THE STORY OF MADHU SURAIYA-2

Level one ended fast and soon we were in level two. Level one was about learning and level two seemed to be about expressing. Nature is never silent, it is always expressive. Rivers reverberate, winds whisper, flowers bloom and babies blab. I too tried to express. The first expression came out in the form of a conversation between a child and a parent.

Parent: Did she (teacher) teach you to read?

Child: No.

Parent: Did she teach you to write?

Child: No.

Parent: Did she teach you grammar?

Child: No.

Parent: Than what did she teach you?

Child: She taught me to unfold myself

There were several other thoughts expressed during level two. Learning in level two was deeper and more involved. Every time I wrote a thought, I would take it to her for her suggestion. She used to appreciate it. She might have sensed the heat in me contributing to creative writing; so midway through level two, she once asked “Would you like to teach?” I without a second thought said “No”. She without any reaction agreed to my disagreement. Life and learning went on as usual, she would periodically, coolly and calmly pose the same question and I would repeat the same answer “No”. Finally level two was over. To sustain the momentum of learning I decided to do the diploma in French.

We were destined to be together. She was once again the faculty for Diploma. The same question appeared again. This time, not to hear the question again I replied “I can give it a thought after completion of diploma”. Time passes stealthily the way sand slips out of one’s hand. Exams were over, it was time to ease and relax.

It was long off; I was occupied with the thought “What after diploma?” The stillness broke when my cell phone rang up; she was on the other end saying “The diploma is over and …..” Fifteen minutes later as I entered the French Department office she and the Head of the department Durga Dutta Tripathi received me with a smile. Finally I was a visiting faculty to the Department of French.

I often search for “How and why caring relations happen?” but remain unsuccessful. She has been a beautiful person I have come across in life. She has come close to being a friend, a philosopher and a guide. We are now family friends but I do not forget to address her as “Madam”

Next time I will be there with the story of Durga Dutta Tripathi

THE STORY OF MADHU SURAIYA-1

At times life continues to be flat, life continues to be low; it is at this juncture a desire arises to attempt something new. A new thing is not easy to work on. It is a struggling phase with high hopes and no solution in sight. Randomness is the order of our existence, and in line with this randomness if someone pops ups and continues ever after, one feels happy and contented about his presence. He is referred to as mentor and the one being served is referred as mentee. Advancing stages of such a relationship are more rewarding and mentor is seen as a friend philosopher and guide. I too happened to come across such a person.

Working over the control panel year over year had made life monotonous and mundane. A desire of doing something new took me to the French Classes. Day one, there appeared Madhu Suraiya our French teacher; she started with a formal introduction of the course, benefits of learning French, career ahead and job opportunities; the class ended with French alphabets and counting numbers one to ten. The next day the course took full swings and continued so for all days to follow. French is never spoken as it is written and never written as it is spoken. Every passing day escalated my worries and lessened my grip on the subject. Slowly I started believing that French was not my cup of tea. For a while I would think that stooping over the panel was a more comfortable proposition then the desire to break the monotony.

At the home front my children Vinayak and Bhumika would eagerly wait for me. The moment I opened the door they would be there with their wide opened expecting eyes and book in their hands. Before I took up French I would regularly help them with their studies and care for the examination preparation. 

The next day after the class I walked up to Madhu Madam and told her my desire to leave the class forever. I explained her reasons. She insisted that I should continue and wait for fifteen more days. As days passed by we came closer to each other, learning and understanding French became much easier to the extent that in the end I cleared the first level with 87 %. This was not the result of the ability of grasping and reproducing but the result of the fine chemistry that resulted between a teacher and a student. Apart from the fine chemistry, I was equally able to devote time for my children; I could see the glow in their eyes for they too cleared their exams with flying colors. All is well that ends well; songs to be sung and celebration to be made. It was a joyous phase which often left me thinking how time changes a sorrowful tide into a joyful tide. I rode that tide but how did I do it is still a question unanswered. If I were to ask a flower “How did you transform from a bud to a flower?” Would it be in a position to answer? I think the answer would be “No”. Perhaps some questions do not have an answer or they are not required to be answered. See you next time with the concluding part of this story.

