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20 ANECDOTES AND QUOTES
1. APJAbdulKalam: Asayoungboy,APJAbdulKalamsoldnewspaperstosupporthisfamily'smeagre
i ncome.Despitefacingeconomichardship,heremaineddeterminedtopursuehiseducation.This
early experience instilled in him a profound sense of resilience and a relentlessdrivetosucceed
against all odds. Kalam's story serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of
perseverance and the ability to overcome adversity on the path to achieving one's dreams.
"Don't take rest after your first victory because if you fail in second, more lips are waiting to say that your
first victory was just luck.” -APJ Abdul Kalam
2. NeerajChopra: NeerajChopraclinchedthegoldmedalattheTokyoOlympics,makinghistoryasthe
f irst Indian to win a gold in athletics. Chopra's remarkable achievement not only showcased his
exceptional talent and hard work but also inspired a nation. His journey from a small village in
Haryana to the pinnacle of Olympic success serves as a powerfulreminderofthetransformative
power of dedication, perseverance, and belief in one's dreams.
“When the desire for success does not let you sleep, when there is nothing better than hard work, when you
do not get tired after working continuously, understand that you are going to create a new history of
success.” -Neeraj Chopra
3. MSDhoni: FromhishumbleoriginsinRanchitocricketingglory,MahendraSinghDhoni'sjourney
e pitomizesresilienceanddetermination.Despiteearlyhardships,Dhoni'spassionforcricketfuelled
hisrise.HisunorthodoxstyleandboldleadershipledhimtocaptainingIndia,culminatinginiconic
moments like winning the 2007 T20 and 2011 ODI World Cups.
“I have more than I will ever need for one life.” –MS Dhoni
4. ElonMusk: In2008,amidstthefinancialcrisis,ElonMuskfacednearbankruptcyasbothSpaceXand
T eslateeteredonthebrinkofcollapse.Undeterred,heinvestedhislastfundsintoSpaceX'sFalcon1
rocket,whichmiraculouslysucceededonitsfourthattempt,securingacrucialNASAcontract.This
pivotal moment showcased Musk's unwavering resolve, risk-taking mentality, and his unyielding
beliefinthepowerofinnovationtoovercomeadversity,inspiringgenerationstopursueaudacious
goals against all odds.
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"The first step is to establish that something is possible then probability will occur."- Elon Musk
5. NelsonMandela: DuringhisimprisonmentonRobbenIsland,NelsonMandelasecretlyconducteda
c orrespondence course in law, defying his captors' attempts to break his spirit. Despite being
confined to a tiny cell for 18 years, Mandela's determination to educate himself enabled him to
become a qualified lawyer. This lesser-known chapter of his life showcases Mandela's resilience,
resourcefulness,andunwaveringcommitmenttopersonalgrowthandintellectualfreedom,inspiring
generations to pursue knowledge and self-improvement against all odds.
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who
does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” -Nelson Mandela
6. Ratan Tata: In 2016, Ratan Tata, then Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, made a bold move by
i nvesting in Ola, a ride-sharing startup, despite being in his late70s.Thisdecisiondemonstrated
Tata'sforward-thinkingapproachandwillingnesstoembraceinnovationandtechnology.Bybacking
a disruptive venture like Ola, Tata showcased his belief in supporting new ideas and fostering
entrepreneurship, regardless of age or traditional norms. This event underscores Tata's enduring
commitmenttodrivingprogressandhiswillingnesstoadapttothechanginglandscapeofbusiness
and technology.
"The strongest thing I ever did was to show my emotions to the world." –Ratan Tata
7. Mahatma Gandhi: In 1924, during hisvisittoBelgaum,MahatmaGandhiencounteredagroupof
p rotestingmillworkers.Ratherthanmerelysympathizingwiththeirplight,Gandhidecidedtostay
withtheworkersintheirhovels,experiencingfirsthandtheharshrealitiesoftheirlives.Thishumble
actofsolidarityandempathyshowcasedGandhi'sdeepconnectionwiththemarginalizedandhis
commitmenttounderstandingtheirstruggles.Itservesasalesser-knownyetpowerfulexampleof
Gandhi's compassion and dedication to social justice.
