‘Who will cry when you die?’
Who will laugh when you live?
Who will miss your laughter when you die?
‘Giver or Taker’? What is your legacy? Enduring legacy?
I was five years young (grandma’s glasses) when five of us first graders were on stage to do a standup act to a then-popular film song. The occasion was the school’s annual day – a government school in the village, where the medium was (and still is) vernacular. The responsibility of the act was on a relative who was famous for his immense talent. We were well-trained and fully prepared. The program went very well. At the end of the event, the uncle was happy with our performance and gave us an orange to each of us. Orange was not readily available in the village then, perhaps even now. Hence it was special. Years later, I realized I had no stage fear then. Never later. I have returned to the stage many times for various ‘performances,’ though never a performer. \
This uncle who put me on the stage then passed away recently. I always remembered him with gratitude.
Public speaking/stage performance is one of the worst fears we carry. Next only to death. I was fortunate I never had the fear. Grateful for the early opportunities.
I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear – Nelson Mandela
In the debate of nature and nurture in leadership, I always maintained it is not either, but both and more. It takes an entire ecosystem for a leader to succeed. Leadership at an individual level or otherwise.
Mono Act @ School: Later in high school, the sheer confidence to go on stage and perform prompted me to do a ‘mono act’, dance, sing, fancy dress, and even win prizes. The crowning glory was when we put up a skit in 10th grade, with guidance from an excellent local dramatist. What would have been a simple and silly skit turned out to be a great play. Thanks to the guidance of a mentor who was God sent.
At that time, it was the need to perform and also win prices. It was necessary for validation, external and self!
MonoAct to StandUp-Comedy: The good old mono-act is perhaps more popular as the western concept of ‘stand-up comedy.’ And one of the famous faces of it was Raju Srivastava. He still belonged to the generation of performers who did not depend on abusive language and vulgar jokes.
“Pehchan kaun” was the maximum they would go to…
When Prasoon Joshi pens an obituary for Raju, published by @TheEconomicTimes, it is a beautiful tribute to his enduring legacy.
“Raju had built a brand, but he didn’t even quite know it. He was immersed in the art, the science of it being a by-product,” writes Prasoon.
I met Raju bai long back at the airport. Usually, I just avoid all the celebrities. But to him, I went up and exchanged pleasantries and got him to sign an autograph for my son who himself had behind the boarding card for my son. He did that graciously.
“He was the brand ambassador of authenticity and the power it holds”