Remembering Ananthakrishna’s inspiring talk at St. Aloysius
NV Paulose, Chairman, Global TV +91 98441 82044
- Some lessons remain with us long after the voice that delivered them has faded into memory.
Approximately fourteen years ago, Ananthakrishna, the former Chairman of Karnataka Bank, delivered a talk at St. Aloysius that offered a thoughtful perspective on life, human relationships, personal discipline and the meaning of success.
Today, as we look back on that address, its most valuable lessons seem remarkably timeless. Beneath the scattered recollections of his words lies a philosophy of life that is both simple and profound: begin each day with a positive spirit, treat people with warmth, learn to communicate effectively, love what you do, and contribute something worthwhile to the world around you.
A smile can change the beginning of a day
One of the most memorable recollections from the talk concerns a familiar morning ritual. For many years, the Voice of America was part of the morning routine for countless listeners. Its sign-off carried a message that was simple enough to remember and meaningful enough to practise: if you meet someone who does not have a smile, give that person one of yours.
It is a small gesture, but it expresses a large truth. We often underestimate the influence of our everyday behaviour. A smile, a kind word or a moment of genuine attention can change the way another person experiences the day. We may never know what someone else is going through, but we can choose not to make that burden heavier. A smile does not solve every problem. It does, however, make room for warmth, connection and hope.
The lesson is equally relevant in our homes, classrooms, offices and public spaces. We spend considerable time pursuing success, yet sometimes overlook the simplest quality that makes success meaningful: the ability to make other people feel welcome. Perhaps a good day does not begin with everything going right. Perhaps it begins with choosing to face whatever comes with the right attitude.
Communication is more than speaking
Another important lesson emerging from the talk is the value of communication. People do not always come from the same backgrounds. They may have different levels of exposure, different opportunities and different ways of looking at the world. What seems familiar to one person may be entirely new to another. The answer is not to judge people for what they do not know. It is to communicate with patience, listen carefully and make an honest effort to understand one another.
Good communication is not merely the ability to speak fluently or use impressive words. It is the ability to make an idea understandable, to recognise another person’s perspective and to create a connection where none existed before. This is especially important for young people entering professional life. Knowledge and qualifications may open doors, but the ability to work with people often determines how far one can go. There is also a lesson in humility. If we do not understand something, we should have the courage to ask. If someone else does not understand us, we should have the patience to explain. There is no shame in not knowing. The real loss occurs when pride prevents us from learning.
Think positively, but remain grounded
Positive thinking is sometimes misunderstood as the habit of looking away from difficulties. In reality, its greatest value lies in helping us confront difficulties without surrendering to discouragement. A positive person is not someone who believes that everything will be easy. It is someone who believes that effort is worthwhile even when the outcome is uncertain. The distinction matters. Life brings disappointment, misunderstanding, failure and circumstances beyond our control. We cannot always choose what happens to us, but we can often choose how we respond. We can become bitter, or we can become wiser. We can blame circumstances indefinitely, or we can identify the next useful step.
The purpose of positive thinking is not to deny reality. It is to approach reality with the courage to act. For students, this means treating a setback as an opportunity to improve rather than a final judgement on their abilities. For professionals, it means remaining constructive when a project fails or a plan must change. For everyone, it means refusing to let a difficult moment define an entire life.
Love what you do, and respect the work itself
A further theme that emerges from the recollections is the importance of work. We frequently ask young people what they want to become. We ask about careers, positions, salaries and achievements. These are legitimate concerns, but an equally important question is often neglected: what kind of attitude will you bring to your work?
Whatever the profession, excellence begins with commitment. When we take pride in what we do, ordinary responsibilities acquire significance. We become more attentive to detail, more willing to learn and more conscious of the effect our actions have on others. Loving one’s work does not mean that every task will be enjoyable. Every profession contains routine, pressure and moments of frustration. It means recognising the value of the responsibility we have accepted and trying to perform it with integrity.
Nor does meaningful work have to be spectacular. A teacher who inspires a student, a banker who serves a customer honestly, a public servant who performs a duty conscientiously and a worker who takes pride in craftsmanship all contribute to the larger good. The dignity of work lies not simply in the position one occupies, but in the sincerity with which one fulfils one’s responsibilities.
Success is also a contribution to society
The recollections of the address also point towards a broader question: what does an individual owe to the society that has helped shape their life? A person’s achievements are never entirely the result of individual effort. Families provide support, teachers offer direction, institutions create opportunities and society supplies the environment in which people can learn and prosper.
Recognising this does not diminish personal achievement. It gives achievement a deeper purpose. A successful career can provide security and recognition. But success becomes more meaningful when it also creates opportunities for others, strengthens institutions and contributes to the common good.
This is a particularly important message for young people. Ambition is valuable. There is nothing wrong with wanting to excel, lead or achieve financial independence. The challenge is to ensure that ambition is accompanied by responsibility. The question is not only, “How far can I go?” It is also, “What good can I do with the opportunities I receive?” A society advances when individuals do more than seek personal gain—when they apply their abilities, experience and resources to problems beyond themselves.
The small habits that shape a life
Looking back, what makes these lessons memorable is their simplicity. Begin the morning with a smile. Be considerate towards people whose experiences differ from yours. Communicate clearly. Ask questions when you do not understand. Approach difficulties with a constructive attitude. Take your work seriously. Remember that personal achievement carries a responsibility towards others. None of these ideas is complicated. Their difficulty lies in practising them consistently.
We often imagine that a successful life is built through a few extraordinary decisions. In truth, much of it is shaped by small choices repeated over time: how we greet people, how we respond to criticism, whether we keep our word, how carefully we do our work and whether we make room for someone else’s growth. These habits may not attract immediate recognition, but they gradually shape our character. And character, in turn, influences the quality of our relationships, our professional lives and the legacy we leave behind.
Fourteen years later, the message still matters
The passage of fourteen years gives us an opportunity to reflect on what remains relevant from an address delivered to students at St. Aloysius. The circumstances of our lives may change. Technology may transform the way we communicate. Professional expectations may evolve, and new opportunities may emerge. Yet the foundations of a meaningful life remain familiar. We still need kindness in our relationships, clarity in our communication, resilience in the face of difficulty, integrity in our work and a sense of responsibility towards the wider community.
Perhaps that is the enduring value of a good talk. It does not merely provide information for the moment. It leaves behind ideas that return to us at different stages of life, acquiring new meaning as our experience deepens. The lesson about the morning smile is a fitting place to begin—and perhaps an equally fitting place to end. We cannot control every event that a new day will bring. We can, however, decide how we enter it and how we treat the people we meet along the way.
Sometimes, the beginning of a better world is not an extraordinary achievement or a grand declaration. It is simply one person offering another a smile, one person doing a job honestly, or one person choosing to help rather than dismiss. A smile may last only a moment, but its outcome may last a lifetime. A life devoted to meaningful work and the well-being of others leaves something valuable behind long after the words that inspired it have been forgotten.