THE STORY OF WAHEED LATEEF

When a child is small. The parents care much. The caretaker and relatives also drop in to inquire about the health of the child. The same thing happens at all places and a new toastmasters club is no exception to it. 2009 was the year of infancy for Saudi Kayan Toastmasters Club. There were some dignitaries who often visited our club. Some of them were our club mentors and sponsors. TM Waheed Lateef was one of them. His presence was graceful and enjoyable. He spoke less and preferred to be simple.

Simplicity is not simple and life too, is not easily understood. It is something beyond earning bucks and feeding one’s stomach. For that reasons thousands of years of Indian culture is full of stories of wise people in the search of a Guru (a mentor, a guide or a leader).

Once a person in search of a Guru, travelled long distances; At one point of time he came to know about a guru who lived in a monastery. Monastery is a place or a premise where a group of people live by the nature to achieve salvation. This person arrived at the monastery with a high hope. From day one he would never miss an opportunity to serve any unit of the mastery. One month passed by, two months passed by, the third month also passed by. The guru went on with his daily chores. Having felt unattended, questioned started rising in his mind. Why am I here? Am I gaining anything? Worries and doubts escalated, patience and hope dwindled. He asked the guru “Why don’t you teach? Why don’t you speak?”. The guru said that is the way I am.

Waheed Lateef, I have never seen him speaking at length, giving long discourses. But he has constantly been drawing my attention. Passing of time has brought me closer to him, made me more friendly but proximity has revealed me one of his weaknesses. He lacks in the trait of getting angry. Many a times I am amazed to see how he manages to be mentor of DTM Khalid Matlagaitu, a friend of mine and an empathizer of a budding toastmaster, all bundled up in a single personality called Waheed Lateef.

People like him are many times alone with everyone around. There were few weeks for the SATAC 2013 to roll out. I had been to his office to purchase a ticket for my annual vacation. I inquired, how is the preparation going on for the SATAC 2013? He replied “With 12 committee chairmen still I am a lonely man” 

It reminded me of the famous song “कहता है जोकर सारा ज़माना आधी हक़ीकत, आधा फ़साना” where in is a beautiful sentence “धक्के पे धक्का, रेले पे रेला है भीड़ इतनी पर दिल अकेला”. It means in this overcrowded world a person still is a loner.

I agreed to be his assistant. I was instructed to be mainly focused on quality and consistency, it gave me an opportunity to be a script writer, to be an assistant, to be a facilitator and to be the result announcer. Being his friend has really rewarded me.

During the SATAC 2013 event seldom was he seen or noticeable. “He was found to be acting nowhere, he was found to be leading nowhere” but with the successful accomplishment of the event I would like to say “He was found to be acting everywhere, he was found to be leading everywhere” Waheed Lateed is a person who carries simplicity and leadership together. Next time I will be there with another story. A story about DTM Jagadeesan Kumar.

THE STORY OF DR. JAVED ANSARI

2009 was the year Saudi Kayan club was trying to be supportive and strengthen relation with the sister clubs in the vicinity. Kamarudeen then vice president education would take us to different club in the vicinity. Sabic Technology Centre was one of them. STC club was a club of elite people, a club of highly qualified people. Any person you come across would be a doctor (doctorate in philosophy), a scientist or an assistant scientist. At that club was a person in the name of Dr. Javed Ansari.

