Originally written in 2012, edited in 2015, with minor edits in 2023

Writing this book was not easy. For past many years, I have had the dream of writing such a book that anybody from any discipline could read and get inspired. However, the target group was and still is the youth, those fresh and energetic people in the prime of life who still have a (hopefully) long future ahead of them. They have enough time to change themselves, to go get their dreams. Youth are the most important resource for the progress of any nation. And it is really a sad scene to see the youth of today depressed, sad and gloomy for various reasons. Surely, someone with low mood cannot reach the heights of success. I see a lot of potential being wasted. Everywhere I have been for teaching or for motivational speeches, I see many frustrated souls that are too meek to try for greater aspirations. I also noticed that my few words of inspiration helped them rekindle hope and courage. So, I made it a point to try as much as I can to inspire the youths and fill them with confidence and enthusiasm for greatness. And writing a book would be the best way to do that. They may forget what I have told. I mayn’t always be available when they need me the most. If they have a book, however, they can always keep it with them and refer again and again at times of need. So here it is, in your hands, a manual for success, a handbook for confidence, a road map for greatness.

This book is the result of my experience. My experience with failure, with success, with relations, with life, with death-all firsthand experiences—and I am grateful to God for blessing me with experiences of varieties of human emotions at so early an age. Many people must have thought that I have never had to deal with failures, never had to deal with setbacks in life and thus mayn’t be in a position to guide the ones that have faced despair in their lives. But that’s not true. With the exception of failing an exam, I have faced a lot of turmoil in life that you have faced or might never have to face. I know how it feels not to be the successful one, to be among the average, and face the sin of jealousy inside the heart. I know how it feels to be rejected by someone you love, I know how it feels to have your house burgled, I know how it feels to have the nozzle of a gun pressed upon your chest, I know how it feels to be deceived by someone you had trusted, I know how it feels to realize that your parents are sad because of you, I know how it feels to be blamed for something you have not done, I know how it feels to think that you might have a dreadful disease inside, I know how it feels to realize that someone you deeply loved may die soon. And being a doctor, I have seen how disease affects a person’s life and thereby cripples their future and entire family. I have seen dying people, and have spoken with people in their deathbeds and held their hands. I have done a few CPRs trying to save a few people and have lost them. I have seen a few about-to-die people get up, get well, shake hands and go back home. I have seen fear in people’s eyes and hope in the same eyes too. I have seen kids and teenagers get into drugs, teenage girls get pregnant and undergo abortion while I have also witnessed couples who have tried everything but can’t conceive. I have seen young people lose lives in accidents due to reckless and drunk driving, adolescents dying in fights, I have seen famine, I have seen a girl of 15 who was about to appear in her SEE exams lose her right hand after being caught in a grinding mill. I have also witnessed the smiles on people’s face to see their relatives alive, I have helped in delivery of babies, I have seen life, have seen hope and many other miracles. And my conclusion has been that despite seemingly unjust troubles and difficult tests offered by life, life in itself is always beautiful. And that beauty lies in simple facts. The fact that though we live here for a short time, we can make a permanent mark in this world. The fact that all human beings by default are kind. The fact that we have friends. The fact that love exists. The fact that there is love is enough proof that God wants us to be happy. A song by John Mayer says this beautifully:

Pain throws your heart to the ground

Love turns the whole thing around

No it won’t all go the way it should

But I know the heart of life is good

So my intention is to shake all the youths and wake them up from their slumbers. I want you all to wake up and behold the beauty of life. Behold the miracles a man can perform. To believe in oneself. To never underestimate oneself, to believe that you can make a difference to this world and back up that dream with appropriate actions! My aim is just to motivate you, and simultaneously motivate myself. Come, lets grow together!

This project would not have come into fruition without the direct and indirect support of many people behind the scenes. I wouldn’t be where I am without my family. I am always thankful to God for sending me in this earth into such a beautiful family. Thank you my dearest parents for showing me  the  beauty of life, giving me the confidence at times of need and encouraging me always. Thank you to my wife Bandana. Had it not been for her, I would have already renounced everything and taken recluse by now probably. Thank you for still keeping me in this world by showing me the charms and delights of this life. Most of all to Bibhika and Bedanata, both of who did not exist when this book was first published. That in itself is a miracle that new bodies of consciousness can just pop out of nowhere into this universe and become the answers to all your existential questions in life.

Also many thanks to Samiksha Books, who first published the book in 2012 and 2015. To all the students I have taught directly and indirectly. To all the books, movies, speeches, incidents, and life experiences that have inspired me. To each patient I have seen and examined. Each one that got cured, and each that we lost. Thank you all for showing me the value and beauty of life. For teaching me lessons I could never have learned from books. Thank you.

Because inspiration is the most important factor to keep us going at hard times but ironically, people are most miser in providing inspiration, I appreciate all of you who provided enough motivation and encouragement to me not only for this book but throughout my life.

And many thanks to all of you in advance who buy this book, study it thoroughly and bother to spend some  time  to  provide  me feedback, positive or negative, that will help me make this book better and more useful in future. You can leave a comment on individual chapters now at the bottom of each chapter.

Thank you.

BG