Person X – Life about a not-so-ordinary man

Hi there, all my readers… It’s been a long time and we haven’t been in touch lately. Well, I am sorry about that. In any case, I am back with hopefully an interesting story about a person I most admire. I am calling him person X (Don’t worry, I will reveal his true identity at the end. Now, please do not jump to the end of the story; or else, you will spoil the fun).

“Who is he and how is he related to me?” In short, he is a GREAT man who has done great things and I am just a person who is applauding his nature. When you start reading this story, you might think – “How do I know so much about him??”. Let’s just say for now that I was around him. But do not be mistaken!! Even after staying around him all the time, I do not know his true self. I am writing about his life only based on his actions that I have been watching all my life. Let’s get started with the story already… Alright, here we go…..

Person X was born in a poor state of India called Orissa long time back. I am pretty sure that he was son of a farmer. He spent his childhood in a village of Orissa. I really cannot go in the depths of his childhood because I wasn’t there to experience it with him. However, he did mention few things about his childhood which is interesting to put here. He would say something about a BIG vulture taking him away from the village and he would fight his way out of the vulture’s stomach. Well, I couldn’t be more correct here. Now, you know one of his traits – funny!!

For real, I remember him telling me that it was his brother who took care of him his entire life because his parents lived short!! For readers who don’t have parents, I hope you can understand this man and what he might have experienced – Solitude. It’s true that you can understand the other person only if you put yourself in other person’s shoes. It’s hard for those who have experienced solitude. One note on that I can honestly say is – It makes you stronger!! Just an FYI

Now back to person X’s story; thanks to his brother, he wasn’t that lonely as a child (I am guessing here!!). Because of his brother and his own hard work, from a poor state, he went to a prestigious college in India for doing his undergrad in engineering, and then joined the Indian Air Force to serve his country. This must have happened when he was around 21. After few years, he married this beautiful woman named Nibedita. (Oh yes, I can tell you for sure that she is a beautiful lady). And then, what do you know… he has his own family with two kids, one being a cute one named Gudu. Well, about the other, let’s leave him aside for now; the second child was a dumb/not-so-interesting child any case.

Person X’s life (in his 30s and 40s) with his family was fun. I can say that because, I have seen him taking out time only for his family. He would take them for road trips. I guess one good thing about road trip is that, since there is so small space in the car, you have no choice but to talk. Based on my knowledge of him, he was a darn honest man who did things to protect his family. I remember this instance of him where he got really pissed off and literally fought with someone only to protect his son. Someone (Gudu’s cousin) told Gudu that his dad is very caring for his own family and his own family only. Now does that make person X a selfish man? You will get to decide it at the end of the story. But, one thing is clear here. He loved his family and never mixed his work with his family. Both of the things were always separate, which is a good thing!!

So, any case, he worked, served his country honestly and then again because of his hard work, got into a field where people called him a scientist (in his 40s). Well, he worked as a scientist for few years, and soon moved into a new world where he was known as a software engineer. For this part of life, I cannot write much about him as he was so busy with his work, I really didn’t get any time to know him better. One thing I do know is that he did try to open his own company, but failed. After that, if I remember correctly, he joined Microsoft probably as some kind of a manager. When all this was happening, I remember him saying to his sons – “Think Big!!” and all philosophical stuff about working hard. He even made his sons go to some spiritual places. I don’t know when it happened, but I am pretty sure that he became very spiritual himself. I guess, when he failed to open his own company, he must have learnt few things in life that made him stronger and spiritual. Listening to him, rambling about spiritual stuff, did affect me as well. I can surely say that he has a big mind which thinks differently unlike common minds. He had surely reached the final state of the “Maslow’s hierarchy of needs”. This became very clear when all of a sudden (in my eyes) he decided to join politics and serve the people of Orissa. If I think about it, this actually happened just after both of his sons settled (got job or got into a college). Now just think about it. Just after he had satisfied the needs of being a dad, he started doing things, not for himself, but for his people.

Now, I ask you this question again – DO you think he is selfish? Let me put it in a way which will make more sense for a common mind. If an average guy retires, he/she will certainly plan on relaxing and living an easy life for the remaining years – That is what you call “retiring”!! Do you think X is doing that? No!! What I still don’t understand is – what is his driving force?! If I haven’t mentioned earlier, he left Microsoft on purpose (where the life could have been so damn easy) to support his people (where the life will be really really hard). Like me, you don’t have to be a genius to make out from X’s actions that he is not just any ordinary man. But this still doesn’t answer my previous question. Why would any sensible man put himself in a suffering state for helping another man? Since I have lived with him, I know for sure that he is doing it for happiness of others which in-turn gives him immense happiness.