It has been years I have been going there taking up different assignments, taking along with me members of Saudi Kayan Toastmasters Club. With time passing by we came closer to each other, the bond between us grew more stronger. We loved working for each other. It was the year 2011-2012. Dr. Javed Ansari contested for the office of Area-17 Governor and created an upset. He was not in the kingdom. When he came after 4 weeks, it was expected of him to form his team but there was a silence in the air. Everybody kept guessing. Who would be his team members. The suspense continued for a long time. It was a situation that resembled a love scene. In a love scene there are two characters, the air is filled with expectancy, the minds are filled with curiosity and the hearts are filled with connectivity. In love sometimes a person takes time to open up. Love is a feeling of belongingness and the ripening of this feeling happens with the first verbal acceptance of the fact. This verbal acceptance is not easy to come by. Such situations builds up at times because of unilateral involvement and sometime due to bilateral involvement.

The silence broke when he gave me a call and said “Now I am the Area-17 Governor and your friend too, why are you silent? Why don’t you ask a post in the area team?” I had no answer. The reason being I didn’t expect anything from him. I just wanted to be his friend. I told him I didn’t expect any post. He insisted “I want you to be the Assistant Area Governor (Education and Training), I have kept it reserved for you only”. That gave me an opportunity to work more closely with him. This event made my belief (Giving is getting, my CC-06 project) more strong. He always had me in mind, and was always on the search for a role or an assignment for me. We worked together not only in our clubs and area but other areas too. The following year he became the Division L Governor and I became the Area-17 Governor. It brought many more opportunities of working together. At times I would think him  to be a path maker for me and he believes me to be his mentor.

When I write a story which many a times has a lady character. He questions me “Is this  a real story or a fictional one?” When I say it’s real. His next question would be “How do you gel well with ladies?” However he appreciates my efforts to open a Ladies Toastmasters Club for teachers at the International Jubail School and has agreed to support it. 

    

What brings us closer is, we are forced bachelors, we have the intention to serve, we have all the time on the world at our disposal, we are very open and have nothing to hide. He is a humble person; he with a smile accepts his short comings and desire to overcome it. He would express to overcome them with my help. Where would I get such a person and such a friend to be connected with? True friend are real treasure and he is one of them. Next time I will be there with another story. A story about CTM Waheed Lateef. 

THE STORY OF HAREESH SUMATHY BHARGAVAN

Manoj Renadive and few others had just started their Toastmastering Career, they had just started moving and were trying to catch up the speed required before take-off.  There were no meetings conducted. Four meeting didn’t happen because of the absence of the club officers who had left Kayan. These budding toastmasters approached me and asked “Would the club open again? Would the meeting be conducted?”

I was requested by the former president TM Shabib Al-Sudairi to take the charge and move things. I started regrouping people. It was hard time. I was looking for someone who would really assist me in my efforts to reinstate the club. I approached Hareesh I asked him “I want you to help me.” He was quick but polite in replying “I will think over it”. I expected him to understand me but now the situation was reverse. I had to understand him. I went on approaching others slowly and slowly I was able to gather members. We started conducting meeting, it would be thinly attended. Sometimes I would redo my speeches and sometimes it would be Jamaan Al-Ghamdi. Sometimes it would entirely comprise of table topics. Few weeks later Manohar Rao went on exit. There was a void to be filled in soon. I requested Hareesh this is the time I need you badly. There is no time to think I want you to act, come and join me.

His gentle nod not only relieved me of my worries but also provided relief. Soon he was on to his job as the Vice president membership. Apart from membership he actively started assisting me on all fronts. In each and every meeting in whatever role I wanted him, he was there. Apart from being actively engaged in meeting roles. He was active in communication with Toastmasters International. Whether it was paying the club does, inquires about the non-receipt of manuals or dealing with the area committee.

He was quick on his communication and leadership track too. He was a man of planning, patience and perseverance. I still remember his speech on OIL SEAL DIAGRAM which sent the audience in to bouts of laughter. Having set the club on the track he preferred to give chance to the others. However he did not relax on his communication track. He continued his journey. Within a given target he completed his Advance Communication Bronze and helped the club get the President’s Distinguished Awards.

