Hindustan Times
On the spirit of adventure
Vice Admiral (retd) Awati is 84, but age hasn’t slowed him down. He’s all verve and attitude.
“If the sea is there why not cross it? So many others have done it, but no Indians. So, why not?” he said, talking about the thought that led to the birth of the Indian Navy solo circumnavigation project, which was today completed with Commander Dilip Donde and his boat Mhadei’s return to Bombay. Read more about that on Rush.
Awati rued the lack of attitude that leads people to attempt the impossible. “Why do you climb a mountain? Because it’s there. But not too many people think like that. We need more young people to get into adventure and push themselves so that they can test their mettle and find out the stuff they’re made of.”
I know I’ve written about it before, the lack of the spirit in adventure amongst Indians. I was surprised today to hear my thoughts echoed by Awati, and later even by Vice President Hamid Ansari who’d come to watch Donde cross the finish line.
Vice President Ansari said, “It takes immense courage to achieve what seems impossible.” He went on to add that for him the two most important things demonstrated by India’s first solo circumnavigation were innovation and a spirit of adventure, two things he felt we were lacking.
“Any great nation needs these two qualities to come together. These are the two things that young Indians need to focus on – spirit of adventure and innovation.”
VA Awati explained the benefits of that. “Only when people find out what they’re capable of and how far they can push themselves, can they become strong individuals who can lead the country and do good for it.”
One more reason to get out there and push yourself.
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