In the journey of life, success often comes to those who navigate the challenges with determination and discipline. This riveting story, set against the backdrop of rural India, sheds light on the transformative power of setting goals, maintaining focus, and overcoming adversities.
In my school years, students achieving 75% and above were placed in A division, followed by B, C, and D divisions based on their exam performance. This grading system, which we, as students, found discriminatory and perplexing, remains a puzzling aspect for me to this day but yes it was the school’s way of putting in a sense of discipline and pride at that young age, which child psychologists wouldn’t agree.
Interestingly, recently during a consulting assignment, one of the Chief Operating Officers of a growing Engineering organization alluded to the movie “12th Fail” as a means to emphasize how discipline contributes to success. The movie 12th fail tries to discriminate on the basis of vernacular medium from a rural set up. Note vernacular is another word, which I do not like, because vernacular means the language of the slaves as per old British dictionary and it is the colonial mindset of, they being superior to Indians. We still live in a country where there are English speaking classes which claim to teach farathedar English.
Many success stories feature individuals overcoming challenges as underdogs. In the film “12th Fail,” directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra and starring Vikrant Massey, a biopic unfolds, portraying the life of IPS Dr. Manoj Sharma and his wife IRS Shraddha. The narrative revolves around a man originating from Chambal, a region infamous for dacoits. In contrast, today’s urban youth seem to have everything handed to them effortlessly. Amit Tandon, a stand-up comedian, humorously highlights this in one of his shows, recounting his son’s optimistic mantra of ‘Apna Time Aayega’ (Our time will come). Tandon wryly points out the irony of enjoying the best of luxuries, top-notch schools, and yearly foreign vacations without realizing that, unless they are truly dedicated, their time might slip away.
In the story—Manoj sets his goals to become a police officer, when he sees the power of a honest police officer in his village and aspires to become one. Little did he know about the UPSC exams and becoming an IPS officer.
Lesson #1 – Establishing a goal requires a readiness to make sacrifices and confront life’s challenges. Whether engaged in tasks like cleaning toilets or working at a flour mill, Manoj perseveres without losing hope. With unwavering focus and discipline, the surrounding ecosystem acknowledges the dedication, leading to assistance from unexpected sources.
Lesson #2 – The crucial factor is having a clear intention; other aspects are secondary. In the IPS selection interview, despite facing challenges in English communication, Manoj emphasizes his selection by opting to drink from a steel glass. He reinforces the idea that, when it comes to water consumption, the priority is clean water rather than the material of the container. Similarly the intention and knowledge is more important than the mastery over a language.
Learning#3 Not losing sight of your goals. There were many distractions including love interest., but Manoj realises and focuses on the hard work and achieves desired results. We all have to put in the effort needed, at times even knowing it may not be enough. Manoj worked 15 hours in a floor mill & then studied at night at the same place
Lesson #4 – Visualization plays a significant role, illustrated by a subplot where Manoj’s friends purchase a police uniform and imagine themselves donning it. This practice becomes a crucial element in embodying the role and engaging the subconscious to work towards that envisioned future.
Lesson #5 – Excuses hold little interest; what people truly want to see are the results. Despite facing numerous challenges such as financial constraints, inhospitable living conditions, communication issues, and family poverty, Manoj utilized available resources to achieve his goals without complaining. He infact took pride when he says that he has reached the peak without oxygen support.
Lesson #6 – The Power of #Restart. Manoj found himself surrounded by individuals who refused to give up, serving as a testament to the strength of resilience, patience, and perseverance. Despite facing setbacks, he embraced the idea of restarting, demonstrating that with unwavering determination, he successfully cleared his exams on his final attempt. This underscores the importance of resilience and the belief that setbacks can be stepping stones toward ultimate success.
Special thanks to #SiddharthShenoy #AmitTandon #ApnaTimeAyega #12thfail #Restart #LearningWithMovies