Ignited Minds

Dream, Dream, Dream

Dreams transform into thoughts

And thoughts result in action

India has been a developing country for more than 60 years now. What is taking it so long that we are not yet established as a developed nation? The scarcity of resources is not the cause of our problems. We have abundance of manpower, talent and natural resources. What we lack is the vision and approach towards them. We don’t try much unless pressurized to do so. Only when something is at stake, our minds are ignited and our capabilities become manifold. “Ignited minds” is all about having that conviction in our potential and setting aside the inferiority complexes that hinder our progress.

During his visit to various educational institutions, Dr Kalam was moved by the powerful, imaginative questions and innovative ideas of young students. He urges the youth to focus on self realization, achieved through excellence in education along with spiritualization. There has to be role models such as Parents and teachers right from the childhood, to great leaders in various political, socio-economic and industrial fields. Vision generates the best in every field. Kalam mentions exemplary visionaries like JRD Tata, Dr Vikram Sarabhai, Dr Verghese Kurien etc. who played an unforgettable part in the development in their respective fields.

India has stood bravely against the subjugation and adjusted with the division of society. Many of India’s best in the field of science, art, literature, industry etc. thrived during the independence struggle. But, since independence, the aims and expectations of the people have lowered. Kalam urges the people to rise and build upon the age old wisdom and heritage; not to let divisions break the national interest; and to make India a knowledge superpower, as was Ancient India a knowledge society.

An important aspect is the development of rural areas at par with the cities so as to put an end to rural-urban migration. This can be done with proper roads and transport facilities in villages, which will also aid in employment opportunities. Other helpful modern age tools are telemedicine, tele-education, generating skills, e-governance, and information and communication technology.

Dr Kalam emphasizes on the value addition of our resources as a key to wealth generation for the nation. Dr Kalam gives an example when they needed Beryllium diaphragms for the SLV-3 project. The US refused to give it to them as they could be used to make gyros mounted on Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). It’s an irony that India has one of the largest deposits of beryllium ore, exported to Japan, who processed the ore to make beryllium rods and sold them to the US which in turn used them to make beryllium diaphragms! The issue came out in the press and the export of the ore was stopped.

The idea of progress has to be implemented as a purposeful activity in mission mode. This can be done when the centre and the state work in co-ordination with double the effort, to reach the goal in half the time as the current process. Only when we ignite our dormant inner energy, the nation will become peaceful and prosperous.

Wings of Fire

 Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

“Let the Latent fire in the heart of every Indian acquire wings and the glory of this country light up the sky”.

Early Life: 

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, the 11^th President of India, was born on 15^th October 1931 in the family of a small boat owner in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.  As a boy, he regularly went for Namaaz with his father, Jainulabdeen. Young Kalam sold newspapers with his cousin, Samsuddin, to supplement his family's income and borrowed books that he could not afford to buy.  His friend Ahmed Jallaluddin, who later became his brother-in-law, motivated him to cross the barriers of an underprivileged social setting and continue to satisfy his quest for knowledge. Many other such common people helped and influenced the poor lad to pursue higher studies, which eventually led him to become a front-runner in India’s space mission. 

Leadership:

Dr. Kalam vividly mentions Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, an industrialist, a great visionary and the creator of India’s indigenous space mission. Dr. Sarabhai was an exemplary leader who kept his team united and motivated towards a common goal. After him, Prof. Satish Dhawan, another great leader, carried on the mission to its implementation. While working with these leaders, Dr. Kalam acquired the traits of a great leader himself. A leader who skillfully delegated tasks to various teams divided as a mix of young talented scientists and experienced campaigners. The team members were being allowed to work with sufficient autonomy to optimize their performance; along with a leader who monitored the proceedings with regular meetings and feedback, so as to implement the project within the limits of time and budget.