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."- Mahatma Gandhi
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8. Jeff Bezos: In the early days of Amazon, Jeff Bezos personally delivered packages to customers
h imself,drivinghisowncartothepostoffice.Thishands-onapproachepitomizedBezos'sdedication
tocustomersatisfactionandhiswillingnesstogoaboveandbeyondtofulfilthecompany'spromises.
ThishighlightsBezos'shumblebeginningsandhiscommitmenttomaintainingacustomer-centric
ethos, setting the foundation for the e-commerce giant's success.
"If you're going to invent, it means you're going to experiment, and if you're going to experiment, you're
going to fail, and if you're going to fail, you have to think long term."- Jeff Bezos
9. Virat Kohli: In 2006, a teenage Virat Kohli faced a devastating personal tragedy when his father
p assedawaywhilehewasplayingacrucialcricketmatchforDelhi.Despitetheimmensegrief,Kohli
displayedremarkablefortitudebyreturningtothefieldthenextdaytocompletehisinnings,scoring
amatch-saving90runs.Thisextraordinarydisplayofresilienceanddeterminationamidstadversity
epitomizes Kohli's unwavering commitment to the game and serves as aninspirationtomillions
worldwide.
“Never give up. Today is hard. Tomorrow will be worse. But the day after tomorrow there will be sunshine.”
— Virat Kohli
10.DalaiLama: Duringavisittoaremotevillage,theDalaiLamaencounteredayoungboywhohadlost
h isparentsandwaslivinginpoverty.Insteadofofferingmaterialaid,theDalaiLamaspenthours
playing with the boy, sharing laughter and joy. This simple act of compassion and connection
exemplifies the Dalai Lama's belief inthetransformativepowerofloveandhumanconnectionin
alleviatingsufferingandfosteringhappiness,inspiringotherstoembracekindnessandempathyin
their own lives.
"We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection."- Dalai
Lama
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11.Stephen Hawking: In 2005, renowned physicist Stephen Hawking attended a lecture in Norway,
here he was asked about the existence of God. Rather than dismissing the question, Hawking
w
respondedwithhumility,acknowledgingthelimitationsofhumanknowledgeandthevastmysteries
oftheuniverse.Histhoughtfulresponseemphasizedtheimportanceofintellectualhumilityandthe
recognitionthatwisdomliesnotinclaimingtohavealltheanswers,butinthepursuitofknowledge
with an open mind and a spirit of inquiry.
"I am just a child who has never grown up. I still keep asking these 'how' and 'why' questions."- Stephen
Hawking
12.MartinLutherKing: In1966,MartinLutherKingJr.shiftedhisfocusfromcivilrightstoeconomic
j ustice by launching the Poor People's Campaign. This initiative aimed to address poverty and
inequality by advocating for economic opportunities and access to basic necessities for all
Americans, regardless of race. King's emphasis on economic empowerment alongside civil rights
marked a pivotal moment inthefightforsocio-economicequality,inspiringagenerationtowork
towards a more just and inclusive society.
“Be a bush if you can't be a tree. If you can't be a highway, just be a trail. If you can't be a sun, be a star. For
it isn't by size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are.”- Martin Luther King
13.Jadav Payeng: Intheearly1980s,JadavPayengbeganplantingtreesonabarrensandbarinthe
B rahmaputraRiver.Despitefacingscepticismandcriticism,hededicatedoverfourdecadesofhislife
tosingle-handedlytransformingtheoncedesolateareaintoalushforestecosystemspanning1,360
acres. Payeng's extraordinary commitment to environmental conservation serves as a powerful
reminderoftheprofoundimpactthatindividualactionanddeterminationcanhaveonrestoringand
preserving our planet's biodiversity.
