To Ganesh Yadav

It’s now more than 13 years since I left my hometown in search of my destiny. OK I know it’s a very heavy statement. So let me re-frame it: Its now more than 13 years since my parents kicked me out to go and do something in life. Well, since then, whenever I get an opportunity to visit my hometown, I get excited and impatient (which happens to every person who’s away from his/her home). And I got an opportunity to go to my hometown for this Diwali.

So, as excited as a kid, on the date of my departure, I went to the airport, picturing 567th time all the fun I’m going to have on this trip. So when I reached the counter to collect my boarding pass, the lady at the Kingfisher reception told me : “Sir, we have an offer for you”. I thought, I’ve got an upgrade and maybe it’s my turn, finally, to travel in Business class. I asked: “Yes?” She replied: “Can you travel to Mumbai tomorrow?” I was speechless and asked her again: “What!!?” She repeated the same thing. I said “Hello!!, I got a connecting train to my hometown”. Then she gave me all the good reasons (engine failure, festival rush, no backup etc) which reminded me of a perfect CRM case study!! Well, as we have been taught, I tried to be reasonable (did I mention that she was hot?). I said you get me to the nearest airport because Mumbai is not my destination. Then after sometime, she came with two boarding passes and told me: “Sir, you can go to Indore tomorrow via Delhi ”. And then, I reached my hometown after traveling over 3500 kms in around 12 hours!

During my lengthy journey, I kept reading some newspapers and magazines available at the airport. They did not have anything new to offer. It was the same crap: 2G, CWG and Adarsh Society. I was thinking that "Is Congress back to its basics?” but by the evening I read somewhere about Land scams in Karnataka under BJP government. So now, that gives Congress leverage over BJP. But where is the common man here? What about us? In the politics, its not that two wrongs make a right but it’s that every wrong is a right!!

When you read so much of depressing nonsense continuously, you yourself become a bit disappointed. What is happening in my country? What is the solution of all this mess? Should we shoot all the politicians and bureaucrats?

All these thoughts were occupying my mind space when I took a Cab outside Indore Airport. As usual, being a talker, I started a conversation with the driver. My nostalgia made me ask him more about the state of Indore. He kept on telling me how Indore has changed and how his own life has changed. He told me that 5 years back he was just a ticket conductor in one of the private buses in Indore but now he himself owns a Cab worth Rs. 8 Lakh. I was amazed and asked him: “How?” Then he told me a little more about his financial condition 5 years back. He was a poor fellow and the only one to feed 8 stomachs! But he made sure that he gives his children proper education. One of his sons is working in one of the MNC’s in Noida and because of this, he has taken a loan to have his own vehicle. Then he told me about how beautiful is the future of Indore and India. I was literally overwhelmed. Finally, I asked him his name. He said: “Ganesh Yadav”.

After talking to him for 30 minutes, all those depressing thoughts just evaporated within a flash. I know I just happened to meet him after reading all that BS but still he helped boosting my confidence. On one hand we have those buggers and on the other hand we have this Gentleman who is trying his best to make his family and, in turn, his country prouder and stronger. I understood that its people like him who make India a force to reckon with! We don’t need to worry about those crooks who will be there but we always have these Ganesh Yadav’s to save the day! This is the real spirit of India which stands unscathed despite a few cuts on its body. Hats off to you Mr. Ganesh Yadav and all those people like you who make India. Real India.

P.S.: As I write this blog, one other Yadav, who made one of the most beautiful states of India poorest and a laughing stock, has been made to eat dust by the people. A stern warning to others of his league! I just wish that the state returns to its past glory and then it puts an end to all the brain drain!

Chhoti-Chhoti Baatein

Only if you dream big, you can achieve big. Do only one thing but do it greatly.

And then there are many sayings which urge you to put all your energies around so called “big” or “great” things. How many of us do that in reality? We all have to agree that bigger moments are so few and smaller moments are so many!

I have learned over time that life defines itself in many smaller things. I’m sure we all have had our own bigger moments but is our life only about those few moments? What about all those other million smaller moments which helped us to become what we are today? I would say our bigger moments are those curves which we took on our journey called life but our smaller moments are those which let us reach those life-defining curves.

Before reaching a seat in one of the engineering colleges, we had to pass so many smaller tests. I remember the euphoria (momentary though) after beating all my friends in Math test caused me so many times to forget about that engineering seat! That one test, on the way to engineering seat, was a very small moment in comparison to what I was aspiring for but still that euphoria is something I’ll never forget! And I’m sure my friends got the similar feeling when they beat me in all the other subjects;)

Same with my MBA seat as well. When I was in Pune and preparing for my MBA, I used to give full-length tests with “youth-icon” Chunnu. We always had that healthy competition of outsmarting each other. My arguments and all the teasing with him are more memorable than the offer letter which I received to join an MBA college!

You can easily decide which is more important:

Paying for the family dinner at a restaurant for the first time or your current take home? Buying Nokia 1100 from your first salary or buying iPhone now? Someone’s name appearing on the mobile screen or actually talking to her?

Smaller moments make our life meaningful. Life is more beautiful in those smaller moments. Cheers to all those chhoti-chhoti baatein:)