Like I said before (in one of the previous blogs), one must know what is the true purpose of one’s life. In most cases, it’s being happy (I think it’s a universal truth that happiness is the final state where everyone wants to be in)!! But, people define happiness differently. To some, like X, happiness comes through the happiness of others. Like he wanted his family to be happy, he literally gave up his pleasures and easy life for his family, he is doing the same now for his community. Now, I mean, right now at this very instance (while you are reading my blog), person X is trying his best to support his community.

I have finally come to the end of this story (but in reality, its actually an ongoing live story based on his present life) and it’s time to reveal this person X. I hope you liked his story. If you really want to know how he lived his life, try living a life out of the box for once. You will then understand him better.

As for the mystery, person X is really my Great Father/ Dad/ Papa. His name is Gora Chand Barik. I am that ‘dumb/not-so-interesting’ kid of his – Amit. It might not be a big surprise for my father as a reader though. Hah…

I wrote this, not just because its father’s day (well, that’s when I started writing it!!), but mainly to remind myself how small I am when compared to my Dad. I surely intend to change that!!

By writing this blog about my very own father, I have learnt a lot about myself today.

One of my good friend told me “What is the point of showing off and writing your feelings about your Dad online and not telling him directly?”. Well, if any of my readers are having the same question in their mind, know this about me – I have my own ways of being OPEN (and shy). I believe that one must share their feelings towards their close ones via any means (best being actions); and at the end, there has to be a clear understanding between you and your closed ones to only make your relationships stronger (which is a big BIG thing in life). I thought using a blog will be different and make things interesting.

Thanks for being my father, papa (I am crying right now… Na, just joking!! But really, I meant what I wrote!!)

To me, Idol is a person who has changed one’s life; idol is someone whom you want to be!!

You, papa, are my idol (and I thought Federer was my idol!!) If you are reading this, know this for sure… My actions (for you and the close ones) will speak louder than anything I write here or say to you.

To all my readers, I hope you enjoyed it. I will soon come out with another blog about other members of my family just so you know me better.

Also, just so you know, my road biking has been going really really good. It’s hard, but again, thanks to papa and his actions compared, I am able to push my way forward. I have finally come up with few dream goals that I believe I can get. I will share it with you when the time is right.

Cya!!

Love and Suffering!!

“Wooooh!! Wait a minute… What the hell is this? Are you insane??” This is how you might have reacted when you first looked at the heading. But believe me, if you are in love with something or someone, you can relate to what I am saying here. For any lover, this is a must read!! So here I go again with my philosophical talk…..

Since the day I came from India (my previous posts will tell you more about my trip to India), I have been thinking…. thinking about my family, cousins and friends back home. It’s true that if you have even few minutes in your hand, your mind starts to think… you think about what you care for, what you love. It’s because I twisted my leg while dancing back in India, I am getting some time to retrospect and remember the good times I had back in India. I really really feel sad because I can’t stay with my family and friends all the time. In a way its good, isn’t it? It shows that I really care for my close ones!!

For the last few weeks, I have been trying to answer a serious question which you might be interested in. My question is – “Do you really need to suffer to achieve happiness??” Think hard before you can answer this question!!

For me, the above question can be translated to this…. I get happiness when my family is happy and when I am at the top in my field of interest (which I truly love). Now, how can I reach my goals and keep my family happy? Time, is sooooo precious at this moment, don’t you think?

My answer to the above question is simple – I believe that my true work (which I love, but it often leads to suffering & pain) will be accounted for through my family’s happiness. I work and hope that the results will benefit my family and close ones. That is what I truly believe in.

I really don’t know why do I have to write it here in open, but I think it’s a way to remind myself (and others like me) –

‘The purpose of life’

‘What is truly important in life?’

‘What truly gives happiness in life?’

 Just read what this quote is trying to say –

“To love is to suffer. To avoid suffering, one must not love. But then, one suffers from not loving. Therefore, to love is to suffer; not to love is to suffer; to suffer is to suffer. To be happy is to love. To be happy, then, is to suffer, but suffering makes one unhappy. Therefore, to be happy, one must love or love to suffer or suffer from too much happiness.” - Woody Allen

It’s totally your choice if you want to take it seriously or not!! I am nobody. But, it just might give you a new insight to your life. The only reason for me to write this post is to share one thing and one thing only – “If you are in love, you will suffer no doubt!! But remember this – continue loving till you reach peace and happiness”

For all the readers, I am really sorry for being so philosophical!! I think this will most probably be my last blog for next couple of weeks at least, because my leg has almost healed and I can finally do what I do best – Go out and kill myself either on bike or on court for my cause

You guys take care of yourself. Its time for me to act!!

