Our Success Must Not Fail
Who does not like success? Human beings are driven to succeed from early childhood. Parents celebrate when their toddler learns to stand up, speak its first words and go to school. Then, in school, from studies to sports, children compete, and by the time they become adolescents, their personalities are formed around it. They are winners or losers in the early games of life. The bright ones attend professional schools, while the rest join local colleges where they study science, commerce, or arts with few plans or prospects.
The Civil Services Exam has become a fixation with some bright students. More than a million take the nationwide preliminary exams. Some 10,000 to 20,000 clear it and join the fray for 1000 positions. Another few thousand get into the police and forest service through this exam. The film, ‘12th Fail’, brings out this saga, which repeats itself yearly, in an engaging manner. Despite the daunting odds, the candidates show remarkable perseverance, making multiple attempts to secure a position. A candidate can make six attempts till 32 years of age. For socially disadvantaged people, the age is 37. In a new trend that started a decade ago, engineering and medical graduates are also competing for civil service and coming out winners. About 2/3rd of the candidates selected are from among them, a testament to their unwavering determination that should inspire us all.
However, I am not talking about those who succeed but those who fail. How do they fare in their lives? What do the millions of youth without the label of a doctor or an engineer do? Many of them are yet to graduate. Which livelihoods do they seek, and what does the system offer them? Government jobs have lost their lustre long ago, and most youth depend on private jobs. Is the Indian economy able to generate enough jobs for its extensive and expanding young population? This failure of the system to create livelihoods gives an individual who failed in early life a double whammy. So, when we celebrate economic growth – the GDP rising, the SENSEX climbing, India poised to become the world’s third-biggest economy at 5 trillion dollars – where and of what type are the livelihoods for the multitudes? Is this a jobless growth built on cuts-commissions-profits? We must shift our focus to a more inclusive and sustainable economic growth model that ensures opportunities for all.
My generation was taught in school that India is an agricultural economy. Despite the hype and hoopla of the IT revolution, agriculture remains the backbone of India’s economy, even though its GDP share is decreasing. In rural areas, six of 10 people are peasants. The last census held in 2011 found 120 million farmers in the country, a quarter of the half–a–billion working Indians. There are also equal or more people raising livestock, fishery, forestry and agricultural supply chains. India is making enough food to feed its people for a long time. Getting economic power into the hands of the vast rural poor is now the problem, not making sure there is enough food. The challenge is how millions of people stuck with their small holdings can get more gainful vocations. Their holdings can be consolidated into more extensive ones to create more productive farms,replicating the Milk Revolution.
There is a sordid paradox. On the one hand, the government machinery controls food prices to satisfy the urban population, who eventually elect the ruling class. If a farmer has to buy a motorcycle, he pays globally comparative prices; why should he make food available to the modern and industrial sectors at the world’s lowest prices? On the other hand, global commodity trading firms have taken control of the cost of agricultural produce. While enough wheat and rice is produced, India has a steady supply deficit in pulses of a million metric tons annually. Edible oils also fall short of the demand. This shortage is bridged by imports. Why are Indian farmers not encouraged and supported to grow pulses and oilseeds in a mission mode, banning all imports? Who imports? How much and at what price? At whose behest?
Education and healthcare come next after food. The Indian education system can’t be called a failure because we started with very little. However, things appear out of control. A heavy emphasis on rote memorisation and test-taking, rather than critical thinking and problem-solving skills, has created a real mess out of which no solution seems to emerge. The coaching centre industry rules the roost, and everyone seems to live in denial mode.
The Indian education system has often failed to impart practical skills. No wonder a recent concern is the need for skill improvement among plumbers, carpenters, electricians, engineers and, most dangerously, hospital staff. It is claimed that the Skill India Mission has taught 14 million people, including 5.4 million who have learnt new skills or improved their old ones. But more is needed. The urgency for more practical skills is evident, and it’s a gap that needs to be filled immediately to ensure the future success of our workforce.
I am not a cynic who rules out foreign investors and commodity trading businesses. We can’t live isolated from the world. But we can’t allow the world to enter our homes, too. Companies are now structured differently; the ownership is more complicated and is constantly changing. India’s future can’t be left to this financial system where we don’t know who owns what. The masses can’t be simplified down to biological machines that only eat and work because they need more to meet their needs than what they get. It is humane to aspire. Life’s success is not merely about surviving but flourishingand evolving into a better future.
The failure of success is the biggest tragedy of any human enterprise, much more terrifying than the failure to succeed. Let us not allow the Indian success of independence, democracy and food sufficiency to become a failure. Kalidas declared long ago:
पुराणमित्येव न साधु सर्वं, नवीनमित्येव न चाप्यवद्यम् सन्तः परीक्ष्यान्यतरद् भजन्ते मूढः परप्रत्ययेनबुद्धिः (मालविकाग्निमित्रम् 1. 2)
All new is not necessarily good, and all that is old becomes wrong. Whether ancient or modern, humanity must test what is good and what is not as humanity progresses.
