I dont know from where to start when I really wanted to know and elaborate who am I. I quickly realized there is no way to separate me from my parents because I have no existence without them. My father has more influence on my living while my mother is my strength.
The first three top things he taught are trust, trust and trust. And till what point? He said till you are cheated. I practiced it till now where I had a few bitter experiences when I trusted people unconditionally. But there were also rewards when I saw some others getting great value from it.
When I was working with West Bengal, we were about 50 people newly joined and were waiting for getting the official accommodation. We hired a cook and ran a mess for some time in the temporary hostels. When we got the accommodation and were about to leave the hostel, the two cooks became jobless. One of them approached me and asked some money. He said he wanted to start something on own. I gave him without questioning and never thought he would return. For 6 months he didnt meet me. I forgot about him. And my colleagues reminded me by pointing out my foolishness of giving him money without any guarantee. A month later, I saw him on the highway, while traveling to Malda. He greeted me and said he is running a Cycle repair shop and offered me Tea. I spent some time and left. I was happy to see him investing my money effectively instead of spending somewhere. a few weeks later, he came to my house while some of my colleagues were present, and infront of them he returned some of the money I gave him. Thats when I found myself winning. This is what my father taught me. He said that there can be 9 people coming to me with false reasons, but one person with genuine reason cant be denied. I had some bad experiences as well but do not want to share here, as they dont matter much. It is something like investing in stocks when you win sometimes and lose some times.
My father also taught me living with integrity. Never lose principles quoting some specific conditions. It is like changing my name if I compromise my principles. I have been trying my best to practice and but know I can never reach my father's level at any time.
My father made great sacrifices for the family and his family included Parents,brothers, sisters, spouse and kids. Apart from this many of his colleagues, friends received help with no expectations from him. In fact people used to believe that my father had lot of properties and money to help people lavishly whereas we lived a lower middle class life. While my father never discussed about the charity he practiced, today I see lot of IT and MNC professionals boasting about the kind of donations they do. And many do it only when there are banners and photographs. Even blood donation is treated as if a great charity. If you are gaining something out of it, it is no longer a charity.
He also asked me to help fishing rather than giving fish. I have been trying but faced lot of resistance because the world wanted fish and not learning fishing. I remember that principles cant change based on conditions. So I believed in the same and decide to continue what I believe. There are some people who provided strength to my approach by demonstrating great growth through learning fishing. There was some unconventional learning from some of them when everyone could write them off.They proved that nothing is impossible and all I did was just offering a direction.Their success is because of their belief in success and willingness to survive on own instead of depending on mercy of some one. I exactly wanted to support such great people.
The first three top things he taught are trust, trust and trust. And till what point? He said till you are cheated. I practiced it till now where I had a few bitter experiences when I trusted people unconditionally. But there were also rewards when I saw some others getting great value from it.
When I was working with West Bengal, we were about 50 people newly joined and were waiting for getting the official accommodation. We hired a cook and ran a mess for some time in the temporary hostels. When we got the accommodation and were about to leave the hostel, the two cooks became jobless. One of them approached me and asked some money. He said he wanted to start something on own. I gave him without questioning and never thought he would return. For 6 months he didnt meet me. I forgot about him. And my colleagues reminded me by pointing out my foolishness of giving him money without any guarantee. A month later, I saw him on the highway, while traveling to Malda. He greeted me and said he is running a Cycle repair shop and offered me Tea. I spent some time and left. I was happy to see him investing my money effectively instead of spending somewhere. a few weeks later, he came to my house while some of my colleagues were present, and infront of them he returned some of the money I gave him. Thats when I found myself winning. This is what my father taught me. He said that there can be 9 people coming to me with false reasons, but one person with genuine reason cant be denied. I had some bad experiences as well but do not want to share here, as they dont matter much. It is something like investing in stocks when you win sometimes and lose some times.
My father also taught me living with integrity. Never lose principles quoting some specific conditions. It is like changing my name if I compromise my principles. I have been trying my best to practice and but know I can never reach my father's level at any time.
My father made great sacrifices for the family and his family included Parents,brothers, sisters, spouse and kids. Apart from this many of his colleagues, friends received help with no expectations from him. In fact people used to believe that my father had lot of properties and money to help people lavishly whereas we lived a lower middle class life. While my father never discussed about the charity he practiced, today I see lot of IT and MNC professionals boasting about the kind of donations they do. And many do it only when there are banners and photographs. Even blood donation is treated as if a great charity. If you are gaining something out of it, it is no longer a charity.
He also asked me to help fishing rather than giving fish. I have been trying but faced lot of resistance because the world wanted fish and not learning fishing. I remember that principles cant change based on conditions. So I believed in the same and decide to continue what I believe. There are some people who provided strength to my approach by demonstrating great growth through learning fishing. There was some unconventional learning from some of them when everyone could write them off.They proved that nothing is impossible and all I did was just offering a direction.Their success is because of their belief in success and willingness to survive on own instead of depending on mercy of some one. I exactly wanted to support such great people.
My father believed in living by self and taught us the same. We never believed in living at the mercy of some, and worshipped only the almighty. I remember some of the wellwishers expressing their disappointment about my father not leaving any properties or heavy bank balance when he passed away. They being the well wishers have a right to think that way. But they didnt realize the asset that I and brothers got from the legacy. A piece of the the intellect and wisdom and the education we received by my father and mother still helps me live happily.
He taught us the gratitude and remembering our roots. Thats the reason why my feet are still on the ground even though there is a great jump in our financial status from lower-middle class to more or less upper-middle class. Today we might be enjoying some comforts but I am sure we can live the life of what we led 20 years ago. I remember my favorite story of a true Brahmin who leads the life through begging at 5 houses every and spends rest of the life in praying and performing rituals for the well-being of universe. Oneday through the boon of an angel, the brahmin's family gets lot of wealth but with a condition that his bowl should never be empty and smallest of smallest piece of food must remain in the bowl. The Brahmin still continues begging only a 5 houses and continue his routine while his family enjoyed the wealth. One day unknowingly his mother-in-law cleans the bowl to the best and makes it completely empty.All the wealth disappears from that day. The wife of Brahmin wakes him up hurriedly and tells that their wealth is lost. the Brahmin gets up and runs to the corner of house and checks if the bowl is still there. When he finds the same, he is quite relived and says his wealth is not lost, and continues his routine. I love this story as it very well explains what is ths true wealth. My father lived like that and gave us the direction. At the end, what ever you have, you still eat the same Dal and rice right?
