Resilience and Triumph

Sales and Marketing experts use a term "FMA" or "First Mover Advantage", that refers to the benefits gained by the early movers into a market segment who can capitalize on the prevailing situation and establish themselves as a market leader. Early movers have no competition and stay as monarchs till the later players come in. In many other walks of life, early movers have a distinct disadvantage as they have to wade through unchartered waters. They have no idea as to what to expect and what may happen next. Each situation is a new challenge and calls for an immediate and spontaneous response. There are no precedents or advisors; each issue has to be dealt and learnt through one's own experiences. Such learning through own experiences are invaluable, but often extract a heavy price from the persons put through them. But these experiences are the ones that steel and temper human beings and make the quest for a better life that much more enjoyable despite the pain that they bring. They suffer from "Early Mover Disadvantage" and yet emerge as people who lay the road for the successors to travel much more comfortably.

History is the study of the past events and told to us by someone, who record and document the events. The history we have on any aspect of human life is based on visual and written evidence of the past and their present interpretation. Such recorded history suffers from two infirmities: the limitations of the historians themselves and impact of their own likes, dislikes and prejudices. Historians living at the time of recording events in the past were naturally beholden to their benefactors and tended to glorify them while putting down their opponents. Historians of today who record past events are many times guilty of viewing the age-old events with the eyeglasses of the present times. The official history we have, therefore, is history with many distortions.  The true history gets buried somewhere in the volumes of the official versions. The story of the lives of the common man is relegated to the background and glossed over.

This is even truer in the context of the history of immigrations and movement of people to newer destinations. Such movement was generally for higher education, job opportunities and search for better life elsewhere. Some fifty years ago, avenues for higher education and advanced professional jobs were not available in abundance in many parts of the world. North America, USA, and Canada, in particular, offered openings for all these reasons, and many young people moved there from various parts of the world. They were early movers in the sense of such migration. The atmosphere into which they walked in was much different than what it is today. Technology was not this advanced and communication facilities were not the same. Many places did not have electricity available freely. Air-conditioning or heating were not available at many centers to cushion the vagaries of severe summer or winter. Computers had not yet made their appearance, and they had to rely on public transportation as owning a car was not that easy. Many students migrated on the backing of small scholarships as bank loans were not available. Households did not have the financial strengths to sponsor higher education. Issues of obtaining visas and making travel arrangements were also not easy tasks. There were no direct flights from smaller centers in their home countries like today. Opportunities for earning while pursuing courses in the Universities were not many. Managing oneself on the limited financial resources added to the physical problems of stay, food and entertainment. Understanding the culture and living pattern of the regions was a major challenge. Achieving the acceptance of the immigrants by the local populations was a major task for those arrived at these destinations. The immigrants had to develop close bonds with other members of their groups. Sharing and caring were required in much larger measures then than today.

The situation was even more difficult for women. Their problems were complex due to their multiple roles as housewives or housekeepers, workers, and young mothers. In addition to their responsibilities as students or workers, they had to manage their chores like cooking, serving and raising kids. Adapting to the new living atmosphere was even more difficult for them given the cultural and physical environment in their countries of birth and growth. The only means of contact with those back home was through mail and writing letters or waiting for letters from loved ones in their country was a routine requirement. Visiting their countries required a lot of planning and was very expensive too. The perception of those back home about the immigrants and the reality was vastly different. Some of them were more fortunate to find understanding friends and colleagues. Others were not that fortunate and had to face hostile situations. They marched on with commitment and dedication towards the goals for which they migrated to new stations. Strong friendship and mutual co-operation from other immigrants formed the cornerstone of their journey. There were always a few understanding locals available in times of need and crisis.

The present generation of students and workers moving for education and job opportunities today has a much-improved atmosphere. Present times too have their complexities and challenges. It is not that everything is easy and simple today. But there is a marked difference in the two scenarios. Today’s students can obtain bank loans, and their households have better financial muscle to sponsor higher education abroad. Multinational companies with presence in their countries of birth and migration provide similar working conditions and set-ups. Communication facilities are excellent, and one can talk to their people back home many times a day. E-mail and Face Time enable continuous contact with friends and relatives. Contact and networking with other students or groups are possible for seeking and extending support. Students can find out someone who would receive them at the airport, put them up for a few days in temporary accommodation and provide initial support. Improved banking channels can ensure inward remittance within hours in an emergency. Practices and customs in the new country can be better-understood thanks to the advent of Television and Internet.

Is there a need for the present generation to understand the history of the immigrants of the previous generations? Are there any lessons for them available in the tales of the migrants of earlier generation? Many would dispute their need and relevance today. Nevertheless, such a record is necessary to complete the history as well as developing better perspective for present generation to understand where they stand now in comparison to the previous generation.

