Memories fade, but never lie. 1982. I finished my PGD in Journalism and was hunting for a job in Chennai. The Hindu, Indian Express showed the door. I went to The Times of India Mumbai and made my career.But the beginning days. The Mail was a 100-year plus eveninger of British times. Its chief reporter told me, “We are shutting. Work as a reporter for three months. No pay but I will send you to cover celebrity events. Enjoy.”
One day, I was assigned to cover a girl’s school event. I was thrilled. The school opposite my New College. But without reporting experience, I was naïve. I entered the school feeling like a celebrity and was floored by the variety of North Indian girls. And the royal treatment given by the organizers. I was on the stage where cups were lined up. I was writing down each and every word they spoke. “Oh, this cup, oh oh...!” When I was introduced to the girls, I was floating in the air.
Age boss, age.
I returned to the office, gave them four written pages of what I had noted down.
“Good boy,” Chief Reporter Mr Menon patted me.
Next day, when I opened the paper, I saw a four-line brief report without my name.
What a punch. I can tell you buddies. Don’t give up if you get knocked once in a while. It actually helps.
Today if I can smile, it’s because of those punches.
Oh! Good lesson. I will take it.
ReplyDelete:)
Yep, well said. Life hands one so many setbacks. One has to treat them as learning.
ReplyDeletewow..that is some serious editing!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHow true.Never give up even if you get kicked around.
ReplyDeleteI remember visiting TOI at VT years ago.
Very well said RR, Hats Off
ReplyDeleteReal motivating one Ramesh...
ReplyDeleteam glad that the punches were hit elsewhere. otherwise it would be a toothless smile by now. jokes apart yes its only when we fall, we can learn to get up .
ReplyDelete:) That's one hell of an advice
ReplyDeleteLearning experience,yes?
ReplyDeleteVery true :) The early days of our career's should be taken as trg ground and nothing more than that :)
ReplyDeleteHaha...I feel with you...happened to me many times...that's how we land on earth :))
ReplyDeleteyes you said it correctly
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right....its a kind of immunization plan for us to get through the life.Very motivating and inspiring .Thanks a lot .
ReplyDeleteBikul pakki baat boli :)
ReplyDeleteIt's not what knocks us down but how we get up that counts....
ReplyDeleteRamesh - I'm glad you got punched by Mr Menon early in your career. Look at your posts in this blog. They are very short and to the point. At the same time, it is entertaining and always encourage positive thinking. Like the caption - "Say cheese 24/7"
ReplyDeleteenjoyed the read, funny to the core!!! LOL
ReplyDeletelike mark twain said, " If I had more time, i would have written much lesser." I still am learning the ropes of your industry, but the toughest thing to learn is cut shortb a passage without losing information or meaning, cause the designer has designed space for just 30 words!!
ReplyDeleteEvery mistake we make, is a learning step to reach the pinnacle of success. Unless we are bold enough to move forward after the mistakes, we won't come up in life.
ReplyDeleteYou always write short, sweet and inspiring posts, Ramesh, unlike my looong posts! Thank you.
Excuse me Mr. Ramesh :)
ReplyDeleteCan you take the noreply-comment@.... address off? When you leave a comment, it's impossible to respond to you...and I do want to :)
great post buddy..thanks :)
ReplyDeleteRamesh thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDelete4 pages edited to four lines! but the first time our words get published is the proudest moment ever! Sigh a life of a wordsmith!
ReplyDeletelovely punches :)
ReplyDeleteI don't beleive accepting punches help but we all do it. If we accpet punches we become like those. We preach honesty in schools, temples and at homes and don't follow it.
ReplyDeleteBut very nice blog and I am glad I hit your site.