My Autobiography – My Rival!

A rival is different from enemy. We want to get better than our rival, but we want to pull down our enemy! I was fortunate enough to have a perfect made for each other rivalry, for four years – from 7th Std to 10th Std.

In the place where I grew up, we were judged based on our academic performance (marks, rank) and some presence in sports/ extra-curricular activities. But marks always came first. In the very first Mid-term examination, both of us got the same total marks and hence the same rank (7th Rank) – What a start to the rivalry!

After that, my mother used to ask his rank and marks and his mother used to ask my rank and marks, after every examination. They used to compare us and the rivalry got even more interesting because of this.

At the outset, we were friends and along with another common friend, all three of us used to hang out together. But actually, the rivalry was always there and we used to compare each other in every activity (academics, sports, extra-curricular), that we were involved in.

Surprisingly, we had only two common areas where the rivalry was openly visible – Academics and Cricket. We always tried to out-do each other in every exam and every cricket match (sometimes, in-spite of playing in the same team).

In all other areas, we had different interests. I used to participate in skits, essay competitions but he was not involved in them. He used to make some scientific project models, and learned to play the musical instrument Violin, but I was not involved in them. He was more interested in Table-Tennis and I was more interested in Shuttle (badminton).

The concept of having a healthy rivalry is actually good. One always wants to get better than the other and hence both the persons keep improving in every activity both of them get into. The cricket rivalry between India and Pakistan is a good example. The rivalry that existed between the United States and USSR during the cold war is another good example.

When rivalry becomes enmity, it hurts. For example, if I try to run him out in a cricket match by calling him from the non-strikers end and not running (for example) (or) if he doesn’t give me his notes before an examination (for the portion that I didn’t have), it would have created unfair competition. And fortunately both of us were not interested in such activities.

Enemies want to deny fair competition and subjugate the other, but rivals help each other to create an equal ground, and then compete. Enmity holds back development for both the parties involved but rivalry improves the skills of both the parties involved.

So, isn’t it important for us to empower our rival and play fair so that both of us grow together and achieve new heights?

The recent events that happened between India and Pakistan is extremely encouraging – India supporting Pakistan’s bid for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council and Pakistan giving the Most Favored Nation status to India. Before this, our foreign policy was to oppose their every move and their’s was to oppose our every move. Whom did it benefit?

In the context of creating a healthy rivalry, don’t you think it is important for India to contribute to the growth of Pakistan and empower them as much as possible?

Destination Infinity

PS: One of the best stories of empowering a rival and creating a fair ground can be found here. So, who wants to become my rival blog? 🙂

18 thoughts on “My Autobiography – My Rival!

  1. Nita

    As you said, if there is fair play, then the rivalry is healthy. When it comes to politics, somehow my suspicion will always remain. That politics is politics.

    1. Rajesh K

      I think – Politicians don’t take to fair play because people don’t take to it. If politicians want to create a frenzy using certain issues, its because people vote for politicians who do that. If people don’t vote for them, why would they continue doing politics? There’s a character of democracy – people get what they deserve!

      Destination Infinity

  2. Ashwathy

    Enemies want to deny fair competition and subjugate the other, but rivals help each other to create an equal ground, and then compete. Enmity holds back development for both the parties involved but rivalry improves the skills of both the parties involved.

    I love the example you gave and the metaphor 🙂 So true!

    1. Rajesh K

      That’s one more reason why we need to help each other out – in a family or during work. We gain as much as the other person, by helping them out.

      Destination Infinity

  3. Sandhya

    You remember so many things of your school days, amazing! Yes, healthy competition is always good for all! Do you have contact with him now?

    What happened to the guy about whom you wrote and you wanted him to contact you?!

    India Pakistan bhai bhai…will it become a reality in the future? Will the hard core muslims allow it? It would be nice if it happens!

    1. Rajesh K

      No to both. I lost contact with my rival after 10th Std, and that best friend of mine is too busy!

      Being ‘open minded’ is not always better than being stringent and rigid, at least on certain important issues/ principles.

      Destination Infinity

  4. Bikram

    wowo..
    my parents gave up asking my rivals .. as I did not have any rivals I was the worst in my class .. So no problems 🙂

    you are right about being a enemy and a rival .. raivalry can be healthy .. and I know because a few of my rivals are actually my best friends and they helped me do something in life .. else i was a gone case

    Bikram’s

    1. Ashwathy

      LOL! 😀

      Well for someone who was worst in the class, you haven’t turned out too bad Bik!! 🙂

      1. Bikram

        Well Thank you for that .. but i still feel had i worked hard who know 🙁

        but too late for that .. yeah i have done fine for myself …

        1. Rajesh K

          You still have a lot of time to compensate for all lost time – At least you had fun 🙂 Many people miss out on that!

          Destination Infinity

  5. sujatha sathya

    interesting since both of you remained good friends in-spite of the rivalry.
    liked your opening lines. good start to a good topic

    1. Rajesh K

      Well actually, we had to remain friends due to our rivalry. And also because there was a third common friend who was close to both of us.

      Destination Infinity

  6. Kiran @ KiranTarun.com

    Wow! This saga of rivalry continues 😉

    Healthy rivalry is sometimes encouraged. But I have very little opinion on politics. Like Nita said, politicians are politicians!

    1. Rajesh K

      In democracies, politicians are made by people. They are not self-created!

      Destination Infinity

  7. Praveen Kumar

    wow, interesting post, i like your feeling, thanks for sharing.

    1. Rajesh K

      Thank you too…..

      Destination Infinity

  8. A

    Rajesh,

    I don’t remember anything about school. It is amazing you remember so many details. Good job in start writing these because you might forget.

    About India-Pakistan are enemies and will remain so for a long time. No one in power wants peace.

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