My life has come a full circle with my book “Open Past, Open Future: My Journey Across the Borders of the Mind and Nations”. My story starts when Independence fervour was at a high pitch and we children sitting in the balcony used to hear slogans. At the age of 7 could not appreciate/evaluate all about the slogans, but life was being spent in lap of luxury, battery of servants, cow, buffalo, etc.
Then one day an announcement: ”Govt has divided the country into two and those who want to go to Hindustan should shift across the road”, affected every citizen forever.
We took life as it came – that has been my attitude right from the beginning till date. When we shifted from the refugee camp to Kaithal, my father started a grocery shop which failed as he had never worked per say being landlord and financier. Life at Kurukshetra refugee camp was tough. Tented accommodation, no beds/bedding, uneven floor, no electricity, no water, only one tap for a cluster of 50-60 tents and one bare bulb hanging on a pole.
Life shaped my career – I have been wearing different hats at different places in different situations. Started as assistant to my brother who was a painter, later joined a company as typist-cum-dispatch clerk; in LIC as typist clerk, became cashier at Rs 10 per month. Then got a lead to join a British company… one may call it ‘luck’ whereas I put this as ‘destiny’ and rest is history.
In my book, the message for the younger generation is: (1) 10% of life is what happens to you and 90% is how you react. (2) One must have ‘relevance’ at all times of life. Adapt yourself according to time. (3) Never ever give up!
I am living the life I want to. Working and helping people to save/make money. I unwind at club and with golf, at the same time help underprivileged children for higher studies. I feel happy to contribute back to the society in my own little way.
by SP Rawal (1191, ATS Village; 9811172925)
