Living A Life Of Fulfillment.
By Ramana Rajgopaul. Filed in Politics |Tags: Life of fulfillment, Social Service
I am blessed with a couple of friends who are doing something meaningful and very satisfying with their lives. I wish to share my association with my friends as a tribute to them. My friend let us call him BN, and I were colleagues for many years in corporate life. He is a bit older than I am but that never stopped us from becoming very good friends.
His wife, sons and daughters in law and a few friends and other members of his family, support my friend in this activity. Everyone who knows what they do are full of admiration and awe for their commitment.
Once his two sons were old enough and financially somewhat stable, he decided to quit the rat race to do something more meaningful with his life. This was after he had come in contact with some social workers deeply involved with rural education in one of India’s most backward regions, back in the 1980s. He visited their site and was highly inspired by what they were doing.
Before anyone could dissuade him, he opted for an early voluntary retirement from service and took off to his native state Rajasthan, to explore what he can do. For the past two decades and more, he has been involved in a rural upliftment initiative among one of India’s most deprived tribes in a remote part of Rajasthan.
In that time, living amongst these simple people, in simple accommodation and eating what is locally available, he and his lovely wife have brought about some remarkable changes in that village. They have brought about some semblance of education, basic health care, sanitation, local cottage industry, emancipation of women, improved agricultural practices, and the list is endless.
They reside for long stretches of time in that village. With just motivating the tribals to contribute in labor and kind, a transformation in the standard of living has been possible and both BN and his wife claim that what they have accomplished there has been far more satisfying than anything else that they have ever done before they decided to get involved in this endeavor.
They have used their own funds and contributions from their family and friends to finance their activities. They claim that, if they were to accept funding from any charities or government agencies, they get mired down in paper work and bureaucracy, which stymies their work.
This post has been inspired by the annual report that BN sends to his friends. I am truly amazed at how much has been achieved by one couple, in a remote part of the world with nothing else to back them but grit and determination.
It would be a crime not to mention something else about Mrs.BN. She has been a great hostess and caring friend to many people. She was a regular volunteer worker at the well-known institution providing the famous Jaipur Foot, in Jaipur, India.
I salute these two indomitable spirits. I wish that I could emulate them.
Thursday, October 2nd 2008 at 05:59 |
Imagine that. And without the help of some Non-Governmental Organization.
Thank you very much for sharing this story!
Mike Goads last blog post..Change to my comment response policy — and replys are are now all caught up!
Thursday, October 2nd 2008 at 06:18 |
Thanks for the uplifting story. I especially appreciate the fact they avoided red tape by doing it without asking help from big agencies.
Jean Browman–Cheeerful Monks last blog post..Creating a Sacred Space
Thursday, October 2nd 2008 at 09:14 |
I think it’s also important to realize we don’t have to do anything that big to lead a fulfilling life and make a contribution to other people. B. Wilde’s post http://thebwildecolumn.blogspot.com/2008/09/how-to-plan-for-trouble.html is about his quiet, unassuming grandfather. He’s a great role model in this fast-paced, achievement-oriented world. As B. Wilde describes him
“Grandpa didn’t believe that his self-worth was tied to being an overachiever. When driving his truck he looked at his surroundings and enjoyed the ride. When he passed the waterfalls in the Uintah Mountains he always stopped to take a look. And when he set out to accomplish a task, he liked to plan for trouble. But he never went about frantically trying to accomplish a list of self-imposed urgent tasks that, when completed, measured his value as a person. Fortunately, I learned this lesson from him before he passed away two years ago.”
What do you think? Does his story resonate with you at all? From what you’ve said, it seems to me you’re making a big contribution every day.
Jean Browman–Cheerful Monks last blog post..Creating a Sacred Space
Thursday, October 2nd 2008 at 11:08 |
Its very motivating and inspiring to read. It’s great that you are surrounded with such amazing people.
Shamelle-TheEnhanceLifes last blog post..Over Spending & Impulse Buying: 8 Reasons Why You’re Not To Blame
Friday, October 3rd 2008 at 10:35 |
Hello Rummy, you are truly blessed with good people around you. I agree with Jean Bowman, you don’t have to do a giant leap to live a fulfilling life, as long as you love what you are doing, you feel fulfilled.. I also salute social workers like your friend because they are living the life of what the Creator wants us to do..
