Secrets of Achievements

What should one do during his or her lifetime? What should be the goals? How to achieve them? Should one really have goals? Should it be one goal or there should be many goals? Should there be one goal with many sub-goals? Should the goals keep changing from time to time?  Why should we talk about goals at all? Does it not complicate life?

There are millions who spend their lifetime without a goal. There are millions who do not even think of a goal because they have no time to think of one. There are also millions who have decided goals and work for achieving them. And in course of time achieve them with great efforts and continuous hard work. Such achievers are often recognised and felicitated by giving away awards and prizes. Associations and Organisations regularly identify achievers and recognise their efforts and contributions. These are joyous moments for the achievers as well as those who appreciate the achievers and their achievements. These recognitions often spur the achievers into doing even better in further pursuits. 

After receiving any such recognitions or awards, the achievers are asked a common question. What is the secret of your achievement? There may be many answers for this questions. Some achievers may try to answer them with words. Some others merely smile and let it pass. There are some others who find this as an opportunity and start waxing eloquently and make the questioner regret his asking the question. Many achievers answer with modesty and mention that this was all due to the effort and support of their team members. Some of them gracefully thank all those associated with the true achievement. 

How do these achievements come about? Is it due to the Essence or Substance of the achievers or due to the tools that were available to them? Was it their own effort or contributions of the team members? If it was due to their own team members, then why does it not happen to others who led the same team earlier or later? Why these achievements come to some repeatedly and even when they lead different teams at different times? These are interesting questions that beg for an answer.

Such questions are not recent in origin. These questions have been asked for thousands of years and answered as well. One may not concur with the answers and may wish them away as mere opinions. But the truth is that these questions have been asked and answered since ages. They were also answered in interesting manner as well.

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It is said that this question came up once in the royal court of King Bhojaraja of Dharanagara, present town of Dhar (near Indore) in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh. There are many stories about Raja Bhoja and many disputes about his period. The complications come from the fact that there were many Kings with the same name over several centuries. The most famous Bhoja ruled from Dhar in the early 11th century (1010-1055 AD). He was a great patron of literature and fine arts. Among the many stories are mentions about the nine poets (Navamanis - Nine Jewels) including Poet Kalidasa. For the purpose of this discussion on achievements and achievers, we have to keep aside all these controversies and just go by the story.

Once when the royal court was in session, many courtiers appreciated the achievements of Bhoja. His taking good care of his state and subjects, and his being a patron of poets and artistes came for special mention. Raja Bhoja thanked them for all kind words and mentioned that all these achievements were possible due to the support and best wishes of his subjects and well-wishers. This led to the argument about the roles of tools and substance of the achiever in reaching the goals.

One poet stated that the achievements of Raja Bhoja was entirely due to his own efforts and substance. He gave the analogy of sage Agastya. "Agastya was born in a pot, lived among animals in the forest, ate root vegetables and led the life of a ascetic. Yet when confronted, he drank the mighty ocean by taking it in his hand! For the achievers, achievement comes from their own substance and not the tools!", he thunders in his verse in Sanskrit. क्रियासिद्धिः सत्वेभवति महातंनोपकरणे - Secret of Achievements is the achiever's own capacity and not from the tools, he mentions.

A second poet concurs with him and gives another analogy. He refers to Kamadeva or Cupid. "Kamadeva's bow is made of flowers, bees are its strings, the arrow he uses is the fickle and mercurial sight of women, his friend is the freezing moon and these are his fragile tools; he does not even have a body and yet he shakes and creates ripples in the whole world. His achievement comes purely from his own capacity and not these tools", he says.

Achievements come from the substance of the achiever and his efforts alone, not by the tools or team he gets, they argue. And it appears that settled the arguments then.

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Lack of tools or a weak team can be an excuse for poor achievement. Role of right tools or supporting competent team members can never be overemphasised. Even an expert cook cannot give the output of good food unless he is provided with good ingredients and right tools. At the same time the presence of the ingredients and excellent tools do not bring out the quality in the food prepared unless the cook is skilled in handling these items. Coaches may be in perfect condition; but they cannot move on their own. The speed at which they move depends on the engine; compare their speed when they are hauled by a steam engine, a diesel locomotive or a bullet train engine. The engine determines the degree of achievement for the same set of coaches. 

