My Grandfather #MyRoleModel

This post is dedicated to the most handsome person in the world - Mr.Marutirao Gangaram Bhille

#MyGrandpa #MyRoleModel

More than 3 years ago, I interviewed my grandpa and I told him that I will write about him on my blog. We spoke all day and he narrated some wonderful stories from his rich experience in life. He, in fact, took out all the newspaper cuttings and all other documents that spoke about his work, achievements, contributions, etc. His excitement appeared so cute to me and I was not willing to believe that he was opening up so much details before me. A very humble, simple and soft spoken person, he began to share his life story with me just after me telling him one word "I'll interview you today". Those moments still echo in my life. Today, I am writing about #MyRoleModel as a part of the activity by Gillette India in association with BlogAdda.com. This had been in my drafts for such a long time. I want to share my grandpa's story on a big platform as he has a strong message to deliver to every common man. He has been my greatest inspiration and the biggest reason for me taking up a career in the social development sector. And yeah, my grandpa kept asking me what is a blog and what I am doing. Though I explained, the idea wasn't very clear to him. I guess, this will be a great way to tell him what it is.

Everyone has a role model, from who we try to learn, who we try to emulate, who we love. The word itself carries a lot of weight and has the power of influencing an individual to take up responsibility with will and not by force. Why do we need role models? For me, role models are required so that one has someone to look up to learn and follow the path walked by and experienced. While we learn how to successful from successful people, it also helps us to understand failure. Examples of leaders essential to keep up that momentum and willingness to do goodness in the society. Role model is very much essential when an individual is clueless of where one is heading in life. After all that matters in life is what legacy we leave behind and how many faces wear a smile on their face on hearing onto our name.

Well, for me my role model is my lovely grandfather. He is a man of values, discipline and more of a social animal I would say. I come from a middle-class family and a business background and more importantly from a joint family. I look up to my grandfather in all aspects of life. As I had the advantage of staying in a joint family I had the opportunity to learn from all the members of the family. My grandfather is the head of the family. He struggled hard and now set up a business which is so famous that every single day there is a queue from customers to buy the sweets. He believes in hard work and consistency. I usually go to him and ask him the experiences of various aspects of life. In this journey I have not only got inspired but it kind of built confidence in me to do whatever bit I can to the society.

I remember he narrating to me showing this photo "People from neighboring cities used to come to watch me play 'Kabaddi' because they loved to watch me because of my performance.

My grandfather is the head of the family and the way he has bought his children is just amazing. We are 12 members staying at home, a joint family and he has built a commendable value system for us. He considers even the smallest needs when takes decisions and more importantly, he ensures that his decisions are for the benefit of all the family members and no one feels dissatisfied or unhappy. Each member has his/her own set of rights and responsibilities. Each member is treated equally in terms of everything. Each member has the space to live their life in the way they like it. Not a single day have I seen my grandfather interfering or arguing with any of the members. Such a gentle and patient person!!

Everyone in the society speaks about our family as an example mainly because of my grandfather. He is the face of our family. He is the bond who connects everyone. He is the one because of whom everyone feels motivated and comfortable to stay together. When the world is trending towards a nuclear family, I feel proud that there are still individuals like my grandfather who have ensured family binds together and lives happily. He respects every member of the family and that is something I love the most about him. A world where the people are getting self-centered and all the energies are focused on how to amass wealth for oneself, my grandfather always keeps telling all the members in the family, "We earn together which definitely means we have to share together. Never complaint on who has contributed more or less, at the end, it is your own family that is going to be the beneficiary."

The first car, after which he built a fleet of vehicles.

Family is important because its not the money that comes to your rescue when you need something in life but remember it's only the family members with whom who shared the laughter, happiness, sorrow, success, failure and every emotions one can define come to your rescue. There is love and happiness within you do not go in search of it just start spreading it and you see the ray of hope at every corner of life" At every stage of life from my childhood I have looked up to my grandfather. I kept observing his actions and the way he responded to each of the situation. At the end always whatever my grandfather would stand up for was fair and just for all. That's how I started learning and inculcating the values from him and I never felt the need to hunt for any role model beyond my house. Why do we look up to a role model? so that we are inspired or motivated to follow the footstep but I would say I was very lucky enough to say that it didn't require any extra effort of hunting on google for the names on "inspiring personalities", "role model" etc., I lived and could practice the lessons in my daily life as I lived with the role model. Even after ages when my grandfather has turned 80 years we see the same momentum at home which makes me feel more proud and happy that the values around which my grandfather has built the family is still valid and I can say it will continue to be with lifetime warranty.

