“I can much better respect a man who is sincerely wrong than one who is insincerely right." - Anonymous
In my short life of 27-years, I have read/observed a lot, met lots of people and learned about my countrymen. Going back in time, this article is my mark of respect to those people who have influenced me in some or the other way.
As I see it, respect is something that is earned. Some people demand respect and some earn it through their acts. One earns another"s respect by voluntarily doing the things I mentioned above, such as taking that person"s feelings, needs and thoughts into consideration.
It is strictly my personal thoughts and opinions. This post goes for those people whom I ‘Respect’ for different reasons. Here, the only factor I have considered is ‘Pure Respect’ and not ‘Love.’ It is important to mentions since there would be few people (my loved ones) who love me a lot and vice-versa but couldn’t find their name in this post. Here, I have kept love and respect in different category so this clarification was required. And it really doesn’t demean or degrade other people in my life for whom I have great regards too.
Mother Teresa: Mother Teresa was the true messenger of god. She sacrificed her life for underprivileged. Her heart was so beautiful that shone through her work. She gave the world a moral example that bridged divides of culture, class and religion. Her religion was love and humanity. She believed in service of humankind till her last breath. A true angel! I pay homage to this saintly soul.
Shaheed Bhagat Singh: A man who had conquered the fear of death at a very young age and became the epitome of revolutionaries. He was a young soul who had a unique clarity of vision about ‘Bharat’ as a nation. Patriotism flowed in his veins. In this modern age, his principles and martyrdom continue to be relevant and the ideology of Shaheed Bhagat Singh is the need of the day. He fought with the system and emerged as an immortal winner in his short but purposeful life. I pay my deep respect to the son of the soil. Inqlaab Zindabaad.
Mahatma Gandhi: I have seen many times a smirk on faces as the father of nation is mentioned in a group. People (especially my generation) tend to think that his philosophy doesn’t hold any worth today. I strongly disagree. He is the one politician who always had given the nation preference over his personal life. He didn’t go for power after independence but people welfare that speaks a lot about his pure intentions and commitment to his countrymen. In any case, he was too a human being, not a god. So, if we can make mistakes and carry on with our lives without much thought, then didn’t he deserve that right, right to make mistakes? Just because, he was a public figure, followed by nation, didn’t make him different than others. Yes, he was different, different in sticking to his
thoughts and beliefs. His will power, determination and ability to face any adversity without compromising on his principles made him distinctive. I respect
‘Bapu’ for his immortal values.
Sachin Tendulkar: Here is a guy, who hails from middle class, touched the sky while keeping feet firmly on ground. A unique success story that heartens all Indians who don’t enjoy the comfort of excessive money or power to move forward. Today, we see that he ears contracts worth 100 crores but we forget to consider how much effort he had put in his teenage years in scorching heat when other children used to enjoy. Considering the Tendulkar"s aura, it was not surprising that the cameras whirred, the flashbulbs came to life, and heads turned. It"s the fire within that has fuelled Tendulkar"s quest towards greatness and beyond. He has shouldered the expectations of a nation for several years solely. The enormous pressure to perform can weigh down on a person, but Tendulkar has seen it as a motivating factor, not burden. Here is a phenomenon, who has constructed lasting monuments with a delightful mix of sunshine and steel, undaunted by adversity and unfazed by either reputations or situations.
My Papa Dearest: I don’t admire him just because he is my father, of course not. My reasons for admiring him are: his honesty, sincerity and courage to accept the mistake in front of all. The last trait is something that is difficult to find in today’s ego-centric world. I appreciate him for being simple, straight and easy going person. He has always told me to understand one thing: “How much successful you are, how much money, name fame you have gained, at the end of the day it is all useless if you are not a ‘good’ human being.”
Whatever little quality I possess today, I owe it to him. He guided me, chided me, and gave me freedom to fly whenever required so that I can understand the difference between good and bad, right or wrong, the BEST gift anyone can give you.
My Soul-Mate: I admire my girlfriend’s patience she shows with me. She has accepted me as I am without any change and that makes our relationship so beautiful. She has a cooling effect on my psyche and certainly I have been a better person after having her in my life. I would like to say that she is a girl/woman I just don’t love but respect too. And this respect has nothing to do with our love. She has earned every bit of it by her small but significant gestures that mark the solid base of a relationship that we share. She is one of those few girls/ladies who possess the rare combination of quality with simplicity. Thanks to Almighty for sending her into my life!
My Maid: I truly respect my maid, who worked for me in Delhi, whom I fondly called ‘Amma.’ She is a lady in her old age, working from her childhood days in people’s homes. Her husband had passed away in nineties. She is an honest hard working lady who believes in earning her livelihood by truthful means. Her sole dream is to make her son Digambar and daughter Anita educated enough to live a decent life. I pray to god to give her strength and blessing to make her all dreams come true.
Old Home People: I used to visit an old home in Mumbai, where estranged old people use to live. I really respect those people for still having the hope and smile in their hearts and faces. For them, life is back to square one surrounded with loneliness but their zest for life is unwavering. Hats off to all of them!
My Aunt from Ludhiana: My aunty (not Chachi or Mausi) is one of those few people who has always showered her love on me and understood my feeling really well. She is the perfect blend of modern and traditional thoughts. She knows how to be a good friend of an adult and guide her with her immaculate understanding. I haven’t seen any lady who has such graciousness and dignity. She carries certain honesty in her personality, the way she lives her life and interacts with everyone, that’s really commendable.
Ex-President Dr. Abdul Kalam: Dr. Abdul Kalam, a living legend, contributed to the nation in his own capacity both as an eminent scientist and president of India. He proved himself among the best whatever he choose to pursue in his life. A burning example of secular India, Dr. Kalam has shown the path to all Indian politicians how to conduct with integrity in the mediocrity spread around today. It takes guts to come out unscathed in Indian pedestrian political system. After a long time, we have seen a president with real backbone. We need more people like him, who don’t ask for respect but earns it politely with their precious involvement in society uplifting.
Common Honest Indian: Last but not least I admire all those people who don’t have even the basic amenities to live with, but still they survive without giving in to crime or wrong means. Their survival instinct tells a great story of deep courage of humankind where they have to struggle for every single penny. For them, life is endless struggle, yet they prefer to do majdoori and all other laborious tasks than going the wrong way. They are the true nationalists who serve their nation by sticking to right path of honesty.
I salute to all these sincere, determined souls.
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