Thanks to my friend Margabandhu for sharing this motivating story

+++++++++++++++

Once there was a king who received a gift of two magnificent falcons from Arabia.

They were peregrine falcons, the most beautiful birds he had ever seen. He gave the precious birds to his head falconer to be trained.Months passed and one day the head falconer informed the king that though one of the falcons was flying majestically, soaring high in the sky, the other bird had not moved from its branch since the day it had arrived.

The king summoned healers and sorcerers from all the land to tend to the falcon, but no one could make the bird fly. He presented the task to the member of his court, but the next day, the king saw through the palace window that the bird had still not moved from its perch.

Having tried everything else, the king thought to himself, “May be I need someone more familiar with the countryside to understand the nature of this problem.” So he cried out to his court, “Go and get a farmer.”In the morning, the king was thrilled to see the falcon soaring high above the palace gardens.

He said to his court, “Bring me the doer of this miracle.”The court quickly located the farmer, who came and stood before the king.

The king asked him, “How did you make the falcon fly?”
With his head bowed, the farmer said to the king, “It was very easy, your highness. I simply cut the branch where the bird was sitting.”

We are all made to fly– to realize our incredible potential as human beings. But instead of doing that, we sit on our branches, clinging to the things that are familiar to us.

The possibilities are endless, but for most of us, they remain undiscovered. We conform to the familiar, the comfortable and the mundane. So for the most part, our lives are mediocre instead of exciting, thrilling and fulfilling.

So let us learn to destroy the branch of fear we cling to and free ourselves to the glory of flight!!! Make it a great life!!

+++++++++++++++

In the new year, make a resolution to shrug the fear off and take that measured risky step! We take risk all the time in our life, unconsciously.

It is those people who take risk consciously that succeed even more!

Wish you a very happy new year!

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இந்த நாட்டு ஓட்டர்களில் சரி பாதி, பெண்கள் ஆவர். அவர்களிலே 100-க்கு 95-பேர்கள் தற்குறிகள். இவர்களுக்கு யாருக்கு ஓட்டுப் போடுகின்றோம் என்பது தெரியாது. யாருக்கு ஓட்டு என்றால், மரத்துக்கு, மாட்டுக்கு, குதிரைக்கு, பூவுக்கு, வெங்காயத்துக்கு என்று இப்படித்தான் கூறுவார்களே தவிர, இன்னாருக்கு ஓட்டுப் போடுகின்றேன், அவர் இப்படிப்பட்டவர், அவர் கொடிவழி பட்டியல் இன்னது என்று தெரியாது. – பெரியார் (நன்றி: தமிழச்சி, ஃபேஸ்புக்)

பார்வைக்கு பெண்ணினத்தை மட்டமாக சொன்னது போல தோன்றும் பெரியாரின் கூற்று, 100க்கு 95 சதவீதம் என்கிற விகிதாசாரத்தை தவிர்த்து, அவர் சொன்ன காலக்கட்டத்தில் மட்டுமல்ல, இன்றும் சரியாகவே இருக்கிறது.

நம் இன்றைய தலைவர்கள் பெரியாரின் சிந்தனையை நன்றாகத்தான் புரிந்து வைத்திருக்கிறார்கள்.

அதனால் தான், தொலைக்காட்சி, மிக்சி, கிரைண்டர், மின் விசிறி என்று பெண்களை வசீகரித்து, மாட்டுக்கும், குதிரைக்கும், இலைக்கும், முரசுக்கும், (வெறும்) கைக்கும், சூரியனுக்கும் சுலபமாக ஓட்டு வாங்குகிறார்கள்.

சந்தேகமிருந்தால் யாருக்கு ஓட்டுப் போட போகிறீர்கள் என்று கேட்டு பாருங்கள்.

பாரம்பரியமாக எங்கள் வீட்டில் சூரியஇலை என்று கை தாமரை காட்டுவார்கள்.

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I do not recall any of the bed time stories told me when I was a kid. Till my sister’s daughter was born I did not even think that there could be story books for the kids. In 1982 when I joined for CA Articleship I went to a book publishing house for audit and that was the first time I saw so many story books meant for children. I used to buy those story books for my niece Kavita. She used to enjoy looking at the pictures in the story books and my sister used to read the stories for her.

