This semester at college has been really hard on me. I’m back home in India and I’ve lost all sense of time and sleep. I’ve lost about 4 kgs in weight. I feel fine but most of my family members and friends think that I’ve grown weak.I’ve felt that the work has taken a toll on me. For instance, the installation of my manifesto in the main foyer of the University campus kept me awake for two days. I had be really struggling to get my thoughts formed into a tangible form. I just didn’t want to stick to a two-dimensional graphic on a wall, as my idea encompasses all aspects of life.
Now, as I had been through it. I feel that I was creating a fuss over nothing. It was just so clear in front of me, and I had been running away from the idea fearing it wasn’t good enough. My tutor Brian had left for me to take the call for it. This scared me even further as I didn’t have anyone’s approval for it. But now I realise that it is my manifesto and my tutor of anyone for that matter shouldn’t be giving me their approval on it. If I feel its good then its good enough. I thank Brian from the bottom of my heart for putting this message through.
I also feel that was all this critical thinking needed. Did I have to go through those sleepless nights, when the solution was right in front of me? At first I think not. But, when I think again, I feel that yes, it is very important. It helped me own up to my work. Yes, I feel proud that of what I did, despite the fact that my scared a few people a lot.
Not only that, I feel that when I wasn’t working hard, I was engaging into a lot of unproductive and harmful activities. My health was low, and I was becoming lazy. But the struggle has brought about a lot of positive changes in my life. There is a popular saying in Hindi which means that years of hard work and struggle can turn an ordinary stone into a diamond. This is so true. I now know that struggle makes us a better human being.
What is struggle done to make your life better?
Deviprasad Roy Chowdhury – “Triumph of Labour”
On a different note, the featured image used for this post also shown on the left is a work of a prominent Indian sculptor Deviprasad Roy Chowdhary, and its called “Triumph of Labour”. Its installed in the front garden of National Gallery of Modern Arts in New Delhi.
