PV Sindhu Brings Pride And Lesson

PV Sindhu wins gold at World Badminton Championship 2019

“Khudi ko kar buland itna ki har taqdeer se pehle

Khuda bande se khud pooche bata teri raza kya hai.”

These words reverberate in my mind when I think of what pride PV Sindhu has brought to the nation. She not just wins the first-ever gold medal for India in BWF World Badminton Championship, but shuts the gob of those who had criticized her at one point in time. It is a historical achievement and an answer to those who questioned her ability during the last two world championship finals and was censured of coming short in the summits. Sindhu is now the joint highest medal-winner in women’s singles in the World Championship’s history.

This is not the only instance where a woman has proved her mettle. There have been many. And, thanks to the film fraternity and authors who have been portraying it in a pretty decent manner to educate and aware people of the wonders these petite and so-called fragile-looking beings can do. I’m not here to write on feminism. I’m here seeking answers to why do we judge people so easily.

Judging is not the answer

Does that mean, those who judge are flawless? Nay. No one ever is. Then, what makes us so insensitive towards people that we start judging, criticizing and concluding about a person’s traits or performance? Trust me, criticism only helps the person go a long way if taken positively and constructively. It does impact the morale of the person. Something that otherwise looks easily achievable with praises, appreciations, and words of encouragement seems distant by constant words of negativity. Unfortunately, which is in abundance and given for free.

Why appreciating someone is difficult

Lack of empathy, excessive time, sense of envy, personal biases, small talks, and many such factors end up in easily judging someone and criticizing that person. There will always be such people who’ll push you down. And, that’s where do achievers like PV Sindhu come into the picture.

PV Sindhu an inspiration

If criticism had left her broken, she wouldn’t have set this historical record. Women may not be physically fragile, but emotionally they are. For them, it becomes all the more important to not lose focus. Majority of the people will try to push you down, degrade and devastate you with their chisel-like words. There’s some sense of satisfaction they get in doing so. Do not lose track. Stand-alone or be with those who have been your backbone despite your faults and misses. Prove to the world and answer them back with astounding achievements because you, I and every single person on this earth deserves to be noticed for their brilliance. So, cut the clutter and outshine those who are to be answered for their questions.

Hope this piece can inspire some women out there and you would now know why these words constantly reverberate within the walls of my mind:

“Khudi ko kar buland itna ki har taqdeer se pehle

Khuda bande se khud pooche bata teri raza kya hai.”

Leo Tolstoy–The Legend, Extraordinaire

I am sure there is hardly anyone, who would not know the legend; Leo Tolstoy. A great Russian writer, political thinker and philosopher who etched his writings forever in the minds and hearts of people in the form of novels, short stories, plays and essays. His writings have always enchanted people of all age groups. September 9, on his birth anniversary, I would like to recollect some memories in dedication to who I call my inspiration, a born star who will forever remain.

 

Top 5 Quotations by Leo Tolstoy that Made an Everlasting Impression

“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself”
Leo Tolstoy, lived since 1852-1910, but his sayings still fit in the 21st century. If only you could change yourself little by little, can you make a huge difference. However, people are habitual of finding faults in others and either mocking at them or trying to correct them. Instead, you must introspect everyday and see what all drawbacks and shortcomings you possess and work towards amending them. This would result in a constructive transformation, in the long run.

“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time”
I have always been a big fan of Leo Tolstoy and most of his writing appealed to me exuberantly and that feeling is inexplicable. ‘Patience’ and ‘Time’; the two most heard of words and the two attributes that’s hard to find these days. The race is on and in this constant chase of materialism, we are not realizing that the time is slipping like sand. The day to day struggle is making us impatient and irritant on small things. The level of tolerance is subjugating. What’s important is to take out time for the things you love, the things that bring you joy and everything else will fall in place.

“If you want to be happy, be”
How true! This simple yet magnificent line holds a deeper meaning in my life. I’m not sure if everybody can relate to it, but trust me it works. It REALLY works! If you want to be happy then no one can stop you. In fact, you can be anything for that matter, if you desire for it from the core of our heart. No situation, object (living or dead) can stop you from achieving it.

“All, everything that I understand, I understand only because I love”
Love is the most beautiful feeling. It spreads joy, warmth and touches your heart in a magnanimous way. You accept certain things in your life, spend time in absorbing them only because you feel for them. Things that do not hold importance or are obscure do not take a fraction of your time. So, it’s love that keeps you going.

“We lost because we told ourselves we lost”
It’s often said and heard that if you believe in yourself, you can win the laurels. To be a winner you have to believe that you are one. And, as stated in this quote by Tolstoy, only if you convince yourself that you have lost, you would actually lose. So, keep your head held high and do your best with all the hope and determination.

For all those who wish to read some of his great works, here are some:

Top 5 Literary Works by Leo Tolstoy
1. War and Peace
2. Anna Karenina
3. A Confession
4. The Kingdom of God Is Within You
5. Resurrection

I am definitely going to read more of Tolstoy soon and with this piece of writing, all I wish is to inspire a few to instigate reading of the magnum opus. Of all those who read through this blog post, only if I could instill this urge in a single being, I would believe that I did my bit.