Life Lessons from Movie 'Bawarchi'

Its almost a year and was remembering start of lock down last year same time - Lockdown provided us with some real time at home with family and catching up stuff on TV. One of these nights I scrolled endlessly through Netflix/Amazon and I finally decided to watch the famous 70s movie Bawarchi. This wasn’t my first time watching the Rajesh Khanna hit and it definitely won’t be my last, because every time I watch this movie, I learn something new. Here are my top lessons from a fictional chef that is applicable in our everyday lives even today after 30 years…

“It is so simple to be happy, but it is so difficult to be simple”.

The narrative around happiness is a scam. We spend most of our lives believing that we can find happiness in materialistic things or be content once we have it all. But, as we learn from the movie, being happy becomes easy when we begin to live a simplistic life. To me, simplicity means spending time with my family and friends, not making decisions when I’m angry or upset, and communicating openly. 

Food for thought: How do you make your life and routine simple? 

Raja ki Pooja sirf uske desh mein hoti hai, vidvaan ki pooja puri duniya mein hoti hai !!

(A king is worshiped only in his kingdom but an Educated man is worshiped in the whole world)

This is one of my favorite lines. It so simply conveys that being knowledgeable is what matters the most. I believe in the concept of lifelong learning, be it through reading a book, newsletter, or website or from the very real experiences I gain every day. I make it a point to also learn by building relationships, making time for self-reflection, and analyzing my own failures and those of other entrepreneurs. 

Log zindagi ka sabse chhota, sabse keemti lafz bhul gaye hain, Pyaar!

(Love is the simplest, richest and easiest word for Life, but people have forgotten it)

We are so busy in the rat race, that we’ve forgotten little things that matter the most - love. Romantic and even familial love (to some extent) is much talked about. But I always highlight that one love we often miss out on - the love for a long-lost hobby or passion or even work. For example, you’ll find me dreaming of new ways to launch new products. For me, this deep level of involvement in work is a form of love. 

How do I nurture my love? I constantly read and most importantly, network at every chance I get. Whatever your love might be, find a way to nurture and grow it. 

Kisi badi khushi ke intezaar mein, hum ye choti choti khushiyon ke mauke kho dete hain! 

(we often neglect little happiness waiting for a bigger one)

In hindsight, I can now identify some of the small wins that I hadn't celebrated.  Sometimes we spend so much time looking at only the big picture in life, we end up leaving behind the small victories like building strong relationships, self-care, spending time with family, and more. Entrepreneurship comes with its many struggles and challenges, but if done right, you get many opportunities to celebrate the little achievements. Live those moments fully. 

Apne liye toh sab kaam karte hain, lekin kisi aur ke liye kuch karne ki khushi…. 

(we all work for ourselves but happiness you get to help someone is …)

As the SKOPE team continues to grow, I’ve noticed a pattern - The new faces have adjusted quicker than usual because they have been getting help in terms of mentorship and advice from people outside of their team. It’s admirable that some of us at SKOPE are going out of their way to make the new people feel comfortable. Your tiny action of helping someone can give you a happiness boost. Try it! 

I’m sure you’ve watched this movie, but I can’t recommend a second time to watch enough. Share your learnings in the comments below. As I mentioned, I love learning from others and can’t wait to know takeaways. 

Hrishikesh Mukherjee was an amazing Director and Rajesh Khanna was a fantastic actor indeed…