A right combination of the achiever's substance and matching tools is the real recipe for achievements. Both have their share of importance, yet leader makes a difference.

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Argument of the second poet mentioned above, giving the example of the Cupid is indeed very interesting. It reads thus:

धनुः पौष्पं मोर्वी मधुकरमयी 

चञ्चलद्रुशाम् कृशां कोणो बाणः  

सुहृदपि जरात्मा हिमकरः स्वयंचैकोनङ्गः 

सकल भुवनं व्याकुलयति 

क्रियसिद्दिः सत्वेभवति महताम् नोपकरणे 

Dhanuhpoushpam mourvee madhukaramayee

Chanchaladrushaam krushaam konobaanaha

Suhrudapi jaratmaa himakaraha Swayamchaikonangaha

Sakala bhuvanam vyakulayati

Kriyasiddihsatvebhavati mahataam nopakarane

Manmatha (Cupid) has a bow made of flowers with a string of bees, the arrow used is the fickle and crooked sight of women, has a freezing friend in the Moon and He Himself is without a body! and yet, he rules the whole world. Therefore, his achievement is only due his own capacity and not these tools he uses! Tools do not matter to the achievers; their achievement is derived from their own substance.

The words "Dhanuhpoushpam Mourvee Madhukaramayee" with which the above verse starts is the same as in the 6th sloka of "Soundarya Lahari" composed by the revered Guru, Adi Shankaracharya. This sloka in Soundarya Lahari also deals with the exploits of Cupid and how he derives his powers to shake the world from The Mother, who is the subject of devotion and prayer in Soundarya Lahari. The second poet referred above has probably taken the words from that prayer (assuming that he succeeded the Acharya in timeline, which is most likely) and modified it to settle the dispute about the essence of the achiever and the tools!

Legend has it that Manmatha has a bow of sugarcane or flowers and uses five flower arrows - Aravinda, Ashoka, Choota, Navamallika and Neelotpala (23rd sloka of Amarakosha says - Aravindamashokancha chootancha navamallika, neelotpalancha panchaite panchabanasya sayakaah - the flowers are Lotus, Ashoka, Mango, Jasmine and Blue water Lille  or Naidile). Here the crooked views of krushaangis (women with thin waistlines) has replaced the arrows of flowers. Does it really matter? Slight difference in the tools do not make a difference when we are dismissing the entire set of tools, lock, stock and barrel!

Art of Cricket to A-Z of Bradman

The small town where we lived in our childhood had two large playgrounds that belonged to the two High Schools, one run by the Town Municipality and the other by a Private Education Trust. They were the days without computers and mobiles, and naturally evenings were occupied in playing in these two big fields. There were another half a dozen medium and small grounds as well that belonged to other smaller schools. There was a great but healthy rivalry between the two high schools in various competitions, be it sports or other extra-curricular activities. The annual cricket match between the two high schools was an event that was eagerly looked forward to by all sports enthusiasts. Students from all over the taluk (tehsil) studied in these two schools. Many lived in hostels and some had private arrangements for pursuing their studies.

The town had a cricket group that played as a team only when an outside team was invited to play in the town. A blackboard kept on the previous day, in the town's main circle near the municipal office, used to announce the conduct of the match. Some of the elderly players in the team, mostly in their twenties and early thirties, had already finished their studies and were living in the nearby big city either for higher studies or employment. On the day of the match they would come together and assemble in the ground just before the match. The shortage of players to make up the final XI was managed by picking the deficit from among us youngsters. I was the official scorer for these unofficial matches. There was no remuneration for the official scorer, but the privilege of joining the participating teams for lunch was extended as a perk.

The eldest son of the town's transport operator was the team's captain. He was chosen as a captain for three reasons. That he was a good fast bowler was the first reason. He owned the playing kit was the second reason. He funded the expenses for the match and lunch was the third and more important reason. He was a fun loving young man and had contacts in the city for inviting other teams to come and play in our town. Though not practicing as a regular team, the winning record of the team was indeed satisfactory.

