Go and Die

Every Indian knows who Sachin Tendulkar is. He is pride of India. Was the official criteria for India’s highest civilian award modified with an eye on Tendulkar is a question on debate. Until 2011, Bharat Ratna was conferred ‘for the highest degrees of national service’ which included artistic, literary, and scientific achievements, as well as recognition of public service of the highest order. Whatever, he is a legend, who in his lifetime has earned loads of money and recognition. Of all the stories about him, what that touched me most was his sincere answer, which he recently gave a reporter, that it is a few coins which he got in his childhood that he honours the most. He disclosed the story in his usual meek voice. 

When he was a child he had a coach named Ramakant Archrekar. Every time he sent Tendulkar for batting, he used to put a few coins on his bat saying that it belongs to him if he stays in the field. This prompted Sachin to face each ball very carefully and cautiously. He wanted to stay in the field.   We know that this is the prime reason why he could turn into a legend later. For Sachin, each ball was important; he played as if he knew that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. I share this incident because I feel that the present generation, though struggling hard to win every game, lacks something crucial. 

A few years back, a boy used to visit me occasionally. One day he asked me what he requires most in his life. I told him to go and die. He was surprised to hear me say so. I slowly turned to him, looked at his face and said, “DIE means Dream, Intend and Experience. Dream with a belief that you have the right to wish whatever you want; earnestly intend that you want it and live in that experience of having reached it.”  Slowly, he got what I meant and now he is one among the most successful entrepreneurs of the times. He belongs to the shortlisted thirty most successful Indian entrepreneurs of 2013, according to a survey done by a team of IIM students from Indian IIMs. Some months back, I learned that the slogan of his company is ‘Dream, Intend and Experience’. The difference I found in his understanding is that he learnt not only how to dream but also how to intent and experience. This is where the new generation varies, as I feel it. Successful intending means handling each situation with utmost accuracy so that it meets what you propose. For successful people, no cloud is waterless; so are situations. They know that fortune favours the bold. They also know that ‘he that wills the end wills the means’ also.

Joseph Mattappally