I wake up from Time to Time with some Crazy ideas and this was a recent one. I woke up asking myself "What is the One Great Thing that I have achieved in my Life this Far, that I am Most Happy and Proud about ?".
It is not about Awards or Medals but just one Specific Achievement you hold above the rest and makes you hold your head high when you think about it.
I asked my network of friends the same question and said "You tell me your story and I will share mine".
I was surprised that so many had some awesome stories to share instantly, so I decided to compile them as they came along and make an independent Blog of it like "MY STORY FROM THE HORSES MOUTH ".
27th March 2022:
My Note to my Whatsapp Network:-
I sent this message last Thursday.
What is the "One Great Thing that You have achieved in Your Life this Far, that you are Most Happy and Proud about. It is not about Awards or Medals just one Specific achievement you hold above the rest and makes you hold your head high when you think about it. You tell me your story and I will share mine. The 80/20 rule has failed miserably this time and the response has been fantastic.
I am not after peoples academic and professional achievements or awards or how much money they made.
I am interested in what each one of you has achieved as a Good Human Being caring for society and nature at large. You do not have to participate if you don't want to but don't tell me you have done nothing good or worthwhile in your entire life.
You can ask your network of family and friends to contribute if they wish. Planning to make a book of it and Publish it for the benefit of the future generations
In the "Introduction" capture relevant facts in your entire life in a nut shell in chronological order as this will give the reader an idea about your childhood and what drives you as an individual
If nut shell is too small make it as large as a Halloween Pumpkin shell meaning "No Word limits".
RAMBO's STORY:
INTRODUCTION: I as an individual dwell on sweet memories of the past and 75 years is a Truck Load of Memories and even a pumpkin shell is too small. So I will go chronologically and with bulleted points. Plus there is no Time Limit or Word Limit for all Contributors
I will be writing my story today
I sent this message last Thursday.
What is the "One Great Thing that You have achieved in Your Life this Far, that you are Most Happy and Proud about. It is not about Awards or Medals just one Specific achievement you hold above the rest and makes you hold your head high when you think about it. You tell me your story and I will share mine. The 80/20 rule has failed miserably this time and the response has been fantastic.
I am not after peoples academic and professional achievements or awards or how much money they made.
I am interested in what each one of you has achieved as a Good Human Being caring for society and nature at large. You do not have to participate if you don't want to but don't tell me you have done nothing good or worthwhile in your entire life.
You can ask your network of family and friends to contribute if they wish. Planning to make a book of it and Publish it for the benefit of the future generations
In the "Introduction" capture relevant facts in your entire life in a nut shell in chronological order as this will give the reader an idea about your childhood and what drives you as an individual
If nut shell is too small make it as large as a Halloween Pumpkin shell meaning "No Word limits".
RAMBO's STORY:
INTRODUCTION: I as an individual dwell on sweet memories of the past and 75 years is a Truck Load of Memories and even a pumpkin shell is too small. So I will go chronologically and with bulleted points. Plus there is no Time Limit or Word Limit for all Contributors
- 1946 - Born in 1946 in Port Blair Andamans before Independence
- 1952 - At age 6. I was riding horsies on the verandah hand rail and fell head first into a 3 meter ditch paved with granite. Don't remember anything. I blacked out and there was only one doctor in whole of Andamans.I came home alive after a week. My parents refused to talk about it.
- 1955 - Shipped off to Madras for studies.. and I got this Chronic cough. A TB specialist just looked at me and diagnosed TB and Prescribed 2 Streptomycin Injections a Day and this went on for 6 months and was in my death bed. A good samaritan took me to a second doctor who told me mother You almost lost your only son as he does not have TB but whooping Cough. 2 Injections for 6 months is 2x30x6=360 Injections and I am surprised I am still alive
- 1956 - Until then my younger sister and I were Home schooled by our mother. St Bedes refused admission as I did not know either Hindi and Tamil. Off to a Local Tamil school and joined 3rd Std learnt Tamil and admitted to St Bedes in 1957 in 5th Std
- 1957-1961 - I topped my Class from 6th to 9th std and my Mother was very Proud and cherished all my merit cards and silver medals for academic excellence. These awards did not mean much to me as I was enjoying learning.
