I will visit the story of the fallen heroes later, but before that, let me talk of those kids who have to bury their desires of being different, for the sake of the love for their loved ones, because of the pressure of their loved ones, warning them of the pitfalls, telling them stories of failures of others, frightening them from trying to venture on untried paths, making them unsure, to the point of drop the idea of doing something different altogether. And they end up walking the beaten tracks of life, learning the vocations not after their hearts, choosing the profession suggested by their parents or of the people held in high esteem by their parents, they end up doing something they don’t really like to do, but one that gives them a handsome salary, a respectable and comfortable livelihood.

稍后，我将拜读一些英雄事迹。但在此之前，我要先说，一些孩子出于对亲人的爱，迫于亲人的压力，最后埋葬了他们与众不同的心愿。亲人们用别人的失败告诫他们，在他们尝试另辟蹊径时吓唬他们，使他们犹豫，最终放弃。然后根据父母或其他人的建议选择做他们不喜欢做的，但却可以给他们带来可观的薪水，受人尊敬的地位和舒适生活的职业，而不是遵从他们的内心来选择职业。

It’s like choosing to marry the woman suggested by the parents over the one, one loves, on the premise that love grooms by living together, because the parents say so and they have a convincing argument that one should marry in one’s caste, to a woman of matching status and family lineage and you fall for that. Years later you discover the folly and rue over it, wring your hands and write drab prose Hahaha in place of the beautiful poetry you used to pen. Dissolving in self-pity or dreaming that things could have been better if you had married the girl you loved, you think you can have another peg of whiskey to drown your sadness.

这就像听从父母的安排，跟一个你不爱的女人结婚。因为父母说你应该找一个同一种姓、门当户对的女人结婚。多年之后，你觉得愚蠢至极，满怀悔恨。以前你能谱写优美的诗歌，现在你只能写单调的散文。在自怨自艾中，你会想，如果当初娶了你爱的女孩，一切会美好的多。你需要再来一杯威士忌来掩盖你的悲伤。

I am one such person, who could not choose the road, my genes were configured to help my physical being tread upon. I became an Engineer because my father thought, it will ensure me a good pay, a quality life and riches and yes it did give me all that but my soul never rested in contentment, my heart didn’t frolic, but it tried, it tries, it searches to gather in bits and pieces, elemental pleasure in those moments I could steal from my busy routines of attending the machines, to string my thoughts in verses.

我就是这样一个无法自主选择道路的人。我之所以成为一名工程师，是因为我父亲认为这份工作薪水较高，可以给我带来富裕的生活。确实如此。但我的灵魂无法获得满足。我一直尝试着从我忙碌的日常生活中汲取收集快乐的元素，并通过诗歌表达我的想法。

I could neither be a good engineer nor a writer of substance. Today, in the twilight of my life, I can’t blame my parents for my incompetence, my lack of success in my profession or my hobby. I really shouldn’t blame others for my ordinariness but somewhere, I feel something went wrong, because the path chosen for me was not the path meant for me. My advice to the young readers if they chance upon this would be, “Let your children do things they feel naturally inclined towards. Do not compare their academic scores with those who are better than them”. We are all unique. Aren’t we?

我既不能成为一名优秀的工程师，也不能成为一名作家。今天，在我生命的暮年，我不能因为我的无能，事业或爱好的失败而责怪父母。我不该因为我的平凡而责怪他人，但我觉得有些地方出错了，因为我所选择的道路并不是我的路。如果有些年轻读者也面临同样的问题，我建议:“让你的孩子做一些他们打心里喜欢的事。不要拿孩子的学习成绩和其他人做比较。”我们都是独一无二的。不是吗?

印度网友和Navneet的互动：

Suresh Rao9 months ago

navneet

YOU are unique and a success story. Good advice to parents about not comparing academic scores.

你是独一无二的，是一个励志故事。建议父母不要比较学习成绩。

Navneet

Thanks SureshJi- Success is a relative thing and we are all unique. It all depends on how we look at the life, at our achievements and failures. Well, I am not sad and I don't think I have done poorly but sometimes I think, I could have done better

感谢SureshJi——成功是相对的，我们都是独一无二的。这完全取决于我们如何看待生活，看待成功与失败。我并不悲伤，我也不认为自己做得不好，但有时我想，我本可以做得更好。

Swarajya

A good piece of writing as usual Navneet. You have a real flare for writing even being an Engineer.I agree that children should not be put in undue pressures in the matter of studies or choice of their professional career.

The interest created by you about China has prompted me to get a book titled " China A to Z" by May Lee Chai and Winberg Chai from Milton Library Atlanta.

Gopal had written a blog on Spain.I could learn that Spain was ruled by Moors of North Africa for 700 years.After reconquesta they established their rule overthrowing Moors who were Muslims.I have brought from the same library a book titled "Spain -the centre of the world 1519-1682 by Robert Goodwin.

Eagerly awaiting your write up on the Test of Ship for its Sea Worthiness.

这是一篇好文章。即使是一名工程师，你的文采很好。我同意孩子们在学习或选择职业生涯时不应受到不适当的压力。

你的博客使我对中国产生浓厚的兴趣，我特地找了一本书《中国a to Z》，作者是梅•李•柴(May Lee Chai)和温伯格•柴(Winberg Chai)。

Gopal写了一篇关于西班牙的博客。我知道西班牙被北非的摩尔人统治了700年。在夺回政权之后，他们建立了推番msl教徒的统治。我从同一个图书馆带来了一本名为《西班牙——世界中心1519-1682》的书，作者是罗伯特·古德温(Robert Goodwin) 。

急切地等待着关于船的航海性能测试的故事。

Navneet

Thanks Swarajya sir, I feel nice to hear that you have brought a book to read about China. Putting our prejudices aside, I would say, there is a lot to learn from China for us. Their dedication to work, their no nonsensical approach, keep away from politics, strong nationalistic feelings are some of the plus points we can adopt. Will write about my sea trial experience shortly.

谢谢Swarajya先生，听说你带了一本书来了解中国，我很高兴。我想说，抛开偏见，中国有很多值得我们学习的地方。他们对工作的奉献，务实的做法，远离政治，强烈的民族主义情绪是我们可以采纳的部分。不久我将会写的试航经历。