WELCOME TO AN AGE OF CHANGES Equations of relationships among nations are changing Countries are in search of new friends None is sure who will be there in the forefront after a decade We, Keralites are conventional and traditional We are slow to changes We prefer to live in the comfort of today – a kind of complacency

Change is a temporary disturbance Change is uncertain Change is fearsome Change may lead us to progress or destruction

Progress and Prosperity comes through change only

Changing with change is painful

So we Keralites prefer to resist change Wait and see is a good policy though not the best But resisting changes is often foolish Because:

changes are sure to come None can stop changes We can only slow down the processes

Changes must be positive

Change does not mean that everything that is going on in Western countries is changes Western culture is not a change but it is their culture It has proved itself to be destructive Only Eastern countries have a value based culture In other words only Eastern countries have true culture Time has proved that the Western way of life based on excessive individualism is destructive It gives no value to family system and morality The concept of God is shoved aside Now they are harvesting its fruits of anarchy They have confessed that their way of life is not progressive

Western countries are facing :

Distrust among people – even husband and wife do not trust each other Youths live aimless – young energy is wasted Universities are short of students Refined, educated and trained human resource is becoming rare The concept of self sacrifice for a common good is unknown

The future of the country is at danger

Family system has became old fashioned

The society is paying much for the breakup of the family system

Saving for the future is not a thought among them Living this day is the slogan One of many reasons for the financial crisis of the West is lack of savings by the people India is praised by all nations for its habit of saving for the future India overcome world financial crisis by its own strength Now the Westerners are studying about our family system Our way of life is praised by them But tragically, we are in a hurry to adopt what they call destructive living style We are adopting the Western life style after it has proved to be destructive This is foolishness The culture of Valentine’s Day, fashion shows and many Reality shows in TVs are dangerous adaptations of what the Westerns call destructive

At Kochi we are arranging fashion shows of kids We watch live TV programme of little innocent girls walk through the podium with little dress This gives a message to the kids Little dress is fashion and is appreciated by the society As they grow they will not be hesitant to wear a more short dress This is dangerous and destructive This is not change This is a byproduct of change We need not use every byproduct If it is helpful to a meaningful progress, let us accept it

What is a meaningful progress?

It is value based progress Progress is not against values Progress is not against morality Progress never deny the presence of God - progress cannot deny anything that exist Progress is only better living

Living is a meaningful experience

Living without values and morality is only existence

Existence is not living It is only waking in the morning because the Sun rises Working for money because your physical body demands food and food is bought with money You try to satisfy all the demands of your physical body because you cannot resist it You sleep because your physical body demands rest and the sun sets. You are not so eager to meet a new day – it comes you way you cannot avoid it Living is a meaningful experience You wake up with the sun because you are glad to welcome a new day You work because working is a pleasure You earn money because it reward for your work and it gives you a satisfaction You maintain your health because good health is necessary for a good living You eat food, drinks water and satisfy the needs of your body because it is a pleasure to do it You sleep with great satisfaction that you have living a successful day And more over You like to wake up in the next morning because you like to live the day.

Meaningful progress is value based

Progress is success

Success is not a negative term Success is a dream Success is a myth Success is prosperity

There is none who do not want to succeed in life A negative way of life cannot lead you to success

Success is a myth Success is a constant journey to a better life So preparation for it is necessary

Success is a long journey No resting place No recreation break It is a tiresome continuous journey It needs motivating and refreshing drinks It needs guiding posts It needs a positive training or help It needs a mentor to correct the path This session is a motivating and refreshing drink This session intends to mend your path It has been there behind all successful people This is the time you refuel your petrol tank

Prepare for a long journey

Fix your target place It is where you want to end You must know something about it – collect as much information about it What is your purpose of going there?

Sight seeing Rest for few days New experience Meetings old friends Meeting new friends Attending a business conference Eating new and better food etc.

Going and coming is not a purposeful journey Fix your target that will suit your purpose A meaningful journey is a purposeful journey None goes to the top of Mount Everest for sightseeing and rest None goes there for business conference It is not a place of luxury hotels It is for new experience and adventure

Fixing your target is fixing your purpose

I have something to tell to the society I want to became a writer – a poet, novelist or a journalist So I want to build a career in media and journalism

I have creative ideas

So I want a profession where I can use creative ideas I choose advertising filed

I want to contribute something for the society to improve the present condition

So I would like to pursue a career of research It can be in technology, medicine, basic science and social sciences

I am interested in helping the poor and the down trodden

So I prefer to spend my future life uplifting the cause of the marginalized I would like to became a social worker

Make exhaust preparation for the journey You may get help during the journey from some friends or strangers – but do not take it for granted Watch the preparation people make for a long journey by train Clothes, food, snacks, water, towel, blanket, pillow, plastic bucket, plastic mug, soap, powder etc. The train ticket gives you legal right to travel to your destination But many other preparations is necessary to make the journey comfortable Before you start, take enough preparations

Prepare your mind I am to make a long journey It is not going to be comfortable however I try So toughen your mind You are going to miss a lot of comforts and enjoyments You decide purposefully to give up certain comforts and enjoyment Comforts and enjoyments are not more important than your purpose

New associations Leaving behind old friends In search of new ones Whom you meet on the way are only your co travelers Associations are important You become what your associations are The way a reputed Public School student dresses and a student who study in an ordinary school in Kerala is different The student of an ordinary school tries to imitate villains in cinemas A Public School student is always in executive dress Dress is very important It speaks of who you are – your family background, financial background, taste, talent, seriousness in purpose, way of life, the country you live, the state you live – and a lot

We must be ready to associate and disassociate with people Associate with people with the same purpose If not available Associate with people who are serious about their own purpose Reading is a way to associate with great men Read great historians, writers, scientists, politicians etc. Do not associate with purposeless travelers They are vagabonds Extend pity to vagabonds not your precious time and valuables

Keep a map with you Keep some picture post cards of your destination with you Look often at them Collect many as you go Once Microsoft giant Bill gates was only a college student Personal computers were not popular But he wrote a sentence on a paper and pasted it in his study room The small poster read – “One day every person in the world will have a computer on his study table and software made by me to run it” It was his picture postcard He read it every day It was his map He looked at it every day It helped him to reach the destination without fail

Once Ford, the automobile giant said to his friends in the fuel station:

One day a car will come here to fill petrol and the car will bear my name on it. Maps help you

To remember you destination

To protect you from distraction

To push you through difficulties

Do not be a drop out A drop out is a failure The first step to failure is to stop The second step automatically follows - a step backwards Then it is down the hill journey A line written at a Tokyo bus stand reads: “Only buses stop here, not time. So do not waste your time, keep moving with your aim.” The way side sceneries may be very attractive Enjoy them as you move to your destination But your destination is more important than it.

Journey to your destination of purpose is tough However you try, journey is discomfort You miss a lot You miss your daily TV programme You miss many marriage ceremonies You miss many festivals and ceremonies You miss it purposefully to fulfill a great purpose

You suffer a lot

Uncertainty Duration of journey may be longer than you expect Can I make it? What is really at the other side?

But still we have to try

Loneliness Alone with this particular purpose None to share and support Many we meet on the way give up

More over inviting deviations trouble us Our own conscience often turns against us But do not drop out.

Conclusion

Journey is hard and tough Only those who are ready to bear it will make it through Once you have reached your destination and fulfilled your purpose It is all joy – nothing else It is happiness It is comfort It is bliss.