India has ruled over the world by ‘Niti’ – a profound word whose exact equivalent is absent in other languages, but the nearest best is ‘Value orientation.’ Learn to value things: your work, your time, the people around you, how they feel, and above all, yourself. To be born as a human being is a blessing; to be helpful to others is a double blessing. Living for selfish gains is not the way. One must live by the Niti of happiness of all (सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिन:), and that will make all the difference.
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My stay in the U.S. for my Masters offered me a profound revelation: experiences and relationships could be as enriching, perhaps even more so, than monetary success. Focusing solely on financial success is akin to chasing a mirage. While wealth promises happiness and fulfilment, it often leads to an unbalanced life where personal well-being is sacrificed for material gains.
In today’s society, there is a strong emphasis on wealth and material possessions. We are constantly bombarded with images of successful people who have achieved great financial success. This can lead us to believe money is the key to happiness and fulfilment. However, equating success with wealth can have several negative consequences.
It can lead to greed and materialism. When we focus too much on money, we can become obsessed with acquiring more and more. This can lead to greed, a destructive emotion that can damage relationships and ruin lives. It can also lead to materialism, the belief that happiness can be bought. This can lead us to spend beyond our means and accumulate debt, which can be a major source of stress. We should also strive to find a rhythm between work and play and between material possessions and experiences.
Brilliant train of thoughts on life`s failure of success, Prof Tiwariji!
Hopefully NITI Ayog finds a way to embed the spirit of Niti in its policy framework to stimulate success!!
Dear Dr Saab, Very well articulated, as usual.
Allow me to add that ~ Failure is often a stepping stone to success, and it’s the lessons learned from those failures that can ultimately lead to achieving our goals. Thomas Edison, the inventor of the light bulb, is famously quoted as saying, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
Failure can bring success in several ways:
1. Learning from mistakes: Analyzing what went wrong helps us improve and avoid similar mistakes in the future.
2. Resilience: Overcoming obstacles and setbacks builds determination and perseverance.
3. Innovation: Failure can be a catalyst for new ideas and approaches, inspiring us to think outside the box and foster creativity.
4. Humility: Recognizing our limitations and vulnerabilities is a sign of strength, keeping us grounded and open to growth.
5. Character development: Facing challenges and setbacks shapes our character and teaches us valuable life skills like adaptability, empathy, and resourcefulness.
Remember, success is not a straight line; it’s a journey with ups and downs. Even failures can bring success by teaching valuable lessons and helping us grow.
Failure is what you get for doing things
wrong over and over again.
Being successful, on the other hand, means
always getting things right.
But is it possible to do?
When you fail, you feel hopeless.
When you succeed, you fly high above the clouds.
So, I look at myself and ask,
“Am I a success or a failure?”
Almost always, I find myself a mix of the two.
It’s not success that makes you more successful. FAILURE is what it’s made of. Frustration is what it’s made of. There are times when it’s built on disaster. Here are some ideas that I articulated reflecting upon your blog.
1. Not believing in yourself: Having faith in your own skills and abilities can help you a lot.It’s stronger to believe in yourself than to know everything there is to know. Don’t give up on your goals.
2. A fatalistic attitude: Some people just accept their fate without doing anything about it. There must be some LUCK, of course. Take care of your ego and never give up hope.
3. Low self-esteem: People who don’t believe in themselves are always looking for who they are instead of making themselves into the person they want to be.
4. The fear of failing: We don’t even try because we’re afraid of failing. However, isn’t that the biggest failure of all? Every mistake helps you get better at what you do.
5. Wanting too much too soon: These people set very difficult goals, but are quickly scared away when they see how high the peak they are facing rises, and consequently give up.
6. Not being persistent: To reach your goal, you need to be consistent and patient.
7. Not Seeing Well: If you can’t see well, you’ll be able to’t steer your boat in a big ocean.
8. Not open to change and constant new ideas: Don’t fight changes; instead, use them to your advantage.
Thank you for keeping us thinking and examining life.
Sir, this blog reminds me of one of your classes in 2008. You asked us a question: “Are you hard-wired for success or failure, and either way, what are you going to do about it?” You then shared the words of Henry David Thoreau, “Men are born to succeed, not to fail.”
This is the answer to the question about being hard-wired for success or failure. There is no “failure DNA” that you’re born with. You were born with the same potential for success and growth as every other person ever born. There is no such thing as being hardwired for failure. What you do with your potential is the determining factor in your degree of success. Only you can determine that.
Losing is an addiction. If you’re a dedicated loser, no amount of failure is enough. You’ll keep trying to lose no matter what comes your way. Thank you for guiding us.
Happy Guru Purnima
That’s the absoulute way of living life.
ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः
सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॐ ॥
So, let us be positive in our thinking for others, try our best not to harm any living thing, make everyone happy and try our best to make this world a better and a wonderful place to live, so we too can be happy. The world will look beautiful only if everyone is happy.
Our lives today are interwoven to succeed amidst all the disparities, problems, globalization and policy paralysis. We have delivered till date amidst chaos and we will deliver even amidst increasing chaos. One day we will have a better climate that seeds the seed of prosperity for all. Hope amidst hopelessness shall sprout to deliver success, peace and equal space for growth of all. VASUDHAIVA KUTUNBAKAM!!
