Energize and awaken the deep power within you and I won’t be surprised to see Bhaarat atop the world mountains!

It might be 2020, 2030, 2050, 2100 or even as long as 2500 but the time will come. Whenever you feel discouraged by the ridicule you face for cherishing a dream for Bhaarat, remember that it was only 5 Pandavas who defeated the might of 100 Kauravas! The numbers are always stacked against truth but its the amazing quality of these small numbers which makes all the difference!

Talking of winners with strong desires, there are 2 instances which I feel need to be applauded and appreciated.
Firstly, its the ISRO PSLV which launched 5 satellites into orbit. The chairman now plans a recce mission of outer space for the big step of sending men, men from this nation into space by 2013!
Secondly its about this genius mind Dr. Tathagat Tulsi who is now an Asst. Professor at IIT Powai at the age of 22! He is now the youngest to this title! Its sheer brilliance and I salute the man more so for denying travelling to Waterloo, Canada to teach there and deciding to enrich the country by his talent!
To all the fighters and winners, Bravo!

Jai Hind!