May I have your autograph?

It was two years ago when our son Pavit was in Mumbai and dropped in  at the Bharat Petroleum pump on Bandra Linking road to meet his young uncle Amarprit Sawhney (Amar).  They chatted for a while when they were interrupted by one of the employees. The employee was asking for permission to leave to go to the home of one of legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.

Sachin possessed a Ferrari car gifted to him by the Fiat company for Sachin's outstanding performance in one of the tournaments. The vehicle needed special fuel to operate and this was  supplied by the oil giant Bharat Petroleum (BPCL).  Amar's petrol station is well reputed for its excellent service and efficiency, therefore BPCL had requested Amar to personally take care of the select prestigious clients, such as Sachin Tendulkar.

Amar asked Pavit if he would like to meet Mr. Tendulkar.
Which right thinking youngster n India could turn down such an invitation?

They loaded the special fuel into the vehicle and they set off for Sachin's home.
As luck would have it, while the technician did the check up and pumped the fuel, Sachin strolled out from his house.

After exchanging greetings, they began to chat. Pavit recalls how modest and soft spoken the great cricketer was. They chatted about many things and then Pavit asked Sachin "I would have thought you more comfortable in a Mercedes car rather than in the simple cars parked in your driveway."

Sachin responded "We Tendulkars are simple folks, we believe in simple living." I have been presented with many cars icluding 37 Mercedes cars."
Pavit asked "Thirty seven Mercedes cars? How do you manage so many cars? Where do you fit them?"
Sachin replied " I do not  need to fit them. I have gifted them all to friends and relatives. You cannot believe how happy it made them and how much I enjoyed sharing my things with people I love."

He then offered Pavit to sit in the Ferrari. Pavit was ecstatic with the experience.
After a while as Pavit and Amar  were leaving. Pavit could't resist asking Sachin for an autograph. When Sachin saw that Pavit had nothing to take the autograph on he smiled and said "Wait here, I will be right back."
Sachin returned a few minutes later with a note book pulled out a leaf  and autographed it in front of Pavit.

Gushing with excitement at having met such a great and true man. He called us up at home to share the experience.

When he returned home,  he narrated his experience to us in great detail.  I asked to see the autograph. He sheepishly said "I don't have it, I gave it to a friend."
Mohit his elder brother screamed at him " Are you crazy? Why did you do such a daft thing?"

Pavit said " I learnt many things from Sachin Tendulkar in the short time I was able to spend with him. I gave the autograph to my friend Akhil because it would mean so much to him"

It was another day for us to learn so much more about friendship, modesty and greatness.

Humility is more effective than aggression

It is a good habit I guess, to reflect on all what we say or do.
This is an excellent way to learn from our actions and thoughts, and thus to better ourselves.

We Punjabi's are naturally hot blooded, therefore for us physical action and violence is normally the first thought and course of action rather than the last..
I have however learnt that this approach often yields bitter fruit and only temporary respite.

Most people face problems in understanding and handling power.
Is being violent or belligerent a sign of power or is it the ability to command resources to achieve desired goals and objectives that can be considered to be a sign of power?

Are brutal and aggressive people without scruples powerful or does the person who wins your heart with kindness, humility and morality more powerful?

When faced with moral and spiritual dilemma, I often turn to Sant Baba Ishwar Singh ji my teacher and spiritual guide.
I asked Baba ji, about use of aggression and violence to seize power and control
How could anyone rule and maintain power without being aggressive?

Smilingly and with his usual softness he asked me a question "Can you name me one incident or issue that was resolved by violence?"
I was embarrassed to say I could not think of even one issue.
"Violence only begets more violence. Sure you must be prepared for self defence. Violence is prevented not initiated", Babaji remarked. "You can beat to death a violent man but it is near impossible to keep on attacking a humble and defenceless person".

"You have to be aggressive for what you want, by persevering and relentlessly pursuing your goals, but not by being aggressive in your behaviour and conduct", he concluded.

I found it hard to swallow this advice, but I had faith in Baba ji.

