The Day Bits Stood Still In Front Of The Wall

[PeddaBabu]

[color=#4A4A4A][font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]13,288 runs in Tests; 10,889 runs in ODIs, a total of 508 matches which includes 344 ODIs and 164 Test matches to his name- yet when The Wall stood facing the BITSian junta he looked every bit the epitome of humility, patience and perseverance which he symbolizes and which we have grown so used to seeing on the pitch and off it. The prolific batsman and Wall of India's middle order for almost two decades, Rahul Dravid was the Chief Guest to this year's convocation at BITS Pilani KK Birla Goa Campus. The event also witnessed the Board of Governors of BITS Pilani University- Chancellor Dr. Kumar Mangalam Birla, Vice Chancellor Dr. Jain among several others descend upon the Goa Campus. The fact that BITS is celebrating its Golden Jubilee added further sanctity to the event, something which passing out students forever cherish and remember fondly even after many many years. Rahul Dravid's presence made it a truly memorable convocation for the 2013 passing out batch.[/font][/color]

[color=#4A4A4A][font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Dressed immaculately in black suit, the Wall was welcomed into the campus at around 10 am on 11th August. After a quick meal followed by a friendly interaction with students, the Great Wall descended into the Auditorium amidst loud cheers and applause. His address to the students won the heart of one and all present- graduating students and their parents, the BITS Senate and governors and some lucky students who had managed to sneak into the auditorium to hear the great man. Mr. Dravid's speech, which lasted for a little more than 11 minutes was a beautifully crafted one, laden with knowledge that he has accumulated over a period of 20 years playing at the highest cricketing standards. He spoke about his early life as an average boy in an average middle class family, how he grew and developed as a cricketer and how cricket has given him a more complete perspective of life.[/font][/color]

[color=#4A4A4A][font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]"It is an honor and privilege to be among you today to deliver an address on the graduation ceremony. It is very humbling to visit an institution like BITS that has set a very high standard and made significant contribution to our nation's progress. Actually I am also really lucky. I have been told that the minimum marks required to come to BITS is 75% in Maths and Physics. Luckily those standards do not apply in selecting your chief guest.[/font][/color]

[img]http://www.blogcdn.com/www.coolage.in/media/2013/08/1448144325825930021052893510n.jpg[/img][color=#4A4A4A][font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]A year and a half since my retirement has been a wonderful period of introspection and an opportunity to reflect on my career. Looking back I am certain that cricket has made me better, a more well-rounded person, it certainly gave me the opportunity to mature personally and the platform to experience both success and failure, learn from them and accept them both as a part of life. I am often asked for advice, how to be successful-honestly there are million ways to be successful and I am nobody to tell you which is right for you. Each one of us has to find our own path. Having this opportunity to speak to you, I wanted to share a few stories from my own journey, in the hope that they might resonate in some way.[/font][/color]

[color=#4A4A4A][font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]I had like you to picture a boy from a typical middle class family. I was that boy. What made us different was that my uncle played alongside CK Naidu and my dad represented his university team and he was completely cricket crazy. The radio commentary was always on at home during test matches and my father followed every single match, international or domestic. He took me and my brother along to stadiums to watch the game in action at every possible opportunity. To his mind, there was no better use of our time. As a young boy I hero-worshiped my father and my curiosity about this game that he was so passionate about, grew progressively deeper and I spent more time watching the game with him and playing it in my backyard on the streets- my curiosity gave way to interest and before long this interest gave way to love. I remember at some point, feeling deep inside me, what I wanted to do. Finding myself in the Dravid household was no accident of birth, it appeared. I learnt that sometimes inspiration just stares you in the face."[/font][/color]
[b][img]http://www.blogcdn.com/www.coolage.in/media/2013/08/11464885169398550498441226078785n.jpg[/img]"[/b][color=#4A4A4A][font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Through my school days I was getting more and more into my own world of cricket, winning the inter school tournament felt like winning the world cup. Captaining the school and state teams was my greatest mission. However there is an interesting story from my school days which I would like to tell you. My love for cricket notwithstanding, my parents had the same doubts and fears as any other parents of our time. What was to become of me if all I thought about was cricket?[/font][/color]

[color=#4A4A4A][font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]​When I was in 8[/font][/color][color=#4A4A4A][font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][size=1]th[/size][/font][/color][color=#4A4A4A][font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif] standard, they took their concern to my school principal. I had just made the state under 15 team second time in a row and tournament was out state and during the school term. My parents met my principal and apologetically stated that as my cricket would interfere with my studies and school attendance, they could not ask me to go to play the tournament. They therefore sought his advice on the way forward. Father Coelho after giving them a patient hearing, told them, you leave his studies to me, I will handle that, you let him play cricket."[/font][/color]

[naidubava]

[bisketraja84]

Rahul the Great [img]http://www.andhrafriends.com/uploads/gallery/album_15/gallery_24383_15_17269.gif[/img]

[posaanisam]

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[Sourav_Dada]

after coming out some people from a great institution like bits do this....waste their education for these..

[url="http://www.andhrafriends.com/topic/435335-this-is-how-god-is-shown-to-kids-is-this-right-nlf-ecity-banglore/"]http://www.andhrafriends.com/topic/435335-this-is-how-god-is-shown-to-kids-is-this-right-nlf-ecity-banglore/[/url]

[Maximus]

[img]http://i.picasion.com/pic50/5af11ddf6310b842df2445883f1ec0ea.gif[/img]