Monday, February 05, 2007

Dare to Dream!

On Saturday, I watched the movie Guru. Even though the disclaimer says that it is a work of fiction, from all aspects, it's the story of Dhirubhai Ambani, the man who built Reliance.

The primary line in the movie is, "Dare to Dream!" The story of Ambani is about a boy who set out as a failure and who went on to succeed so highly that the Government had to try some underhanded techniques to rein him in.

Think about it. Success in life is about having a dream, a passion to live that dream and courage to face the obstacles and the wisdom to know when one road to destiny is wrong and you need to take a detour.

Everybody goes through the routine of living - wake up in the morning, curse the time, get ready, crib at the crowd in buses and trains, sit in office, grumble at the work loads, complain to the colleagues, bitch about the boss , return home and nag about how bad the day was! Is this type of living a real life or is it just survival?

What if you had a big dream? What if each day was a day to inch closer to the grand vision, a vision that is so challenging that everyone around you may question you but, you and only you have the knowledge that no matter what people say, you are committed and you will reach that destiny? Wouldn't that life be infinitely more enjoyable, more challenging and gratifying?

In the movie, there is a scene where Gurubhai has just managed to get a good profit on polyester trading. He announces his plans saying that he's going to open a industry to manufacture it instead of simply importing it. Then he announces, "Till now, we were working just 18 hours. From now on, we'll work 25 hours to make our industry succeed!" Just imagine what such a fire in the belly would mean to life!

Everyday and every moment will be valuable. Anything that is not taking you to the goal becomes a waste. What other people think and say will become meaningless. They are not the people who have dreamt and they will never understand the inner urge that is driving you!

If boss is a problem, then, why work for someone who is a hindrance to your destiny? Simply move on! I am sure all of us have this kind of people - people who feel like they are chained to the position having a boss who is an arrogant, de motivating and uninspiring and rules by power of cover your a** policy. Yet, these kind of people will complain, rant and rave. But, on the next day morning, they'll go back to the same boss and humour him.

It's just a matter of living the dream. Without a big dream in life, these people have nothing to live for, nothing to achieve. So, all they can do is simply play politics and blame games. Within a short period of time, they too get promoted and become similar bosses. Life goes on. Yet, destinies remain unfulfilled. Dreams are either never dreamt at all or they are left only half dreamt.

Swami Vivekananda had said, "Arise, awake and stop not until the goal is reached." Yes, you need to struggle and overcome any difficulties until the final goal is reached. But, the journey to the goal begins after a dream. The song, jaga hain clearly defines the ground work that is necessary for this journey to destiny. The song goes:


jaage hain deer tak
hamen kuch deer sone do
thodi se raat aur hai
subah to hone do
aadhe adhure khwaab jo
pure na ho sake
ek baar phir se neend mein
woh khwaab bone do


Don't you too think that it's true? Before embarking on a big journey to destiny, it is quite necessary to *dream* it up, to plan, to strategize and motivate oneself saying, "No matter what comes along, I am now prepared and shall go till the end to achieve my goal!"

I guess the one scene in the movie said it all. Guru is being tried for corruption and lot many allegations. He's just suffered from stroke that has left his right-side of body completely useless. His voice has grown very small and can barely speak. He's growing old. His factories have been sealed. One of his long time friend has tried to commit suicide. His long time friend's daughter has just expired. And yet, he stands up to the court and says, "You can take away my voice, my money, my house, my factories or my friends. You can even take away my body, my useless arms and legs. But, there is one thing that you can never take away. And that is my courage. As long as I have it, I am going to compete and build. I am going to build the biggest industrial company in India and that is my dream!"

Wish I too could sleep so deeply one day and dream up such a vision!

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