Chasing your dream

Introduction:

Dr. J. Alexander IAS Retd. who is the President XIME Society,?explained the reason for choosing the topic. XIME is an outcome of Prof. J. Philip chasing his dream which was shared with his daughter late Maria. Also, over the years as the close associate of XIME time and again in the interview board he met students who talked about great corporate careers, with plum salary and excellent perquisites, but never carried a dream with them.

The first person who was presented to the audience as a role model to have a dream was Sir Visvesvaraya. One day he had gone to meet Gandhi in his ashram. Gandhi offered him a chair and seated himself in the ground. Gandhi chuckled to himself looking at the well-dressed Sir Visvesvaraya. When Sir Visvesvaraya asked him the reason for his chuckling Gandhi responded that he was triggered by his dress and style- suited, gold plated stick and a golden watch. In turn Sir Visvesvaraya said that I had a dream as a young boy seeing an English officer dressed like this and I have held on to my dream and achieved my dream. My father was a poor temple priest and poverty was a very close ally of our family. The dream that I had has taken me to this level.

Gandhi had a dream for the nation. He had a great career as barrister in South Africa serving the Gujarati businessmen community. He could have lived the life of a rich barrister abroad. He was triggered by the injustice caused to him to fight for justice not with selfish ambitions. He dedicated his life for others. He had a dream the community, his fellow Indians. In Durban, South Africa he purchased a 300 acre land and provided it as the living space for the oppressed. The community space called as Phoenix accommodates 300 families and all of them till today remember Bapuji as their own father. Gandhi had the dream to bring freedom to India and he was willing to go any extend to achieve it.

Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam had a dream for building the nation. Being born in a poor family, he had to run errands to educate and support himself. As a newspaper boy he earned whatever he could to make it. While in Chennai at Vikram Sarabhai Research Institute one day he was at the beach. He saw someone reciting Gita. He approached the elderly person introduced himself as the student of Vikram Sarabai Research Institute and asked him why he was reciting Gita in the scientific age? While he was still conversing a beautiful car came with few attendees and picked him in the car. Dr. APJ being astonished at that approached the elderly person and asked, ‘Sir may I know who you are?’. In response the elderly person said that he was Vikram Sarabai himself. That day Dr. APJ changed his perspective of life and dreamt of contributing to the nation.

Martin Luther King had a dream and he spoke it out. He electrified the minds of millions of people who were discriminated because of their skin color. He worked hard on his dream and achieved the dream. XIME has the dream of shaping future leaders. XIME dreams of young budding managers who will touch the lives of people and transform their lives. XIME is dreaming of nurturing useful citizens of the nation and the world.

In response to a question he said that the greatest lesson as Chief Secretary he learnt was to give a human face to every red taped file he touched. He wanted to serve the humans who were looking for justice and solutions to their own problems. As Registrar of Mysore University he rescued a students’ life who was under disciplinary action by the Principal of the college. By saving his life with a humane approach he could save a great leader of the future.?He explained that his biggest challenge was interacting and relating with the politicians. Yet he learnt to impress upon them his view points and how to discuss on issues and solve them.

Responding to the question on why and how he chose to become a politician after serving as a civil servant he explained that politics is not for scoundrels it must be for dignified people to have it dignified. Democracy is the best form of governance and decent people can make democracy more decent and productive.

On chasing dreams he talked about two living legends: Mr. Narayanamurthy, Founder, Infosys and Mr. Rajinikanth the famous Tamil film actor. Mr. Narayanamurthy along with his father in law Dr. Kulkarni, Mrs. Sudha Murthy and Master. Rohan Murthy had visited Dr. J. Alexander for a favor – to get admission for Mr. Rohan at Bishop Cotton School. Dr. Kulkarni complained about Mr. Narayanamurthy’s crazy idea off something related to computers. Dr. J. Alexander told him that he does not understand computers as Shakespeare has never talked about them. However, hear the wisdom of your father in law. In response Mr. Narayanamurthy said that I have a dream and that is about the future of the world and I have seven co-promoters with me in this.

Mr. Rajinikath was a badali conductor in Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation. He was charged by a checking inspector of some mistakes and he was to be suspended. When the order was signed by Dr. J. Alexander the Union leader came running asking for the postponement of the same. This request he attributed to the role Rajinikanth had tom play in the Dhasera play, as there was no one to replace him. Dr. J. Alexander in his capacity as Managing Director cancelled the order of suspension as he is soft-hearted to artists. Later the Union leader came and talked to Dr. J. Alexander about his leaving the organization to go in search of an opportunity in a movie to Chennai. Dr. J. Alexander called him and spoke to him saying you may be made permanent and even become a checking inspector. He in turn asked to pardon him for not accepting the advice. Instead he said that he had a dream, a dream of becoming a cine artist. When enquired if had the connections or the money to move to Chennai, he had nothing but the dream and my dream will push me through. Dr. J. Alexander in his visit to Malaysia saw a chair being garlanded and worshipped and when enquired the owner of the hotel said that it was the chair that Mr. Rajinikanth sat when he went to shoot his movie Kabali in Malaysia. The popularity and fan club of Mr. Rajinikanth is so high that people flew from other parts of the world to watch Kabali in Mumbai.

In response to the question as to what a new age politician should possess he said that politicians who can follow the principles of democracy and the constitution can serve the nation as quality politicians. Reflecting upon people who influenced him heavily he named and pointed out to two veteran – one was his literature teacher and the other was the CM of Karnataka who was a powerful administratrator and an excellent manager. Remembering his teacher he said that to be great teachers you must love your profession, love your subject and love your students.

The session ended with wishing the students the blessings of the new beginning