So began a journey into managing my anger and aggressive behaviour and learning more about one of the most negative of human traits. My introspection and study eventually led me to agree with Baba ji.

To illustrate, I draw your attention to a great man Shri. Mohandas Gandhi popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi ji, the father of the Indian nation.
Gandhi ji taught the world, that, humility is infinitely more powerful than violence and aggression. Here is an illuminating example of this philosophy of real power.

The British exploited India during its rule of nearly three hundred years. Like all exploiters they ruled with an iron hand.
As per Lord Hastings the British Viceroy that by the year 1900 an amount of 1,000,000,0000 Pounds had been earned from India by the British Crown. This amount is valued at 1 Trillion pounds by today's standards. This is greater than India's current GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

It was natural that the majority of Indians yearned to be free from the British yoke. The restless Indians united under the banner of the Indian National Congress party (INC).
Late in the year 1929, the INC agreed to Gandhi ji's advice to start a civil disobedience movement to make India ungovernable by the British and thus force them to leave India.
The INC requested Gandhi ji to lead the movement.

Gandhi ji had observed that Indians had neither the weapons nor the training for an armed conflict. Any attempt by his more violent colleagues would lead to unnecessary deaths and provoke the use of excessive reactive force by the British. The British could easily justify it as self defence.

In any event violence was not an option for Gandhi ji, for he believed in 'A-Hinsa' that is the path of non-violence.

Early in 1930 Gandhi ji wrote an open letter to Lord Irwin (the British Viceroy in India) of his plans to lead a march from his ashram in Mumbai to the coast in Gujarat to collect salt from the sea in defiance of the salt tax imposed by the British on its monopoly of the salt trade.

The British laughed at Gandhi ji and decided to let him do what he wanted. They were sure that it would be a non starter and everyone could sleep easy. In any event it would not look good for the British to attack an old, frail and half naked man with his ragtag band of followers.

This was a fatal mistake of the British. Even members of the Indian National Congress were dismayed at Gandhi ji's seemingly timid form of resistance.
We should not judge such people too harshly, for it is easy for most people, particularly aggressive and violent men, to mock and underestimate the capability and capacity of peace loving people, mistaking non-aggression for weakness.

Gandhi ji called press reporters from all over the world and made a grand event out of the march to Dandi in Gujarat. He converted a civil disobedience program into a spiritual war. He called on the citizens of India , businessmen, civil servants, labourers, villagers and students to join him on the march to protest against injustice.

By the time the crowd arrived at the sea shore they were nearly an electrified hundred thousand strong. The event ignited hope and courage in the marchers and in all Indians.
The marchers gathered salt from the sea. The salt was sold at nominal price and often freely distributed to Indians in the cities.

Eventually the British arrested Gandhi and came down heavily on most Indians. However it was too late for the British, for the fire of freedom was now burning ever so strongly in the hearts of most Indians. This was a turning point in history and started the end of the British Raj.

Using great intelligence and tenacity, Gandhi ji prepared and executed a brilliant strategy. It was a powerful spontaneous mass movement where every Indian irrespective of caste, creed, social status or religion could participate. In addition the movement required very few material resources. It drew on the human spirit for strength and effect.

It is the ruled who grant authority to the rulers by obeying and cooperating with them. Power is bestowed on the ruler by the ruled people who obey rulers. Stop obeying and cooperating and the rulers have no authority .
Gandhi ji chose the right battle with no violence. Touching issues close to the heart of most Indians he demonstrated the vulnerability of the British Raj's incapacity to rule a united and charged people of India. Gandhi ji was thus able to unite Indians in their goal to drive the British out of India.

Sure Gandhi ji had human failings. Not every decision he made was perfect or politically beneficial. He however lived by a noble and high spiritual code delivering spectacular results.

Today the 2nd day of October is Gandhi Jayanti the birth day of the Mahatma.
Gandhi ji, we say we bow to you. Unfortunately most of us find it easier to live by the code of hatred and aggressiveness rather than love and humility.