Achieving your childhood dreams...

I wanted to make sure that they know who is speaking? I am a different person. I have my own set of rules, theories and beliefs, hence it was very important to me that they should know who am I? I said, “Before saying anything, I wanted you to know that who is talking, who am I actually? I am grateful to teachers for the wonderful introduction, but there is much more to that. I believe, in life you cannot be successful by following steps of most successful person but rather you should meet the person who failed many many times in their life. It’s very important to meet the people who failed in their life, so that you will be aware of the mistakes that person made and you can avoid those mistakes in your life. Atleast you will be aware of what kind of mistakes a person can make. I am a person who made so many mistakes in my life. I am here to share my life, my mistakes, my dreams. There are two things I want you guys to remember, one is 'who was I' and second is 'who am I now?'. I was just like one of you. I used to come to the very same school, just like you do. I was a kid, playing games, bunking the class, getting punished for my naughty acts, getting rewarded for my good acts, I was just like you. And now who am I? Right now, I am a person, who had many dreams in my life. I am a person who worked really hard to achieve those dreams and still working hard to achieve the dreams I had. I am just like you. I am a person who dared to imagined and worked hard to turn those imagination into reality. That's what I want you to remember." That was my self-introduction to future India and its true.

I was pretty excited to go on my six week vacation. It was a long time since I had been to India so thought this is an opportunity to meet some of friends and some members of my family. I decided to keep this visit a low profile (sounds like I am celeb but I am not) in order to give surprise of lifetime to some people. In the end it turned to be surprised on lifetime for some people, even to me when I just knocked their doors. One of the thing I thing I wanted to do was to visit my school. It is a school where I spend childhood enjoying my childhood activities. I was thinking to visit it much before but never got an proper opportunity. I always think that now I know a little bit about the world, I have travelled a little bit, I met few people, now its time I should share my experience with the new generation.

It was Friday morning. I reached Gadchiroli (FYI, Gadchiroli is very very small place in Maharashtra which is still very undeveloped, away from the world and stuff like that) to my uncle’s house. I showed my desire to visit school and requested uncle to arrange for small get together with the kids from the school. My uncle played biggest role in making me what I am, so I could share my desire with him. He became happy as he explained me that school teachers also wanted to have a small session with kids so that I guide them for better future wrt to education. That's not what I wanted to talk since I know very little about vast opportunities in this world but I promised to tell to kids, something which will be helpful to them in their future life. So within 2 hours session was organised with kids from grade 9th and 10th (which is considered to be very important in Indian education system). I did not have any speech, any power point slides, no videos nothing, only I had was my experience of life which I wanted to share with kids. I reached around 11.30am as session was from 12.00noon. I had a little chat with Principal of school as I wanted to know about the teachers from my time, how much time I have to interact with students. Principal was generous to tell me that I can as much time I want.

It was 12.00noon, I walked into the old corridor of public municipal school where I had time of my lifetime. There were no less than 200 kinds, in age group of 13-16, but I was happy to see girls were majority. After formal welcoming and giving my little bit introduction, it was my time to speak. I did not had any material but I know what I want to share with the kids. I wanted this interaction to be very informal so that I can connect with kids. So rather than using mic and dais, I decided to just stand with the support of wall and started my interaction. My topic was “how to achieve your childhood dreams?”, inspired from late prof. Randy Pausch from Carnegie Menon University. I wish I could record my interaction. Anyway I am sure I will get another time to do so. There were many important things for me during my talk. I wanted to make sure that they truely know who am I, who is speaking, what kind of image I want to potrait? After a brief introduction by one of my teacher, I gave my best shot to introduce myself.

Next one hour I was interacting with the kids, telling tell each and every secrete of my life, being very honest with them, telling them which are the things changed my life, goals, dreams, everything I could share with them. It was unforgettable experience. I told them how and why I became rebel to society, to family to everyone? I told them how I don’t believe in some things which were taught when I was kids? I shared with them my every failure, in personal and in professional life. I shared with them how I learned by hard way. I was just like a story telling to kids, this time all the stories were real. It was amazing. Since that was the first time I was having interaction with the kids, I wasn't very sure if they are interested in listening to me or thinking, like this all is crap. I never told them what to became professionally but my aim was to tell them who to become personally. I wanted to know them that being a good human being leads to becoming a good professional irrespective of profession. After an hour or so, I finish my small (??) interaction. Then suddenly there was a sound, an urge, an enthusiasm from the kids, enthusiasm I was hoping to see, a willingness to know more and more. That was the time I realise that yes, me being here is worthwhile. Kids requested me to speak more and more. It was so touching. So rather me speaking, I wanted kids to ask me, so next hour we spend in question and answer session before officially ending the program. I requested principal if I can have the interaction with kids more informally. She was more than happy to agree with that.