Fin

Finally, great quotes by great people (in order of importance that I have given to each of them)–

 “There is only one road to human greatness: through the school of hard knocks.”—Albert Einstein

“That’s what you get when you suffer – you get results.” Paul Sherwen, Tour de France 1999

“I hated every minute of training, but I said, don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life a champion.” - Ali, Muhammad

“People have to really suffer before they can risk doing what they love.” - Chuck Palahniuk

 “Now it seems to me that love of some kind is the only possible explanation of the extraordinary amount of suffering that there is in the world.” - Oscar Wilde

Something important called LIFE!!

I know, I know!! I am being little bit philosophical here. But let me tell you a real story (continued from my last blog on my trip to India) which will surely make you think about your own life in a spiritual and philosophical manner. So here is my story…

After having a small, but the best vacation of my life, it was time to leave India and go back to the U.S for work. As per the plan, I was supposed to travel from Bhubaneswar-to-Delhi-to-Chicago-to-Denver.

The day was 21^st of May 2011 (it’s also considered to be a judgment day by many people!! I know it’s a joke). My flight was scheduled to depart on that day from Bhubaneswar to Delhi at 8:00PM. After saying farewell to my BIG family, Papa and Mummy accompanied me to the airport at around 6:30PM. Sad moment, yet it had to happen. Both of them, knowing that I will not be coming back for another year, wished me good luck and left. It was really hard for them.

After entering the airport, surprisingly, after half an hour, I met my cousin, Naunis, and her mother (my aunt) at one of the departure gates. All three of us were travelling in the same flight luckily, but, the flight was delayed to 8:30PM. Lucky for me, Naunis talks a lot. Time flies by when you are in a good company. That’s what happened with me. Luckily, all three of us sat next to each other.

The flight took off and everything was going normal until this pilot, at around 10:30PM, tells us that we will have to circle over Delhi as there is a thunderstorm; because of which, the expected arrival time was delayed again to 11:30PM. I forgot to mention you that, I had to catch a flight from Delhi (which goes to Chicago) at 12:30AM. I was in big trouble already. If I miss this flight, I cannot make it to the U.S on time. Damn you Delhi weather!!

The weather didn’t stop Naunis from talking!! She was talking and talking and time was just flying by. Again, things were going normal, but all of a sudden, the plane starts to shake like crazy; I mean seriously crazy. I think our genius pilot took us directly into the thunderstorm (I think it was 11PM  that time). Just so you know how we felt, let me give you an example. Remember the time when the plane lands – the entire plane, no matter how well trained the pilot is, shakes for a very small period of time. Now, imagine, the intensity of that shaking is tripled and time is extended for 30 minutes. I can assure you that it wasn’t any normal turbulence because I felt a normal turbulence in my next flight. Throughout that turbulent state, people were praying and crying, as expected. To make it worse, this dumb pilot, instead of giving us some sympathy, orders the crew, in a tensed manner, to be seated. The plane was still shaking badly. Naunis was crying too. I told her to keep her head down as it relieves the pain from your stomach (I guess I was doing the same from the start because I was too scared). While doing that, when I peaked outside for a second, I could see the lighting and red light (from the plane) on the clouds. Not to mention, the crew had turned off all the lights. It was scary. Really!! I never thought that I will have go through this in my life. But it was happening and happening very very fast. All I could say to myself to boost my confidence was – “Never give up!! Be strong!! You still need to do a lot!!”. I also tried reading the safety instructions during the turbulence (really, you fool!!). Well that didn’t help. I soon started asking myself these questions ->

“Am I really going to die now?”

“Is this really the end?”

Soon, I started thinking about how my family will take it if I am died. I was seriously thinking what good have I done so far and how people (mainly my family) will remember me? All I can say – when you know that you are about to die (even when you have few seconds to think), you think; you think 10 times more than you are think now. You think of past and future; not present!!

Since I am writing it, you already know the end of the story. Our life savior, the pilot (whom I was calling before a dumb ***), landed the plane safely at the Delhi IGI at around 12:00 mid night, where all the passengers applauded the pilot. Everyone was happy, but not me, not yet!! I had a flight to catch which was departing at 12:30AM. After running for a kilometer inside the airport (I barely managed to say goodbye to Naunis and my aunty), I luckily made it on time and boarded the flight. But even after boarding this flight from Delhi-to-Chicago, all the passengers, including me, experienced the turbulence. This time, the pilot bravely announces that “the state-of-art technology that this airplane is made in will keep us safe”. Finally I was relieved.

