Sunday, August 30, 2009

Flying high!

I'm a little averse to sitting through long lectures, being exerted and told as to how to run my life. Yesterday was an exception. I sat through a fairly lengthy talk by Capt.Gopinath, the founder of Air Deccan, who spoke on the occasion of the first ever convocation ceremony at my Management Institute, Alliance Business School.

The talk was, his story, his life. All guts and glory. From a poor village boy, to army captain, to entrepreneur he has seen it all. He dared to dream and pursued his dream and won. The story was riveting. He exhorted young students to follow the straight and narrow and remain ethical at all times. Shortcuts to success are not the Captain's mantra.

He also spoke of the distress that farmers face when they lose land in the name of development. Many of us have lost touch with what happens in our villages and an agitation by farmers is just newspaper chatter.For many farmer's loss of their land is akin to a loss of life and are reduced to being refugees in their own state or country. A tragedy that many of us cannot even comprehend.

I was also touched by his mention of his seventh grade teacher who assisted him in getting admission to a Sainik school. Not the type who forgets people who helped him realize his dream.

Capt.Gopinath's mantra has been perseverance and patience. A view that I endorse.

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