Napoleon Bonaparte

In the worst of times, keep your mind cool and composed. After 20 years of ruling France, Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated by the Allied army. He was forced to abdicate on April 6. 1814. He was exiled to Mediterranean island of Elba. Before leaving, he addressed the remaining officers of France. His address given below gives us a strong lesson that whatever be the circumstance we must maintain our composure of mind. That speaks the strength of one’s character. His address is reproduced below.

“Soldiers of my Old Guard: I bid you farewell. For twenty years I have constantly accompanied you on the road to honor and glory. In these latter times, as in the days of our prosperity, you have invariably been models of courage and fidelity. With men such as you our cause could not be lost; but the war would have been interminable; it would have been civil war, and that would have entailed deeper misfortunes on France.

I have sacrificed all of my interests to those of the country.
I go, but you, my friends, will continue to serve France. Her happiness was my only thought. It will still be the object of my wishes. Do not regret my fate; if I have consented to survive, it is to serve your glory. I intend to write the history of the great achievements we have performed together. Adieu, my friends. Would I could press you all to my heart.”

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Pursuit of happiness should also be pursuit of success

18 questions you may ask yourself in 8 minutes every day. Observe the change in your attitude to life week after week. The questions are:

1. Have you written down your goals? And SMART goals?
2. Do you keep in mind that striving for excellence and not looking for perfection makes you more successful?
3. Do you realize that struggle and obstacles are the first steps of your story of success?
4. Do you have a strong desire to succeed?
5. Are you a person committed to your values and determined to win?
6. Are you able to shoulder responsibility?
7. Are you always prepared to do hard work?
8. Do you remain composed in difficult time?
9. Do you make it a point to learn from past mistakes?
10. Do you always avoid resorting to excuses?
11. Are you always courteous and polite without being subservient?
12. Do you maintain your discipline?
13. Do you believe in yourself and say ‘Yes, I can’
14. Are you able to work without supervision or reminder from others?
15. Are you persistent in your efforts and approach?
16. Are you proud of your excellent performance, whenever it happens?
17. Do you believe in continuous learning and have a mentor to help?
18. Do you realize that for achieving high degree of success, you much stretch in your efforts?

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Homage on ‘Punyatithi’

Yesterday the 31^st January was a Sunday, my holiday. More importantly, it was Punyatithi (Death anniversary) of two very important actors of Indian cinema. They are- Suraiya and K. N. Singh. With apologies for the delay of one day, I pay homage to these two important actors.

 

Suraiya was born on 15^th June 1929 in Gujranwala, Punjab (now in Pakistan). It was her mother who wanted that she should become an actress. In 1937 she got to perform in All India Radio. She was not formally trained in music. So she just got an opportunity to sing.

However it was in 1945 that Suraiya got the first leading lady role the film called ‘Tadbeer’. Thereafter there was no looking back. When Naushad, the famous music director got an opportunity to meet Suraiya and listen to her song, he decided that he will definitely give her opportunity to sing in his films.

Anmol Ghadi was one of the most popular films of Suraiya. She sang her songs and the music was given by the Naushad. Though Naushad gave her many opportunities, it was music director Husanlal Bhagatram for whom Suraiya sang maximum songs.

Mirza Ghalib was an another very important film. One of the very beautiful ladies of her time, Suraiya was also known for living the character she played. I take this opportunity to post some of her very popular photographs in yesteryear’s.

Suraiya died on 31^st January 2004 in Krishna Mahal, the flat at Marine Drive in which she had spent most of her life. Suraiya was honored by the Indian post office on May 3, 2013.

K. N. Singh was known as a gentlemen villain. Actually, he was an advocate. His father was also an advocate. K. N. Singh was supposed to take up the profession of his father. But when we leant that as an advocate he has to prove that whatever he says is the truth even if it is not, he found it against his principle. His conscience did not allow him to do so.

K. N. Singh was also an athlete. He could have represented the country in Olympic Games when he was in 20s. But due to circumstances he could not go there. It seems he was destining to become an actor.

He met Prithviraj Kapoor in Calcutta, who in turn introduced him to son Raj Kapoor. So we find k n. singh featuring in many films of Raj Kapoor. First film was Barsaat followed by Awara. His two important films were released in 1958. These are Howrah Bridge and Chalti Ka Naam Gadi.

                              (Picture from Howrah Bridge)

As a villain he only played the role of boss of an illegal outfit.

Unfortunately in his last years he turned totally blind. He died on 31^st January 2000 at the age of 91.