Never give up… come what may!

By U. Mahesh Prabhu

When I was young, that point in time when I didn’t even understood ‘L’ of Life, I was conveyed by many of my friends, relatives and members of my family that I was ‘good for nothing’. ‘I don’t know what you would be in life Mahesh.’ was what they said to me repeatedly. That did, of course, cause resentment and unrest in my consciousness. I knew I wasn’t made for being nothing. But, what was I supposed to be? I never knew. I was befuddled, in totality.

If at a given point of time I decided I wanted to be an Engineer, bit later I would prefer to be a doctor, later solider and then even a spy, perhaps. But you can’t be all at a time. Or can you? Certainly not! But that fire in me, which was completely untamed, was smoldering my mind and spirit.

‘To be anything in life, you need to have a good brains’ I was definite. More bizarre as it was many hypnotized me that ‘good brains show up in good marks’ and hence ‘no good marks would simply mean lack of intellect’ that which leads to ‘doom’.

Robosoftians: I dare you all, yet again

Everyone in life lives by a dream. A dream which cherishes his thoughts, which he feels, would make his life worthwhile.

We all dream. Don’t we? At times, or many a times, it is simply improbable for others to believe, or even understand, your dream. ‘What nonsense!’, ‘You have lost your mind!’, ‘That’s simply not possible!’ are some of the sentences, ending with exclamation, a person has to bear with it when he expresses his dream or, better said vision, larger than his persona. Those sentences of exclamation are like hammer, you will be shattered, given you are fragile, or forged with conviction if you are strong. ‘Hammer shatters glass forges steel’, a famous Russian proverb, is very apt in this regard.

In the year 1998, when I was working with a premier multi-million dollar conglomerate in the region a humble and timid looking chap had setup a base in a Software and Technology Entrepreneurs Park (STEP) in KREC. I had good reasons to keep a track of him, then. After having worked in Corporations in India and abroad he had, I found out, returned rather prematurely, without any great dollars in his wallet, to India only to start a software development enterprise. The solution he offered, I bet, not many in India had heard of. It was well known, though, in Europe and the Americas. He was ambitious and determined. While many found him interesting, I completely brushed his business model aside saying ‘From where on earth is he going to find people to work on that technology. He’s lost his mind!’ I sincerely believe I wasn’t the only one – there were many who spoke the same language with me, while many of the inhabitants in the area had hardly, ever, heard of this man or his company.

The ‘American Dream’ is still alive

By U. Mahesh Prabhu

When I was growing up several of my relatives had been to United States, either for education or work. They were certainly the finest in their chosen areas of profession and/or education. Within few years in United States their financial prosperity was highly visible. They would return with hi-fi gizmos and gadgets. They would speak English with the typical American accent, one that would lure middle class parents and pursue them to ensure that their children achieved the same.

‘See my child… you need to study well and score good marks. Because if you don’t you will not be able to get into Engineering and achieve that success what your uncles/cousins have achieved.’ Was a common statement that which several parent in my place you would have seen saying to me, or people like me. The parent, of the US returned people, would be so proud that they wouldn’t stop bragging about their kid’s achievements. ‘What!!! your son is just 70%? Then what is he going to do about his life? That marks will certainly not land him in US. When my son comes I would get him counseled… Don’t you worry.’ are some of the many statements that have baffled me for so long.

Case of a failed Love

It happened Today. A friend of mine gave me a call and said that he wanted to end his life. Yes he said that he wanted to ‘committ suicide’.

‘What the hell!’ I shouted to this, rather spontaneously.

‘Because It is hell… I want to give it up!’ he responded.

‘Have you made up your mind?’ I questioned.

‘Yes’ he said, though without conviction.

No he wasn’t joking. His voice said me that he was desperate and saddened.

‘Well… If you have made up your mind… why did you call me?’ I asked.

‘Because… I wanted to say you bye!’ he expressed his reason for embarking on this call.