Who You Are ?

Who You Are ?

While walking the track this morning, a quiet phrase surfaced in my mind - ‘Carried Away.’ It felt like a nudge from within, prompting me to write this blog. As I often say in my poem: ‘Let Not The Eyes Become Old!’
Even today, my eyes,  still curious and searching, look at the world not as an observer, but as a writer, trying to sense the moments.

Since my student life, I’ve had the privilege of closely witnessing and sometimes actively arranging events that brought great personalities into view. Many of these memories live in the pages of my book. And now, as I shape another book, I continue to meet and reflect upon such inspiring individuals.

What strikes me today is the quiet paradox: When greatness walks too close, many fail to recognize it !

In life, proximity can blur perception. A person might be wise, kind, or deeply inspiring, but if he is always around us, we begin to take him for granted.
We silently think, "How can he be great? He is so close to me."
The aura fades not because the person has diminished, but because our gaze becomes routine.

We often seek awe in distant lands, grand stages, or curated personas. Yet the wisdom we truly need might be sitting beside us, silent, steady, and consistent.

In today’s age of amplified impressions, we are constantly bombarded with content; celebrity voices, grand lectures and preachings, theatrical presentations, and glittering media events. It’s easy to be ‘carried away’.

But I offer a gentle caution:

Before accepting any transformative thought, ask:

• Who is the speaker behind the podium, and the author who penned the book?
• What values does he or she truly live by?
• Is the message consistent with the messenger's character?

Don’t get carried away by:

• Multimedia slides or PowerPoint charm
• Grand event arrangements or celebrity appearances
• Polished advertisements or enthusiastic reporting

Check authenticity. Truth lives in consistency and silent depth, not in theatrical display.

Some days ago, I shared a reflection on social media; a thought that continues to echo through this blog:

“Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?” — T.S. Eliot
And I extended it:
“Where is the information we have lost in data?”

This journey from data to wisdom is sacred. Data, when processed, becomes information. Information refined becomes knowledge. Knowledge judiciously applied is wisdom.

But biased or corrupted data cannot become wisdom. It fails the journey.
That’s why, when reading a book or listening to a speaker; especially one aiming to transform—you must examine not just the message, but the messenger.

The path to a meaningful life doesn’t lie in following the loudest voice; it lies in discovering the truest one. And often, that voice isn’t far from us. It may reside in someone we meet daily, whose values are lived, not performed.

Don't lose focus. As you ask yourself, “Who Am I?”, take a moment to turn your gaze toward the one standing behind the podium; and the author of transformation, the narrator of change. Ask him, “Who You Are ?” True insight unfolds only when both voices are questioned with equal sincerity!