Skip to main content

Turning Point ℓ ~ ∂

This blog has completed 3000 hits today . . . and to commemorate this event let me post about an event that left a deep imprint on me and deserves to be christened as the "turning point" of my life . . . [Pardon me for being a bit senti . . .]
Our school (like most other schools) had a tradition that every section would conduct the morning assembly for one week in the year. I was in class VII and our class was allotted the turn. The class teacher selected 6 students to deliver the 'thought for the day' on each weekday. I was the last one to be selected and so was placed for Saturday. Unfortunately, an unexpected holiday was announced on Wednesday and every student's schedule shifted by a day and me who was on Saturday was kicked out.

I was sad, dejected and frustrated when I went to my class teacher (Mrs. Subhadra Basu Roy). She consoled me and told me that I was good and would definitely get a chance next year but this consolation wasn't enough for me. For the first time in my life I realized the price one has to pay for not being the best and being the second (or 6th) best. That day I resolved to become 'THE BEST' in co-curricular activities so that I never loose another chance.

Next year I was chosen by the class teacher as 'assistant' coordinator for the morning assembly. I was still the second but I worked hard that year and established my reputation among friends and teachers. Our teacher in class VIII Mrs. Ppurabi Guha encouraged us to experiment with the way morning assembly was conducted and we ended up presenting a skit as a part of the proceedings on Saturday.

Class IX - my class chose me unanimously as the in-charge for morning assembly. We again experimented by choosing a theme 'patriotism' for our proceedings for that week. Running one theme for a week was a new concept - we again ended the week with a skit. I further improved the 'theme' concept in class X when we chose the theme - "Believe in yourself, believe in the best". I was by now being accepted as morning assembly in-charge ;) for my class by default.

Class XI was to establish my reputation further! I was made the in-charge for a whole week-long event to be held in commemoration of "50 years of independence of India". The challenge was that this week was supposed to start just 1 day (weekend) after the first terminal examinations. Organizing a flawless event was considered impossible even by the teachers. But I was to realize the power of 'team-spirit'. I along with my team of friends could not only make it possible but we made it a grand hit!!

I still remember the tableau that we presented on 15th August - no one knew the final script till the end. It was compiled by me and Aurko just a night before, without the knowledge of others. All, the others knew, were the characters in the script - mostly being popular freedom fighters. On the other hand I did not know what these characters were supposed to speak when they came to stage - each person's dialogues were decided by themselves without my knowledge. I went to the stage and started announcing and my team-mates kept coming from the backstage as I narrated - each performing his role to perfection! I have never found a better illustration of teamwork. After the show, when I enquired with the teachers - no one, believe me, no one could guess that the whole tableau was impromptu!

In the next two years I along with my team became the undebated incharge for all cultural and co-curricular events. We also completely transformed the way the morning assembly was conducted making it the most interesting and talked about event in the school.

I went on to bag the "Best All-rounder in co-curricular activities" and "Third Best All-rounder" awards of my batch as a passing out student in class XII.

                    My resolve was finally fulfilled
Postscript: I have never looked back since - teamwork was the mantra for MastishK as well while I continue to strive to achieve the best. "It is a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best you very often get it - William Somerset Maugham"

Comments

  1. Great write up. Often, one reads about such resolves in stories, but rarely finds in people near you. Keep it up, Nikhil

    ReplyDelete
  2. kudos :)
    cheers,
    Karan

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How will travel industry transform post-Covid

Unlike philosophers, journalists and teenagers, the world of entrepreneurship does not permit the luxury of gazing into a crystal ball to predict the future. An entrepreneur’s world is instead made of MVPs (Minimum Viable Product), A/B Tests, launching products, features or services and gauging / measuring their reception in the market to arrive at verifiable truths which can drive the business forward. Which is why I have never written about my musings or hypothesis about travel industry – we usually either seek customer feedback or launch an MVPised version and gather market feedback. However, with Covid-19 travel bans across the globe, the industry is currently stuck – while a lot of industry reports and journalistic conjectures are out, there’s no definitive answer to the way forward. Besides there is no way to test your hypothesis since even the traveller does not know what they will do when skies open. So, I decided to don my blogger hat and take the luxury of crystal gazing...

Vikramaditya - Myth or Reality

  A statue of Vikramaditya at  Vikramaditya ka Tila / Vikramaditya's Singhasan Battisi On a recent visit to Ujjain, I found myself drawn to the city's extraordinary blend of history, mythology, and spirituality. As I stood before the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, I reflected on its significance as one of India’s most revered shrines. Yet, amidst these sacred surroundings, I encountered narratives of Vikramaditya - the legendary king of Ujjain, celebrated for his valor and wisdom, who's name resonates from the folklore of locals to every part of India. Every time we celebrate a festival in India, it is marked with a tithi i.e. date as per the Indian calendar - which is called the Vikram Samvat calendar, attributed to being founded by Vikramaditya of Ujjaini (the then name of Ujjain). What struck me, however, was the curious fact that despite Vikramaditya’s pivotal place in Indian cultural memory, his existence as a historical figure lacks definitive evidence. My exploration l...

Of Business Ethic and Ethics

Cover of book on Mr. Ratan Tata  The chairman of Tata Trusts and former chairman of Tata Sons, Mr. Ratan Tata, passed away on the 10th of October. The last two days have been filled with coverage of Mr. Tata's contributions to the country, the economy, and the global business world. Numerous articles and reports highlight his contribution primarily as a great philanthropist who worked for the cause of ethical business, which the Tata Group has been known for over the last 100+ years. While narrating how Mr. Tata's contribution was acknowledged in her school, even my daughter told me that they were told Mr. Tata was a great philanthropist.  I have been a little taken aback because most media and people have focused on his philanthropy and not his business achievements or entrepreneurship-related activities. This got me thinking about how I view the transformation that Mr. Tata brought about during his tenure as chairman of Tata Sons, where his contribution was far more pronounc...