Dear Youth of the World,

We have heard it very often that no achievement is possible if we do not persist. We have also been made aware of the folly of giving up in a moment when the success may not be very far. We should be determined enough not to leave any stone unturned; to demolish any obstacle that raises its head on our path; to work till we finish the last lap with undiminished enthusiasm and courage.

These are all very valid statements and meaningful directives for all of us. But in following them we should also work with pragmatism and wisdom of knowing when we are wasting our time. There are times when we should be quick to realize if we had become involved in some project, which we should not have taken up in the first instance.

The trick usually played by the monkey-catchers would illustrate what I am saying. They would put a ball of jaggery in a pot and place it where the monkeys frequent. The neck of the pot would be very narrow. The monkey would look at the pot, and search inside. Once it feels the ball of jaggery it would hold it in its palms and try to take it out. But it cannot take out its hand holding the ball of jaggery through the narrow opening. Only if it drops the ball of jaggery, the hand can come out. It would never occur to the monkey that it could easily get its hand free in this manner, even when it faces the danger of being caught. The monkey-catcher would catch it and give it a severe beating. Only then it would take its hand out sans the ball of jaggery! When it really does, it would have been too late.

While it is important that we should not give up pusillanimously at the slight hint of failure, it is equally important that we should not foolishly burn our fingers because of our adamant attitude. We should be open to logical thinking always; we should not sacrifice our interests worrying about what others would say about us. We are human beings and it is quite likely that we started something spurred by a fancy or emotional pull. When we become certain that it was a mistake to have started something, the real courage is in accepting it; and in taking the corrective measures without any delay or wavering.

Wishing you all the best,

T Joseph Benziger