“Hum mehemano ki madat karte hai yaha, aur uski goonj sunayi deti hai waha”- when Aamir Khan says these words in the new ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ ads, many of us smirk with a feeling that, it is really true or this might be one in a million or a marketing gimmick by the tourism industry. We can list so many things to counter this. The reason, I cited this example is because we tend to think that we are ‘not enough’. I will draw the reference later in my article.
Everyday, we talk about so many things that’s not working for us in India. But, a small, very small column in Huffington Post India, talks about a few things that are, under the section- What’s Working. Though, I am not a regular follower, but of late, this miniscule section draws me to this website every morning. It’s nice to read about people and things, that can bring a smile on your face or a speck of good feeling in your heart, every morning instead of those who puts you in dismay.
We, definitely cannot ignore the grave issues of the country or our society, but we also need our daily dose of happiness and goodwill. Well, I am one of those people, who hunt for daily ‘good news’ in the newspaper or websites. Something inspiring, some innovative, something new, something about ‘common man doing uncommon things’, something which makes you happy for someone.
Today, I spotted a couple of those, where a 20-year old ATM guard studies in the street light to prepare for his SSE exams and how a Sikh cab driver became the ‘Australian of the Day’.
August 29, 2015: This post by Harsh Vats went viral as soon as he posted it on his timeline. He encountered this 20-year old ATM guide, Balinder Singh, browsing through the pages of his books, while guarding the green notes. Harsh was intrigued why this youth was sitting outside the AC ATM at midnight and reading books. He was told that Balinder was preparing for his SSE exam and the street lights are a great help. With the AC being switched off after 12 am, he finds it easier to pursue his studies under the stars. Harsh made an appeal to people to help him with books or any other financial aid so that he can succeed and achieve his goals.
As rightly put forth by Harsh, we often blame circumstances, family, our shortcomings and life so our failures, but here is one man, who made turned his hardships into his motivation to succeed. He has not given up, he is not thinking about ‘what’s not working’, rather he is doing something about it and makes us think ‘what’s working’.
August 5, 2015: We know about many Indians, who have made it big overseas, but we seldom come across one, who makes a big difference even though he is no big shot. Tejinder Singh, a Sikh cab driver in Australia, who cooks and distributes food among the hungry residents of Darwin. He has been selected as the ‘Australian of the Day’ for his humble efforts. He and his son made kilos of rice and veg curry and took it all over the city, feeding those hungry mouths. He does this out of sheer joy of giving as he believes in the principle, which states that 10% of the income goes towards helping the poor and the needy.
He doesn’t have lots of money to spend or the fame doesn’t attract him. What made him famous was his inspiration to make someone smile and become a ‘good news’ in somebody’s life. He did not think about ‘what’s not working’, but made an effort to show others ‘what’s working’ and made us proud.
Well, frankly, these are a just few examples, who made their way to the news and limelight. There are thousands of people in the 1.28 billion population in India and others abroad, who do their part to show us ‘how things can be made to work’. There are hundred of problems, but there are many, who can give hundred of solutions too. May be no one talks about them or we do not get to know about them, but they keep doing their work in silence. Hopefully, people like these make their way to the ‘top stories of the day’ and give us the much needed break of ‘good and refreshing news’.
Also, drawing reference to the common man, who moved the mountain to make a road, or the one who feeds a hundred mouths everyday under a bridge and many more – those we know about and those we don’t. For me, they are the ‘real news’.
So, What’s Working for you and for people around you? Are you ready to make something work? Do you know somebody, who is making things work? What is the ‘good news’ around you, today?
If you know somebody, talk about it and write about it
If you know how to make things work, think about it and act upon it!
