DR.SANTOSH BAKAYA
Friends, I have been repeatedly harping on the theme of dreaming boldly, facing adversity, inspiring others, and bringing about significant change .We should be able to see beyond the horizon. But then dreaming is not enough, we should try to turn that dream into reality.
Every writer comes across many stumbling blocks, many bumpy roads, many self-doubts but the antidote is STRUGGLE. NEVER SAY DIE. WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GET GOING.
It was Nelson Mandela who said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
So, if one is passionate about writing, one has to persevere on.
We have to cling on with a tenacity to our ideas, our beliefs, and our value system, but at the same time, we need to understand various perspectives, various points of view, and not be snug in the cocoons of our own making. Does anyone want to be lost in one’s own chaos and cacophony?
Sometimes we close our ears to the surroundings, and are not willing to listen to others’ perspectives, that is absolutely wrong. Listening to what others say, is absolutely essential for our creative growth, but that should be coupled with an unwavering dedication, and commitment. One should not be afraid of taking that first tottering step into the unknown creative terrain.
Diffidence will soon give way to confidence, and confidence will lead to a surefootedness.
“I knew that if I failed I wouldn’t regret that, but I knew the one thing I might regret is not trying.” Jeff Bezos
Jeff Bezos underscores the willingness to take risks and embrace failure as a pathway to success.
Every promising writer should be well -equipped with curiosity, the courage of convictions and perseverance.
Ideas are potent enough to challenge stereotypes, alter paths, and shape the contours of a positive future. We should pursue ideas passionately, giving challenges and nudging, and prodding ourselves if we become sluggish on our creative journey.
We, the writers are on a multifaceted journey fueled by the power of ideas, sustained by persistence and grit.
And, dreams should never leave the side of writers. Dreams remind me of Martin Luther Jr, whose powerful baritone had vocalized his dream of a fair and just world.
Let me cite an example from my own literary journey. During the time I was writing the biography of Martin Luther King Jr, many times I almost gave up. But there was something inside me, that wouldn’t let me call quits.. The result of this was that my perseverance paid. I kept dreaming of the complete biography in my hands. And soon, my dream was realized. Only in Darkness can you see the Stars- my biography of Martin Luther King Jr was born. Some consider it my best literary work.
When critics say it, it makes me feel happy, because I really spent many hours, writing, and rewriting the biography. At one stage, I completely overhauled the book, I began the Prologue with the death of Martin Luther king Jr. I want to reproduce a few paragraphs from the prologue to give you an idea how hard I worked on it, never giving up.
“On 4 April, 1968, at 5 pm, Rev. Samuel ‘Billy’ Kyles arrived at Lorraine Motel to pick up his friends, and Ralph Abernathy, he and Dr. King indulged in a light-hearted banter.
The outside world, wondered what these three preachers were doing in a room for an hour. Later, Abernathy went into the bathroom to shave and Kyles, asking everyone to hurry up, hastened out of the room, to his car.
‘“Guys, come on, we have a rally tonight, let’s go.’,” Rev .Kyles said to Jackson and King, as he headed towards the stairs.
Kyles had bought a new house in 1968, and he was honored that Dr. King planned to dine with him. Tongue in cheek, King quipped,
‘“If I go to your house and I discover that you bought a house and can’t buy food, I’m gonna call all the TV and radio stations and tell them Kyles bought a house, but he can’t buy food.”
He started down the stairs. He had hardly walked five or six steps, when a shot rang out. It was 6.:01 pm.
Was it a car backfire?
‘“Take cover!” King’s assistants shouted from down below.
Martin Luther King Jr, who, just a day back had talked of difficult times ahead, had also hoped for a long life and in the same breath, had pointed out,” I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not go there with you’,” was now lying down on the concrete floor of the balcony, with a huge wound covering his right jaw, definitely not in a position
‘to go there’” with his beloved brethren, who had straightened their backs, and were now yearning to be absolutely free.
‘“Martin, it’s all right. Don’t worry, this is Ralph. This is Ralph’,” an utterly devastated Ralph Abernathy cradled his head, caressing the left side of his jaw.
But nothing was all right. Though conscious, King couldn’t speak.
An ambulance arrived, and the stretcher bearers carried King away. An absolutely dazed Ralph who had refused to leave the side of his ‘“buddy’”, also climbed into the ambulance, dashing towards St. Joseph’s Hospital.
Martin Luther King Jr., who had helped straighten the backs of his brethren, who had tried to resuscitate a comatose nation, undeterred by Bull Connor’s dogs and high- powered water hoses, just the other day, talking of a certain kind of fire that no water could put out, – was now lying inert on a table in the brightly lit emergency room – his dream shattered, his fire extinguished, and his back broken.
Abernathy realized that his friend was beyond all hope and prayers. He had noticed a huge hole in his body, which no prayer could fill.
Martin Luther King Jr. was slowly but surely slipping into eternal sleep. There was darkness all around and despite his recent pronouncement – that only when it is dark enough, can you one see the stars – , his friends could see only an all-enveloping darkness around them, their friend yearning to be free of all earthly shackles.
The dreamer was on the verge of unleashing a horrendous nightmare on his family, his friends, his people and his nation.
And then it was all over in a moment on! 9 April 1968.
The time was 7.:05 pm.”
I hope this extract will give you an idea how important it is to write, research, and rewrite.
Dream on, and the dream will definitely be realized,
The author is an academician, poet, essayist, novelist, and TEDx speaker, with more than twenty published books to her credit.
