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This article was first published 10 years ago

10 things Raghu Ram wants you to know!

May 15, 2014 17:23 IST

Image: Raghu Ram
Photographs: Courtesy Rupa Publications

Television show host Raghu Ram may be one of the meanest people on camera.

But he is also worldly wise.

We asked the Tormentor of Roadies. to share a few words of advice for you, our young readers.

It is easy to write off someone as an angry rude person.

Sure, Raghu Ram has a side that almost every person who's gone to audition for MTV Roadies absolutely hates.

But the TV show host also happens to be a wise man who cares about the state of the world.

He is actively involved in the Aam Aadmi Party and was campaigning for it actively during the recently concluded elections.

And he's released his memoirs -- Rearview: My Roadies Journey! (published by Rupa Publications).

It seemed apt then for us to ask him what he hoped the young and restless of this country knew.

Please click NEXT to read what he said...

1. The world is larger and prettier than you think

Image: The world is one very beautiful place
Photographs: Luke MacGregor/Reuters

It is said that the world is a book and those who haven't travelled have read but one page.

Planet earth is the most amazing speck in the entire universe as it has everything the rest of the universe doesn't.

Travel as much as you can.

Avoid repeating places you've already visited.

Remember, every holiday is a chance to discover a new place.

ALSO SEE Stunning images from planet earth

Please click NEXT to continue reading...

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2. Discovering yourself is as important as discovering the world

Image: Discover yourself -- it's as important as discovering the world.
Photographs: Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters

Knowing yourself will lead to your being able to navigate life more effectively.

The most difficult thing in knowing yourself is to preserve objectivity.

More than finding things about yourself that you like concentrate on finding things about yourself that you hate and work on them.

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3. You are the architect of your destiny


Photographs: Oleg Popov/Reuters

Gone are the times when a cobbler's son has to become a cobbler and a king's son becomes a king.

You are a unique person with unique ability and talents.

Discover them.

And use them not just to eke out a living but also derive pleasure for yourself and spread happiness to others.

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4. Question every bias


Photographs: Anindito Mukherjee/Reuters

We always inherit biases and hates.

Do not accept them blindly

The world is moving towards global citizenship

And prejudices will only hold you back.

Bias against people on the basis of their religion, caste, gender or sexual orientation won't take you too far.

Besides, it quite simply isn't cool to be racist, sexist or homophobic anymore.

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5. Very few things make you happier than a healthy body


Photographs: Brian Snyder/Reuters

Take it from someone with a bad body image for most of his life, working on your fitness is totally worth it.

Workouts release happy hormones.

If you exercise more, chances are you'll be a happier person.

Being fit also means you can participate in activities like trekking, mountaineering and other extreme sports.

These won't just thrill you but also enrich your life beyond your imagination.

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6. Test yourself to know yourself


Photographs: Mike Powell/Getty Images

Everyone is as morally upright as the next person till they're tested.

Expose yourself to new ideas. Challenging yourself. Struggle.

Only then will you really know if you are the person you think you are.

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7. If you don't stand up for your beliefs they are not your beliefs

Image: If you believe in a cause, go out and make your voice heard.
Photographs: Nicky Loh/Getty Images

No one respects an armchair intellectual.

If you believe in a cause, go out and contribute.

Else you never really cared about it.

And it's cool to care

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8. Technology can both connect people and isolate them


Technology has brought people closer in many ways.

But there are few things more pathetic than four friends sitting together but chatting with other people on their phones.

Disconnect once in a while discover the most high-end operating system of all -- real life.

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9. Respect your elders and be responsible towards the younger ones


Photographs: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

Our elders are a storehouse of history and experience.

They must be valued and cherished and be given due respect.

But it is not important to do everything they say

Their opinions may be outdated and regressive.

Learn to sift the relevant from the archaic.

Our responsibility is to our future generations.

We should not be teaching them what to think but how to think

 

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10. Read and meet artists


Along with travelling, reading and meeting interesting people are the two sure fire ways of expanding your mind.

They both give you different points of view and expose you to different worldviews

Artists in particular are among those who are capable of thinking out of the box and view the world differently from the rest of us.

Artists make the world better.

Besides, they are quite simply great fun to hang out with. :-)

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