In 1990 when my twin sons were born I again started buying the story books. As small little boys they used to enjoy the stories and the way I read the stories from the book. I used to add my own masala at times. I still remember some of the stories like Pinnochio; Little Red Riding hood; Jack and the Beanstalk; Chip and Dale; Cindrella; Snow White and 7 Dwarfs; Dark Wing Duck And Clean Money; etc. I used to read the stories with a little music added to it. Even the title of the story will be told by me in a musical tone. I used to read “Dark wing Duck and Clean Money” and follow it up with “Ting Tung Ting Tung Ting ting Ting”.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the story books for my little kids and I was myself reading them for the first time in my life. I used to also tell my own stories of animals, aliens, cartoon characters like Micky, Donald, Goofy etc. One day my elder son prompted me to tell a new story and he also put a condition saying it should not have any animals or cartoon characters. I immediately started the story of “Three Friends” and my kids were immediately asking me what their names. As I am faced with a tough choice of not using
animals and cartoon character I thought for a second and said “Chocolate, Biscuit and Ice Cream”. They were both excited and started clapping their hands.

I narrated the story:

Chocolate, Biscuit and Ice Cream are very good friends and they always enjoyed playing games and used to spend their time always together. One day it was raining heavily and Biscuit wanted to go and play in the rain. His mother told him it is risky to play in the rain and he might get fully drenched in rain water and loose his identity. Biscuit did not listen to his mother and still went ahead to play in the rain. Very soon Biscuit got drenched in the rain and started to loose his identity. Chocolate and Ice Cream quickly gathered Biscuit and put him in a Microwave Oven. Biscuit regained his original shape and identity. The three friends stayed indoors and enjoyed their day.

Another day it was very sunny and hot and Ice Cream wanted to go and play in the Sun. His mother told him that if he goes out and plays in the sun he will melt. Ice Cream did not listen to his mother and went ahead to play in the hot sun. When he was about to melt his friends Chocolate and Biscuit quickly brought him back to the house and kept him in the Freezer section of the Fridge. Ice Cream regained his original shape and
identity.

Chocolate told his friends that they both have faced problems only because they did not listen to the advice of the elders. The “Three Friends” decided that they will always listen to their elders.

Moral of the Story: You must listen to what you parents tell you.

My kids enjoyed this story so much that they used to ask me tell this story every night. I thoroughly enjoyed telling Bed Time Stories to my children until they were able to start reading on their own. I still fondly remember the nights when I used to read the story from the books and also tell my own story. I had a tough time making them to sleep as they used to keep asking for more stories from me. Every kid will enjoy Bed Time
Stories and every parent would be thrilled to tell the Bed Time Stores to their child.

At the end of every story I used to tell them “Moral of the Story”. When I repeat the story the next time I used to ask them what is the “Moral of the Story”. I always used to ask them “did you like the story” and they will say in chorus “yes”. The next day or within few days if they ask me to repeat a story then I know they like it very much.

Some stories when I try to repeat on my own they would say no and then I used to get the message that they don’t like that story. My objective was to instill good moral values in them and hence I always used to tell them stories which had a good moral value. I never used to tell any scary stories or horror stories as I was myself scared of such things.

Bed Time Stories are relished and enjoyed by the kids but the moral value that goes with it should get deeply etched in their minds. When that happens then the kids will grow up with such good moral values. I feel “Bed Time Stories” are of “Life Time Value”.

T.P.Anand, Dubai, U.A.E.
24th June 2010

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Life is full of problems and we are constantly in search for solving these problems. Each problem that we encounter seems bigger than the other and it really puts us under enormous pressure and stress.

T P Anand

Of late I have started telling people in my conversations “it is not your problem but actually it is my problem”. Even yesterday during a google chat my close friend Sam said something and I immediately replied “adigaprasangithanam”. He did not like that and immediately said “what is the bloody adigaprasangithanam in this”. I could see his anger and frustration. I immediately ended the chat conversation by saying “I apologise, I am sorry”. When I sat back and thought about the chat conversation I realized that what he did was right in his own way and opinion. It was not his problem but it was my problem because I felt he has over-stepped and also commented on it. Even if I had felt that he has over-stepped I could have kept quite.