Mission:

Handling failures and setbacks positively is significant for any team to succeed in a mission. The ISRO team experienced several failures pertaining to lack of resources and limited funds. Ultimately, in 1980, the nation witnessed the first indigenous Satellite Launch vehicle (SLV-3) being built to launch the satellite Rohini into space for which Dr. Kalam was awarded the Padma Bhushan. After the successful completion of the SLV-3 project, he was transferred from ISRO to DRDL(O) to lead the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP), under the tenure of the then PM, Indira Gandhi. India built 5 different missiles Trishul, Prithvi, Agni, Akash and Nag, as capable as any other missile in the world at that time, without any foreign aid, which was a remarkable achievement in Indian technological history. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan and later, also the highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna. Unfortunately, the most significant people in his life weren’t there to share the joy of his honours.

To the critics questioning the huge investment in the IGMDP, for a nation whose people lacked in basic amenities, Dr. Kalam says that technological backwardness leads to subjugation. For instance, in 1991, the Gulf war broke out between Iraq and America led allied forces. The atmosphere around the world was turbulent and posed a threat to our nation, from its not so friendly neighbors. It was only through the development and display of advanced defense systems that this threat could be subdued and any offensive measures could be countered.

Contemplation:

Unlike Science, Technology is the product of a number of different individuals working interdependently towards the achievement of a well defined common goal. The IGMDP and the nuclear tests should not be seen as a display of power, but as the victory of the untiring efforts of the 500+ scientists and the young pool of talent from various academic institutions, who dreamt of making the nation proud to be positioned among the topmost technologically developed nations of the world.

Dr. Kalam mentions how difficult it is to overcome distrust and animosity of envious colleagues. He also argues that instead of people being full of self-defeatist thought patterns and negative behavior, they should be motivated by a freely flowing positive energy like a fire burning inside them. It was this latent fire that each of his team members possessed, without which India would not have made such a glorious advancement in the indigenous development in the field of technology.

Memorable Lines:

1) Don't worry and fret, fainthearted,

    The chances have just begun,

    For the best jobs haven't been started,

    The best work hasn't been done...

2) For all your days prepare,

    And meet them ever alike,

    When you are the anvil, bear,

    When you are the hammer, strike...

Joker in the Pack

Authors:  Ritesh Sharma  (IIM-L,2005) 

               Neeraj Pahlajani (IIM-B,2006)

The story is a brilliantly woven work of fiction blended with reality which describes a typical middle class boy who cherishes watching TV and loves bollywood and cricket, but makes his way through to one of the most coveted management institutes in the country - the IIMs, and the drastic changes in his life thereafter.  The authors’ account of life at the IIMs is also a revelation. I reckon it a must read for all IIM aspirants, mba students and alumni. 

The life of protagonist, ’Shekhar Verma’, like others of his kind, is guided by the extras, the so called ‘uncles and aunties’. The middle class’ vision of a secure career in IT, lands him in a third rate college of DU, with no great opportunities whatsoever. He indulges in a carefree life, keeps off from books and cheats in exams and has no goal in life. His life takes a turn when he finds a girlfriend, Anoushka. Later, he sincerely prepares for CAT while she prepares for GATE. Ultimately, they both find their respective ways to IIM-B and IIT-B.

The best part of the story begins at IIM-B. It starts with the interaction with the seniors and the first week termed as the “hell week” full of sleepless nights and hectic tasks which ends with a grand welcome party. Then the race to prepare starry resumes begins as everyone wants to be a part of one of the various committees. Amidst all the fuss, both Shekhar and Anoushka get busy with their lives and the long distance relationship doesn’t work and they break up.

The non-stop life at the IIM makes Shekhar curious and wary of his future, but he is still clueless about his choice of career options. Verma’s experience as an intern at Britannia is hilarious. While travelling for surveying various small towns his dreams (of a cozy office) shatter and he is welcomed by the real world. The rest of his journey at IIMB goes this way – he gets a PPO from Britannia; works hard for the institute’s cultural event Vista and the seniors’ placements; goes on a 2 week trip to work in DBS, Singapore; stands at 25^th  rank in the batch.  Consequently, in the Pack filled with genius Aces & Kings, the fighter Joker gets some good bullet points to highlight in the resume and finally gets placed at BAH consulting, New York with a handsome package and lots of travelling. At the age of 22, Shekhar Verma makes his mark, makes his parents proud and the great Indian middle class dream of a secure and luxurious life comes true.