We are a business family. We own a small little sweet shop in Hubli with no name board even now i.e, after 70 years of it's establishment but still the best shop in the city which operates only 4 hours a day and yes each day customers wait in the queue to buy the products. To get the business at this level along with handling a joint family of more than a dozen one can imagine the leading and managing capability of an individual. And such is the potential of my grandfather who started so small from selling it on the street to a level where customers stand in queue to but the products that too in the era where there are n number of competitors and new entrants every day. He is the best entrepreneur I have ever seen. More importantly my grandfather treated each employee equal. In fact he was more in favour of them when others used to argue telling why did you pay him that Rs.10/- extra if this continues it will become a habit. And my grandfather used to always calmly reply "A person seek for help when he is in need, and he is working with us he will not become helpless that I can guarantee. I'm just lending a helping hand when he is in need. And that Rs.10/- I don't need it right now if that can help someone and mean a lot to him then give him, he will definitely return, if doesn't then at least he will return back to the job" Such noble gestures of my grandfather has really a lot of meaning and value. And that's how I learnt "to share" and help others when they're in need.

What one would get in return may not be the same but definitely much more because you gain trust and respect which will take an individual a long way in life. I remember chatting with my grandfather about the fleet of cars he owned as a taxi business that why did he chose to do multiple business when one was sufficient. He replied "Sometimes being selfish is also very important. Being selfish creates that confidence in you and pushes you to that extra level to take risk and challenges and make you realise of your potential" To explore or push oneself beyond one's capacity is when one can realise one's potential". Years of handwork and commitment in the professional life, I would say I could not visualise indeed see the practical implications of all the entrepreneurial qualities that these premier Institute define.

This is something which has actually touched me more than anything. And I must say that I'm very lucky enough to have lived with this inspiring person all time. The biggest investment that my grandfather has made till date is not the personal nor the professional but definitely in social life. Any person irrespective of the caste, creed or the strata who has knocked on our doors trust me I haven't seen anyone going back disappointed. My grandfather always had something to offer to each one may be monetary or non monetary. And I must my family is known for more for the good deed and the support my grandfather has given to all those in need and because of the business being famous. Neighbours, relatives and everyone who knows us recognise us as a family who believes in giving back to society. I keep listening to the conversations of the people they say though they make sufficient money they lend a helping hand more than what they earn and that's the best part of it. In nearby villages my grandfather is looked up as a man of worship as he has helped many of them and never said no. And all this he has done it with good heart and never he had that pride and never bombarded on the same. When the society recognises you as a family who does good deeds then trust me you have achieved it all, I mean the meaning of life. My grandfather is a very simple man, you will always find him in a white pajama and white shirt with a pigeon with its wing open on the pocket as a logo which he gets it tailor made. He has around 80 pigeons as he is fond of them and even now we have them. I remember when I got my first salary I bought trendy gifts to each of my family members but I had no clue what to buy for him so I directly went and asked him and all that he asked for was a cap. When I questioned him why, he replied"I think I'm growing old and I cannot bear the sun anymore when I look to the pigeons to come down to their nest" A man so simple without having any crave for any materialistic thing just randomly answered with the simplest thing. And I bought him one and he wears that even at parties. I love him for that.

Wow!!! Awesome to see some of the online possessions of my grandfather, here you go:

I'm definitely going to show this to him when I go back home the next time. Probably I won't be surprised he not knowing anything about internet.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/11/stories/2006091104850400.htm

Role Model is not about how much one has the potential to do by oneself. It's all about how a role model can transfer those values in a natural process say by practice and by adhering to those values at all times. The role model should be a person who not only influence one's good work which benefited oneself but the society as a whole. The reason being, good things are to spread naturally on it's own and not to be kept for oneself. Seeing my grandfather for 25 years of life, I started realizing the meaning of life and soon started analyzing each of his actions and behavior and how did that have an impact on him and others life. In this journey my life transformed. From being a selfish and self centered person I started looking things from others point of view. I started responding to situations and life in a manner that my grandfather does eventually that helped me build my focus on being more of a social animal. I began to be considerate of others feelings, respect others opinion, lend a helping hand not only to humans but all the living beings. And now this man has led me to quit my corporate career and take up a career which gives you a sense of inner satisfaction and that's how I started volunteering for many causes and chose a career path in the field of social development which sort of gives you the opportunity to build a ray of hope and happiness to many in life.