Am sad that i am not in your top commentators anymore.. i need some catching up to do hehehe.. Been busy lately with kids, work and my student.. So please pardon if I seldom visit and I thank you for not failing to visit and of course for the comments…
roses last blog post..FUN
Saturday, October 4th 2008 at 01:48 |
I’m so happy I came across this. Too often it seems that one person (or two people) can’t make a difference. Perhaps that’s all in our minds, though. In large part, we’re capable of doing what we imagine we’re capable of doing.
Sara at On Simplicitys last blog post..Weekly Links: No Excuses Edition
Saturday, October 4th 2008 at 20:35 |
Hebat cerita! Ini di sekitar umat manusia. Saya memberi hormat ke anda teman BN dan istrinya. Sangat sedikit orang yang mau melakukan itu, walaupun kaya raya. Saya membayangkan bahwa dunia kami akan menjadi damai segera dengan orang seperti mereka.
love-elys last blog post..Abuse of The Indonesian Migrant Worker
Saturday, October 4th 2008 at 21:24 |
@love-ely: I am sure that this must be something nice, but I would appreciate it being translated to English. Thank you.
Saturday, October 4th 2008 at 23:04 |
I apologized to you. Before this, I commented in several Indonesian blog. So I forget to use English here.
Here my comment (translated):
Great story! This is about humanity. I salute to your friend BN and his wife. Very few people want to do that, although very rich. Is it true?
I imagine that our world will become peaceful soon with people like them.
Sunday, October 5th 2008 at 01:22 |
Tomorrow’s post at Transforming Stress is Honoring Our Comfort Zones. (It’s accessible now but won’t appear on the home page until tomorrow.) It points out that being comfortable doesn’t mean we’re stagnating. When I start stagnating I’m anything but comfortable, but that doesn’t mean I have to be constantly striving for something more in life. I believe in a healthy balance, and I think disparaging “comfort zones” is subtly endorsing our out-of-balance cultural pressures.
Jean Browman–Cheerful Monks last blog post..Creating a Sacred Space
Monday, October 6th 2008 at 02:39 |
Thank you. Your opinion means a lot to me.
I agree with you about being open to new ideas. I test my theories about life by reading and coming in contact with people who look at things differently. It helps me clarify what I really believe as well as expanding my view to understand where other people are coming from. I also try to keep up with the changing world. Our mental maps of the world are constantly becoming out of date.
Again, thanks!
Jean Browman–Cheerful Monks last blog post..Creating a Sacred Space
Tuesday, October 14th 2008 at 07:15 |
That was such alovely and uplifting story. It is been said by so many famous people that it only takes a few dedicated people to change a place.. Little by little the more people choose this in small ways adn in a life devoted. Thihgs just get a little better. What dedicating couple and it always is gooood to recieve this kind of life engaging life style who are bettering all of us. Keeps the Hope building, that one day..Peace will be for all. Kindness and charity will prevail. One couples leadership and determination… Thanks for sharing and honoring them.
Recently I read of this lady( backpackinggrannie) named Marla who building a kindergarten in South Africa. She goes to schools, brownie troops and tells her story and the kids raise funds to help with the schools needs. Right now she is working on a roof. She’s on healing circle affiliated with Global Harmony… I love her saying little by little like a bird building a nest.
Saturday, October 4th 2008 at 11:30 |
Yes Sara, the problem usually is in leaving one’s comfort zone and take chances with whatever life has to offer. There must also be the willingness not to worry about what anyone else will think.
Sunday, October 5th 2008 at 10:38 |
Please forgive me. Before this, I do some comments on several Indonesian blog, so I forget typing with English language here.
Below, my comment that translated in English:
Great post! This is about humanity. I salute to your friend BN and his wife. Very few people want to do that although very rich. Is it true? I imagine that our world will become peaceful soon with people like them.
Sunday, October 5th 2008 at 15:32 |
They are not very rich. They are just ordinary middle class people with a reasonable amount of savings and a steady pension. It is indeed people like this that do things like this. There are also very rich people who use their wealth for philanthropy like Bill Gates, who do not actually live the way my friends do, but their contribution is not diminished in any way for this.
You are more optimistic than I am that the world will become a peaceful place soon.
Sunday, October 5th 2008 at 15:58 |
That is an unusual insight that our cultural pressures get reinforced by our disparaging comfort zones. Reverse snobbery? Certainly some food for thought that. I have read and commented on your new post. It is absolutely stunning. My compliments to you.
I do not have to strive for something more in life. I could however be more open to new ideas and develop a willingness to change dearly held values which may be outdated for the times that we live in. If we cannot bring about these two things into our lives, surely, we are stagnating?