Test of Character

The other day, I had a chance to read a quotation from John Holt Jr.

"The true test of character is not how much we know how to do, but how we behave when we don't know what to do."

I was scratching my head to understand the meaning of it. Does it imply that our character is determined by what we do when we have nothing to do? Or does it mean how we react when we face situations where we have no clue what to do?

After prodding on this subject for a while, I thought it could mean to both. The former interpretation would determine whether we are optimist or passive pessimist. The second interpretation would determine whether we are destined to be successful leaders or submissive followers.

First Case:
Idle Mind is devils workshop. When we do not have anything to do and are scratching our head and balls to figure out what to do, our character would determine the path we choose. It could be to turn the situation to our advantage create something out of it. This what we would do if we are optimist by nature.

If we decide to wait for the situation to change, rather than changing it by the force of our will, our character would resemble that of one of the small people in the book "Who moved my Cheese?" who would rather wait for things to happen rather than make things happen. This is the character of a passive human being.

Second Case.

It is not always possible to prepare for all the situations we face in life. There are certain situations that come unexpectedly. How do we react to that situation? Do we panic and shit in our pants or do we stand upright and face the situation with all our might to come out triumphant. I guess our reaction to these situations determine whether we are leaders or mere followers.

Find out for yourself what your character is.

Power of the Will- Part II

What started as surprise to me, began to follow the beaten track. I was willing myself to get up early and provide myself with enough time to carry out my duties. It must have continued for a couple of weeks. Then back to square one. I relaxed over the weekend by staying up late and watch what else but something stupid on T.V. That is it. I bacame too tired and could not get up the next day. Once the schedule was cut, then it became a routine.

Now I am wondering how come I am able to stick to this scheduleless routine consistently for all these years? How is that alone possible? I am pondering over it. Waiting for an answer.

Power of the Will...

How easy it is to admire our heros and worship them ?

How easily we dismiss not so lucky ones as losers?

What seperates the winners and losers in life? At the cross roads of my own life, I was pondering over this question and one thing that struck me as the difference between the two was the ability of the winners to make their WILL stand up.

It is alright to read the right books, get the right advice and seek the right guidance. The net result of all this is zilch if we do not have the "WILL" to carry out what we read in our books or heard from wisemen.

My Master used to tell that "Jjust like any other skill, even the WILL can be made stronger by practice. Everytime, you take a stand and use your WILL to carry out something, it is strengthened. Everytime, you postpone carrying out something by offering excuse to yourself, yu are weakening the WILL"

Gosh. Hardest thing is to really do. Just Do It. It is not that simple.

Let me give it a try by beginning to wake up early in the morning from tomorrow May 17, 2006.

Will keep you posted.

Ciao

Fate of Democracy!!!

In a country like India, where rural population outnumbers urban population and where rural folks are purposefully kept ignorant by politicians to suit their whims, can we hope that Democracy will still deliver in India???

It will thrive only if the rural India becomes intelligent enough to see beyond the fancy words of big talking politicians.

Take the case of Elections in Tamil Nadu. It was a freebie mela announced by all parties hankering for power. One party says free gas stove for the poor. Fine. Who will pay for the price of Gas Cylinder refills. Free Color TV's. Who will pay for the electricity consumed by the TV? Now, if you look closely, these are targeted towards people who fall below line of poverty. Instead of thinking about schemes to make them self sustaining, all they come up with are these that will always keep them where they are. At the mercy of the Politicians and eagerly waiting the freebies to be announced next.

Instead of striving to create citizens with backbone, political parties are competing with each other to step on the backbone and crumple it.

Now, take the case of reservation. It had very noble beginnings. To provide for the upliftment of the deprived. The results are there for all to see. At least at the surface level, in any profession, there is very good representation of the deprived classes. Now, to continue this for ever and to increase the reservation quota is atrocious.

In Modern India, more than the caste, the distinction is broadly on the haves and have-nots. This spread is prevalent equally among various sects/classes/castes. So, reservation, blindly on one's caste would not serve the purpose. It would lead to monopolisation of opportunities by the "haves" to further benefit their cause and not allowing the real benefit of the reservation to reach the "have-nots". Let us take this example. If, kith if Lalu, the Railway Minister, and son of a poor farmer in a remote village of Bihar are competing for a job (Lalu's progenies do not need to work for next 10 generations. That is a different story(sic)). Who is most likely to succeed? Undoubtedly, it is the kin of lalu because he would be well informed about the job, about the reservation quota, well connected and resourceful.

Ofcourse, Lalu himself would claim that he was in the same position as the poor farmers son now and was able to progress because of reservation. Agreeed. That is why I said in the beginning, reservation was the right solution based on the situation that prevailed in India 25 years ago. A lot of things in India have changed since. So, even reservation should also be seen with a different viewpoint. This would enable India to emerge stronger and vibrant. After all, that is what Politicians say, atleast superficially.

Will they do it? Will we see our rulers stand by what Abraham Lincoln said
"Government For the People, By the People and of the People" and start working with genuine concern for the people and their development?

Deep in my heart, I wish so and wish it happens soon.

Whatever said, Sarey Jahaan se Acha... Hindustan Hamara.