Life & Management lessons from Manjhi... the Mountain Man

During my growing up years in Patna, I had already been exposed to the legend of the Mountain Man in the form of TV stories and newspaper reports locally. Hence, when a movie around him was being made I was keen to see it from a critical perspective and bask in the glory of being someone who knew it beforehand. However, last night when I actually saw the movie I had a different take to it, rather than trying to sieve fact from fiction I was transfixed in identifying lessons for life. Small nuggets of advice which I hope would help me stay the course in pursuit of my dreams........

• Never allow anyone else to decide what your life’s purpose should be: what transformed Dasrath’s life was his decision to run away at a young age and discover life through his own exploits. Even if circumstances and the entire ecosystem around you wants you to act in a particular way, learn to hear the voice inside and go do your thing.

• Not everyone who throw muck at you has an agenda: It could have very easily been targeted at someone else but you came in the firing line. The very act of staying calm and not losing your nerves, allows you to impartially and objectively view the situation as it unfolds and then take the requisite call

• Lending a helping hand always wins allies: Had Dasrath not extended his hand to allow his love interest to board the bus, probably their journey together wouldn’t have started. When you make your intent clear and it reflects in your action, people around you can sense it and they become open to being your allies.

• Give a fair chance -Don't be hasty in your judgement: I am a firm believer of the notion that universally everything is aligned for a reason - to create a balance. Respect the scheme of things and don't pre judge. Your very act of rushing into making a decision might make you miss out on something which probably was all that you had secretly hoped for all this while.

• Identify your competition wisely - if you know what you are up against chances are that you will be able to better tackle them. Identify the foundation of the problem at hand and get cracking at it. One blow at a time can tame mountains.

• There is never a good time to start a great thing - the moment you decide what Grand purpose you seek to achieve, anytime to start it is the right time.  

• Small victories go a long way in life: start small, focus and dig your heels in. Inch by inch progress will take you towards your desired goal

• Don't let others tell you what's right - the chances are every time you plan to take the unbeaten path, there would be nay-sayers trying to kill your spirit. If it’s truly what you believe in, nothing and no one else should matter.

• Don't give up - even when every nerve every sinew in your body screams you to stop, the will to go on will always overcome all odds. Persistence is the key.

• Don't believe people who pay lip service - what you will accomplish by dint of your hard work will never get supplemented by small minded people. They will be there to bask in the light of your glory and efforts if you are able to turn the tide else they will always have reasons to find fault with your approach or goal.

• Use same yardsticks with others: His own love story allowed Dasrath to accept the same happening in his daughter’s life. If you ever expected people to believe in your dreams no matter how foolhardy they seemed, and they did, there is always a time to pay back. Believe in dreams of others and if you go out of way to help them let them have a shot at their dreams.

• No one will ever know what you share with your dreams: the thought process and the vision is something which is extremely innate to the person having it. The moment you share it with others who do not have the same Grand vision of life they will ridicule yours. Don't allow them. If you believe in it you might as well go ahead and achieve it.

 A lot more can be talked about if we get into every facet that got highlighted during the movie. but then again, as someone who got immersed in the movie, and the stellar performance by Nawazuddin Siddiqui, this was the extent I could allow my mind to wander.

NB: for the story behind the legend which has spawned the movie and the article please read 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dashrath_Manjhi