check out the AV – Gokuldas@ 50 by clicking the following link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYAwRRzzJNc
"The purpose of any athletic endeavor is to challenge human limits both on and off the playing field." -Anon
Last Saturday, we celebrated the fiftieth birthday of my brother-in-law.
While in primary school, he saw a football match and was fascinated by the person dribbling with the ball. He wanted to be like that… He wanted to run ahead with the ball and have the rest chase him in vain. The dream was crystallized. Despite disapproving rebukes at home, he continued to play. Punishments turned to patronage as his elder brother noticed the emerging talent.
At the age of 18, he went to Germany to learn social sciences, but ended up acquiring greater love and knowledge for the game. On his return, he joined Sesa Goa and began playing what is termed as the Goculdas style. His speed and skill won him numerous fans. He represented Goa State and was a proactive part of the Santosh trophy victory in 1983.
However, the same year he had a terrible accident on field that forced him off it. But as they say, winners don’t quit! Goculdas reinvented his role as a referee right up to the international FIFA panel. In 2002, he moved on to be Instructor for Referee’s. Thus Goculdas acquired the rare distinction of playing, refereeing and instructing in the game of football.
Goculdas Nagvenkar’s life provides three lessons. The first inspiration comes from his passion that saw him emerge as a player of the highest order. Secondly, when forced to quit he developed a newer role as a referee and there to he excelled. Thirdly and most importantly (unlike most sportsmen) he did not ignore education and is a senior accounts officer of Sesa Goa. The path to one’s dream is best built by developing newer facets to our personality and constantly measuring up to the emerging challenges.
At 50, Goculdas continues to develop new dimensions to his life. His journey reflects his enthusiasm and commitment towards his dream. In a highly competitive world, sportsmanship is not just about morality and habits on the field. Sportsmanship is essentially about the attitude and actions that make a person surge ahead and show the way for others, too.
Sportsmanship is about attitude, values and determination
On and off the play-field, let’s “develop new dimensions”…
Regards
Pravin
Monday, October 29, 2007
Monday, October 8, 2007
Revenge
An Aesop’s fable tells the story of a wolf who ran into a lamb. The wolf decided that he would find some good reason to eat the lamb. The wolf said to the lamb, "last year you insulted me!" but the lamb replied, "I wasn't yet born last year." So the wolf said, "You have eaten in my pasture." but the lamb said, "I don't eat grass yet." Then the wolf tried again, "You drank from my well." The lamb replied, "The only thing I drink is milk." At that point the wolf ate the lamb saying, "Well! You certainly like to argue!"
An exhibition highlighting the tragedy of the Kashmiri Pundits is doing the rounds in Goa. Successive governments in J&K and Delhi have paid only lip-service to their forced exodus due to terrorism. However, instead of creating the factual awareness of the situation, the organisers have chosen to provoke hatred. Posters of atrocities have statements like “if this does not make your blood boil, you are not a Hindu”. A film that is also shown on cable networks calls for armed squads in Goa to defend the faith.
Such calls for revenge are increasing amongst all communities. In the 1980s, the Sikh community was the victim of such malicious branding. Cries to “teach them lessons” resulted in the mass murders in Delhi and elsewhere. As usual the victims are innocent people who are not connected in any remote way with the crime. And the instigators of hatred from different religions share a common approach… that of the wolf who has pre-decided that he will kill the innocent lamb.
I remember a teacher who would strike the head of the nearest boy with his knuckles, every time he wanted to punish a naughty fellow sitting on the back benches. Does it make sense in any remote way to question the credentials of a person just because he shares his faith with a culprit, when we will refuse to be tagged with malicious minds from our own religion? The emotion of anger is natural in the face of injustice. But an attempt to present facts in the package of hate does no favour to the victims of terrorism. Worse, it often seeks to provoke revenge and that too, against innocent neighbours.
We must “develop new dimensions” that are just, fair and humane in our response to injustice. We must oppose and expose the infiltration of blind hatred that seeks to avenge the innocent victims by punishing other innocents. In a film called Sarfarosh, the hero tells the vengeful villain, “Partition has been a devastating tragedy for all of us… but while you chose to avenge a bloody past by killing more innocents, I choose to learn from the past and do everything to stop it from recurring!”
More often than not, revenge is a guise to carry out pre-decided intentions,
It is only true love for justice and peace that “develops new dimensions”!
Regards
Pravin
An exhibition highlighting the tragedy of the Kashmiri Pundits is doing the rounds in Goa. Successive governments in J&K and Delhi have paid only lip-service to their forced exodus due to terrorism. However, instead of creating the factual awareness of the situation, the organisers have chosen to provoke hatred. Posters of atrocities have statements like “if this does not make your blood boil, you are not a Hindu”. A film that is also shown on cable networks calls for armed squads in Goa to defend the faith.