A group of enthusiasts of the previous generation of immigrants thought on these lines. To broad base the variety and authenticity of the effort, they reached out and requested their friends to contribute their experiences in the form of small articles and publish the collection as a book. More than 50 women immigrants from various parts of the world (who migrated to Canada in the 1960s and thereafter) responded to the request. They have contributed their experiences in the form of articles. A dedicated team has edited these articles and brought out a book titled "Resilience and Triumph". The Second Story Press, Ottawa, Canada on 3rd December 2015, has released the book. 

The book (ISBN 978-1-927583-85-2) makes for interesting reading and brings out the resolve of the determined women who overcame the challenges and emerged successfully. A reading of this book provides a wider perspective of time and life in those crucial years. There are many lessons to be learnt from these experiences. This bunch of contributors in bringing out this book deserves our congratulations and gratitude. They have indeed brought to surface, the buried history of the earliest immigrants!

Where is my Prize?

In order to encourage youngsters to do well in various activities, promises are made of giving a prize or a gift when the task is achieved. Such promises are made with good intentions and motivates the child or youngster to achieve the set goal. The value of the gift or prize in monetary terms may not be high, but the offer drives them to work harder and accomplish the proposed task. In course of time, the one who offered the prize or gift may forget it, but the one motivated by the offer fondly remembers and looks forward to receiving it.

Sixty years ago, "School Day" functions were simple affairs and held without much fanfare. There was no habit of conducting such functions in primary schools as is the practice now. Pre-primary and kindergarten schools were not in existence then. Middle schools (fifth to seventh or eighth year of education) were the earliest times when a student got the first taste of a celebration. Inviting parents to such functions was also not done as most of the parents were illiterate and kept a distance from the academic activities. There was no system of collecting contributions and spending money as most of the students and their parents could not contribute for organising and conducting a function. This was all the more true in small centres. The function would often be held below the tree in the school compound and in broad daylight. There was no place for artificial decorations and multi-colour electrical lights. Many towns and villages did not even have electricity supply. There were no expensive tailors designated for stitching special dresses for student activities like dance or plays. A well-known person in the village or town would be invited as the chief guest. One or two patriotic songs from a teacher or students represented cultural activities. There would be speeches from the chief guest and head master.  The content of the speeches was also generally the same; to exhort the students to study well and get good marks in the forthcoming examination.

One such "Annual Day" function was held in the middle school of a small town some fifty five years ago. A leading merchant of the town was invited as the chief guest. He was respected for two reasons; his literary knowledge and philanthropy. He owned a shop selling silverware and gold ornaments. He was known to help poor students discreetly. He was also liberal in giving donations for various social causes. The annual day function went on as usual and when his turn came to speak, he urged the students to do well in the forthcoming examination. The headmaster in his speech had informed that there will be a taluk level examination for the seventh standard students. The chief guest stated that the student securing the highest marks in the examination will be given a prize by him. The function ended on a high note with this promise.

One of the students present in the function went to the head master on the next day. He had a query to ask. Was the proposed prize to be given to the student getting the highest marks in the entire taluk or was it for the student getting the highest marks from this school? The head master had not applied his mind on this issue. The boy's argument was that as the announcement was made in the function of this school, it should be for the student of this school. The head master told the boy that he would inquire about it from the chief guest and clarify later. The matter stood there.

The examinations concluded followed by the six weeks summer holidays. The results arrived on the day of reopening of the school. The boy who had raised the question had secured the first position for the school as well as for the taluk itself. The issue was now clear for him; he was to get the prize. As he had to move to a high school, he obtained the TC (transfer certificate) and got admitted there. Whenever he passed in the vicinity of his old school, he would go to the head master and ask when the prize would be given away. The head master would tell him that he had not yet heard from the merchant and would let the boy know in due course. This went on for about six months. The head master got fed up and finally told the boy that it was better for himself to go to the merchant and ask him. The boy went near shop several times but did not have the courage to ask the elderly man.

Finally, one evening the boy went inside the shop and greeted the Seth sitting in his shop. The Seth returned the greetings and asked the boy what he wanted to buy. The boy reminded the merchant about the school day function and his promise to give a prize to a student securing the highest marks. He also said that the Seth can verify from the head master about his securing the highest marks in the examination. "No, I do not need to check your statement. I trust your statement and your perseverance in waiting and coming to me. I am glad you prevented me from failing in one of my duties.  You will get your prize tomorrow. Come to the school tomorrow morning", he said.

When the boy went to the school next morning, Seth was siting with the head Master. A silver cup with appropriate engraving on it was ready and the prize was given away after the morning prayer. The Seth offered another prize for a student for the next year and smilingly said that he would not forget the offer this time! The boy himself offered prizes to young students later on in his life and did not forget his offers either.