So my initial one hour interaction went for two hours, then four hours and finally it was for eight straight hours. It was amazing. After the formal interaction, we went to terrace, where I was surrounded by kids, asking many many questions. Some were really tough. Suddenly, there was a girl, who came to me for my autograph. I said, “I am no celeb, no hero to give autograph. I just like you”. On reply she said, “why, only celeb, hero can be our idol? Why can’t someone like you be our ideal. You are hero to me. I need your autograph.”. It was touching. So gave my autograph happily. One autograph leads to some and some to many. In next 3 hours I signed some 400 odd autographs, for the kids, for their friend, for their family. It was one of most amazing thing I have ever done in my life. It was a sign that kids loved me.

Its very hard for me write here everything, but I can write only one thing. It was amazing. I felt that I had greatest 8 hours of my life. I thought what I can do better for the kids? Hence I promise them to set a brand new computer lab with internet access, so that they will come to know about this very world, they can be in touch with me. Also, I have decided of complete renovation of school. I am grateful to all my friends who are willing to spend some time from their busy life in order to make someone’s life better.


Below are some spanshots from the event. I feel good whenever I go through it.

Truth...

What is absolute truth in the world? Or is there anything like absolute truth? Some people will argue that there is nothing like absolute truth but only the relative truth. Sometimes my clueless mind search for the answers to randomness, search for absolute truth. I never found the answer. But after all these years, I came to know one thing, which is if I know answer to "Why" then probably I can satisfy myself. Rather I can justify my acts to myself. Once my friend asked me, what is right? It's a classic philosophical question, specially when you have a choice of choosing between 'right is right' or 'right is wrong' or 'wrong is right' or 'wrong is wrong'.



Today is my last day in Siem Reap, Cambodia. I decided to finish my journey in Cambodia by watching the sunrise at Angkor Wat temple. It was beautiful, calm, as I watched Sun spreading its heavenly sunshine across the planet. I was there, standing, welcoming the Sun, again, in my life. Somethings just happens and you never know why? You don't know why there is a sunrise and a sunset, but one thing is for sure. It's there, daily, doing its job.

I decided to be just like Sun. To have a sunrise and sunset daily in my life. A new day giving me inspiration, courage, strength and hope to do the things and sunset reminding me that even if its end for today, tomorrow gonna be beautiful.

There is a ache in my heart and smile on my face. With this sunrise I am heading towards a new city, a new country, a new world. And I know, it's gonna be beautiful.

Keep knocking the doors...

"Hi..so you just arrived?"
"Yes.."
"Hi..I am Hemant and you?"
"Hi.. I am Eduardo Vazquez. Nice to meet you Hemant."
"Nice to meet you to Eduardo"

This is the first communication we had. In Cambodia Eduardo was staying in the same dorm with me and some other travelers. When you travel, you get a chance meet many new people who have something to share, something to tell and something to give. Eduardo is from Brazil and he is been traveling from past few weeks, being to many countries for business, for vacation. He seems very normal guy, but when I came to know a little bit about him, I realize that he is one great man. He works for TV company in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Our actual conversation started when he told me that he recently took interview of Ratan Tata, chairman of TATA group. Then I came to know that he work as a technical video engineer.

Later some time, he shared his story, about how he landed up in this work, how he got the job. From childhood, he is interested in Cinema. He wanted to know how it works. When he was 15, it was unbearable. He just showed up at doors of one TV company. "Knock, knock. Hi, I am Eduardo and I want a job in your TV company. I want to know about cinema and how it works". Response from TV company. Get lost. Next day, again little Eduardo was at the same doorstep, knocking the same door, and same words. "I dont want money. I want work. I want to learn. Give me chance to work and learn." Again, the result was same. He was kicked out of TV office. Again next day, same Eduardo, same enthusiasm, same words, knocking the same doors irrespective of response he got. It went on for few days. With frustration TV office people called little Eduardo's mother. His mother said, don't give him a work, just send him home, he is crazy guy for cinema.

TV people tried hard to push him, convince him for not to knock the door and ask for work. What he did, he kept knocking the door. For many days. Until, finally, looking at his dedication and enthusiasm, TV people gave him a chance to work for them. He learned stuff about lighting, how to set up lighting condition according to scene and some more stuff.

He is in business because he kept knocking the door till the door was finally open for him. The same door opened the opportunity for him to work with late Michael Jackson (yes he worked with Michael Jackson to shoot his video), Leonardo Dicaprio and many many hollywood celebs. He was involved in making of one of my favorite movie City of God.He was involved in all the biggest event happened in last decade working with all the biggies in the world.