The club decided to conduct a Toastmasters Day to showcase Toastmastering to the Senior Management in Saudi Kayan. The ex-com chose Hareesh to take the lead, he was the Master of Ceremonies. DTM Khaled Matlagaitu’s speech was all and all about Hareesh. Like Jamaan he too added to the beauty of the program, which went on to be the talk of the town. He remains one of the strong pillars of Saudi Kayan Toastmasters Club who contributed in laying the foundation and in bringing success. Unknowingly I became his mentor and he, my mentee.

Only when one is lucky enough, he comes across a friend and colleague like Hareesh. I always say, I am lucky. Next time see you with another story. The story of Dr. Javed Ansari.

THE STORY OF JAMAAN AL-GHAMDI

The first time he appeared was, as my supervisor, working with him revealed me that he was a person who had a professional way of going about things. He was a person who worked with the end in mind and who would care about the needs and wants of his subordinates. A person who never preferred to beat about the bush but was clear and crisp in whatever he wanted to say. 

I had just been back form my annual vacation. Manoj and Ranedive came up to me and asked, would the club never run? I came to know that the V P education Kamaruddin had left on exit and the President of the club was transferred to another Sabic location. Before taking any action I preferred to be thoughtful and watchful. It was a week later I received a mail from the then president TM Shabibi Al-Sudairi asking me to take the charge of the club as the Vice President Education and there came to join me Jamaan Al-Ghamdi as the President of the club.

We two were not that much experienced in Toastmasters. But we both had the intention of working for the club and being sincere and serious in whatever we would do. I would go to other clubs watch the proceeding and implement it in Kayan. I would mend it the way that suited Kayan the best. Jamaan was always open to whatever I had to say. Once taken a decision he whole heartedly would support me. There were times we did not have any speakers however we would give demo speeches, do table topics only but we would not allow any meeting to be cancelled. He would cater to the needs and support of the club and I would focus on the education and learning needs of the club. Breaking the inertia took some time but finally we gained momentum. “Slow and steady wins the race” goes the famous saying. Towards the end of the year SAUDI KAYAN TOASTMASTERS CLUB was a President’s Distinguished Club. Jamaan always was a humble and open person. Any mail form the Toastmasters International would be forwarded to me with a note FYA (For your action). He continued informing and I continued acting.

It was time to choose the new executive committee. I told him let us have a Saudi guy as the president and I will support him with the vice-president-education task. He was a person who could sense the soundness of the person. He was clear, he replied “I don’t want the club to die, you are the next President”. Being in the president’s office was a unique experience.

He was a generous person. While in the area council meeting we were discussing about the monetary aspect. The area governor DTM Sushil Agrawal expressed his concern regarding revenue generation. Jamaan humbly asked how much do you need? He without hesitation agreed to contribute 5000 Riyals to the Area. This is a quality seldom seen.      

I am here, I am here, I am here, I am here was the way he made his presence on the stage of Saudi Kayan Auditorium. It was 13.12.2011, the day the first every Toastmasters Day conducted by Saudi Kayan Toastmasters Club. Never before had I seen him the way he appeared as a speaker, he stole the show and brought fame to Toastmasters Day inside and outside Kayan.

Jamaan though having left Saudi Kayan his memories are still alive and very much Fresh. Next time see you with another story. The story of Hareesh Sumathy Bhargawan.

THE STORY OF DTM SAFARE MOHAMMED

A pleasing personality doesn’t guarantee a pleasing relationship, perhaps like-mindedness  brings people closer and builds sound relationship. The matter doesn’t end there, a doubt rises in the mind, like-mindedness to what extent? On how many counts? I have experienced that a single count suffices the need to give birth to a sound relationship.

My relation with DTM Mohammed Safare is one such relation that I cherish the most but what makes us good friends is a matter for me to research. He is far younger than me. He has a different mother tongue, he hails from a different state. We have never gone together on an outing.