I remember almost 20 years ago we were all sitting in Mylapore Club and Sam told my then “Godfather” “Sir, Anand is really good in problem solving and I think he should write a book on “How to solve problems”. My Ex-Godfather immediately said “You are very correct Murthy, but I feel most of the problems that Anand is facing are created by him and may be he should first write a book “How to create problems” and then write “How to solve problems”. Everybody had a good laugh except me. These comments really got etched in my brain.

While I was excited with the idea of writing two different books I thought I had a long way to go before I could even try and attempt a small article on the subject.

Last 20 years I have been facing problems – at work, at home, with friends, in traffic, etc., and on many occasions I have been successful in finding the right solution because I ask the question to myself “is this my problem and am I responsible for creating the problem”.

I have still not learnt enough in life to be in a position to write those two books. I thought I should atleast attempt at an article covering – What is a Problem? Whose problem is it? Why are we trying to solve it? How to solve it? How to ensure that it does not recur again?

What is a Problem? It refers to a situation, condition, or issue that is yet unresolved. In a broad sense, a problem exists when an individual becomes aware of a significant difference between what actually is and what is desired. In other words, problem is a gap between an actual and desired situation. If the desire or expectation is set by us then it is squarely our problem and not that of the other person(s).

Whose problem is it? I sent an SMS and expected a reply for the same. I did not get any reply and later in the day when I spoke to that person I asked “did you see my SMS this morning”. The answer was “Yes but sorry I could not reply as I was busy with so many other issues”. I quickly said “don’t feel sorry. It is not your problem. It is my problem because I expected a reply and did not inform you that I will be waiting for a reply”.

On many occasions we would find that the Problem is ours and not that of the other person with whom we are dealing. If the problem is ours then we should only solve it. The easiest way to solve problems is to analyse and see what is the desire or expectation. In my experience I have found that on most issues if we lower our expectation then we will have a good problem to deal with. If our desire or expectation is higher we have a difficult problem to deal with.

Why are we trying to solve it? There is a burning desire in every one of us to achieve what we have aspired for. There is a constant quest for something new or something better or something more. This leads to the desire and the expectation. An ant has been living the same way for the last 2000 years but an aunt or any human being for that matter has not been living the same way for even 20 years. As human beings we keep growing desires and expectations. The growing desire will always leave us with a gap in the actual situation as against what we desire or expect. This brings us to the need for finding a solution to the problem.

How to solve a problem? The easiest way to solve a problem is to understand the gap between the actual situation and the desired situation. Analyse how this gap can be addressed and whether there is an immediate fix or not. We could also look at a correction on the desired situation so that the gap is reduced significantly. In my experience I have found that if we put ourselves “in the shoes of the other person” half the battle is won. There are several ways of solving a problem and given the situation we should try and find the best possible solution which is a “Win Win” for both the parties.

Last year I had an urgent need for money and I decided to close my Recurring Deposit Account with the Bank. I walked up to the Officer concerned in Indian Overseas Bank and said “I want to close my R.D. Account”. He asked me “Sir how much money you need”. I got terribly irritated at this question (though I did not show my irritation). He continued “You have R.D. for 18 months and you have already paid monthly instalments for 12 months. If you need some money for urgent needs why don’t you take a loan against the R.D.” I kicked myself and said why did I not think about it this way.

Sometimes it makes sense to look at the problem as our own and then try to find a solution.

How to ensure that it does not recur again? I have heard people say “human memory is very short lived”. I do not agree with this as I feel Human Memory is phenomenal and on many occasions the memory fails due to our own “selective amnesia”. Whenever we find a solution to a problem it is better to review the situation and register the same in our mind. This will help us to avoid such problems in future and thus prevent it from recurring. Having said that I have faced problems which have repeated and on analysis found that it was my own carelessness or forgetfulness which has led to the problem recurring for the second time.

Life is a long journey and with the present technology it is not very difficult to keep track of the problems and the solutions. I am thinking of recording the various problems that I have faced and the solutions that I have found. It will be interesting to also review those solutions now to see if there could be any improvement or improvisation.

Hindsight is always 6 by 6.