Post by Priyanka Bhille.

Post by Priyanka Bhille.

All that I can say is that I had the opportunity to live with my role model which paved for constant motivation that helped me to evolve as a human being considering every being equally important.

Eco Watchers - Episode 2 - Society marching towards better change

In reference to my post -

Eco Watchers - Episode 1 - A sigh of great relief

I continued on the second sample testing. Early morning 5.30 am on the way to Yoga class carried a bag of trash. This time tried to dispose on the main road at a different place. A voice yells at me 

Man:"Hello, Madam, you better take that trash and trash it in front your home and do not dirty the neighbourhood. Don't you know that you're supposed to give the trash to the BBMP people who come to collect at your doorsteps? You better take it else I will report your vehicle number to the BBMP and take your snap too" 

Hooooo........I replied in a calm manner

Me: "Sir, who are you? And why are you so concerned if I trash here, moreover you do not seem to live in this area, don't you? " 

Man: Whoever I may be, you look educated, don't you have that much of common sense to dispose at the right place? I clean the surroundings area, you all just dirty it at your convenience, at least have the courtesy to dispose the waste appropriately so that it can be cleaned it a better way.

Me: Oh, I appreciate the work you do, I acknowledge and realise how tough it is to do this job and that too when paid so minimal to do this tough and hazardous job. Do not worry I'll never do it again as I have personally worked with your clan and understand what you go through.

Man: Thank you Mam, I feel so happy that there are people who see us with dignity and respect it's really means a lot when someone appreciates or even for that matter acknowledge what we do.

Eco Watchers - Episode 1 - A sigh of great relief

The changing trends - People from the so called blue collar profession tend to be more responsible, sensitive and more concerned to keep the society clean than the so called educated one's having a qualified high degrees/profession - A sigh of happiness to witness that we are changing towards good, all the stakeholders in the community irrespective of their strata are becoming aware of the problems which we face as a society and what makes it worth mentioning is that they are taking a step and doing their bit towards resolution.

In a society where each one adds to the problem directly/indirectly but very good at always blaming the neighbours and not realising that even they're equally contributing to the problems, it feels great to see that there are changes in the behaviour or the approach of the individuals which waves a concerned hand carrying a message that "yes, I'm doing my bit to reduce the problem than blaming others or complaining about it"

I have worked and seen so many organisations who are doing a great job to bring awareness on this huge issue of managing and disposal of waste. Definitely I must say that these changes in the behaviour is because of all the efforts of the NGO's who are working to create awareness and help implement solutions to tackle the waste management issue. And I must say if this is the level of impact they have definitely we an hope for a cleaner & hygienic surroundings.

As we witness the problem of disposal of waste in Bangalore is turning into a giant problem, in line with this I wanted to answer the question of "who are sensitive to this issue and taking measures to solve" and see the practicality, I went ahead with an experiment of intentionally trashing the waste on the street side. And the journey is something which goes like this..............

Life in less than 60 seconds

5.30 am in the morning on the way to Yoga class I carry 2 bags of waste separated them into wet & dry waste. I stop at a place which looked filthy and before even I dispose them I hear a voice "Madam - Can't you read? There's already a board which reads "Do not trash here", don't you have sense?" A milkman yells at me. Felt so relaxed and happy for this response. Wondering why? It's a general tendency of the human nature that the one who is economically stable feels that every good thing in the society is happening because of his/her contribution and tend to blame the less educated in the society that all the dirt is because of them. You see they are more sensitive and concerned about such issues & make efforts to do their bit for the society in general in whatever manner they can. And we practically witness that majority of us just tend to trash the waste anywhere on the street and the inner voice says "There are people to clean this so let's do it, they're paid to do it so let's dirty"

Education is not only about being qualified by a highest degree but it is something which creates a value by applying what is learnt, being sensitive to the issues which is having an impact in a negative manner, being able to apply the teachings into practical and contributing what one learns in daily life. Simple practices leads to great changes. This calls for an individual being sensitive and responsible for each aspect in the society as one makes use of everything existing in the society for one's benefit in one or the other way.

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