Such calls for revenge are increasing amongst all communities. In the 1980s, the Sikh community was the victim of such malicious branding. Cries to “teach them lessons” resulted in the mass murders in Delhi and elsewhere. As usual the victims are innocent people who are not connected in any remote way with the crime. And the instigators of hatred from different religions share a common approach… that of the wolf who has pre-decided that he will kill the innocent lamb.
I remember a teacher who would strike the head of the nearest boy with his knuckles, every time he wanted to punish a naughty fellow sitting on the back benches. Does it make sense in any remote way to question the credentials of a person just because he shares his faith with a culprit, when we will refuse to be tagged with malicious minds from our own religion? The emotion of anger is natural in the face of injustice. But an attempt to present facts in the package of hate does no favour to the victims of terrorism. Worse, it often seeks to provoke revenge and that too, against innocent neighbours.
We must “develop new dimensions” that are just, fair and humane in our response to injustice. We must oppose and expose the infiltration of blind hatred that seeks to avenge the innocent victims by punishing other innocents. In a film called Sarfarosh, the hero tells the vengeful villain, “Partition has been a devastating tragedy for all of us… but while you chose to avenge a bloody past by killing more innocents, I choose to learn from the past and do everything to stop it from recurring!”
More often than not, revenge is a guise to carry out pre-decided intentions,
It is only true love for justice and peace that “develops new dimensions”!
Regards
Pravin
Monday, October 1, 2007
TOLERANCE
A Zen legend tells the tale of a great warrior, who though quite old, was able to defeat any challenger. His reputation extended far and wide throughout the land and many students gathered to study under him.
One day an infamous young warrior arrived at the village, determined to be the first man to defeat the great master. Along with his strength, he had an uncanny ability to spot and exploit any weakness in an opponent. He would wait for his opponent to make the first move, thus revealing a weakness, and then would strike with merciless force and lightning speed. No one had ever lasted with him in a match beyond the first move.
Much against the advice of his concerned students, the old master accepted the young warrior's challenge. As the two squared off for battle, the young warrior began to hurl insults at the old master. He threw dirt and spit in his face. For hours, he verbally assaulted him with every curse and insult known to mankind. However, the old warrior merely stood there motionless and calm. Finally, the young warrior exhausted himself. Knowing he was defeated, he left feeling ashamed.
Somewhat disappointed that he did not fight the insolent youth, the students gathered around the old master and questioned him. "How did you drive him away?" "If someone comes to give you a gift and you do not receive it," the master replied, "to whom does the gift belong?"
Tolerance when combined with dignity and clarity of thought makes for strong character in a human being. Character is all about developing the dimensions of tolerance, dignity and an open mind. In fact, the absence of broad-mindedness, leads to an attitude of intolerance. Mahatma Gandhi has shown us the way of disagreeing without being disagreeable, protesting without insolence and speaking without shouting. Gandhi’s satyagraha showed that tolerance, courage and truth were far more appropriate tools for achieving political and social goals than hatred and violence.
Hey, wait don’t hurry to react, let’s choose responsive dignity…
Tolerance will “develop new dimensions” in our personality…
Regards
Pravin
One day an infamous young warrior arrived at the village, determined to be the first man to defeat the great master. Along with his strength, he had an uncanny ability to spot and exploit any weakness in an opponent. He would wait for his opponent to make the first move, thus revealing a weakness, and then would strike with merciless force and lightning speed. No one had ever lasted with him in a match beyond the first move.
Much against the advice of his concerned students, the old master accepted the young warrior's challenge. As the two squared off for battle, the young warrior began to hurl insults at the old master. He threw dirt and spit in his face. For hours, he verbally assaulted him with every curse and insult known to mankind. However, the old warrior merely stood there motionless and calm. Finally, the young warrior exhausted himself. Knowing he was defeated, he left feeling ashamed.
Somewhat disappointed that he did not fight the insolent youth, the students gathered around the old master and questioned him. "How did you drive him away?" "If someone comes to give you a gift and you do not receive it," the master replied, "to whom does the gift belong?"
Tolerance when combined with dignity and clarity of thought makes for strong character in a human being. Character is all about developing the dimensions of tolerance, dignity and an open mind. In fact, the absence of broad-mindedness, leads to an attitude of intolerance. Mahatma Gandhi has shown us the way of disagreeing without being disagreeable, protesting without insolence and speaking without shouting. Gandhi’s satyagraha showed that tolerance, courage and truth were far more appropriate tools for achieving political and social goals than hatred and violence.
Hey, wait don’t hurry to react, let’s choose responsive dignity…
Tolerance will “develop new dimensions” in our personality…
Regards
Pravin
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
