In this episode of the Subhash Chandra Show, Subhash Chandra enlightened members of Udyogwardhini, Nashik Chapter on the topic- To Quit or Not to Quit.
Offering advice on ‘To Quit or Not to Quit and if yes when to quit?’, Shri Subhash Chandra say, “There are situations in life when we have to make a decision about leaving something behind in order to start something new. But there are also situations which require us not to quit regardless of how demanding the situation becomes. The difficult question is how to decide which option to choose. The answer to this question is a personal one and each one of us knows the answer to an extent, but it is only the various fears which do not allow us to reach the correct solution. By detaching ourselves from our fears, we will arrive at the correct answer. It is also important to remember that it is good to quit when it becomes too exhausting to continue, because quitting does not always mean giving up!”
He says, “This of life as a game of football where the goal is the aim of our life and the team players are your experience, your knowledge, your courage, your family etc while the rest of the world is the other team. Sometimes before hitting scoring the goal if we see an obstacle we walk back a little so that we can move forward better. It is important to do that. We must focus on our goal and go on. As long as we know that ultimately we have to win then it isn’t wrong to pause in between.”
At times one feels like the entire universe is against him/her. On asking this, some audience members share their life stories and experiences and how they overcame the dead-end like situation. From stories of personal loss to career failures, members of the audience share their struggle and victory. One of the students thanked Subhashji for his show as she restarted her life after watching it regularly and getting inspired by it.
Subhashji says, “Quitting does not always mean giving up. Often because of the cultural norms we keep suffering doing something but refuse to quit. People go on for years on end like this because quitting is looked down upon.Taking a litte step back is not a bad thing. So oyu can go around and score the goal.”
The first guest is Dr. Om Prakash G. Kulkarni- Scientist, Mentor, Adviser, Technology Provider & Consulting Engineer in Automation, Energy Management and Renewable Energy. He has worked at high posts in Government and private sectors.After resigning govt job in 1975 he started his own units and by 2009 he had three manufacturing units. On 14th Oct 2009, he suffered from a massive heart attack, and had to undergo open heart bypass. Now only 35% of his heart is functioning.
During that period he was in extreme financial, physical, and psychological setback, it took about 11 month for him to recover physically. But he did not surrender; in fact he reached higher achievements as compared to previous days. He says, “Everytime I went to the hospital I did not know if I will make it out alive and I would say to myself that if I get this one more chance at life I will complete my work with twice as more zest and enthusiasm.” He professes three rules: 1- Powerful mind, 2 – Progressive mind and 3- Sensitive mind.
As on today he is recognized as scientist at Global level in the field of renewable energy resources. He has published around 87 research papers at national and international level and has earned more than 104 awards and has 18 patents.
Answering the question about his journey as a businessman Subhashji says, “I have closed more businesses than I have opened. Unless I am the number one or at least a formidable number two in the business I will not do it. I worked in a field to a limit but if there was too much saturation I quit that business but I did not accept defeat.”
Speaking about practical optimism he says, “Being positive is very important but more often we rely on external factors to get optimism. Have faith in honest optimism and not influenced optimism.”
The second guest is Changemaker Smt. Kusum Dahivalkar who is a retired plantation officer in the Social Forestry Department in Nashik, Maharashtra, and has made it her mission to inspire people to save and plant trees, and live as close to nature as possible. For several years now, Kusumji has been visiting inaccessible forest areas, meeting up with teachers from agricultural colleges and plant scientists, and interacting with tribals who live as one with nature.
So committed is Kusum-tai, as she is fondly called, to building awareness around conservation of plants, that following her superannuation she pooled in funds from gratuity, Provident Fund and other savings to invest in half an acre of land on the outskirts of Nashik. Today, she runs the Hirvepunya Institute on the property, which has her two-floor apartment where conducts her workshops. In the open space around the house she has created an extensive nursery, which has over 2,000 varieties of saplings of medicinal plants and herbs collected from different parts of the country. She says,”Along with Roti-Kapda-Makan (food-clothing-shelter), medicine is also a basic necessity.”
Subhashji makes the audience aware about the vast potential this project has. “One one hand our farmers are taking extreme steps because of debt and bad crops on the other hand we have a treasure trove of possibilities when it comes to natural medicines. She is doing revolutionary work.”
In conclusion Subhashji says, “The weight we carry in our minds and keep on doing the things that we do not like doing what we do and thats what makes us tired. Do not do this, leave what you do not like and do something you enjoy doing.”