- 1959 - In 7th Std I did not pay my school fees for 3 long months as we were broke and my mother was summoned by the Principal. As we were walking to school she was preparing me saying I may have to leave the St Bedes and attend a Corporation school. We entered Father Meneze's Office trembling. He asked my mother why are you trembling and she shed tears. He told my mother I wanted to give you the Good News in Person. I know the fees of Rs 100 you cannot afford so from now on Ram will have to Pay only Rs 10 and Not Rs100. There is No way we will let go such a smart kid. This is something only my mother and I know.
- 1962 - Had to battle my Dad. He wanted a Family of Doctors and he chased me around the home with his Belt to intimidate me. I was terrified of the Grays Anatomy book my Older sister was studying from. My Mother stood by me and decided I was going to be an engineer if that is what I wanted
- 1963 - I joined Loyola college for my PUC with Maths Physics chemistry with Logic as my Special subject. I was flanked in a logic class by Raghunandan and Manoj Kumar both one year senior to me at school. Father Subbiah was teaching Logic and facing the Black Board when Raghunandan poked me with a Safety pin and told me to go back to school :-) I screamed. Father Subbiah was a Very Angry man. He turned around and said Who did that? I shat in my pants thinking he was going to expel me. Just sat quietly and I heard Fr Subbiah saying. "Who ever you may be, I will chase you from Pillar to Post". I cut the next two logic classes and sat under the tree. Phew.....
- 1964 - I made my Mother angry as I went to see Liz Taylors Movie "Cleopatra" the Night before my IIT Entrance exam. My Logic was I know what I know and am Not going to learn anything new the night before. Believe it or not a month later the Postman delivered two letters at the same time. One was from IIT Madras and the other from Guindy Engineering College. Assumed both were regret letters so I gave it to my mother My Good Luck Charm who placed them at the Puja altar. Opened Guindy first and smiled a beautiful smile next she opened the letter from IITM and she started to Cry so I knew I had made it. We did not have ten lakhs to study at IIT Jee Coaching schools like is needed in 2022.
- 1964 - My Dad put a spin on my Career. I wanted to study electronics at IITM but did not get it but could have done Electronics at Durgapur University with a Full scholarship that Director Sengupta offered me or do Elect Engg at IITM which I thought was Ok. I was given a few minutes to consult my parents who were outside the interview hall. My Dad Says "CIVIL ENGG" or we go Home. That every minute my Dream was shattered. I pleaded with my Mother and she said your dad will be Paying for your education don't for get that. This is something I have regretted all my Life and still cannot get over it
- 1964 to 1970 - I was like a Bull forced to Till a piece of Land that I did not like. From Ducks at School I became a Dunce amidst mostly nerds with vey little aptitude for Engineering and Technology. But One good thing about IITM was National Integration and I made heaps of friends who I am in touch with even today. I choose my Friends and am ver aware of Mathlabhi friends who will use you and spit you out
- 1970 to 1976 worked as Engg Trainee in TN Housing Board and Junior Engineer at TN Highways. "It was a Den of Alibaba thieves". I have to relate a lil story from Andamans. One sunday a Gentleman came to see my Dad at Home and Brought a Tray of Hot Hot samosas and asked my dad for some Favour. Next thing I saw My Dad stand up and physically push him out the house and the man went scrambling Once he was on the street my Dad threw all the samosas on to the road. He told me Babu, remember never eat anything that is given to you as a Bribe. This Got etched in my DNA for life. So In 1971 The contractor sent thugs to put a Knife to my Throat as I was returning home on my bike in Broad day light on Peters rd Madras. I did not Flinch. In 1974 I had another knife stuck in my Throat in Rameswaram as I was returning after dinner at the mess by a Holigan Hired by my own AE and DE and was told they would kill me and throw me to the sharks. I decided I had to leave India like most of my IITM Friends. I stayed back only because my Mother Pleaded with me not to go abroad as I was the only Male member in the Family . I had to disappoint her and a week after I left she had a stroke that no one told me about.
- 1976 it was from one Convict Island Andamans to another Convict Island Australia to do my masters at Sydney University
- 1976 to 1980 - did my Masters at Sydney University. arrived in Sydney with USD $200 in my Pocket and was washing Cars for a Pay of $ 3 and hour. I had a Blast at Sydney University where Learning was fun unlike IITM. It was like being at St Bedes all over again. Faculty members as we are here to teach what we have to and let us make it fun. I was always having my lunch with faculty members and were invited to their homes and they came over for Home cooked Indian meals too. This will never ever happen in India, which has become a Dog eat Dog Society over the years
I will be writing my story today
