Letter to Student Series : Volume 2 Issue 8

My Dear Student Friends,

Greetings!

This is Dr. Ravi Saripalle, Founder, Inspire to Innovate (i2i) Storytelling Movement. Welcome to “Letter to Student Series- Volume 2 and Issue 8”. Hope you enjoyed reading my previous letter (they are available at http://i2itm.blogspot.in/). The goal of these letters is to inspire students across the country and make them Future Ready / Industry Ready.

In this letter, I would like to stress upon the importance of upholding your original creativity. It has been gifted to you by God! It is important to preserve your natural talent. Often we ignore this element. Sometimes there is myth that it does not generate income or provide food. Absolutely No! Infact in the recent times, this misconception has been proved wrong. Creativity plays major role in succeeding in your career. Academic qualification might give an entry, but passion and creativity only make you survive in your career most importantly in the context of Industry 4.0. It has become good income generator. It inspires you. It helps you not to be fatigue! Practice your natural intelligence for 4 hours in a week. If intelligence matches to your personality, age you started, identification of the opportunity at right time, makes you most successful in your career. 

What is your natural intelligence? How can you identify? Following survey helps you to identify your natural intelligence and inspire you to practice (it is developed based on Gardner multiple intelligence theory). There are 9 types of intelligences. I am sure you are already gifted with one of them naturally, genetically and suitable to your living environment. Identify your intelligence and practice it for 4 hours per week. I am sure one day, that kind of practice will give you job and make you successful in your career. This process gives you utmost self-satisfaction.

1.Verbal-linguistic intelligence (well-developed verbal skills. e.g. Journalism, Teaching, Lawyer)

2.Logical-mathematical intelligence (ability to think conceptually and abstractly, and capacity to distinguish logical and numerical patterns- e.g. Engineering, Programming, Accounting etc.)

3.Spatial-visual intelligence (capacity to think in images and pictures, to visualize accurately and abstractly- e.g. Architect, Navigator, Sculpture, Artist, Designer etc.)

4.Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence (ability to control one’s body movements-e.g. Actor, Athlete, Firefighter, Police, Mining, and other jobs involved physical strength)

5.Musical intelligence (ability to produce and appreciate rhythm, pitch - e.g. Music Albums, Disk Jockey)

6.Interpersonal intelligence (capacity to detect and respond appropriately to the moods, motivations and desires of others e.g. Sales/Marketing, Counselor, Politician etc. )

7.Intrapersonal intelligence (capacity to be self-aware and in tune with inner feelings, values, beliefs and thinking processes- e.g. researcher, book writer, any job involved in individual contribution)

8.Naturalist intelligence (ability to recognize and categorize plants, animals and other objects in nature-e.g. farming, animal husbandry,  environmentalist, developing products connected to nature)

9.Existential / Spiritual intelligence (sensitivity and capacity to tackle deep questions about human existence such as, What is the meaning of life? Why do we die? How did we get here?:e.g. Remain as Spiritualist and not depend on material career, Philosopher, Theorist)

Hope you identified your intelligence. Now let me share few individuals who got highest of such intelligence, practiced it over period of years and received highest accolades in the society. To know more, please read https://www.slideshare.net/saimudia/multiple-intelligence-12772994

1.Verbal-linguistic intelligence : Whenever I hear Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi's speech,  it is really inspiring. God has gifted Verbal-Linguistic intelligence to Shri Narendra Modi. Please read his biography at http://www.narendramodi.in/humble-beginnings-the-early-years-3131. In similar lines, Martin Luther King, Jr (1929-1968) got great oratory intelligence.  JK Rowling, author of Harry Potter (Literary Series) got highest literary intelligence.

2.Logical-mathematical intelligence: Viswanathan Anand, Indian chess Grandmaster and former World Chess Champion, recipient of Indian civilian award (first sportsperson to receive the award) the Padma Vibhushan, is having highest logical intelligence (Read more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viswanathan_Anand). Srinivasa Iyengar Ramanujan, Indian mathematician, who could compile nearly 3,900 results (identities and equations) is having highest mathematical intelligence (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Srinivasa_Ramanujan). Similarly, Shakuntala Devi, calculating prodigy of India, human computer, mental calculator has math-logic intelligence. Aryabhatta, great astrologer of 476 AD times, considered as another math-logic intelligent.

3.Spatial-visual intelligence: Raja Ravi Varma (1848–1906), one of the eminent painter and artists (considered as  greatest painter in the history of Indian art ) is having visual intelligence. Pablo Picasso, Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, stage designer (1881-1973) is considered as another intelligent in visual intelligence. Sarnath Banerjee (born 1972), an Indian graphic novelist, artist is having extraordinary spatial intelligence (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarnath_Banerjee).

4.Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence: Ramdev Baba, famous yoga guru (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramdev), Sachin Tendulkar, best cricketer, P. C. Sarkar, famous magician (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._C._Sorcar), Raj Kapoor (1924 –1988) noted Indian film actor (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raj_Kapoor), Dr Naresh Trehan, Indian cardiovascular and cardiothoracic surgeon (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naresh_Trehan) are having highest bodily-kinesthetic intelligence.

5.Musical intelligence: Lata Mangeshkar (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lata_Mangeshkar), Kishore Kumar (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kishore_Kumar), both Hindi Singers, Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, SP Balasubrahmanyam, both Telugu Singers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghantasala_(singer)), Zakir Hussain, Tabla Player (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zakir_Hussain_(musician)) are having premier musical intelligence.