On one such match days, the captain had brought a copy of "The Art of Cricket" to the playground. The only source to see books for youngsters like us in those days were the school library or homes of teachers or local scholars. Books were prized possession and were never parted with. Borrowing books for school children like us was almost impossible. Don Bradman, a revered name then (as it is even today) was the author of the book. The book was passed around the elder members of the team. I got to touch the book when it was passed around. "The Art of Cricket" is actually a technical manual written by the Don himself and was originally published in the year 1958. The book was acclaimed as the best coaching book on cricket and holds its own high position even today, despite a plethora of books on cricket. The book has seen several revisions and editions and remains a popular book on the art of cricket.

I wanted to borrow the book and read it. The captain had already refused to give it to two of his elderly teammates. Asking him for the book appeared to be the toughest task at that time. I mustered courage and went to him in the restaurant during the lunch recess. My request was for getting the book for one day. He looked at me and asked me to sit down on the chair opposite to him.

"Are you in the same class as my younger brother Raju?"
"Yes, we are in the same class."
"How is he in his studies?"
"He is doing alright. Attends school regularly."
"He failed in Mathematics."
"He was more interested in sports last year. Now he is okay."
"I understand that you help him in his studies."
"Not much. I try to help the way I can."
"You know I do not give the book to anybody."
"I need for only one day. I will return it safely. I will keep it neat and clean."
"I will give it to you as a special case. Bur for only three days."

Two days were enough to read through the book. The book was returned with thanks well before the deadline.

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My niece visited her sister presently living in Australia. As a part of the sight seeing trips she visited Bradman Museum and International Cricket Hall of Fame in Bowral, New South Wales. Bowral town is 126 kilo meters from Sydney. While on the visit, she was kind to remember with my interest in cricket literature. She bought a book titled "The A-Z of Bradman". The first thing she did after landing in Bangalore was to meet me and handover the book. Such a nice gesture.

This book by Alan Eason is different from other books. The author studied Accountancy, but the book says he found words more interesting than figures. He started by contributed crossword puzzles to newspapers, covering a wide range of subjects. Sports and cricket got included and he used this background to present the Don from A to Z in this book. The book, spread over 440 pages gives all types of information about the Don arranged from A to Z. It contains information about his life, career in cricket and the many interesting personalities that were an integral part of his life. The book starts from Aberdeen seaport in Scotland, where the Don played his last match in Britain, and ends with with Zanetti Paul, the freelance artiste. For those who have not heard of Paul Zanetti, his cartoon of God asking for the Don's autograph on his arrival in Heaven after his death on 25th February 2001 appeared in many newspapers and summed up Don Bradman's popularity.

There are many interesting details in the book. Don Bradman averaged 101.39 before his last test innings. He needed four runs in the last innings to end with an average of 100 runs. He was astonishingly out for a second ball duck. Many things are said about the same. Some even went to the extent of saying that there were tears in his eyes as he faced the ball since he was ending his test career. He could not see the ball properly and got out, they said. But the don himself denied these opinions. In a television interview Ray Martin asked him " Do you laugh when you think, it is the most famous duck in cricket history?", Bradman replied "No, I don't laugh much about it, because I am very sorry that I made a duck, and I would have been glad if I had only made those four runs so I could finish with an average of 100". 

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In his "The Art Of Cricket", Don Bradman emphasises the importance of preparing physically and mentally for each cricket match, be it a club game or a test match. He deals at length on the choosing of proper gear like leg guards, gloves or a bat, or polishing the shoe and checking the nails on the boots. Things have changed a lot from the time of buying a bat and seasoning it with Linseed Oil. Modren bats are indeed different. Nevertheless, choosing the appropriate gear and checking their working before the match are as important today as in his playing days. Even slight carelessness in the preparation may turn out to be the end of what could be a great innings. This we see even today, when a batsman fails to ground his bat while taking a quick single or even while backing up at the bowler's end. Bradman's this lesson is equally applicable in every walk of life. Giving importance to minor details can be the boundary line between success and failure in any walk of life.

Fifty years is a long time indeed. "The Art Of Cricket" had to be borrowed for two days. "The A-Z Of Bradman" will be with me for much longer. Its reading pleasure can be savoured leisurely! There should certainly be many worthy lessons in it that can be used in future.