Overcoming The Naysayers…

‘But how much do they earn?’

‘Maa, it is not just a job; it is a profession that weaves words and inspires change in society.’

‘Will that changed society feed you for your life?’

‘Maa, not everything is about money. I want to write and contribute to society. Meanwhile, I will earn my livelihood.’

‘But, Raj, you won’t earn enough to support a family.’

‘Let me try, Maa.’

‘Tell him. He is your son too. Tell him how hard it is to support a family with the current scenario and how important a salaried job is for a happy life.’ Indu stood up and went into the kitchen.

Raj and his father, Indra, were left to continue the conversation that most middle-class families in Bharat go through after SSC or HSC (if you know, you know).

Raj dreamed of becoming a successful writer. He had always loved writing and spent most of his free time jotting down stories and poems in his notebook during class in school.

But as he grew older, Raj’s dreams were met with resistance from the people around him. His parents wanted him to pursue a more stable career, like becoming a doctor or a lawyer, while his classmates teased him for spending so much time with his nose buried in books.

Feeling discouraged and unsure of himself, Raj began to believe that he wasn’t cut out for a writing career.

He started to doubt his abilities and wondered if he should just give up on his dream altogether.

One day, while visiting a temple, Raj stumbled upon a Pandit sitting on a bench near the Gopuram. The man had a kind smile on his face and asked him what was troubling him. Raj poured out his heart to him and told him all about his struggles with writing.

The pandit listened patiently, and then he gave Raj told a story that he would never forget.

He quoted a well-known author and repeated the words, “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be. If you want to be a writer, then you have to decide to be one. No one can make that decision for you.”

The old man continued: “One day, a great scholar visited an Ashram. After a meal, the scholar examined the palm of the Host’s son, his expression turning from cheerful to concerned. He informed the Host that his son would remain illiterate, as there was no Education Line on his palm. Host, though disheartened, wondered if the scholar had made an error in his assessment.

Undeterred, the boy asked the scholar about the location of the education line on a palm. Understanding the boy’s genuine curiosity, the scholar demonstrated its placement on his own hand.

The boy left the room and returned with a deep line etched on his palm, drawn with a sharp stone, blood oozing from the wound.

The determination was evident from the act.

As the boy grew older, his thirst for knowledge became insatiable. He received an education from his father and he became a great scholar.

Panini, the boy whose destiny was believed to be illiteracy due to the lack of an “Education Line” on his palm, went on to become a renowned grammarian who systematized the Sanskrit language. His masterpiece, the “Ashtadhyayi,” is a significant treatise that has greatly influenced modern linguistics through its logical rules and techniques. Panini was able to challenge and change his fate by creating an education line on his palm through a painful cut and supported by infinite determination and effort.

The Determination allowed him to become one of the most notable authors of Sanskrit grammar, leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come.”

Raj listened and felt inspired. Raj thought about the pandit’s words for a long time. He realized that he was right. He didn’t have to listen to the naysayers or let his doubts hold him back. He could decide for himself who he wanted to be and what he wanted to achieve.

With newfound determination, Raj began to write more and more. He joined writing groups and attended workshops to hone his skills. He even submitted his work to contests and publications. Slowly but surely, he began to see success.

Life happened to him as he chose a career that gave him a job along with the time to write. Some choose money as a remuneration for the effort. Raj choose time as a remuneration for his effort and opted for less monetary gain. Balancing both, he pursued his dream. Years later, Raj became a bestselling author. He looked back on that chance encounter with the old man at the temple and thanked him for giving him the courage to pursue his dreams. He knew that if he had not decided to be a writer, he would have never reached his full potential.

Without the determination to be what he wanted to be, he would be living and working towards fulfilling someone else’s dream.

If you have a dream, chase it.

Like Martin Luther King said in the Speech given at Spelman College in 1960.

If you can’t fly, run; if you can’t run, walk; if you can’t walk, crawl; but by all means keep moving.