I think what differentiates our generation from our predecessors is the fearlessness. We are not cowed down by any historical baggage and are willing to take up challenges. Everything is a challenge to be taken heads on. It is easy to let life take its own course and blame everything on destiny. But, no. We prefer to write our destinies and are willing to take a stand against accepted ideas & conventions. Most importantly, we dream. We dream of a better future and better world against all odds and all opposition.

I would like to share something which strengthened this fact more than any news report or stories I heard.

I had hailed an auto to go to a client (this was when I did not have a car). The driver asked me where in Okhla I wanted to go. I replied that I had to go to the Airtel office. After a brief pause, he asked which department did I work in. Harmless question. I replied that I actually do not work in Airtel but we do some work for them. I obviously thought that he will not understand the concept of audit.

Another brief pause and then he asks "Are you an auditor?" I was stunned and could think of no reply but say yes. Then he asks "Do you work for E&Y and work out of Qutab Institutional Area office?" I said no, my office is in Saket. "Ok, that means you work in PwC" By this time, I had lost it. I could just nod in the affirmative.

Then he looked at me in the rearview mirror, gave me a smile and asked "You must be puzzled?" Puzzled, at that moment, was the biggest understatement. I was stunned. Another thing I should mention is that this entire conversation was being carried out in English. Not halting English from somebody who is making an effort to learn the language but fluent English which can only be learnt at school and by regular reading.

Then he started explaining. Apparently he was from Gwalior where his father had a small business. He was a good student scoring about 86% in Class X and hoped to become a doctor. The business failed and they were out on the street. The whole family shifted to Delhi and with whatever savings they had managed to buy an Auto. Studies obviously took a back seat. For 2 years he drove the Auto and managed to complete Class XII by correspondence. Obviously the dream of becoming a doctor was over.

Now after 3-4 years, the family owned 3 autos and were limping back to normal exsistence. However, the fire still burnt. He said that he drove the Auto in the morning (after which a hired driver took over). In the afternoon he went to college where he was studying English. In the evening he studied French and volunteered in a local free primary school for the poor. Weekends were spent working with poor street children. He said "I have to build up my CV". His aspiration was to get in a Call Centre and hoped that additional language skills will put him on a faster track.

By now, we had reached my office. He asked me "Dada, will I succeed?" I said yes, there is no reason why you should not. But what I felt was that with courage like this, if you don't succeed, who will.

I normally do not pray. But as I got down from the Auto, all I could think was God, look after this boy. Whatever you do, don't destroy his spirit. Make him succeed. He, in so many ways, represents this country and this generation.