It was 2010. I just knew him by name. He gave me a call requesting me to be a target speaker for Area-63 contest, an event to go live in less than 24 hrs. I accepted it and the next day I delivered a speech which invited trouble for the evaluators on stage. From then on I became his Crisis Manger. Time went on and our Toastmastering needs brought us closer to each other. Sometimes on Friday he would call me for a cup of Kerala Tea and morning breakfast, we would discuss over matters related to career in Toastmasters. He was one year senior to me. I learned a lot from him.  

One day he gave me a call saying “Note down the date April 22, 2011, it is the Area-63 Contest and I want you as a judge”. I agreed to it. He was the assistant area governor education and training then for Area-63. There were enough days left and I was easing out.

Two to three day later he gave me a call. “Bhaskar do your remember April 22, 2011”? I told him, Yes I am the judge for your area contest. He said “Let me correct you, you are not a judge, You are the chief judge, best of luck and switched off the phone.” I trusted him and I very well knew he was a person who would never ditch me. I had never been a Chief Judge before but I never gave it a second thought. The next minute I started sending requests to seniors in Toastmastering, one by one I started receiving responses. Having fixed the judges I asked Safare the details of the contest chair persons, he said “they are yet to be groomed, Can you do it? I am too busy. One of them is TM Sameena Mazar”

She was a busy lady. When I gave her a call she was in Damaam, we met at 09.00 in the evening. I handed over the soft copies, explained everything that was required to be taken care of. Next day everything went smooth and all ended well.

Apart from that we have met and worked for each other in few divison conferences. And area contests. He is now a DTM shortly I would also be completing my Toastmastering career. There is a time in life when two person come together and contribute towards each other’s progress. He is still concerned about my Toastmastering career and keeps me asking about it. He is a constant source of encouragement. When in crisis “we are made for each other” Next time I will be there with another story. A story about TM Jaman Al-Ghamdi

THE STORY OF DTM SUSHIL AGRAWAL

Seasons change and so changes the weather. In line with the weather changes the adaptability of the society. Hobbies, sports, attire and outing also change.  Rajeev’s term as a president of the Elite club had come to an end. With New Year, there was the new executive committee and new faces in charge of different offices. I was in my Advance Communication Silver. To have a feel of different audience I had started visiting Saudi Kayan Toastmasters Club. I used to take up different roles during the meeting. It was just a matter of time, within few weeks I was able to win his (V P Education, Kamarudden’s) trust. I used to be ready for any role that could be assigned to me. Once I happened to be the contest chair for International Speech and Table Topics contest.

During the international speech and table topics contest there were some dignitaries. I don’t remember all of them but few of them were TM Ramakant Bhala, DTM Shahul Hamid, TM Waheed Lateef, DTM PGR Nair and a young, handsome looking person. I came to know that he was Assistant Area Governor Education and Training. He was called Sushil Agrawal.

Few weeks later he was on the other end of the line asking me if I could take up the same assignment at the area level. I could sense what he was looking for? and what his expectations were? I accepted the assignment and did my best. A job well done is like a feather in one’s cap. It makes the cap more colorful, more attractive; attractive enough to catch somebody’s attention. Popularity starts growing and opportunities start rushing in.

Commit a crime and one is always under police scan. Accomplish an assignment well and one is always sought after. Next year he succeeded to be the Area-17 governor. He was a focused disciplinarian. He did not spare me. He came up with an offer asking me to be the master of ceremonies for Area-17 for the international speech and table topics contest. Having agreed to it, he expressed his desire of commencing publication of Area-17 Newsletter. I was like a clean slate with no experience of publication and only 14 days to go for the area contest. I took up the challenge. When I stood there on the stage for the inauguration of the newsletter with him besides me. I had set a bench mark for myself. I started believing things do happen.