Who Moved My Cheese

                                            

One common trait amongst most of us is our reluctance to change. We prefer to follow a dull routine rather than accept change and lead a different life altogether. It’s our refusal to view life from an alternate perspective that makes us mere slaves of destiny. For instance, I find myself glued to my PC watching movies and TV series even on weekends, for I am reluctant n lazy enough to take pain in exploring the outdoors. I thought of another analogy of my denial to change. Being a “Counter-Strike” enthusiast, I found myself stuck n indulged in certain  ‘maps’ over n over again, only  when I dared to switch to others which turned out to be a lot more fascinating n captivating.  The point is when we overcome our fears and learn to laugh at ourselves, there is always a way forward.

In the slender & crisp book “Who Moved My Cheese” (just 90+ pages), the author "Dr Spencer Johnson" points out to this feeble human trait, where he compares ‘Cheese’ with anything that a person can desire in life. The book portrays 4 characters- 2 mice “Sniff & Scurry” and 2 Little-people “Hem & Haw” who run around a maze in search of cheese. These four characterize both the simple and complex nature of our selves. The 4 can be described as:

Sniff - who smells new cheese (change) early

Scurry- who takes quick action to get cheese

Hem-  who constantly resists change and remains confined

Haw-  who learns to adapt to  change when he visualizes his better future

The story comes to a point where they find that the cheese is moved away from its location. The mice take this change as a simple phenomenon and go out looking for new cheese and succeed as they start early. But, Hem & Haw both stay put waiting for the cheese to be moved back to the same place which doesn’t happen. At the end,  ‘Haw’ overcomes his fear and realizes that change provides for better opportunities. It is only then that he finds the huge pile of cheese, a variety of which he had never ever seen before.

Change happens and we ought to anticipate it & monitor even the slightest variation. Ask yourself, what  would you do if you weren't afraid? Consequently, we should learn to adapt to and enjoy change. We should be ready to change quickly and enjoy it again n again...

WISE & OTHERWISE

Sudha Murty w/o N.R. Narayana Murty, is a trustee of the Infosys Foundation serving the country's poor and needy since 1996. She is an M.Tech in Computer Science and also teaches as visiting faculty to post graduate students in Bangalore University. ‘Wise & Otherwise’ is a collage of her experiences (51 short stories), right through her life from childhood till the present times. She has put forward various instances which show that even ‘shirtless people’ (the poor masses) can teach us a way to lead life, positively and with indelible enthusiasm.  In the words of a poor fisher boy – “panch rupay se bhi bahut kuch hota hai”.

Over the years, she’s been dedicated to philanthropic work all over the country. In the course of this hectic task, separating the needy and deserving from the greedy and opportunists is tiresome. There are some politicians who take the credit of work done by NGOs and unsung donors. She has also shown clear contrasts among different people behaving differently under the same circumstances, where being just to others is the need of the hour. The decisions made can be either constructive or destructive, depending on whether the choices are made rationally or bluntly. It reflects her keen observance of people.

Murty mentions the insensitivity index of emotionally immune people. She also throws light on the plight of Indian women as opposed to the socio-economic and political liberty of their counterparts in small European nations like Denmark, Sweden & Norway. Once in Stockholm, she was charged late night taxi charge as half the actual fare which could have been double in India. She points out that different generations of mankind differ in ideas and beliefs which is evident with the current student-teacher relationship and that in the’ Gurukul’ times. But she also suggests that age, caste, or economic or social stature is no bar for wisdom and humility even today.

In a way, Alfred Nobel was the first Philanthropist who made his will to award (the Nobel Prize) the special contributors to mankind, worldwide. For some see the Dynamite as a weapon of mass destruction, and some others as a way to cut through the mountains to make way for railways and tunnels. Don’t curse the dark, light as many candles as you can. Myriads of innovations are at your disposal. To make or to break - it’s your choice boss..!!