The will to succeed

“Will-power,” for those who have a lot of it, helps create the pathway to success – in studies and in work.

For example, the “will-power” to put aside leisure for studies, or for important work. It is part of the sacrifice some make for something of greater value. The will-power to see a difficult task to its successful end. It is part of what social psychologists call “delay gratification,” the ability to delay immediate pleasure while working harder to achieve a relatively larger reward in future.

This psychological condition is a foundation for valued achievements.

It’s absence or presence plays a critical role in a person’s life, and if widely present, it brings competitive prosperity to the entire society, especially for a society recently emerging from an unfriendly colonial stage.

Some of my university friends mockingly call me a “social scientist in reverse” mainly because of the intellectual emphasis I put on attitudes, will-power, delay gratification, human spirit, etc, rather than on the effects of the environment.

My emphasis, though, has always been on the varied interaction between both personality and the environment.

I have always been fascinated by people fighting against environmental odds and overcoming as well. To me, a social scientist should be the social conscience of his or her society – given the perpetual need for social justice. In fact, that is why in my recent book Inequality, Crime and Education: Removing the Masks, I wrote in the dedication page: “I wish for the dispossessed and socially disadvantaged that they develop the will to survive, to progress, to fight social injustice and inspire others.” Now I know we just cannot go back to friendlier days. But a glimpse of that came my way last week through a documentary on Darjeeling. In addition to Seeta Cherki, there were two other Darjeeling residents whose lifestyles seemed good material for novelists.

One was a Darjeeling railway clerk. He was a Buddhist, spending every spare moment from work to go into the hills and worship. Then return to help a number of poor residents. He was a bit better off, and spiritually ambitious.

In the documentary interview, he said: “Public service is the greatest religion.” His mother insisted that he get married at 35. Again and again, he said no, expressing a celibate preference. And so, as soon as he retired from his railway job, he retreated to the hills to the Buddhist temple, only to return now and again to help some of his people. Buddhist and Hindu philosophy still thrive in the hearts of residents there, struggling to stay put in the face of intruding modernized materialism. Rock groups and rap artists, too, are beginning to appear.

The other Darjeeling fellow was a train conductor. He lamented that there was no one to take care of him as he grew up. He had no money to move to Bengal. His goal in life was to be a master of the harmonica.

He said he couldn’t wait to retire to take up his true love. And so, as soon as he retired, he explained, he picked up the harmonica, played to his heart’s content, obviously enjoying every moment of it. But I just had to work for my living, he said. He didn’t mind waiting.

Yes, you can be ambitious to succeed and make much progress. But your cherished goal may not always be the same as others, or what others consider more valuable and want for you.

This is part of the struggle to find yourself in a fast-moving, unfair world where space at the top cannot yet accommodate many. And where ambition and success also meet the dark side of life – envy.

This is just one of the many dilemmas life presents.

In Darjeeling, however, for a short while I saw beautiful minds even in poverty.

A n d s p a r - k l i n g amb i - tions to succeed a n d p r o g - ress.