OF CHOICES, CHANCE & CHANGE...IT ALL BEGINS WITH THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS IT!

Greek philosopher, Socrates once said, "The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new".

It is so easy for us sitting on our couch in front of the television or reading the local daily and pass judgment or criticize people on what should be done without ourselves partaking in the process that could actually change things on the ground and make a difference. 

I believe change is happening around us,in our own lives and yet we act oblivious to our surroundings. Take for example, the people who work in our homes and around are instruments of change in their own little way. 

My household help,Vijay hails from Uttarakhand but chooses to work in my city on a two job shift is inching towards a new chapter of change and victory in his life. He is making a sacrifice of staying away from his family to make a dignified living in order to provide the best education to his sons and daughters so that the next generation of his family could secure a job in a skilled profession. Once on a casual conversation with him,I inquired about his daughter to whom I had sent some of my study books that were lying in my store room,he was beaming with joy when he told me that his daughter had recently secured 70 per cent marks in her matriculation and had even got a scholarship for her higher studies in college as well. And not just that,she wanted to become a doctor in the future! It is the seed that Vijay sowed when he consciously decided to move out from his village to afford a good living and education for his children that his daughter today could aspire to become a doctor!

Likewise is the story of the local junk dealer in my neighborhood who braves the cold in winters,the harsh sun in summers and the heavy downpours in monsoon as he keeps pedaling his way on his old bicycle when he goes about buying scrap, newspaper and metals from different households only to provide a decent living to his family and educate his son to realize his potential of becoming an engineer. 

These are some of the choices both men and women make as they take that leap of faith when they embark on a journey towards change. 

OF HOPE, OPTIMISM & INSPIRATION: EACH OF US HAS A STORY TO TELL!

Everyone has at some point of time in their life envisioned a Utopian world...a world where food,clothing and shelter is the mandated right of every citizen.A world where equal opportunities prevail and free access to education,clean drinking water, hygiene, sanitation and basic health-care is the duty of the governments we elect who ensure in the well-being and welfare of their citizens.At least this is one of the recurring dreams I've had where I'm surrounded by many smiling faces brimming with joy,filled with contentment and happiness!

However when I wake up from that dream and I'm exposed to the happenings of the real world that's marred by greed,discontentment,cut-throat competition,unhappiness,corruption, crimes etc. is when I begin to realize that the idea of Utopia is a distant reality!

OF ISSUES, IDEAS, INNOVATIONS & INVENTIONS: BUILDING A NEW TOMORROW WITH FRANKLIN TEMPLETON!

I believe that an idea is like a trigger which when pulled can change the destiny of nations and ring in a positive change of growth, development and equality!

Hence, I'd like to laud Franklin Templeton's initiative as a part of their CSR efforts through the TEDxGateway Mumbai held in December last year to organize a platform where people from different walks of life who have made a difference in the lives of others were invited to share experiences, ideas, issues and the wonderful works they are doing for the society. 

I was intently going through some of the videos and was impressed with the choice of speakers and the quality of research work a few good men and women have been doing in their field. They have raised some very important issues, brought out the lacuna, failures and shortcomings of our system in the public domain while at the same time provided solutions through their innovations and inventions which has given millions of us a reason to hope, dream and cheer for a better tomorrow! Here's an opportunity for us to get inspired and give back something to our society, by way of our time, effort or money towards building a better India; it's because in this circle of life what goes round comes around!