T.P.Anand, Dubai, U.A.E

11th February 2010

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இது கமலஹாசனின் உன்னைப்போல் ஒருவனை பற்றிய பதிவு அல்ல.  ஆனால், உண்மையாகவே நாம் காப்பியடிக்க வேண்டிய, நம்மைப்போல் இல்லாத நம்மைப்போல் ஒருவனை பற்றிய செய்தி.

இது வெற்று செய்தியல்ல.  நம் அனைவரையும் பற்ற வேண்டிய தீ.

இந்த நம்மைப் போல் ஒருவன், வயதில் பெரியவனில்லை.  சிறுவன்.  ஆனால் சாதனை சிறுவன்.

இந்த சிறுவன் உண்மையிலேயே “உன்னைப்போல் ஒருவன்” தான்.  ஆனால், எந்த சாதாரண மனிதனும், கொஞ்சம் பிரயத்தனப்பட்டால் சாதனை மனிதனாக முடியும் என்பதை நிரூபிக்கிறான்.

செய்தியை படிப்பதற்கு முன், கீழே கொடுத்துள்ள மறுமொழிகளை படியுங்கள்.

Babar Ali is a hero (and I don’t use that word often). He, and his loyal pupils, deserve not only our total respect, but our support and encouragement too.
Rob Baker, Newport, S. Wales

“Be the change you want to see in others”- Babar leads by example- such a humbling story that encourages everyone. Thank you!
Mari, London

The news is really an eye-opener. We always blame others including Government, but Babar Ali proves that we can return back to the society if we want.
Pradosh Debnath, Kolkata, India

If there are saints in this world, Babar Ali is one of them. He sees the problems of others. If the corrupt officials could learn from this young boy, they would not waste huge public funds that could educate millions.
JK, DSM, Tanzania

In world were you are measured by the materials you own, (house, cars, clothes etc) it’s amazing to see a young making the most of what resource there is. Trying to improve not only the quality of his life, but others around him. A truly magnificent story about a remarkable young man.
Andrew Anastasi, London

Babar Ali is indeed a rare soul, who at such a young age is filled with a sense of duty, direction and patriotism. Maybe if more youths of today were like him, the world would be a better place. After reading the hardship these children go through, I cannot help but think how lucky Malaysian children are. It’s human nature to take things for granted, some say. But I will share this story with my students. In hope that more will be inspired to be like someone like Babar Ali.
Teacher Jason, Penang, Malaysia

I too read this story with my mouth open and with tears in my eyes. What an inspiration this young boy is. This article should be read by teenagers in the western world who take their education for granted and think that they are entitled to whatever they want without lifting their little fingers. I’ll definitely read this article to my teenage daughter.
Fayrouz, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

Every student in every senior school in the UK should be given a copy of this at the beginning of each school year; to remind them of how privileged they are living in this country.
Ian Redding, Burscough, Lancashire, England

What BABAR ALI is doing is unquantifiable. I wish the local authority could give him a helping hand in order to take this ‘school’ to where he has in mind. He is a young man of vision and the whole world should stand up to help the guy. It’s high time we stopped wasting our resources on things that doesn’t have a good end result. This is a project that could go a long way in alleviating illiteracy if given the necessary support. Say me well to him and tell him we are praying for his success.
Agboola Olawale, Ilorin, Nigeria

Very inspiring! it takes me back 30 years as my uncle used to do exactly the same in my native village which had one school where he used to work and had his informal classes for poor students at home. Mr. Baber Ali, I salute you.
Srinivas Patnala, Grahamstown, South Africa

What a truly remarkable chap ! But hold on, isn’t this India, the world’s largest democracy? Doesn’t anyone there want to legislate to make education state funded and available for all? What about abandoning their nuclear weapons and space programme to allow this to be funded.
Tim Stokes, Sittingbourne, Kent

A powerful example set by Mr. Babar Ali. After reading this article, I feel like going back home to my village in India and do something like this.
Shiv Sharma, Vermont, USA

Just Phenomenal! Stories like Babar Ali’s are inspirational and life-changing. If the smallest percentage of readers the world over get inspired to give back in some form to further education in such villages, the Indian story will be one of enlightenment.
Rahul S, New York, NY

It’s young people like this who really make the world turn and people stand up and realise that there is more outside of our little corners that is far more remarkable than we could ever achieve.
Donna, Milton Keynes