Few in number are people who could see the potential in other people and tap them. It is all a matter of chance to have come across such a person who never misses an opportunity to assign and unlease the hidden talents of his assignee. DTM Sushil Kumar is a man apart from the crowd. He is a man of action and admires people in action. Next time I will be there with another story. A story about DTM Safare Mohammed

THE STORY OF DTM ROSE JOSEPH GEORGE

“तमसोमा ज्योतिर् गमया।” "Tamaso mā jyotir gamaya" is a line of the Shanti Mantra from the “बृहदारण्यक उपनिषद्” Brhadāranyaka Upanishad. It means "From darkness, lead me to light".

The journey from darkness to light cannot be accomplished without the help of a stick. The journey from ignorance to wisdom can only be accomplished with the help of knowledge. But how to get knowledge?

Let us travel back to my childhood. In the village on the terrace of my house, my mother by my side, the vast black umbrella studded with stars accompanied by the moon.

She as usual narrated a story of Eklavya. A student deprived of schooling, who learned archery by the inspiration he received from the idol he created of his ideal teacher Dronacharya.  As a child I enjoyed the emotion in the story, and felt connected to Eklavya.

Light and heat are associated with each other like two side of a coin. Knowledge like Heat travel from one destination to the other almost similarly.

• Conduction (Physical contest) Knowledge is imparted by the Teacher Student togetherness.
• Convection (Through a media) Knowledge is imparted with the help of books and e-books.
• Radiation. (Without a media) Knowledge is imparted the way the light from the sun reaches the earth.

During my assignments I have always addressed DTM Rose Joseph George as a person designed to receive adjectives by default. People call him as walking dictionary, talking dictionary etc. It would not be exaggeration if I say; he is a person who radiates knowledge.

He was assigned as my formal mentor but learning never happened to me through one on one discussion (Conduction). It happened by observation (Radiation). Hardly have we communicated for one or two speeches. But I used to watch him keenly and listen to him attentively. His focus on the topic, his choice of appropriate words, his tone, sense of humor and empathy for the addressee are some areas which have benefited me a lot. My communication track in the Toastmasters has finished but I still can continue to learn by observing him. I believe learning is a life-long, never ending process.

As a man of 57 I have understood the essence of the story of Eklavya and the intention of the storyteller “My mother”

See you next time with another story; A story of DTM Sushil Kumar Agrawal.

THE STORY OF RAJEEV PILLAI

Few meetings later at Al-Jude I was busy watching a speaker. He was in his Advance Communication doing, a project titled “Accepting an Award” from the Special Occasion manual. Throughout the speech the whole audience kept busting into bouts of laughter. I was a junior then not knowing much about Advance Communication but would certainly say I laughed to my heart’s content. For once I thought that Advance communication was an interesting area to venture in.

The impression so far formed about Advance Communication toppled upside down when TM Vasudhar Gopal appeared on stage to evaluated Rajeev Pillai’s speech. He took Rajeev to task for not seriously considering the objectives of the project. This was Rajeev and he continues to be so. He prefers to be what he wants to be.

He was the V. P. Education then, having finished writing my speech I would give him a call for rehearsal. Visiting Malls did not charm me. Morning cricket on week ends, at times music in the afternoon and writing speeches were my pass time. I tried to fill time gaps by doing something meaningful and worthwhile.

Addition of more reactants takes the chemical reaction to a higher level of equilibrium. The same thing happened to us, completion of every project raised us to a higher level of commitment and understanding. On completion of my fifth project when I told him that the script of my Tenth project was ready, he sensed the heat in me, he didn’t want that heat to subside. He immediately started looking for speech slots in other clubs. Within no time my ninth project was done.

Now lay the biggest hurdle. Completion of my tenth project, our involvement was heading to its peak. Completion of my tenth project bothered him more than it bothered me. I was going to break a record of a Lady Toastmaster “Raji Krishnan”. He very much knew her grace, her flair, her confidence and the speaker in her. For him breaking the record was appreciable but equally appreciable would be to reach somewhere near those quality of her. 

