Dhirubahen Patel’s speech on her learnings from life.
A Few More Showcase Of Dhirubahen Patel’s Speeches:
1. ‘અહં કરિષ્યે’ થી ‘ઇદં ન મમં!’
Dhirubahen Patel’s speech at the launch of Digital Bhagwadgomandal on April 3, 2009.
(Thank you: Sunday eMahefil & Gujaratilexicon Web’s Uttam Gajjar – SeM 163)
2. The Keynote Speech at Gujaratilexicon Launch
Jan 13, 2006
(Thank you: Vipool Kalyani)
The Art Of Living!
When Your Fiercest & Greatest Rival Cries, You Have Done Something Exceptional!
Watching Roger Federer And Rafael Nadal Cry Will Stay As One Of The Most Indelible Memory Of Recent Sporting History – Like Kumble’s Bowling With A Broken Jaw!
Paeans Have & Will Be Written About Roger Federer – But He Is Much More Than A Tennis Legend! What Steps Him Apart Is His Class, Grace & Elegance! And The Humility!
The Spirt Of Excellence He Brought In Game – Each Stroke As A Perfect Note – Nothing Less, Nothing More! And He Made It Look All So Beautiful & Enchanting!
And What A Great Gesture To Have A Final Match With Nadal – What Will Be Your Swansong?
Thanks Federer For Bringing Joy In Our Lives & Inspiring Millions!
Roger Federer:
The Maestro
The Legend
The Inspiration
Creating a life of purpose requires us to be in sync with our true self. And I believe knowing our core values is an important aspect of life design.
Core Values are usually associated with organisations. But all of us also have our core values and principles. Our behaviour, decisions and actions are driven by them.
Core values are our guiding lights! Core values are our true north! Core values define us! They help us to understand what is important to us and what we really cherish! Core Values enable decision-making. When we are confused, our values can direct us to the right road. It can help us make the choices that are consistent with our belief systems. And that creates happiness and bliss. If our actions are not aligned with our core values, we feel frustration and stress.
What are your core values? How do you define your core values? Core values are not created – they are discovered. Over a period of time, our values emerge and become our compass. So, reflect on yourself, the journey and list out all things that come to your mind – when you define yourself and what you stand for. Be honest with self and only list the real values – no need for cool or nice words.
My core values are:
Authenticity – Being honest, straight-forward and sincere
Simplicity – Less is more
Loyalty – Dependability, sticking to commitments
Creativity – Being different, versatile and trying new things
Generosity – Share the success. ‘Live2Give’ is the mantra!
My professional values are:
Purpose – Always be goal-driven
Passion – What is life without passion or enthusiasm?
Promise – Deliver the commitments, keep the faith
Performance – Results drive professional life
Play – Add life to work with fun and joy for self and everyone around!
Once the core values are determined, live the values! The details are in action! Let the behaviour be aligned with your values. It will help you take the right short term and long-term decisions. It will help you to live life to your own chosen standards. And that is a bliss!
Image Credit: Joshua Hibbert
Shocked and saddened by the suicide of V G Siddhartha – cannot believe it!
Siddhartha founded the Cafe Coffee Day chain and changed the way India drank coffee. He created thousands of jobs, a great brand and shared wealth. He also backed Mindtree and underwrote Infosys shares. He made other IT investments and gave support to the founders.
Why did he do this? We will never know the reasons. He came from a strong family, had great political and business connections. He was a successful entrepreneur. There are talks about the pressure of PE investor, Income Tax harassment and Debt woes. But an entrepreneur knows all such challenges – at what point did it really get too much? Or was there something else?
It is impossible for us to judge what he must be going through. No one can imagine his situation.
My point is simple….Suicide is not the answer. Life is a gift. Setbacks give way to sunshine. Today’s problems will go away.
Suicide means end of a great talent and human potential. It means failure of the human spirit. It leaves behind emotional scars for family and friends for life – a guilt that they could not do enough.
And yes, no individual nor any organisation is worth giving up our live for.
When one feels low, please talk to friends. Listen to music – a cure for everything. Spend time with nature. Or help others – world is full of more unfortunate people and helpless situations than us – help others. Instead of giving up life, help others live a good life and one could find our own meaning of life.
