Long time back, April-May 2010, I was at Nashik for the prep leave and I attended a 5 day lecture series titled Arya Chanakya which was organised on the occasion of Maharashtra Diwas. The lectures were delivered by Mr. Vivek Ghalsasi, the editor of Tarun Bharat and a fantastic orator. With the thoughts that were already brewing in my mind this lecture series acted as a catalyst leading to me starting Livin' Free on 14th May 2010. The complete story of Chanakya as a scholar, an economist, a teacher, a strategist; and above all, the ultimate patriot inspired me to start pouring out my thoughts and share what I learn from such great men; to build up a mass movement of knowledge and freedom. Well, I am back home for Sem 7 prep leave and I was listening to the recordings of this lecture series and my memory was stirred a bit and there is 1 story from this lecture series which I will share in this blog.
The Sun shines through space to bless the Earth with light, heat and knowledge. It is its Dharma (i.e. Duty) to blaze, to radiate those powerful sunbeams and illuminate Earth and other planets and stars. After a long day, it was the time for the Sun to retire for the night. A small candle lit up as the Sun was about to leave in the evening and intrigued by this new source of light, the Sun asked the candle, "Who are you and what is your purpose?" The candle replied, "I am but a small candle, not as glorious as you; not as powerful as you; not as radiant as you and neither as colossal as you. Still, I am a source of light. Teeny may I be but I do the same work as you do." The Sun was amused and replied, "Knowing that your light can't even cross the room you are in, how can you illuminate the Earth?" The candle said, "Oh Sun, I know my limitations but that is not for my aspirations. Better it is to provide some light rather than slink away with a show of helplessness. I will do whatever I can. I will step up to the job till you return tomorrow morning and fight but I will not give up against this darkness."
From the Sun to the candle, there are many sources of light, i.e. of knowledge. There are many fighters of darkness (i.e ignorance). Can each of us know our own respective potentials and back it up with the right attitude and choose our place in this entire band? If not the Sun, can we at least be the candle? The small candle is willing to fight, can't we? What hope keeps that flame burning? What is it that drives any person? Where are our passions? What is our duty towards the nation? We are born to fight. We as the nation deserve more and are destined for more. Sun or candle is not the question. The real question is to be or not to be. The question is whether we are willing to do what we can to change ourselves and those around. If yes, the tools we need will be acquired as and when time comes. No great cause is blessed immediately with the necessary tools. The mettle of those involved; the grit and the spirit is tested hard. No fruits are obtained without planting a tree and working hard for its growth. There is no free lunch. The rivers flow into the oceans no matter how much amount of water they carry. Just like water is added along the way in these rivers so will we find allies along the way. To keep treading that difficult way is our duty irrespective who joins us or not; whether one or many -- whichever the case may be....
Keep Fighting....
Live Free....
Jai Hind!
The Sun shines through space to bless the Earth with light, heat and knowledge. It is its Dharma (i.e. Duty) to blaze, to radiate those powerful sunbeams and illuminate Earth and other planets and stars. After a long day, it was the time for the Sun to retire for the night. A small candle lit up as the Sun was about to leave in the evening and intrigued by this new source of light, the Sun asked the candle, "Who are you and what is your purpose?" The candle replied, "I am but a small candle, not as glorious as you; not as powerful as you; not as radiant as you and neither as colossal as you. Still, I am a source of light. Teeny may I be but I do the same work as you do." The Sun was amused and replied, "Knowing that your light can't even cross the room you are in, how can you illuminate the Earth?" The candle said, "Oh Sun, I know my limitations but that is not for my aspirations. Better it is to provide some light rather than slink away with a show of helplessness. I will do whatever I can. I will step up to the job till you return tomorrow morning and fight but I will not give up against this darkness."
From the Sun to the candle, there are many sources of light, i.e. of knowledge. There are many fighters of darkness (i.e ignorance). Can each of us know our own respective potentials and back it up with the right attitude and choose our place in this entire band? If not the Sun, can we at least be the candle? The small candle is willing to fight, can't we? What hope keeps that flame burning? What is it that drives any person? Where are our passions? What is our duty towards the nation? We are born to fight. We as the nation deserve more and are destined for more. Sun or candle is not the question. The real question is to be or not to be. The question is whether we are willing to do what we can to change ourselves and those around. If yes, the tools we need will be acquired as and when time comes. No great cause is blessed immediately with the necessary tools. The mettle of those involved; the grit and the spirit is tested hard. No fruits are obtained without planting a tree and working hard for its growth. There is no free lunch. The rivers flow into the oceans no matter how much amount of water they carry. Just like water is added along the way in these rivers so will we find allies along the way. To keep treading that difficult way is our duty irrespective who joins us or not; whether one or many -- whichever the case may be....
Keep Fighting....
Live Free....
Jai Hind!
3 comments:
inspiring.... :) no matter how small we look on the whole, our tiny step will count in our endeavour towards the ultimate good... our nation's golden days will return... :) thanks for sharing.... keep writing...
"we all are like candle", true!!!!
God one dude.....
New topic....
Best of luck!!!
Now m feeling sad that, i ignored ur invitation for lecture series!!!
Jai Hind!
It is ok Ani...
As I have mentioned, I have the recordings so I'l give it to you the next time we meet.
Plus, I prefer to aspire to be the Sun as that ensures we at least be the candle before becoming the Sun!!
Jai Hind!
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