“Following the Equator: A Journey Around the World” The highlight of this book by Mark Twain takes you back to Bombay in the year 1896. Its centrepiece reveals “India is, the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grandmother of tradition. These opening lines of this article, can force you to question the relevance of the lede with its headline. Well, the build-up was just to illuminate on and reiterate the fact that India had many firsts to its credit even in the past. Mark Twain is an example of the world’s acceptance of this unique calibre of this country. If India, in its past was so impressive, then what about its present?
Today, if we were to picture India in our minds, our vision would undoubtedly begin with illustrations of dazzling skylines, bustling business hubs, futuristic aviation, and end with the depiction of highly advanced communication systems. Now, how about changing our focus? Why not also picture it as a country fully secure with impermeable borders, pollution free environment and a nation abound with daredevils. There’s no debate over whether this picture is viable or not. It is! This nation is still inhabited by innumerable people treading uncharted paths, doing the extraordinary and taking the nation’s legacy forward. If one delves deeper one would hear stories of people who didn’t make it to the public eye immediately yet have left an indelible mark through their glorious achievements, complete turnarounds and raw strength exhibited.
She’s posted up there for you to know! It’s Sheets and sheets of polar-white snow. All around her, high up and far below. Each day she dons her icy white military uniform and proudly treads along. Her boots scrunch the powdered snow as she leads her team of sappers on. Meet captain Shiva Chauhan- the young and dynamic first woman army officer to be deployed at an altitude of 15,600 feet at Siachen- the highest battleground on earth.
Breaking glass ceilings, crushing male bastions, scaling unfathomable heights, and rewriting old codes; these are the hallmarks of a true Indian. Again, history is replete with examples. Right from JRD Tata, who,when refused entry to the elite Watson Hotel( meant for the British elite) got inspired to build the super luxurious and iconic Taj Mahal Hotel to Mahatma Gandhi-the torchbearer of non-violence; this country has stood witness to the astounding capacity in its people to do the unthinkable.
Can we identify trailblazers like them much in advance? It’s an interesting question but since no constructive studies were conducted, it leads us nowhere. So, based on one’s own experiences and observations, one can say there aren’t any physical or mental traits, with which one can predict whether these people would stand apart or not. And exactly for the same reasons one will also not find any set obvious format on which these changemakers function. They can be called a trailblazer because their life choices influenced the way they approached problems and responded to deprivations.
The October 2021 issue of ‘One Earth’ carried the story of one such trailblazer. It said that the sight of dead snakes deeply troubled Jadav Payeng. Drought occurring on Majuli reserve located in the Brahmaputra River was the reason. He felt something needed to be done. So, from the age of 16, he started planting tree saplings everyday in this barren soil. Now over 40 years later, this ‘barren’ land has turned into a forest covering 1,390 acres—approximately the size of 15 football stadiums. Later this forest was abuzz with birds, deer, rhinos, and tigers, and even herds of elephants would stray into his forest three months in a year. He was bestowed “Forest Man of India” by the then President.
Not just men, even women are trailblazers too. Arunima Sinha was just another ordinary woman travelling by Padmavati Express. Her life turned upside down when she was pushed out of that moving train while trying to resist a chain- snatching attempt. Though she was saved, she suffered grievous injuries. The doctors had to amputate one of her legs. What followed then was a downpour of pity and sympathy of the weirdest nature. The media and the people around, hounded her with their insensitive remarks. Lying there on the hospital bed she did what others would not. She began to contemplate on all the ‘impossible’ she could do. And thus, a dream was born. She went on to become the first Indian amputee to climb Mt. Everest.
The above stories force us to ask, “What prompts people to take up such arduous tasks”? For some, it’s the fire inside to make a difference that fuels their endeavour. This fire taught captain Shiva to face her worst fears and go beyond it. She could have easily backed off citing ‘woman’ issues but she chose to lead. For others, arduous tasks become a necessity for survival. Jadav had to work consciously to conserve the natural balance of the ecosystem to save homes and livelihoods. Ordinary people carry on with their daily lives until met with extraordinary circumstances. Had it not been for the accident Arunima would still be working for the CISF and not have ended up atop the world’s highest peak. She would not have become a name to reckon with.
Undoubtedly, this leads us to a very stark and distinct observation about trailblazers. They have an ability to always persevere even in the face of uncertainties. These daredevils are not scared to venture out of their comfort zone and do the toughest. In their relentless endeavour they open up new paths for others to tread. And these qualities aren’t genetics or DNA. These are borne out of a sheer struggle for survival, identity, empathy, adversity, and sometimes it’s just individual brilliance. Whatever the reason be, it is their journey and the outcome that should encourage us to believe in the power of change. This belief made captain Shiva, Jadav Payeng and Arunima Sinha the unassuming heroes of a new India. Surely it will make many more in the future too. And that’s the key takeaway for all of us.
Bincy Thomas
Bincy was a teacher by profession but now, is a history buff by choice. Being a fitness enthusiast with a keen interest for trekking, she combines this interest with history and sets out exploring lost and forgotten monuments, to gather new insights and information. When she’s not trekking, yoga, meditation and reading takes away her time.