After completing high school, the late R.K. Laxman (born in 1921), one of India's most renowned cartoonists, applied to the J. J. School of Art in Bombay, hoping to focus on his lifelong passion for drawing and painting. However, the dean of the school wrote to him that his drawings lacked "the kind of talent to qualify for enrolment in our institution as a student" and refused him admission.
This was undoubtedly a painful experience for Laxman, but he did not lose heart. He decided to persevere and eventually graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Mysore. He then began his career as a cartoonist and later joined The Times of India, embarking on a highly successful career that spanned over fifty years.
A Valuable Lesson in Perseverance
This incident teaches a profound lesson. It illustrates that a person may be born with great talent but may not be recognized as talented at an early age. Therefore, one must adopt the maxim: 'Try, try, try again.' It is entirely possible that one will eventually achieve a position that others considered unthinkable when they were young.
The truth is that all men and women are born with immense potential, but this potential often remains hidden. Only through sincere effort can one unlock one's potential. This is a law of nature, and one should rely on the law of nature rather than on the opinions of others. Almost all great achievers have, at some point, been underestimated by others—and even by themselves.
Examples of Overcoming Rejection
There are countless examples of individuals who faced rejection at an early age but never lost courage and continued their struggle until they reached the top. The only difference between those who succeed and those who fail is that successful people recognize and unfold their potential, while others, who fail to recognize their own potential, end up as failures.
Success and failure in this world are largely in one's own hands. Everyone is a born achiever, including those who are considered disabled. The so-called disabled are not truly disabled; they are simply differently-abled. Success is not the outcome of destiny but the outcome of effort. Predestination is a fact, not in terms of fate, but in terms of inborn qualities. Everyone is born with different qualities, and it is up to each individual to discover the distinctive qualities with which they have been endowed by providence. Once they discover these qualities, they will be successful. But if they fail to do so, they can expect nothing but failure.
The Scope for Success
The fact is that the scope for success is greater than the incidence of failure. No amount of failure can diminish this scope. Every failure is merely a stepping stone to a further broadening of scope. Discover this fact of life, and you will never be disappointed; you will never feel that you have reached a dead end with no way forward. According to the law of nature, every evening brings with it the silent message that very soon there will be a new dawn. This truth applies not only to the material world but also—even more so—to human life.
Effort and Self-Discovery
Success is fifty percent the outcome of one's struggle and fifty percent the outcome of the discovery of one's potential. When you ultimately realize the full extent of your talents, you are well on your way to success. The term 'closed door' can be found only in the dictionary—not in real life. Both success and failure are the products of one's own intellectual awareness.
Authored by: Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
