Since the bank declined to raise the limit, I had to borrow capital from money lenders on higher rates. Thus reached a pile of interest on interest followed by incessant demands from the money lenders. I got engulfed in financial crisis. When my father-in-law heard about my worries he through Madhuri offered to help me. When I was a member of the joint family there had been a constant back stabbing in the family that I had been siphoning away the earnings from Pendrawala to my in-laws. Alas! Had I done that, my helplessness to seek assistance from the in-laws would not have arisen and I would have used my savings accumulated there. My conscience did not permit me to borrow from my in-laws. I was a bit hesitant. My situation was like a mendicant who begs around a running train who does not have the menu as an option. So without a sense of shame, I borrowed from my in-laws. However, the pit in which I had fallen was so deep that my rescue was impossible without a miracle. And no such miracle was willing to ensue!
My earlier decisions to purchase a plot and then to build a house were suicidal. In my zeal for having a house of my own, I had used the capital invested in the business to house building and by manipulating loans from one and repaying other, made my business crash. My reputation in the market as well as with the banks began sinking. My well-wishers, who helped me by giving credit were no longer interested, as how long one was able to help me? There is a proverb in Hindi which is appropriate to my occasion. Teli ke pass tel hai to pahad par nahi chupadega, means, if one has abundance he would not sink it to the well.
**********
Any financial miracle didn’t happen but an exciting opportunity drew towards me. My financial constraints were such that I could not dream of becoming an International coach but a letter received from Indian Junior Chamber elated me. I was informed that Indian Junior Chamber was going to host an International training program in India. I had applied and I was selected to participate in a three-day seminar of ‘Train the Trainer’ at scheduled dates. Bill Potter was the pilot faculty from New Zealand along with two other Indian Faculty.
Bill Potter was an exceptional person. Robust inbuilt, he was extremely fair complexioned. He was coach of New Zealand’s national football team. He disliked the term ‘trainer’ his contention was, animals are trained. He preferred to be called ‘coach’ who guided human beings. For the first time, I saw a coach in jeans and T-Shirt. Till now everyone followed the dress code, suit, tie, polished shoes so that one impresses the audience by appearance. In my earlier days, I too had adhered to the dress code. Though I did not have a suit I tried to impress by wearing pants and shirt with a tie. However, I soon realized that it is not the dress that really counts but the presentation that matters. Hence I soon dispensed with neck tie and even presented the program in Kurta-Pyjama, an Indian dress.
Bill Potter believed that the orientation should be made as comfortable as possible to keep the learner impressed and attentive. The atmosphere should be tension free and participants in a relaxed mood with a coach making the presentation lively and interesting. He could sketch at ease and explained his ideas with drawings. We never felt tense or tired during his presentation this made learning easy. He became my Guru, the role-model, in those three days. What I acquired from him helped me throughout my career after successful participation in that course I became a ‘Prime’ trainer, as the first step of becoming an International trainer. That was the end of my reach because the next stages, ‘Excel’ and ‘Omni I could never move because it presupposed foreign visits which my financial circumstances would not allow. After becoming ‘Prime Trainer’ of Junior Chamber International I returned to my city. My JCI friends organized a program to facilitate me. I still recall that event, why do I still remember? Whatever a person might accomplish, his own city turns a cold shoulder to him, even the members of the family do not consider the achievement worthwhile. Whenever these matters were brought to Daddaji’s knowledge he threw a damp blanket over it by commenting, “Some ten or twenty imbeciles clap while he says something, make my son abandon his business and goes on lecturing.” You will be surprised to learn that though I have been conducting these program for several years, in several Hindi speaking state cities including my own city the number of such programs is in hundreds neither my father nor brothers ever showed any interest or curiosity in finding out what I have been doing. (Seriatim)
My earlier decisions to purchase a plot and then to build a house were suicidal. In my zeal for having a house of my own, I had used the capital invested in the business to house building and by manipulating loans from one and repaying other, made my business crash. My reputation in the market as well as with the banks began sinking. My well-wishers, who helped me by giving credit were no longer interested, as how long one was able to help me? There is a proverb in Hindi which is appropriate to my occasion. Teli ke pass tel hai to pahad par nahi chupadega, means, if one has abundance he would not sink it to the well.
**********
Any financial miracle didn’t happen but an exciting opportunity drew towards me. My financial constraints were such that I could not dream of becoming an International coach but a letter received from Indian Junior Chamber elated me. I was informed that Indian Junior Chamber was going to host an International training program in India. I had applied and I was selected to participate in a three-day seminar of ‘Train the Trainer’ at scheduled dates. Bill Potter was the pilot faculty from New Zealand along with two other Indian Faculty.
Bill Potter was an exceptional person. Robust inbuilt, he was extremely fair complexioned. He was coach of New Zealand’s national football team. He disliked the term ‘trainer’ his contention was, animals are trained. He preferred to be called ‘coach’ who guided human beings. For the first time, I saw a coach in jeans and T-Shirt. Till now everyone followed the dress code, suit, tie, polished shoes so that one impresses the audience by appearance. In my earlier days, I too had adhered to the dress code. Though I did not have a suit I tried to impress by wearing pants and shirt with a tie. However, I soon realized that it is not the dress that really counts but the presentation that matters. Hence I soon dispensed with neck tie and even presented the program in Kurta-Pyjama, an Indian dress.
Bill Potter believed that the orientation should be made as comfortable as possible to keep the learner impressed and attentive. The atmosphere should be tension free and participants in a relaxed mood with a coach making the presentation lively and interesting. He could sketch at ease and explained his ideas with drawings. We never felt tense or tired during his presentation this made learning easy. He became my Guru, the role-model, in those three days. What I acquired from him helped me throughout my career after successful participation in that course I became a ‘Prime’ trainer, as the first step of becoming an International trainer. That was the end of my reach because the next stages, ‘Excel’ and ‘Omni I could never move because it presupposed foreign visits which my financial circumstances would not allow. After becoming ‘Prime Trainer’ of Junior Chamber International I returned to my city. My JCI friends organized a program to facilitate me. I still recall that event, why do I still remember? Whatever a person might accomplish, his own city turns a cold shoulder to him, even the members of the family do not consider the achievement worthwhile. Whenever these matters were brought to Daddaji’s knowledge he threw a damp blanket over it by commenting, “Some ten or twenty imbeciles clap while he says something, make my son abandon his business and goes on lecturing.” You will be surprised to learn that though I have been conducting these program for several years, in several Hindi speaking state cities including my own city the number of such programs is in hundreds neither my father nor brothers ever showed any interest or curiosity in finding out what I have been doing. (Seriatim)
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