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----- Original Message -----
From: "avinash shahi" <[email protected]>
To: "worldopinion" <[email protected]>; "jnuvision"
<[email protected]>; "sayeverything"
<[email protected]>; "accessindia"
<[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, August 13, 2012 10:00 PM
Subject: [AI] How I made it: Dr Valson Thampu
India Today: How I made it: Dr Valson Thampu
Dr Valson Thampu, Principal, St. Stephen's College, University of
Delhi believes that attitude matters.
How it all began....
I was born in tragedy and raised in poverty. I had to do battle daily
against the demons of negativity and hopelessness. Had I lost that
battle I would have collapsed on the dunghill of bitterness and
banality. Instead adversity proved to be the wind beneath my wings.
This is where faith played the most empowering role in my life. It
still does.
Early on, two inter-related things mattered to me. First, the wonder
of wonders called the art of communication. Second, which is related
to the first, I found happiness in sharing. Perhaps it was to my
advantage that I grew up in a village where the world was much smaller
and the horizon of possibilities poignantly limited. Given all that,
the vocation of teaching was the natural choice for me. I did not
choose a career. I chose, instead, a vocation, a calling.
Professional lessons
The kernel of career is work. We need to be happy workers, not
huffing-puffing career-climbers. The purpose of work is happiness,
which certainly includes taking care of your basic needs. Foremost
among them is the need to attain fullfilment which involves our growth
as human beings. Climbing the career ladder to the neglect of
developing our inner spirit is a guaranteed recipe for un-fulfilment.
Happiness cannot be found if you do not do justice to yourself.
Long-term wisdom demands that we choose areas of work where our innate
gifts and talents can be expressed fully and our personal growth as
human beings is engaged steadfastly. Seeking personal peace and
fullfilment through work will take care of the career graph; whereas
obsession with the career graph may cheat one of life itself. We may
end up poorer for all our achievements.
Food for thought
It is pointless to chronicle the endless array of pricks and thorns
that came myway. But it is important to acknowledge that they were as
powerful or powerless as I allowed them to be. Life has taught me that
what matters in the end is not what happens to you or what others do
to you but what you make of the situation. I renounced the luxury of
blaming others and inventing excuses. No one can harm or hamper me
without my complicity.
My greatest strength has been a deep conviction that there is a
significant purpose to my life. This thought has imbued the journey of
my life, including the lucky-breaks and break downs, with meaning.
I had, all along, an abiding faith that I was being fashioned in the
furnace of life for a special purpose. That meant a great deal to me.
Perhaps I can capture the sense of this outlook through a biblical
verse. "Weeping may endure through the night; but joy comes in the
morning". It certainly does.
Finding inspiration
My mother inspires me. She was a simple soul, a matriculate by
education and a victim of circumstances. As she grew older, she was
burdened further by a chronic illness that sadly claimed her in her
mid-40s.
Never once did I find her, in the ten years of being with her that I
vividly remember, cursing her plight or blaming anyone. She celebrated
life even though she had little to give. And, most importantly, she
lit a lamp of hope in me. It continues to shine to this day. No prayer
in the world, no mantra or scripture is dearer to me than her simple
words of encouragement: "Son, there is something special within you.
Time will bring it to light." That was inspiration enough for me.
Life beyond work
Barring ups and downs (of which there have been plenty) much of what I
have achieved has been predicated on two things: my growth as a human
being and the expression, if possible, of whatever is good in me.
I don't think I have ever studied for an examination, as such, in all
my life. Imust state this, even if it could sound, especially at the
present time, outrageously incredible. I realised intuitively that
extra curricular activities were actually 'intra curricular' to my
allround growth. As a result, I became a genuine all-rounder with the
unfortunately outcome (for my school-mates) of monopolising all
prizes.
I also found much joy in doing domestic work, a great deal of which
was hard and very time-consuming. But they comprised the nursery of my
growth as a human being.
Over the course of time social and quasi-political activism became a
consuming passion and, as a by-product, I was also reborn as an
author. Activism and creativity comprise the poles of my life as of
now. I believe in the Renaissance ideal of being a complete human
being.
Perfectionism
I believe that seeking perfection is the quintessential goal of life.
This is too humane to merit the term 'philosophy'; but to me this is
the essence of spirituality. Perfection is not, and cannot be,
solipsistic. I am incomplete without 'you'. My worth will be measured
by the value I add to 'your' life.
I also have a duty to show the species to which I belong in a better
light. I believe, that change is possible. The creative expression of
power lies in changing the givens for the better. The diabolic use of
power is in defacing or devaluing whatever is within reach.
Tips for success
Engage fully: Enter into the fullness of what three years in college
will offer you.
Stand your ground: Do not let anyone else take over your life or
hijack the purpose of your time in college.
Be true to yourself: It is not where you are but who you are that
matters most. If you do justice to yourself you will automatically
become a blessing for your college and close friends.
Keep on smiling: Never take up work that does not make you happy in the
end.
Source:
India Today (India) - Monday, August 13, 2012
Provided By: Financial Times Limited - Asia Africa Intelligence Wire
Location(s): India Asia South Asia
Record Number: WINT100095190
Copyright 2012. All Rights Reserved.
--
Avinash Shahi
MPhil Research Learner
Centre for the Study of Law and Governance
Jawaharlal Nehru University
New Delhi India
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