How did he achieve it? Because he kept knocking the door till it was open for him...

Romance

“Christan is the LOVE of my life. I cannot love more anyone else than him. But during this daily life, because of work and all stresses I tends to lose him often. During this kind of travel, we get a chance to get off from everything, and get a chance to rediscover each other. Finally, it’s like, Hey, I have seen you before”, lovely lady said with a smile. I met fantastic German couple during my travel. The old lady was sharing the experience of her lifetime with me. Her words were beautiful. It made me to listen and listen. After finishing the fantastic dinner with two lovely people, I went into the thought process. I was thinking about Romance and Love. The time couldn't be better as just recently I had a romance of my lifetime with someone very beautiful and elegant. It was for 10 days but will be there for a lifetime. We had to be apart because of geographical constraints. Romance was unexpected but was beautiful. I don’t recall enjoying such a time with any previous girls in my life (sorry for that girls).

I always say to girls that I cannot give any commitments, I cannot promise you anything, but yes, I can promise you only thing that you will have best time with me. And this time, it happened with me. I remember her saying , “Hemant, I don’t want you to fall for me because then you will start expecting more”. I think it’s true. I think key to best romance is to expect less and give more. In those 10 days, I practically had no expectations from her. I just enjoyed the time we had together. When you expect less, then you become very happy even if you get very little. I am NOT a love guru, but I can share what I’ve learnt from my all the experiences.

If you want to enjoy the time, just pour your heart out. Tell her the every single thing you think about her and expect nothing in return. Be expressive, observe every single minute detail on her face, feel it, feel it while she is taking, try reading her eyes and then you will enjoy the very single second with her. Girls usually say something else but her eyes will always speak the truth. Looking into her eyes is the best thing you can do while talking to her. Eyes are the way to reach girls heart. That’s why, whenever a girl cry for me, I like it. Only because then I know that I got a place in some part of her heart. Feel every touch, feel every kiss, feel smell her of body. Enjoying waiting for her. When you wait for her, it’s the best feeling you can have. Then you realise that what is currently missing in your life. Even a short wait can seems like ages, but after that long wait when you see her coming to you, ahh, that's one of best feeling you can get. You feel like you have come to life again. It’s like you are thirsty for the ages and you got water to drink. You feel like you are alive again.

Have a hope, but don’t have any expectations. Have a hope that you may get a chance to keep her for all your life, but don’t expect that. Having a hope will make you to do anything humanly possible, so that you can spend one more second with her. And even if it’s over, don’t be sad. Smile because it happened.
There is a big difference the way Girl and Boy think & act. That’s why I always say that girls are fools and boys are assholes. If a boy likes a girl, he will practically do anything and not think, but once he gets the girl, then he will start thinking “I’ve got the girl, now what to do?”. On other hand, with girls it’s exactly reverse. Girls takes their time, think a lot before choosing someone. But once she choose a guy, she will not think anything else. She will stop thinking and will be just with you, devoting to you. That's the best time when you can show that how much you care for her, make her feel that she is yours, express yourself to her. And the result, you will witness the best smile a girl can give, with her eyes.

Who am I?

Probably everyone ask this question to themselves, for at least once in their life. I’ve asked this question many times to myself. All the time I got answer to what/how am I? Still who am I a big mystery? I am no famous personality, I am not doing any extraordinary things in life, but, just trying to achieve the dreams I had. And I am pretty much successful in achieving the dreams and still doing it.

I was born on 11th October 1982, in very small village of India. I am son to my parents, brother to my two lovely sisters, student to my fantastic teachers, friend to my awesome friends. I am just like anyone else, who experienced many many thing in this very small life. I got a chance to travel, got a chance to meet very fantastic person on the way. Some became friends and some left permanent mark on me. I always call myself a thief because I like to steal. I steal whatever good qualities I find in people. That’s how I’ve evolved. I am part of all I have met. My life is like a roller coaster ride. I enjoyed every single turn of this ride, the ups, and downs and everything. I feel my life is like a movie where you will find action, comedy, drama, romance, horror…everything.

I am a dreamer. And that’s the best thing I do. For me life is useless if you don’t dream. I dream all the time, while sleeping, walking, taking shower, all the time. It gives me chance to actually close the door of the very realistic world, and to step in the virtual world, to feel how it feels like to be there. That’s the process which gives me enormous strength and power to go beyond boundaries and to achieve the things. I think, I’ve got only this life, and I have to do everything possible in this life itself. Life is too short to miss anything or everything. That’s why, I always think that I am on deathbed and imagine what I missed to do in life? And then, I just do that thing. For me the saddest sentence in life is, “I wish, I could have done that..”. I am making sure that I should not have those worlds in my life. I am making sure that my life is worth living.