THE POWER OF THE HUMAN
An 18-year-old Christian youth from Bombay named Greenwell Gomes committed suicide. According to newspaper reports, he had passed his HSC exam that year and wanted to enroll in a B.Com program. However, he was informed that admission would not be possible without a “donation” of fifteen thousand rupees. This news severely affected Gomes’ mental state, leading him to take his own life in a state of distress (Hindustan Daily, Bombay, July 1993).
On the other hand, there is another example from the same country. A man was unable to admit his son to a good hospital simply because he couldn’t afford the cost. Determined to change this, he decided to establish a hospital that would not only provide high-quality care but also ensure that no one would be turned away because they couldn’t pay. He set out on this mission and eventually succeeded in opening such a hospital. Today, this hospital operates successfully, and thousands of people have benefited from its medical services.
Such decisive moments happen in everyone’s life. During these times, the direction the mind chooses determines the path one will take. In these situations, it is important to have a helpful guide who can stop one from going down a negative path. This guide offers mental support when one’s own mind struggles to think clearly.
For the young man in question, it was also possible to see the educational setback not as an obstacle but as a challenge. He could have told those demanding a fifteen-thousand-rupee donation, “If you think you can block my path, you are greatly mistaken. You are underestimating the power of a person. The strength of an individual is greater than any barrier that could stand in their way. No one can stop them from advancing.”
After that, the young man could have decided to create an educational institution where students could enroll without needing donations or bribes. If he had made this choice and committed to it with determination, he might have succeeded in establishing a new, respected school that admitted students solely based on merit, with no requirement for donations.
The biggest cause of failure in this world is discouragement, while the greatest secret to success is perseverance. The young man’s suicide was due to his loss of courage. Had he not lost heart and made establishing a new educational institution his mission, he would have discovered that many people in this world would support him and collaborate with him in every way. Although he seemed alone in his initial attempt, he would not have been solitary on his second try. As a poet rightly said:
“The journey is the condition; many support the traveler, and countless shade-giving trees line the path.”
This verse was first recited to me by a merchant in Delhi. He was born into a merchant family, but due to certain circumstances, he faced the tragedy of becoming completely isolated. He no longer had a home or business in Delhi.
This incident occurred during his youth. He did not lose heart. He started by setting up a stall on the sidewalk with minimal goods. From morning till evening, he worked diligently. Though he earned only a few rupees after great effort, he continued his hard work despite all unfavourable conditions. Gradually, he began to find helpers.
A merchant began supplying him with goods on credit. Another person helped him find a shop, and yet another assisted him in finding a home. Step by step, he continued to climb the ladder of success until he became a successful merchant in Delhi.
If a person stays persistent on a path and is also principled and upright, success is guaranteed. Nothing can stop him from achieving his goal of success.