Until I was studying, I considered grades my success. But after I started working and getting a steady paycheck, I wondered if this was the success—more work, more pay. Even if I add taking care of my family, the equation does not seem to add up…. What is missing?
Following your blog, I see mindsets ranging from fixed mindsets (intelligence is fixed) to growth mindsets (intelligence can be improved). A growth mindset is a way of thinking about learning that welcomes difficulties and encourages sticking with things even when things go wrong. People with a growth mindset feel they have more control over their lives and are likelier to keep working towards their goals even when things go wrong.
Sir,
‘तुलसी’ काया खेत है, मनसा भयौ किसान।
पाप-पुन्य दोउ बीज हैं, बुवै सो लुनै निदान॥
Goswami Tulsidas Ji says that the body is like a field, and the mind is like a farmer. This farmer sows two kinds of seeds: sin and virtue. As it sows the seed, it will eventually reap the fruits. The point is that if a person does good deeds, he will get good rewards; if he does sinful deeds, he will get bad rewards. No amount of window-dressing and clever talk can convert what is wrong into right. So is a seed, such is the tree.
One wonders what value parameters such as the GDP hold in determining the transformation of a nation. A false hope is created. that continues to benefit a minority. Many similarities can be drawn with many parts of Africa. Our own nation considers exports of fruits and vegetables a key foreign exchange earner. Yet we record significant levels of malnutrition due to lack of essential nutrients in or diets! We have perfected our supply chains to serve the export markets at the expense of a weak local workforce. We no longer consider producing quality and sufficiently for our our citizenry……if we think critically, resolving the imbalance to ensure that our successes do not fail requires minimal resources. More often , its a mindset shift.
Thank you Arun ji for sharing the usual inspirational blog “Our success must not fail”. Great statement you made that learn to value your work, time and people around you. Otherwise, success may lead to failure with arrogance, rigidity, reduced initiative with time.
Respected Sir, I have known you since the 1990s. You would come to NRDC, where I worked, to develop civilian spinoffs for defence technologies. Then, rising with Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, you emerged as an author and a philosopher. I regularly read your blogs and find our version of Carl Jung in your writing, who understood that true beauty in life stems from embracing its entirety.
Throughout his lifetime, Carl Jung dedicated himself to unravelling the intricate complexities of human existence and uncovering the meaning of life. Perhaps one of his most simple yet thought-provoking quotes, Jung said: “The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” However, we discover that to become who you truly are, you must learn to love and accept all facets of your life—the good and the bad, the joy and the sorrow, the success and the failure, and so on.
For life to be complete, it necessitates the coexistence of opposing elements. Only by embracing these contrasting aspects can we attain a sense of wholeness. Keep writing, and keep guiding us. Stay healthy.
Another great thought-provoking piece Prof. Tiwari!
My first thought is how does one define success – for the individual vs the nation? Normally one thinks of financial measurements in terms of income, wealth, GDP, etc.
But from a personal perspective, I believe one can also define individual success as being happy through life by loving your family, contributing to society and living the way God desires – analogous perhaps to the “Niti’ principles you refer to.
Dennis Prager is a well known nationally syndicated radio talk show host, author and syndicated columnist in America. I listen to him when I can and am always enlightened in his view on happiness. The following is a commentary on his 1998 book “Happiness is a Social Problem”:
Achieving happiness won’t be easy, though: to Prager, it requires a continuing process of counting your blessings and giving up any expectations that life is supposed to be wonderful. “Can we decide to be satisfied with what we have?” he asks. “A poor man who can make himself satisfied with his portion will be happier than a wealthy man who does not allow himself to be satisfied.” Prager echoes other political commentators in complaining that too many people today see themselves as victims; he submits that the only way to achieve your desires is to take responsibility for your life rather than blaming others.
If most people live by the Niti of happiness of all… one would hope that translates to better governance for society and improved financial success for all.
Very well written article sir. Its time we turn our failures into successes!
Dear Prof
A beautiful piece indeed!
The sustainability of any development effort (success) must lie with the people. While partnerships and/or foreign investment is important, drable progress must be based on our people and their efforts in all sectors.
Thank you for taking us through ‘Niti’ or ‘Value orientation. In Rwanda, we talk about “agaciro” or “our dignity” being the driver of our own progress and prosperity. These are deep and fundamental values that sustain development.
As usual, a wonderful chain of thoughts. There is clearly a big disconnect in whatever the economist and policy makers talk about India’s development and what happens in real life for the common Indian. Unfortunately, nobody seems to be bothered about this as the ruling group keeps turning out numbers, which Press circulates making people believe that all is fine?
We need to revisit our election system, particularly the way we form government. This election has also shown, so has been the previous elections, that the party with the largest number of votes wins the seat, even if the winning margin is a few hundred or even less. In the process, we do not give any credit to those groups who have substantive following, but not the largest number. I think time has come where we should give seats proportional to the number of votes obtained. This will ensure that those who had a voice also get a role in governance. I don’t think politicians today would like to do this for obvious reasons, but I thought let me voice my view in this very enlightened forum.