Bhopal Literature Festival: ‘Don’t Let Setbacks Discourage You; Shun Vanity,’ Says Former RBI Governor D Subbarao | FP Photo
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Former RBI Governor D Subbarao shared valuable life lessons during the session titled ‘Just a Mercenary: Memoirs of an RBI Governor’ at the Bhopal Literature Festival, held at Bharat Bhavan on Sunday. Subbarao recalled an incident from his Civil Services interview when he was asked about the lead story on the front page of The Statesman that day.
He couldn’t recall it but still managed to score the second-highest marks in the interview. Reflecting on this, he shared the first lesson he learnt: setbacks are inevitable.
“They will come, but one should not let them discourage you,” he advised. The former RBI chief shared a second life lesson from his early days as a young sub-collector. He had visited several tribal villages, offering to help tribals by writing off their loans from non-tribal moneylenders if they petitioned him.
However, despite his efforts, no petitions were filed. The reason was simple: the tribals feared that filing a complaint would result in their entire village losing access to loans. This taught Subbarao a crucial lesson: Make haste slowly. He emphasized the importance of being cautious and not rushing into things without understanding the full picture.
Subbarao’s third lesson came from a time during the chief ministership of NT Rama Rao (NTR), when he was appointed as the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to set up liquor bottling plants in all districts of the state. At first, Subbarao thought the assignment was beneath his dignity. However, upon completing the task, he experienced immense satisfaction and happiness. His takeaway was: Don’t be vain; don’t believe that you are destined for only bigger or higher things.
BLF Ends With Message: Today’s Reader Tomorrow’s Leader
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): It was Sunday evening. The oblique rays of the descending sun fell on Bharat Bhawan, setting the grey water of the Upper Lake aglow, and ringing down the curtain on the three-day Bhopal Literature Festival.
As it was Sunday, a large number of people began to gather at Bharat Bhawan from 11am when the Antrang Hall was hoisting a lively discussion on a book, How Prime Ministers Decide. Tribal art and craft fair, going on in Adirang Hall, attracted a large crowd, particularly children from different schools in the state capital.
