Life keeps throwing challenges. Each new challenge gets more complex
as associated factors of human life change their levels with the passage
of time. Humans have to, therefore, continuously evolve to meet the
needs of the challenges.
Life never presents equal opportunities and also never presents equal
results. Similarly, two humans can never be alike other than certain
similarities in their features! Humans do have an uncanny ability to
meet the challenges and bring out the results moderated by the change in
the levels of the associated factors.
Praveen Teotia was fit as a fiddle when he completed his tough
training to become a Marine Commando. The day for him and his colleagues
dawned with the first light and they went through the rigorous physical
training at their Navy Base. They were being prepared for missions
should the country need their services. The training for the Marines
knows no limit. These men go through varied physical and mental
situations to keep them battle ready. Praveen along with his team
members was in the best shape to meet any eventuality.
In November 2008, the Navy Marine Team was assigned a task to
neutralize terrorists who had holed up inside the iconic Taj Mahal Hotel
at Mumbai. The Marines landed on the site and the battlefield got laid
out as the military balance was restored by the arriving teams. The
terrorists were holed up inside the hotel and mayhem had been set loose.
Crude bombs had been exploding and fires spewed out of the windows of
the hotel building. Chaos writ large and the neutrality had to be
ensured.
Brave men including Praveen Teotia marched into this unplanned battle
zone. Their pre-operative briefing would have been sharp and to the
point. The team leader would have discussed point blank plans to ensure
minimal damage to his own team with maximum results. The ‘Fog of War” is
the uncertainty in situational awareness experienced by participants in
military operations. The term seeks to capture the uncertainty
regarding one's own capability, adversary capability, and adversary
intent during an engagement, operation, or campaign. The warring forces
encounter the “Fog of War” as soon they enter each other’s boundaries.
The Marines and the terrorists were in the same situation as the outer
boundary of the battle zone was secured by the Marines and the boundary
perimeter started reducing with each step which led to Point Zero.
Weapons unleashed their ferocious fore power from both the sides.
Bullets and explosions flew everywhere. Praveen fought bravely till he
was felled by 04 bullets. 02 bullets had pierced his lung and ear. He
was evacuated to a Military Hospital in a critical condition and his
tough soul lived through months to see him getting up with a damaged
lung and partial hearing loss. The challenge loomed ahead of Praveen as
he had to now evolve again. He could have sat down with his disabilities
and decided not to move an inch ahead with his life. Gradually, he
would have only degraded down in his capabilities.
Praveen decided to take the situation in his control and began a
marathon recovery. Marathon not only in literal terms but also he
started training for marathons with his set of disabilities. He was not
going to merely exist in this World, he was out there to make a
meaningful living. He continuously wanted to evolve! His stupendous
efforts saw him completing the 72-km-long Khardung La marathon in
Ladakh, and finished well within the stipulated time, earning a medal.
Praveen has yet again evolved himself successfully despite losing some
of his critical physical abilities. His mind and perseverance won over
his pains and losses!
Humans have no choice but to meet changes and challenges all through
their lives. The heat of life keeps making the humans sweat and tries to
sap out their best energies. This is the universal phenomenon and
humans age as they battle on. Some give up easily and some decide to
follow on with their lives battles. They re-adjust and re-calibrate at
each stage of life and keep achieving the desired results. As Praveen
puts across,”I wanted everyone to know I was the same man who went into
the Taj hotel as a commando. I had the right not to be forgotten! “. The
words have profound meaning and reflect the sheer will to evolve afresh
as life alters to a new dimension. Life can be termed as a brutal
companion, it does what it needs to do without any formal warning or
lead time to prepare in most circumstances! It is for the humans to face
the brunt and then alter themselves successfully to take the new form
and shape. This choice is always available and only needs to be
embraced.
Set the mind towards positivism and begin the process of evolution.
The pains and aches would occur but soon enough the sweet times will
emerge on the horizon. The steps would feel lighter and the mind would
synchronize to beat the heat of the challenge. The new phase of life
would emerge and last till the next evolution beckons. So, who is
stopping you from evolving, eh!
