We always come across articles in the media where people are asking for benefits, subsidies, quota, freebies and so on from the Government. Here is an article to remind us that Individuals (or groups of them) can achieve anything if they set their minds to it.
The first in a series of articles to follow….
Individuals can Change the World !
Some people believe that there is nothing that one man or one woman can do against the enormous array of the world’s troubles and strife. Yet, many of the world’s greatest movements of thought and action, have flowed from the work of one single person.
Apart from the individual divine prophets that left their mark on this earth, consider these lesser mortals: A young monk began the Protestant Reformation; a young general extended an empire from Macedonia to the borders of the earth; and a young woman reclaimed the territory of France. Furthermore, it was a young Italian explorer who discovered the new world; and it was the 32-year-old Thomas Jefferson who proclaimed that all men are created equal.
These individuals moved the world, and so can we all. Few will have the greatness and fortitude to bend history itself, but each one of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.
It is from the numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that the human history is shaped. Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts, to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he or she sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and, crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.
With permission from Azad Iqbal, Barrister from Lincoln’s Inn, London; he is a renowned Poet and an accomplished Musician.
A while ago, CLN wrote a wonderful article – _Who is a Kodava?_ _- “At one time we identified ourselves by our integrity, hardwork, dedication to our land and our great love for our culture’_
After the merger with then Mysore State, we seem to have lost our way – largely due to lack of high quality leadership within the community. The last few decades has resulted in a near loss of identity and it is upto us to find a pre-agreed common agenda using a common platform to reestablish the leadership role that we played for all communities on an “inclusive” basis. That was the mantra that our ancestors used in keeping our identity strong. Those who spoke our language, followed our dress code, danced/participated at our festivals, relished Kodava cuisine – were all inclusively treated as Kodavas. We provided very high integrity in our leadership. That has been sadly lacking the past few decades with too much of external religious influence, vested interests and vitebank based politics ruling the roost. If we don’t reverse this trend, it will be the collective failure of the community.
I have a lot of friends from Coorg – both from the Armed Forces and from School.
I read CLN Online regularly and was delighted to read this article. It elevates the quality of what is available in regional newspapers – let alone national media. Your Education series was revealing and it is not surprising that Kodavas are doing well in many fields despite being a relatively small community.
Well done!!