[Music] [Applause]
all right thanks so much and I hope that
all right thanks so much and I hope that grabbed your attention because it’s it’s
grabbed your attention because it’s it’s
grabbed your attention because it’s it’s always a bit unkind to the speaker who
always a bit unkind to the speaker who
always a bit unkind to the speaker who the last speaker of the evening and to
the last speaker of the evening and to
the last speaker of the evening and to make matters worse I speak after one
make matters worse I speak after one
make matters worse I speak after one tennis great and one all-around great
tennis great and one all-around great
tennis great and one all-around great javed akhtar saab so i’m both
javed akhtar saab so i’m both
javed akhtar saab so i’m both disappointed that that i have to you
disappointed that that i have to you
disappointed that that i have to you know try and do a finish up act after
know try and do a finish up act after
know try and do a finish up act after him
him
him and also excited to speak to you about
and also excited to speak to you about
and also excited to speak to you about issues that really are close to my heart
issues that really are close to my heart
issues that really are close to my heart you know people want journalists to
you know people want journalists to
you know people want journalists to speak about journalism to speak about
speak about journalism to speak about
speak about journalism to speak about the interviews they did and the stories
the interviews they did and the stories
the interviews they did and the stories they did instead i want to talk about
they did instead i want to talk about
they did instead i want to talk about the passion that makes most journalists
the passion that makes most journalists
the passion that makes most journalists tick
tick
tick the truth is that today it’s not the
the truth is that today it’s not the
the truth is that today it’s not the same as it was let’s be honest ten years
same as it was let’s be honest ten years
same as it was let’s be honest ten years ago ten years ago i used to go around
ago ten years ago i used to go around
ago ten years ago i used to go around and give lectures about being a
and give lectures about being a
and give lectures about being a journalist and i’d get you know people
journalist and i’d get you know people
journalist and i’d get you know people asking me to for autographs and you know
asking me to for autographs and you know
asking me to for autographs and you know and people asking me how can i send my
and people asking me how can i send my
and people asking me how can i send my kid to journalism school how do they get
kid to journalism school how do they get
kid to journalism school how do they get into a television channel and everyone
into a television channel and everyone
into a television channel and everyone had stars in their eyes today there are
had stars in their eyes today there are
had stars in their eyes today there are no stars in everyone’s eyes
no stars in everyone’s eyes
no stars in everyone’s eyes words like a prostitute are used words
words like a prostitute are used words
words like a prostitute are used words that that showed that the media is no
that that showed that the media is no
that that showed that the media is no longer at a high pedestal at once were i
longer at a high pedestal at once were i
longer at a high pedestal at once were i use and i just want to give you in these
use and i just want to give you in these
use and i just want to give you in these next few minutes a sense of the kind of
next few minutes a sense of the kind of
next few minutes a sense of the kind of passion that drives us I’ll tell you why
passion that drives us I’ll tell you why
passion that drives us I’ll tell you why I showed you that bomb blast in a second
I showed you that bomb blast in a second
I showed you that bomb blast in a second it’s of course it’s it’s not a real
it’s of course it’s it’s not a real
it’s of course it’s it’s not a real video it’s from the heart Locker as many
video it’s from the heart Locker as many
video it’s from the heart Locker as many of you might know did you know for
of you might know did you know for
of you might know did you know for example that the average bomb and the
example that the average bomb and the
example that the average bomb and the average bombs just about this big right
average bombs just about this big right
average bombs just about this big right you either strap it on like a suicide
you either strap it on like a suicide
you either strap it on like a suicide bomber or you put it place it under
bomber or you put it place it under
bomber or you put it place it under somebody’s chair everybody’s suddenly
somebody’s chair everybody’s suddenly
somebody’s chair everybody’s suddenly looking to see if they’ve got any there
looking to see if they’ve got any there
looking to see if they’ve got any there it’s about this big when it detonates it
it’s about this big when it detonates it
it’s about this big when it detonates it detonates at the speed of eight and a
detonates at the speed of eight and a
detonates at the speed of eight and a half kilometers per second to put that
half kilometers per second to put that
half kilometers per second to put that in perspective that’s 22 times faster
in perspective that’s 22 times faster
in perspective that’s 22 times faster than a 9mm bullet coming out of an