      

Every other day he would take me to a senior toastmaster for rehearsal, get those recommendations incorporated in my speech and rehearse it again. I wrote and rewrote the speech 6 times from 1450 words to 1040 words. He wanted it to be unique in all aspect. In my speech was an audience engaging act. He was worried about overshooting of time but when I handed over the stage to the Toastmaster of the day in 10 minutes and 26 seconds, his joy knew no bounds. It was a proud moment for me too.

Infancy is the most beautiful phase of life gracing both the mother and the child, generating never dying memories. Memories those we all relish in the future. The phase of my life with Rajeev was a similar one. See you next time with another story; A story of Dr George.

THE STORY OF SANTOSH JOHN

May 24, 2009, Venue Al-Jude village time 07.00 pm, my heart pounding fast. There I stood on the stage and in front of me were people sitting, men and women, young and old, some of them wearing a smile, few among of them  appeared eager and the remaining patiently curious. Within few seconds I was in action delivering my maiden speech “A long span of life finished in a short span of time”. With the completion of the last sentence, I was relaxed man.

At about 09.15 pm the meeting was adjourned. TM Santosh John the president came up to me and said “If you really want to learn, if you really want to grow, do not complete all of your speeches in your home club, go to other clubs, deliver in front of different audience”. I don’t know what made him make that remark. Neither did I understand its significance then.

A spark is enough to generate a wild fire and a word of wisdom is enough to change your life. A word of wisdom has ample motive force to set you in motion. Once in motion, day in and day out you strive to be a different man, you strive to think differently, you strive to do things differently. I am reminded of Shiv Khera’s words “CHAMPIONS DON’T DO DIFFERENT THINGS BUT THEY DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY”. God has blessed all men with 24 hours a day. Me, a rich man and a pauper all are equally rewarded. All of us have an inborn quest to rise in life. But how does this happen. From the depth of my consciousness rises a voice “UTILISATION OF TIME”

I used to play cricket till 2009, I like that game a lot. In cricket it is said “CATCHES WIN MATCHES”. It is all about grabbing the ball before its falls on the ground. The same holds true with opportunities. I grabbed any opportunity that came my way, I never used to say no. It was just a matter of time. I could be seen at all functions and forums of Toastmasters. Meeting, greeting and treating people brought me a name and a place in the Toastmaster’s Fraternity. At the time of writing this article I feel myself rich, rich in terms of experience, rich in terms of knowledge, rich in terms of public relation, rich in term of confidence, rich in terms of thinking ability rich in terms of public dealing.

A person’s life has a continuous inflow and outflow of people, many disappear and few reappear and some stay there forever. They continue to stay forever in your minds. I call them beautiful people. The learning that came through and continues  to date, I owe it to these beautiful  people whom I met on this ever rewarding journey of Toastmastering. Santosh John is one of them. See you next time with another story; A story of Rajeev Pillai.

THE STORY OF ARVIND SRIVASTAV

The building block of certainty is uncertainty, one cannot pin point things accurately, one cannot say something with certainty. Orbital is defined as that region in space where electron is found for 80 % of the time. Newton’s laws of motion (S=ut+gt²/2) cannot defined the location of electron at a particular point of time. Life too seems to be a game of probability. Nothing is certain what will happen when and what will be our course after any event.

Out of the many hobbies in my life. Music and songs are my friends in solitude. They work equally well in solitude or  in a company. During the weekend I would visit Arvind Srivastav my colleague at the office. He was a greater fan of music as compared to me. We would spend quality time. He would explain me the nuance, the beauty and the charismatic touch of music. It was the best thing that could happen in Jubail during the weekend.