This is a great story. I come from Calcutta, W Bengal near to the place Babar Ali is doing this great job. I am going to Calcutta in November. I will positively visit the school, meet Babar Ali and will donate anything my resources will permit to support his mission.
Amit Ray, River Hills, USA

To influence one life is itself amazing, and here is Babar, at 16, influencing and changing 800 lives for their betterment. Hats off to him and I hope somebody from the West Bengal Education department read this story and hopefully reacts soon!!
Rakzeen, Detroit, Michigan, USA

A little ray of light in all that darkness. I reckon this guy deserves the Nobel prize for peace right now. Obama could have waited a year.
Reinhard Adolf, Yokohama, Japan

I have no words. It just makes me think that I should not complain about anything and take things for granted.
Florence Nesamani, Pune, India

Quite Amazing! Does this happen here in our planet? Ali is doing something which many other could think to be fictitious.
Wondwossen, Adds Ababa

The United States and all other other 1st world countries should support this young person give him the nobel peace prize, more education more peace I believe.

YTFD

I can’t believe this, what a remarkable young man! I read this article with my mouth open. Thanks for this article BBC it makes me truly, truly humbled.
Olu, Stevenage, Hertfordshire

Babar Ali is a great soul. He will change lot of young lives. This is truly a remarkable story. The higher education system in Great Britain USA and should recognize Babar Ali and help him all the way in his noble cause.
Sunil Parikh, Davie, Florida

This article is like a cold shower that woke me up. my parents pay thousands of euros to my uni every year to give me an education. Realising that with the same amount of money all these children could much easily get education hurts. It hurts realising i have the chance and the means to learn, but I’m even complaining for having “too much to study”. To see i have Facebook open instead of a book. We do need articles like this, we do need to wake up.
Melisa, Rome

No doubt, wherever Mr Babar Ali goes, even highly educated and positioned people will stand and respect him. I salute Babar Ali and pray for the future to be bright and prosperous for ‘The Head Master’ and his ‘Pupil’. May God, through the Government, fulfil their desire.
S.Vijayan, Chennai, India

What an extraordinary story!! It nearly brought tears to my eyes. What dedication and commitment in such dire poverty from all these people. I personally never had any such problems and quite frankly could never dream of any as I was blessed to be in free state schooling in the UK. However, when I read the story of Babar Ali and his students, it makes me feel tiny. Thank you for bringing this story BBC.
Sajjid Abbasi, Saudi Arabia

What a wonderful kid, if only we can get his type within our community, we could be better off. Instead of our graduates to be sitting down under trees to argue unnecessarily they can borrow a leaf from Babar Ali.
Ahmad Ibrahim, Kano, Nigeria

The world needs people like these with the conviction to make a CHANGE in others lives.
Syed, Muscat

This boy deserves the highest recognition by the world’s highest human rights institutions. He should be awarded a price in form of a school built near his home and named after it. He should be assisted to train as an educator in order for him to carry on his noble duties to his community
German Lungu, Lusaka, Zambia

I was deeply humbled by Babar Ali’s story. So many people so many parts of the country take education funded by the government for granted. Deliberately missing lessons etc. And here are some 800 kids who’ll do anything to get educated, to be better, thanks to this extremely remarkable teenager. We should be ashamed with our selves if we at some point took things for granted.
Farah, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

It’s cost over $50K for my education as a primary school teacher. I wish I could have sent it to them instead!
Kimberly Luedke, Milwaukee, WI United States

India is in the process of a social change and it is the youths like Babar Ali who are trying to bring this change. It is people like him who are trying their bits and they have kept alive the hopes of numerous people in India whose lives are not rosy but every night they sleep in the hope that tomorrow will bring something good.
Bhavna Karki, Delhi, India

No comment. It’s just wonderful.
Sally, Algeria

இந்த மறுமொழிகளுக்கு காரணமான செய்தியை படிக்க இங்கே சுட்டுங்கள்

இந்த மறுமொழிகளுக்கான மூல செய்தியை ட்விட்டரில் பகிர்ந்த என் நண்பர் “சென்னை தின ஒளிப்படம்” ராமசுவாமிக்கு நன்றி.

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