Reach out fo self-care group, suicide prevention helplines like Sneha, Parivartan etc.. Organizations like Moodcafe, White Swan Foundation, Live Love Laugh Foundation, MPower Minds can help as well.
Choose life. Suicide is not the answer. This too shall pass.
Image Courtesy: Faris Mohammed
Intoxication found at Gujarat Vidyapith premises! Intoxication of love, respect and admiration for Prakash N Shah (પ્રકાશન. શાહ ka નશા)
The occasion was the public felicitation of Shri Prakash N Shah – the many with many roles! The auditorium was overflowing with double its capacity and people occupying the aisles, areas between dais-chair, service area – whatever space one could find. The Saturday evening distractions or the 40 degree heat did not stop the admirers to throng at Gujarat Vidyapith. The audience grabbed every word like a gem and the 2.5 hour event ended too soon – never mind the endless sweating!
Prakashotsav – The festival celebrating Prakash N Shah was organised by his friends, well-wishers and Sarthak Prakashan team.
The evening started with a mock court where the most loved culprit Prakash N Shah was produced in the court of judge Hashmukh Patel. The lawyers Ketan Rupera and Urvish Kothari conducted the proceedings with the help of Ashish Kakkad. The public prosecutor Urvish Kothari produced a stellar list of witnesses to prove the charges against Prakash N Shah. Ratilal Borisagar, Ashwin Chauhan, Ashish Mehta, Binit Modi, Biren Kothari, Nayanbahen Shah and other stellar figures accused Prakash Shah of several crimes – the burning ambition of being a prime minister, torturing the world with his cryptic and incomprehensible language, creating a cult of his own, communist leanings, hidden acting skills etc. The court proceedings were ably proved with strong logic, evidences and confessions of the witnesses.
The mock court was followed by the release of Urvish Kothari’s book on Conversations with Prakash Shah. Prakash N Shah was felicitated by a section of citizens of Ahmedabad.
The grand finale was the speech of Prakash N Shah. He expressed his gratitude for the great gesture.
He recounted his journey. His central thought was – Yukta and Mukta. He spoke about Gandhi. He spoke about the impact of three primary books on his life. The audience was listening as hypnotised by David Copperfield but time came calling….
Prakash N Shah’s intoxication and values will remain…An evening to remember for a human to never forget …..
Prakashbhai & Ash:
The white clothes, the simple spectacle and the straight from the heart laughter is how I visualise him whenever we say Prakashbhai. His simplicity, his vision, his clarity and his friendliness is his magic that drives us to him again and again.
Thanks to Vipool Kalyani and Gujaratilexicon, I have the greatest fortune of spending lot of time with him and knowing him. The Nireekshak Digitization and other initiatives got us working together. Gujaratilexicon briefly operated from his residence during a difficult time in our journey.
Prakash N Shah is a towering personality but he is our Prakashbhai. Our DadaGuru….Sri Sri Sri Dada Guru…Not many can see the Halo behind him…So you see he does have a cult! He is also the business partner of my spouse – they are still searching for their Eureka moment!
आषाढ़ का एक दिन – अति उत्कृष्ट
Aashadh Ka Ek Din: Mohan Rakesh’s Classic Three Act Play Was Presented Beautifully By Director Manish Sabu.
The Award Winning & Pioneering Modern Hindi Play Focuses On Poet Kalidasa’s Life & His Emotional Connect With Mallika. Mallika’s Influence & Inspiration Allows Him To Create Great Works But He Struggles As Politics & Power Rob His Creativity. He Returns To His Roots After Abandoning Politics But Surprise Is In Store For Him. Each Act Ends With Mallika Being Left Alone & Kalidasa Moving On.
The Pure Hindi Was A Great Delight In This World Of Hinglish. Preeti Bhat Shone As Mallika With Strong Support From Others. A Great Play To Watch – Showcases Strong Content, Amazing Acting, Nice Direction & High Production Values.
The Painting That I Was Waiting For!
Our lovely library was waiting for the right art as its entry showcase. We had explored many options but never got it right!