It was the first week of May 2009, I asked him “What is Toastmasters?”. I receive mails regarding Toastmasters. He told me that he already was a member of a club and requested me to be his guest for the upcoming meeting at the Elite Toastmasters Club. On the meeting date the eagerness to be there at the meeting was tiding.  To see something new, to watch new faces, to make new friends and to build bridges of friendship were the things I was looking forward to. 

At the venue I was a stranger lost into the meeting activities. I borrowed a piece of paper and started taking notes. I could still remember TM Makarand delivering his prepared speech, a speech about a tragic incident. During the club members’ installation ceremony Arvind Srivastav stood proudly displaying the Membership pin. Few face I became familiar with were TM Makarand, TM Varesh Patel, TM Rajeev Pillai and TM Santosh John. The meeting really impressed me. My inner voice was constantly seeking my attention. It said let the creativity in me, bloom. Like a child pleading for a chocolate, it questioned me “What better place could you offer me other than his TMI stage”. I had only one option left. “To agree”. I expressed my desire to break the ice and deliver my first speech. The Toastmasters in technical terms denote it as CC-01. It is wisely said “The journey of thousand miles begins with a single step” I had decided to take the first step; I had decided to deliver my first speech, more specifically in my journey towards being a DTM (Distinguished Toastmaster).

While travelling by a train, new passengers join us at every station and at every station few passengers leave us. Likewise I met TM Arvind on my Toastmastering journey for some time. After that meeting Arvind never came to the meeting and I never missed a meeting. At every station I have met new faces, these new face have made my Toastmastering journey memorable. Next time when we meet  I will tell you a new story. A story of TM Santosh John.

THE STORY OF A STORY TELLER

Childhood memories last forever. I still remember the days of my childhood when my mother after dinner, would take me to the terrace. With no one to disturb us, the moon would be stealthily traversing the sky as if to reach somewhere in a hurry whereas the stars preferred to be stationary and silent listeners, setting right, the mood for story-telling, enhancing it was the pleasant breeze from the meadows.

Having settled down in bed my mother would start a story.

Once there were two villages on the opposite side of a big jungle. The connecting road between these two villages passed through this jungle. In this jungle lived a cruel and ruthless person. His name was Valiyo. He would not only rob the pedestrian of their belonging but also kill them. He was a merciless person. He had killed many and his killing spree continued unabated. One day he happened to meet Narad. Narad had nothing to offer. The anger of Valiyo knew no bounds, he raised his hand to kill Narad. Narad said I don’t mind getting killed but can you answer me a question or two. Narad asked why do you rob people? Valiyo replied “To feed my family” Narad asked another question “Would your family members be willing to accept the consequences of the robbing that you do for them?” Valiyo had never come across such a person. He tied up Narad to a tree and went back home to ask. Having heard “No” from his family members; dejected and dispirited he came back and released Narad. Narad gave him some more advice and went on his way. Valio was a changed person from then on. In the beginning I was consciously involved in the story but later on, my unconscious involvement in the story subsided and the birds’ clutter in the sky disturbed me. I looked around. My mother was gone and busy with her kitchen chores. As I raised my eyes towards the crimson sky the stars were nowhere to be found but the moon who still there. I asked him why, what happened, why are you left behind? He didn’t reply. I left for the morning tea, thinking he might have got interested in the story at the last moment and was hoping the story would continue……

Come night, and an urge for story listening would get stronger and stronger. I would finish my dinner soon. Having finished my dinner I would help my mother finish her kitchen chores so that I could take her to the terrace. She too would be willing to tell one. Every night it was the same venue and the same ambience except for the waxing and waning mood of the moon. I use to think about his abnormal behavior. At times being late, at times being totally absent and at times fully shining. Of course every night it was time for a new story, new characters and a new plot.

Rivers have to flow, seasons have to go, time has to change and I have to grow. The story listener is here but the story teller is no more. She has left for her heavenly abode. Though alone, the treasure handed over by her, keeps me going. Now it is my turn to tell stories. See you next time with my own story and stories within my story. To start with the story of Arvind Srivastav.