Apart from this, I met a preacher (in the long 16 hours flight) who gave me a Bible and then, I missed my bag which had all of my new clothes and few Indian Haldiram snacks. Finally, my (not so) ordinary trip came to an end when my friend, Vineet, picked me up at the airport.

Come to think of it, this blog has become longer than I expected. My intent of sharing this experience was to just let all of you know that LIFE is something that is given to you only ONCE. Please oh, please, don’t fool around with it. Care for it. You are the one who decides whether you want to give importance to your life or not!!

As for me, it’s not that this incident has changed my entire life. My life was already changed thanks to Papa (when I chose tennis). This incident merely made my beliefs and hopes stronger!!

Before I end this, I want to share few beautiful quotes that fit perfectly here…

“Life is far too important a thing ever to talk seriously about.” – Oscar Wilde

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” – Mahatma Gandhi

“Don’t think twice. Live your life the way you wish to.” – Amit Barik

My one week’s trip to India after two years of stay in the United States!!

In short, the trip changed my life in many ways (Really?!). I am taking a small time here to retrospect and think of what happened before and after this trip.

Before the trip, I had just completed my two years of education at a U.S university called CU, Boulder. Guess what!! I did not attend the CU graduation ceremony with my friends, which is considered to be important for many. Why didn’t I attend, you ask? I was too busy with my work and my sports. Well, to be honest, I was so much focused towards my own goals here in U.S that I didn’t think of going to India at all. I was more concerned about my road biking, my fitness, my work at Aircell and my tennis!! It was all me and me to the core. The point is, before going to India, I was a workaholic and a sufferer in the U.S. If I remember correctly, I was the same back in India since the day I got the craze feeling to change my profession to a sport (specifically tennis)!! Five years have passed since that day, and nothing changed in terms of my perspective to life. I loved working really really hard for a reason and I did it. But do you really think that I have changed just because of this trip to India?? I will answer this some other time (I promise).

Any case, I left for India, opened up with my family (in a rather unorthodox manner), spent some time with my closest friends and cousins, and came back to the U.S. Really short trip to India, don’t you think!! One thing I realized here is that, I am so lucky to have a BIG family with so many cousins. Just so you know the meaning of ‘BIG’, here is a list of family members (which is incomplete because my memory sucks):–

My own family – Papa, Mummy, and Gudu (my brother who just got married to a wonderful woman)

My cousin sisters – Sweety, Guddi, Mony, Sony, Golapi, Sana, Naunis

My cousin brothers and relatives – Sonu Bhai, Sabina Bhabi, Preetika, Jinu Bhai, Kushi, Raja Bhai.

My Dog – Diana (Papa and Mony like her a lot!!)

And then, there were some really good friends I met in India. I am writing all this because it’s so easy to forget how lucky I am!! Think of your life and ask yourself if you are really happy? If not, remember your family or your closest friends – your perspective to life changes. You start being more grateful to your life. I think I have said enough and yet I could not share my experience (breaking my leg, the booze, dance night, etc.) with you all through this blog. My apologies!!

Oh ya!! One thing that I totally forgot to mention, which was an eye opener, was the death like situation that I encountered while returning to the U.S. I will talk about it in my next blog called “Something important called LIFE” (I know it’s a lame lame title).

For now, I will take leave!! By the way, please do watch French Open.

 Au revoir et prenez soin de vous (In French)

Lets start blogging!!

Initially, I didn’t know what to write/blog about. Should I write about tennis, which I truly love; or should I write about biking (road cycling), which I just started pursuing as a serious goal; or maybe I should write something philosophical, which might have boring stuff about spiritual life. A Google search will give you many ways to blog. But I like to be different; and therefore I have decided that I will have my own way of blogging. My blogs will be about real life experiences – real goals, real dreams, real people, and real life. It will be real!!

My intent behind this must be shared with my readers too.

Life is short; you must agree on that; so, it’s very hard to share your experience with everyone all the time. You must also understand that communicating with people (in person or text or voice or video) is very important, as it’s the only way that misunderstandings are resolved and (new or old) relationships are made. At the end of the day, people wish to be happy and not want to be alone. I feel blogging is one of the easier ways to share your feelings, ideas, knowledge with someone; obviously, the best one being ‘in-person’. Come to think of it, my primary intent behind blogging is to share my life experience with my family, the BIG and small ones, along with close friends; because I love them so very much that I want them to know how I live and what I live for. So, let me get started with this….

Now that both of us (you, being the reader, and I, being the writer) are on the same ground, my next blog is about ‘my one week trip to India after two years stay in the U.S’.