No Pain No Gain

I am sure, you have made up your mind, with the list of resolutions for the year ahead and it is now time for you to forge ahead, making it happen.

Unfortunately, most of us quit our resolutions at different timelines from the time we kick start our New year. So, is there a mantra that can help us

glued to our resolution? Yes, luckily there is one! But the difficult part is we need to internalise it, in order to make it work. The mantra is, “NO PAIN, NOGAIN”.

The idea of pain, is something we all are averse of. No one wants to go through a painful process. We are always looking at choosing an easy way out. But we need to remember few things in life are not attained, unless we dare to go through the painful process.

We have all studied in school, the life cycle of butterfly, where we got introduced to a wonderful terminology - Metamorphosis. Metamorphosis is

the transformation process of how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. The metamorphosis is no doubt painful, but the end result is that a dirty crawling

caterpillar becomes a colourful and beautiful butterfly that can fly, from flower to flower, adding beauty to the garden and being admired by all. For

the butterfly, the resultant gain is worth the pain, it had to go through.

Similarly, when we believe that the resultant gain of a painful process is going to be of much higher value to us, there are higher chances for us to willingly accept and go through the pain.

But what stops us from going through a painful grind. Is it because we are unable to get out of our comfort zone? Is it because, we find it difficult to

overcome our temptations? Is it because, our aspirations are weak? Or is it we are not willing to pay the price?. The reasons could be many. When we

are fixed with such dilemma, the simple guideline we need to follow is:

“Short term pain, long term pleasure;

Short term pleasure, long term pain”

We are easily carried away by a number of short term pleasures, as it instantly gratifies us. But if you closely look into it, most often the end result of indulging in such activities is pain. Short term pleasure activities like

smoking, drinking, indulging in high calorie foods, excessive sleeping, heartless gossiping, mindless TV watching may give us short term pleasure, but in the long run becomes detrimental to our health, our well

being, our relationships and ultimately our growth.

On the other hand, we tend to avoid many things which instantly sound like pain but the end result of pursuing such activities leads to lasting happiness. Activities such as waking up early, doing physical exercise, being free of bad habits, cutting down on junk foods, to learn something new, to work few extra hours, to stick to a daily routine, to live a disciplined life. These may feel like pain at the face of it, but eventually helps us to be a healthy person, a highly performing individual and an achiever.

We advise our children, if you want to live a comfortable life in future, you should study well, now. You should not mindlessly watch TV, browse internet or gossip with friends. You should use this time to study. Now tell me, does it sound like pain or pleasure? Of course it sounds like pain. To study for long hours is not easy. But the rewards of pain are truly immense and there is a ripple of benefits down the line. The same applies to us well. If we want to achieve greatness and make a meaningful contribution to this world, we should be willing to forego some short term pleasures. No big achievement has ever happened without a painful routine. Ask any sportsman and he would say how many hours of tireless effort he has put before he reached, where he is today. There is no easy way out. “Burning the midnight oil”, is a term we often hear of when we talk about people who strived relentlessly in making their dream come true. Great academicians,

Great musicians, Greats artists, Great scientists, Great sportsmen, all have one thing in common. To them their dream was bigger than their life. They were willing to pay the price of time and effort, for the rewards they aspired in life.

If you aspire greatness, then follow this mantra of our predecessors who achieved greatness. I wish you live by your New Year resolution, with firm grit and determination, so that you turn out to be, what you aspire to be.

Happy Reading,

D. Senthil Kannan

Article Dated Jan 2014

INDIA AGAINST CORRUPTION

Sharukh Khan in the movie, “Chennai Express” frequently repeats this dialogue, “Don't underestimate the power of a common man”. Perhaps he was intuitively aware, that the Common Man's Party (AamAadmi Party) would form the Government in New Delhi.

The performance of the AAP in the Delhi elections, has made heads turn. People who thought that this party was just another fad, have come to realise that the party is here for real. It has shaken the confidence level of

opposition parties and has send shivers down the spine of the wrong doers.

Invariably the front page of the daily newspapers, over the last 2 months have been carrying an article about AAP or Arvind Kejriwal. There seems to be much anticipation and people are watching with eager eyes as to what is about to unfold. Arvind Kejriwal, like Arjun in the tamil movie “Mudhalvan” is creating a sensation, as the new CM of Delhi. He asks for public opinion as to whether to form the Government taking external support; he takes oath of office in front of the general public; he listens to public grievances through an open forum; he refuses to live in Government

provided luxury bungalows and says NO to personal security. While, it may sound like some new timer political gimmicks, we also need to appreciate that it really takes a lot of guts for an individual, to challenge the existing system. His straight forward approach, fearlessness and intellectual capabilities are drawing more and more people towards him.

The popularity of AAP is growing day by day, as more and more highly literate people are quitting their jobs and joining the movement to make their social contribution. Perhaps, they are seeing it as a golden opportunity to revive this nation from the clutches of corrupt politicians and bureaucrats, who have been sucking the financial resources of the country.

I read an article somewhere, which said that India was the richest country in the world till the end of the 16^th century. Since then India has been plundered by many foreign invaders and rulers. An uproar against this

unfair foreign domination, resulted in our freedom struggle. So many martyrs have laid their life to set the nation free from the clutches of the foreign rulers and ensure peace and prosperity for its future citizens.

Unfortunately, this plundering has not stopped after independence. In fact, it has increased manifold, in the name of corruption. Corruption happening in our country is beyond the understanding of a common man. The number of scams exposed over the last few years is enormous, and the amount of money involved is unimaginable. We have succumbed to so much of

unfair governance over the years. The people of the country, have become really fed up with the existing system and lost faith in the Government, because no matter which party comes to power, corruption continues to happen.

It is in this scenario, the initiative of Social Activist, Anna Hazare's, “India against Corruption” has been a welcome change. I like many of you, have been keenly watching the developments. His demand for a Jan Lokpal bill, through his periodical hunger strikes, got the attention of the public. Many joined him in the cause, including key personalities like Kiran Bedi and

Arvind Kejriwal. Though there has been huge hue and cry, an effective bill to combat corruption did not seem to materialize. It is only then did Arvind Kejriwal, decided to take a political route to push the cause. This did not match the ideology of Anna Hazare, which in turn has caused a visible split. However, the truth remains that both of them have taken different directions to reach the same destination, of “Corruption free India”.

Well it is time for another war. A war against corruption. Let us join hands, and support this. I personally feel that, the fight against corruption, is going to be much tougher than the fight against British rule, because it is comparatively easy to fight an external enemy, rather than an internal enemy. Just like how, a doctor would find it easier to treat an external wound, rather than destroying the virus inside our body, our country too is infected by a virus called corruption which is damaging our nation. If this virus is eliminated, the country will bounce back to prosperity.

All, we need now is a fair and transparent Government, who will be able to lead this fight. It is time, we get hold of the corrupt people and bring back the money they have swiped away from the country. AAP looks like a

blessing in disguise for this country. Election is the only time, the citizens of the country have a right to express their voice. Now is the time. If not now, when?

Happy Reading,

D. Senthil Kannan

Article Dated Feb 2014