Should I feel defeated, inferior, jealous or elated to speak of
Vidhi (name changed), a Jain by birth, born to a middle class family from
Haryana. She went to a government school but fought her way through student
life with just one eye. Topped her school and sailed through college life in
flying colours. Her congenital defect of being in frail health was due to an
auto-immune disorder which was evident from her eye defect that could not be
rectified. But before substantiating more details on this person, I must add
some interesting information about genes that can affect or break a person’s
hopes. Fame/ success cannot elude a person for his defective genes if the
person is industrious and indomitably strong-willed.
Why this genetic destiny?
The following facts are excerpts from “The Gene - An Intimate History” by Siddharta
Mukherjee, these are added to clarify the importance or lack of importance for
genes but a field that needs to be studied in an evolving manner, as this
branch of science is ever evolving as long as mankind exists. So do read with a
keen sense of bonding with the human kind of facts.
Daniel Kevles, a historian wrote on Galton’s arguments for
Eugenics. Galton had been unable to discover genes but would not miss out on
the creation of genetic technologies.
Maudsley went a step further said – Normal fathers produced
schizophrenic sons. Ordinary families generated extraordinary children. The
child of a barely known glove maker from the Midlands (England)- born of
parents not distinguished from their neighbours-could grow to be the most
prominent writer of the English language- William Shakespeare, was one of the
five brothers rose to extraordinary eminence.
Newton- a sickly fragile child
John Calvin- severely asthmatic
Darwin- had bouts of Diarrhoea and catatonic depression.
What’s an inadequate brain?
In 1924 Feeble mindedness came in 3 distinct flavors : Idiots,
Morons and Imbeciles.In 1930s the Nazis embraced genetics as a tool for racial
cleansing…. Thus goes History to eliminate Jews gradually and so on.
In brief, the family
history of genes does not stop a genius from becoming famous or however frail
in health or fortune. The genius in a person always strives to realize
dreams/ambition. Single-hearted devotion to persevere and never become
despondent. That is why sometimes you notice when life for some, although not so
well-planned, yet the destiny of some leads them up the ladder of success despite
the least use of intellect. Others are destined to keep working hard due to an
exceptional intellect also lag in terms of comfort or luxury or have hardly any leisure at hand and even fail to make an hour for themselves. They slog
and sweat yet remain dissatisfied with life. So we are fortunate to meet
persons like Vidhi.
A winner at academics
Vidhi stood out at academics as she was a bright student who was complemented by her
two siblings, both are medical practitioners. All three do face a harsh world
even today but are stalwarts in their respective professions.
Vidhi is a qualified Chartered Accountant and Company Secretary
whereby she could read gaps and loop holes in global finances with just one
glance (pun) at the figures. Adept at handling offshore accounts of donors and
streamlining expenses which did offer ample scope to pinch funds but Vidhi was
always upright and honest.
Climbing the ladder of success was easy. She flitted from one branch to another or one
firm to another. Finally landed a job with a global charity chain which always
kept her on her toes.
The marriage
She got married to an accountant, not so ambitious but straddled
with her through the marriage till the birth of two kids. The husband not too
adept to face the overwhelming success of an accomplished wife yet bound to the
institution called marriage. Vidhi took it all in her stride.
Her postings abroad
She stuck to her indomitable post with an open mind, frail body
and a crumbling marriage. She travelled to almost all important cities in Asia,
Africa and finally Boston, to Virginia and presently in Washington.
Global charity moves
Her official visits to all charitable links made her put up with
the ups and downs of her personal life. Her exasperating routine gradually made
her lose control over her own physical inadequacies. Gripped a few times by the
commonest of diseases that dragged over months at times but she had to get
cured. This was followed by a liver transplant and a meditation exercise gap
that soothed her mind and body. Her nagging family problems that multiplied
also kept her busy visiting hospitals compelled her to start working from home.
She is a fighter and still continues to fight a failing health but takes level headed decisions at home and office.
Vidhi is bound to her fate like any Indian woman. She smiles, she
is there, dependable for her children. She knits their future to form a perfect
pattern in life for them. Couldn’t feel more blessed when she travelled
thousands of kilometers only to meet us with the same warmth and concern. I
don’t have to read history to learn about great souls.