Columbus Day

Once, uncle Raj met one of his nephews after few years of time and said to him, “Oh, Henry you have changed a lot. You were so thin, now you are so fat; you were very fair, now you are dark; you were so tall, now you are so short.” exasperated nephew corrected him saying, “ Uncle I am not Henry, I am John.” His uncle without bating his eyelids replied, “Oh my God, you changed your name too.”

On this day, when Columbus is remembered for his discovery of America, the story above mentioned flashed through my mind. Because something similar might have taken place when Columbus encountered the chief of Native American:

Columbus: Oh my God, you people were brownish, now you look redish; you guys were wearing cotton and silk, now you are wearing leather outfits; you were thin, now full of muscles; you Indians have changed a lot.

Chief: Sorry man, we are not Indians, we are Americans

Columbus: You people changed your name too, remember that you should not cut off from your original name, and so let’s call you Red Indians.

It is said that the map Columbus used was filled with major errors, yet he could land on America due to his determination and perseverance. So the lesson is If you persevere with hope, even a wrong map can lead you to right destination, in his case better destination.

If you look long enough and hard enough you will find what you look for otherwise don't worry, your mind will create one for you, which means the history will hail you either as a great visionary or a mad man with guts (both names are worth possessing).

And the story of Columbus reaffirms one more truth: the perception is the reality. New way to Indies was his dream; so according to him new people have to be Indians, red or blue did not matter.