than a 9mm bullet coming out of an
than a 9mm bullet coming out of an automatic handgun right if you talk
automatic handgun right if you talk
automatic handgun right if you talk about the air pressure around and you
about the air pressure around and you
about the air pressure around and you can see some of that around a bomb that
can see some of that around a bomb that
can see some of that around a bomb that goes off it’s about a
goes off it’s about a
goes off it’s about a in 50 times what your normal air
in 50 times what your normal air
in 50 times what your normal air pressure of about I think 15 pounds per
pressure of about I think 15 pounds per
pressure of about I think 15 pounds per second is if you look at the heat it
second is if you look at the heat it
second is if you look at the heat it goes way over boiling point it goes way
goes way over boiling point it goes way
goes way over boiling point it goes way over the hundreds even sometimes it goes
over the hundreds even sometimes it goes
over the hundreds even sometimes it goes way over a thousand degrees as well
way over a thousand degrees as well
way over a thousand degrees as well nuclear bomb of course is much more than
nuclear bomb of course is much more than
nuclear bomb of course is much more than that
that
that so we’re talking about a very very high
so we’re talking about a very very high
so we’re talking about a very very high intensity and that’s when the bomb
intensity and that’s when the bomb
intensity and that’s when the bomb detonates even so scientists will tell
detonates even so scientists will tell
detonates even so scientists will tell you that there is one milli second one
you that there is one milli second one
you that there is one milli second one little mili second in which the the bomb
little mili second in which the the bomb
little mili second in which the the bomb detonates but all the oxygen in the air
detonates but all the oxygen in the air
detonates but all the oxygen in the air is sucked down that’s the kind of
is sucked down that’s the kind of
is sucked down that’s the kind of silence you have in that one milli
silence you have in that one milli
silence you have in that one milli second before the bomb detonates and
second before the bomb detonates and
second before the bomb detonates and then every part of the bomb whatever you
then every part of the bomb whatever you
then every part of the bomb whatever you packed inside the bomb sometimes it’s
packed inside the bomb sometimes it’s
packed inside the bomb sometimes it’s nails sometimes it’s ball bearings they
nails sometimes it’s ball bearings they
nails sometimes it’s ball bearings they go out like a projectile now think about
go out like a projectile now think about
go out like a projectile now think about everything I have just told you for an
everything I have just told you for an
everything I have just told you for an average bomb a small bomb and
average bomb a small bomb and
average bomb a small bomb and extrapolate that to a car bomb a car
extrapolate that to a car bomb a car
extrapolate that to a car bomb a car bomb packed with a gas cylinder which is
bomb packed with a gas cylinder which is
bomb packed with a gas cylinder which is packed with explosives and there are
packed with explosives and there are
packed with explosives and there are explosives under all the seats that
explosives under all the seats that
explosives under all the seats that ladies and gentlemen was really my
ladies and gentlemen was really my
ladies and gentlemen was really my moment of truth and that’s what I want
moment of truth and that’s what I want
moment of truth and that’s what I want to speak about this afternoon the fact
to speak about this afternoon the fact
to speak about this afternoon the fact is we all go through life with many
is we all go through life with many
is we all go through life with many experiences but there are a few moments
experiences but there are a few moments
experiences but there are a few moments in each of our lives that are crystal
in each of our lives that are crystal
in each of our lives that are crystal clear it was August 10th 2000 17 years
clear it was August 10th 2000 17 years
clear it was August 10th 2000 17 years ago when I was a reporter in Kashmir and
ago when I was a reporter in Kashmir and
ago when I was a reporter in Kashmir and as reporters do we tend to be in places
as reporters do we tend to be in places
as reporters do we tend to be in places when there is a bad situation going on
when there is a bad situation going on
when there is a bad situation going on there’s a conflict in the area and we
there’s a conflict in the area and we
there’s a conflict in the area and we happen to be in a certain area actually
happen to be in a certain area actually
happen to be in a certain area actually I was shopping that morning because I
I was shopping that morning because I
I was shopping that morning because I was headed home after that when we heard
was headed home after that when we heard
was headed home after that when we heard something go off now the average
something go off now the average
something go off now the average reaction of most people if I was to you
reaction of most people if I was to you
reaction of most people if I was to you know set something off in the middle of
know set something off in the middle of
know set something off in the middle of this theater is to run the average react
