Do we drive our future?

It was just the start of the 20^th century. India was fighting against the British rule. In these times a boy, like any other, was born in a middle class family. His father worked in spinning mills and mother was just mother, for him and his three brothers. The family was living a life of peace, happily spending the days. But it is usually at this time, when one starts taking things for granted, that god decides to show that life is not all walk in the park.

A day like any another took a turn which spun the life of this family on its head. Our boy was just four when the news came of his father’s death. The sole bread earner of the family was gone, just like that. And there were no gratuity. His mother, though distraught at the loss, had to pull herself together. After all she had to look after the four young boys. She knew their upbringing was going to be a challenge but she had to do all in her power to make sure that the family survives.

In these tragic times, their relatives, some of who were doing quite well did help out over the next few months.  The family now had settled down, away from their town. Mother had the talent for embroidery work and this became the source of income. A few years passed and then came one of the distant cousins of the mother. He had taken over his father’s business and was willing to help out the young boys. Two of the four were taken in an orphanage as boarders with the cousin’s help.  A year later, the third, our protagonist was taken up, free of charge, as his brothers were already paying boarders.

A harder life awaited him in the orphanage. Living with three hundred other boys, all trying to make the most of what life had given them. The orphanage could only manage on its measly budget to provide for all the children under their care. The only relief for all the boys came when they were taken to the garden, once a month in batches of hundred. The boys got the opportunity to get away from the worries and enjoy the nature. The future for our boy looked not so bright at this point in time. He was studying hard, working in all his capacity. He could try and get a job after his studies, support mother. But destiny had other ideas.

In a distant part of the city, news of a death came. You see his mother had another cousin brother, who was also involved in the business. But he died without any children. But a son was needed for performing the last rites and ceremonies. It was decided that they adopt one of the four boys in the orphanage. After all, they also had carried the same family blood. As fate would have it, our hero was chosen. Though he could not leave the orphanage right away, he had been raised up in the classes of society. After finishing his studies, he left the orphanage, but vowed to always remember his beginnings.

After further studies he joined the family business as a clerk but rose quickly among the ranks. The company expanded into further ventures, and he held up more and more prominent positions.  Among all is rise, he never forgot his vow.

You might have figured out this is not completely fictitious story. This is the story of Mr. Naval Hormusji Tata. He battled the odds and with a little luck and lots of hard work rose to hold many key positions in the Tata group. One might say what might have been had any other of his brothers was chosen? Well, it was his destiny.

This post came about because one of my friends asked me if destiny and future is the same thing. I say future is something for which you can work hard today and improve it. Your tomorrow is in your hands. And if your destiny agrees with what future you have decided, then you are surely going places.

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