Till we saw this wonderful art expression of Ms Falak of Eklavya. It stole our hearts at the first sight and all the As of Karania family shouted in joy!
Eklavya has several unique initiatives and Picasso is one such amazing idea. All the children express their painting and other talents which is encouraged and applauded by the entire society. The exhibition is organized to showcase the talent to the world and the proceeds are given to charities.
The painting is aptly named ‘The Road Not Taken’. Robert Frost’s timeless poem is our favourite anthem and this creative work does the great justice to the poem.
All the recently auctioned paintings of Mr N Modi on one side and this one on another side!
Welcome home ‘The Road Not Taken’ and thanks a million Falak!
Let us revisit the poem here:
The Road Not Taken
Robert Frost
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Live To Give!
Ten years ago, it started as a humble thought but little did I know that ‘Live To Give’ will become a motto and a defining philosophy for me!
Over the years, it has taken different forms:
– Spending time and energy behind worthy people, organisations and causes
– Mentoring and helping students, friends, colleagues, relatives and budding entrepreneurs
– Providing intellectual, network and financial capital
– Evangelising causes
– Cheer leader
It has been a mutually rewarding and soul-enriching act. It has been a great learning experience as well. It is a challenging act as demands on time and energies keep increasing in all domains of life – but it is worth it!
I was discussing this personal philosophy with some young friends and it prompted to check the original note of ‘Live To Give’….still holds true! (And inspired this post!)
The Original 2008 Founding Version of ‘Live To Give’
Live To Give!
If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
: Emily Dickinson
‘Live To Give’ is a concept of giving back to society. Whatever way. Whatever time. Helping anyone.
‘Live To Give’ is not an organisation, it is a mantra for life. We have to leave the world by giving more than we received from it. We have to leave every place by making it better than what we found it.
‘Live To Give’ is an idea to get people to help each other. Organisations, individuals can help in any manner they deem fit. If you are good in accounts, please help an old age home to manage its accounts. If you are good in technology, help someone to learn computers. If you are good in marketing, please help the neighbourhood library to add more members. If you love children, visit orphanages and spread joy. If you are well-connected, connect the have-nots with haves. The haves will be thankful. However, ‘Live To Give’ is not helping just the have-nots or the non-elite. Not at all!
‘Live To Give’ is a way of life. Give wherever you can. Give your best at work place. Give your best at home. Give your best to the fellow passenger on train. Give your best to the stranger looking for directions. Give your best to the friend in your life.
What will matter the most to us? How much did we earn or what difference we made in the environment?
Image Courtesy: Photo by Lina Trochez and Thought Catalog on Unsplash
We can only speak by our paintings
Vincent Van Gogh
Loving Vincent brings alive the magic of Vincent van Gogh. The movie, made of oil paintings, is a visual delight. The film’s 65,000 frames are actual oil paintings on canvas – painted in Van Gogh style by more than 125 painters. What a thought! What an execution! What a result!
The movie is a cinematic experience not to be missed! It’s like Van Gogh’s paintings and characters coming to life as you experience the story. The efforts and detail-oriented execution of 6 years of creative work bring rich results on screen. The director Dorota Kobiela had planned this as a short movie with crowd-sourced funding but the project gathered momentum and it has become a mammoth masterpiece. The film was made at a cost of USD 5.5 million – a fraction of Marvel and DC budgets! Dorota Kobiela deserves a rich applause for this magnificent and innovative work!
Loving Vincent is the first fully painted animated feature film which revolves around the mystery of Vincent van Gogh’s death. Postman Joseph Roulin asks his son Armand to deliver Van Gogh’s last letter to his brother Theo, but both the sender and the recipient are dead. It’s almost one year since Van Gogh’s death and Armand tries to find out the real cause. There is no conclusive evidence. During his pursuit, the audience discover Van Gogh’s genius, his approach to life, his loneliness, his troubled childhood, his professional challenges, his relationship issues and other facets of his life.
What impressed me the most was that he created his masterpieces and genius body of work within a decade. He had more than 2000 works of art in a decade – we do not need a lifetime to create works that are timeless!
Watch Loving Vincent Trailer
Watch The Making Of Loving Vincent – Painting Techniques