What Can I Give?
It’s been a long time that I blogged so thought of writing on one recent book that I have been reading. Book as named “What Can I give?” reminds me of a Christmas Carol by Christina Rossetti that was sung in school days
What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb,
If I were a Wise Man
I would do my part,—
Yet what I can I give Him,
Give my heart.
Getting attracted by the brand and the aspiration that I carry for my career growth, I joined ABG (Aditya Birla – “Naam hi kaafi hai- haha”) group in Feb 2018. But soon you realize its all about the journey and not destination. I want to work until I dot require to introduce myself. In this journey you come across variety of people and one of them was Mr. Sandeeo Bhatt. (VP – HR). Whenever I interact with him I recall famous Quotes of “Tina Fey”
He was kind enough to Gift us a book “What can I give? By Srijan Pal Singh.
Those were the lovely days when you got books as a gift. Difference between books now and then is “in childhood it used to be a small bookcase full of fairy tales and now it is bookcase full of life and management stories.” When he has gifted there is certainly something in the book which he wanted us to know and learn. May be he thought “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take” I am often impatient and After receiving the book as a gift Boss , I couldn’t help but flip through the pages of ‘’What Can I Give’’ by Srijan Pal Singh, a devoted student who later became an adviser of Mr Kalam till his last days. A book beautifully written about the times he spent and the lesson he learnt from his teacher.
Dr Kalam who is the Beacon of hopes for the world and who fulfilled all the three category of greatness written by William Shakespeare “Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them.”
‘What Can I Give,’ is an exceptional book written to immortalize a teachers love, an inspiration for students to value their mentors and a lesson for readers to live life with love and give respect to both big and small. Such a feeling of inspiration can only be felt for someone ‘who knows the worth of teaching and who value the art of learning’.
This book touched my heart and now I am left wondering whether there is something I can do or if there is a change I can give to the nation as a responsible being? Also, what can you give?
It is so rightly mentioned in the book a quote from Bhagwad Gita
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥ २-४७
Dr. Kalam introduced even a housekeeper as his friend, that’s how you relive your values.
How aptly laws of fear are expressed:
- To manage uncomfortable fear try to ignore it
- If the first law doesn’t work for you, try to focus on helping others to apply the first law. You can conquer your fear by diverting your attention to others.
- Fear breeds fear, courage breeds courage.
Every chapter in “What can I give?” teaches you one good learning, More you read more you would like to praise Dr Kalam and his student Srijan (Who was called as fellow, funny fellow, good fellow by Dr Kalam). You may look forward to keep reading this book.
In one of his speech in 2009 Dr Kalam said. “A beautiful society can be achieved if there is more:
- Tolerance for people’s opinions
- Tolerance for different cultures
- Tolerance for others beliefs
- Tolerance for each person’s style.
A great and mature society is when individuals celebrate and respect difference.
Aren’t this true for Place of work too? It is indeed. While you read you will giggle, respect or sometimes even cry. That sort of life incidents are displayed in this book. From “April Bloomers to Make Your Mother Smile, from My Only Regret to the Picture Perfect, from These are My People to Humility is the Path to Greatness are the classic expressions.
“Goodness in in the Colours of Compassion and Empathy “has become my personal favourite quote.
These book which is the heart warming memoir of Dr Kalam as mentioned in the book has inspired and certainly enlightened me. I am so very much grateful to my boss who gifted this book to me, I shall be indebted by your gesture. Thanks a ton.
I would end this write up with one verses of Rumi as mentioned in “What can I give?”
I am born with Potential
I am born with goodness and trust.
I am born with ideas and dreams.
I am born with greatness
I am born with confidence
I am born with wings.
So, I am not meant for crawling,
I have wings, I will fly
I will fly and fly.