6.Interpersonal Intelligence: Oprah Winfrey, American talk show host (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oprah_Winfrey), Cho Ramaswamy, comedian, editor, political satirist, playwright and lawyer (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cho_Ramaswamy)  are good examples with most interpersonal skills.

7.Intrapersonal intelligence: Helen Keller, American author, lecturer, and humanitarian (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Keller), Aristotle, Greek philosopher (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristotle), are few examples with highest intrapersonal intelligence.

8.Naturalist intelligence : Subhash Palekar, an Indian agriculturist, promoter of Zero Budget Spiritual Farming & organic farming (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subhash_Palekar), Maneka Gandhi, environmentalist & Indian Union Cabinet Minister for Women & Child Development (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maneka_Gandhi), Jadav "Molai" Payeng,  Padmasri  awardee, environmental activist and forestry worker (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jadav_Payeng) are great examples having top naturalistic intelligence.

9.Existential / Spiritual intelligence: A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), who led Hare Krishna Movement across the globe is great example with highest spiritual intelligence. The journey of Srila Prabhupada is inspiring. In 1965, when Prabhupada first arrived in New York, was practically penniless. At age of 69, He travelled to USA with only Rs. 40/-, a suitcase, an umbrella, a supply of dry cereal, 200 sets of books on a Cargo ship. He suffered from sea sickness, dizziness and vomiting and had two heart-attacks but survived by the mercy of Lord Krishna. He had taken the order of his spiritual master to spread the science of Krishna consciousness to the West.He stayed lonely in New York, faced rough winter, living in a tiny uptown room, teaching Bhagavad-Gita to few people. He had no money, no friends, no followers, not his youth, good health or even a clear idea of how he would accomplish his far-reaching objective to present the spiritual knowledge of the Vedas to the entire Western society. By Lord Krishna's grace,  in 2014, ISKCON reached a milestone of distributing over half a billion books (authored by Prabhupada, since 1965). It is unbelievable, more than 700 ISKCON temples are there across the world, spread across 80+ countries. There are ISKCON communities across the world with schools, restaurants and farms. Akshaya Patra, feeding initiative of ISKCON Bangalore, started with humble 1,500 children in the year 2000 to 1.6 million children in 2016!

My Dear Friends, Appreciate your valuable time. See you in my next letter. Thank you for giving me this wonderful opportunity to write to you and help me to learn, unlearn and relearn. I personally thank all websites, authors who are publishing / writing such an inspiring stories for common good and contributing for better world. Positive Storytelling and Letter Writing are powerful tools to establish vision in our life. Please do write to someone you trust / your mentor regularly. You can also reach to me at sdindia2020@gmail.com I am happy to respond to your letter.

With Best Wishes,

Dr. Ravi Saripalle

Request you to answer the following five questions and calculate your Future Readiness.

1.         I read / hear stories of amazing people           

 (A) weekly once (10 marks)           (B) monthly once (5 marks)           (C) Irregular reading (2 marks)                                      (D)Not Interested (0 marks)

2.         I write letter / mail to my mentor (other than parents) for guidance (professional / personal)

(A) every 6 months (10 marks)      (B) yearly once (5 marks)               (C) Irregular writing (2 marks)                                        (D)Not Interested (0 marks)

3.         I practice my passion or natural intelligence (to know your intelligence https://goo.gl/vgyD54) 

(A) weekly 4 hours (10 marks)       (B) weekly 2 hours (5 marks)        (C) Irregular practice (2 marks)                                      (D)Not Interested (0 marks)

4.         I manage my academics with consistent percentage or grade 

(A) A Grade and above  (10 marks)            (B) B Grade and above  (5 marks)              (C) C Grade or below (2 marks)                                                      (D)Consistent Failure (0 marks)

5.         I do physical activity and maintain good health  

(A) weekly 4 hours (10 marks)       (B) weekly 2 hours (5 marks)        (C) Irregular practice (2 marks)                                      (D)Not Interested (0 marks)

Check Your Score and Title

I wish you should be either Performer (your score should be between 40-50) or Challenger (your score should be between 25-40). You should not give any scope to be  Lounger (relaxed) with 10-25 score or Laggard (slower than desired) with score less than 10.

About Author:    Dr. Ravi Saripalle is Founder of Inspire to Innovate (i2i) Storytelling Movement and Director, Center for Innovation, GVP College of Engineering (A), Vizag, AP, India. As part of Inspire to Innovate (i2i) Storytelling Movement, Dr.Ravi is trying to instill inspiration through spreading positive stories of amazing people in the form of short stories, embedding them in the form of letters (epistolary form) and sending them to thousands of schools, colleges, universities districts administration across India. Also conducting Storytelling Workshops in select institutions. Providing customized mentoring to inspired students. Dr. Ravi is having 18 years of experience in Industry, Consultancy, Training, Mentoring and Research. Prior to this current mission, Ravi worked with Wipro Technologies for more than a decade.  Ravi can be reached at sdindia2020@gmail,com or http://i2itm.blogspot.in/ or https://www.facebook.com/i2istorytellingmovement/  

Previous letters are available at http://i2itm.blogspot.in/

Disclaimer: The goal of this i2iSM letter series campaign is to inspire students / youth through storytelling and develop innovative leaders to build strong nation. In this process, I have taken several data points from various websites, NEWS articles, books, videos etc. I sincerely thank all the editors for providing such an insightful stories and information. To the best of my knowledge, I tried to acknowledge all the sources. I sincerely apologize for any omissions, grammatical mistakes and hurting any reader’s sentiments. I request all the readers to understand the spirit behind this effort. This effort doesn’t involve any commercials. Letter series is for free distribution.