"Children always remember what we teach them early." -Jadav Payeng
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14.Dashrath Manjhi: In the 1960s, Dashrath Manjhi, known as the "Mountain Man," embarked ona
onumental task to carve a path through a treacherous mountain in Bihar.Withjustahammer,
m
chisel, and unwavering determination, Manjhi spent 22 years tirelessly chiselling away at the
mountain,reducingthetraveldistancefromhisvillagetothenearesttownfrom55kilometrestojust
15 kilometres. His remarkable feat exemplifies the transformativepowerofperseveranceandthe
ability of one individual to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles for the greater good.
Never depend upon God. Who knows that God may depend upon you?– Movie on Dashrath Manjhi
15.Arunima Sinha: Arunima Sinha, the first female amputee to climb Mount Everest, overcame
i mmenseadversitytoachieveherdream.In2011,shewasthrownoffamovingtrainwhileresistinga
robbery,resultinginthelossofherleftleg.Determinednottobedefeatedbyherdisability,Sinha
underwent rigorous training and conquered the world's highest peak in 2013. Her remarkable
journey exemplifies the power of resilience, determination, and unwavering spirit in the face of
daunting challenges.
“Set your goals high in life, and don’t stop until you reach there.”- Arunima Sinha
16.Sunitha Krishnan: Sunitha Krishnan, a prominent Indian social activist, endured a harrowing
e xperiencewhenshewasgang-rapedattheageof15.Insteadofsuccumbingtodespair,Krishnan
turned her trauma intoacatalystforchange.ShefoundedPrajwala,anorganizationdedicatedto
rescuing and rehabilitating victims of human trafficking. Krishnan's unwavering commitment to
combating exploitation andempoweringsurvivorsservesasabeaconofhope,inspiringothersto
channel personal adversity into meaningful action for social justice.
“Instead of preaching people what they should do, I make them see their role in the problem; then they will
be able to decipher their role as a solution.”- Sunitha Krishnan
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17.SindhutaiSapkal: SindhutaiSapkal,knownasthe"MotherofOrphans,"enduredimmensehardship
t hroughoutherlife.Abandonedbyherfamilyasayoungpregnantwoman,shefoundherselfbegging
on the streets of Pune. Despite her own struggles, Sindhutai dedicated her life to caring for
abandoned children, eventuallyestablishingmultipleorphanages.Herboundlesscompassionand
dedicationtothewelfareofthemarginalizedserveasapowerfultestamenttothetransformative
impact of love and kindness.
“God, please teach us to smile but don’t let us forget the days we cried”- Sindhutai Sapkal
18. MotherTeresa: In1946,MotherTeresareceivedwhatshedescribedasa"callwithinacall"from
God,urginghertoleavethecomfortsoftheconventandservethepoorestofthepoorinthestreets
of Calcutta. Despitefacingimmensechallengesandopposition,shefoundedtheMissionariesof
Charity,dedicatingherlifetoservingthesick,homeless,anddying.MotherTeresa'sunwavering
commitmenttocompassionandselflessnesscontinuestoinspirecountlesspeopletoembracethe
power of love and service to humanity.
“Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.”- Mother
Teresa
19. NickVujicic:Bornwithoutarmsorlegs,NickVujicicdefiedoverwhelmingoddstobecomeabeacon
of hopeandinspirationtomillionsworldwide.Despitefacingrelentlessbullyinganddespair,he
embraced life with unyielding optimism and determination. Vujicic's journey from a place of
profound adversity to becoming a successful motivational speaker and author exemplifies the
powerofresilience,faith,andself-loveinovercominglife'sgreatestchallengesandfindingpurpose
and fulfilment.
“Life isn't about having, it's about being.”– Nick Vujicic
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20. MaryKom: In2008,MaryKom,adeterminedmotheroftwo,defiedsocietalexpectationsandmade
historybybecomingthefirstIndianwomanboxertowinanOlympicmedal.Despitefacingfinancial
constraints and lack of adequate training facilities,Kom'sunwaveringdedicationandrelentless
pursuitofexcellencepropelledhertovictory.Herinspiringjourneyfromahumblebackgroundto
Olympic glory serves as a testament tothetransformativepowerofpassion,perseverance,and
determination in achieving one's dreams.
“The truth is, the harder you fight, the sweeter are the rewards in the end”- Mary Kom
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