this theater is to run the average react
this theater is to run the average react off the average journalist and certainly
off the average journalist and certainly
off the average journalist and certainly every journalist I know is to run in the
every journalist I know is to run in the
every journalist I know is to run in the opposite direction as in towards the
opposite direction as in towards the
opposite direction as in towards the sound when we got there we realized
sound when we got there we realized
sound when we got there we realized there was a little grenade and we sort
there was a little grenade and we sort
there was a little grenade and we sort of took it easy not realizing that that
of took it easy not realizing that that
of took it easy not realizing that that grenade was a ruse the idea off that
grenade was a ruse the idea off that
grenade was a ruse the idea off that grenade was to bring in as many security
grenade was to bring in as many security
grenade was to bring in as many security forces bomb disposal squad and policemen
forces bomb disposal squad and policemen
forces bomb disposal squad and policemen into that area before detonating the car
into that area before detonating the car
into that area before detonating the car bomb the car bomb exploded it exploded
bomb the car bomb exploded it exploded
bomb the car bomb exploded it exploded right in front of us as I look around
right in front of us as I look around
right in front of us as I look around and maybe now I’m talking in nanoseconds
and maybe now I’m talking in nanoseconds
and maybe now I’m talking in nanoseconds and no longer speaking in the average
and no longer speaking in the average
and no longer speaking in the average second that human beings think of in
second that human beings think of in
second that human beings think of in these things then and that’s one of the
these things then and that’s one of the
these things then and that’s one of the reasons why that bomb blast goes out in
reasons why that bomb blast goes out in
reasons why that bomb blast goes out in slow motion because that’s how you feel
slow motion because that’s how you feel
slow motion because that’s how you feel when you’re inside it when you’re
when you’re inside it when you’re
when you’re inside it when you’re feeling the heat or taking the pressure
feeling the heat or taking the pressure
feeling the heat or taking the pressure or being hit by a projectile as the
or being hit by a projectile as the
or being hit by a projectile as the photographer next to me was he died more
photographer next to me was he died more
photographer next to me was he died more than a dozen other people died over
than a dozen other people died over
than a dozen other people died over there but the truth was that for that
there but the truth was that for that
there but the truth was that for that one millisecond before everything
one millisecond before everything
one millisecond before everything happened I had a moment of clarity I
happened I had a moment of clarity I
happened I had a moment of clarity I can’t explain it it was just there it
can’t explain it it was just there it
can’t explain it it was just there it was this moment of clarity which is why
was this moment of clarity which is why
was this moment of clarity which is why yours later you know now when I hear
yours later you know now when I hear
yours later you know now when I hear people say my entire life flashed before
people say my entire life flashed before
people say my entire life flashed before my eyes I don’t laugh about it it’s not
my eyes I don’t laugh about it it’s not
my eyes I don’t laugh about it it’s not a cliche it is the truth because it
a cliche it is the truth because it
a cliche it is the truth because it isn’t that one moment of clarity that
isn’t that one moment of clarity that
isn’t that one moment of clarity that you realize what it is you care about
you realize what it is you care about
you realize what it is you care about what matters to you or who matters to
what matters to you or who matters to
what matters to you or who matters to you is it your parents
you is it your parents
you is it your parents is it a husband or wife or girlfriend
is it a husband or wife or girlfriend
is it a husband or wife or girlfriend the boyfriend is it your children is it
the boyfriend is it your children is it
the boyfriend is it your children is it a home in the hills that you’ve always
a home in the hills that you’ve always
a home in the hills that you’ve always loved is it an idea is it an infant
loved is it an idea is it an infant
loved is it an idea is it an infant unfinished work something you’ve written
unfinished work something you’ve written
unfinished work something you’ve written which you’ve only half written what is
which you’ve only half written what is
which you’ve only half written what is important to you and that’s that moment
important to you and that’s that moment
important to you and that’s that moment that you have to try and use so we all
that you have to try and use so we all
that you have to try and use so we all have these moments you look in history
have these moments you look in history
have these moments you look in history there are lots of these moments I’ll
there are lots of these moments I’ll
there are lots of these moments I’ll take all the most famous ones of course
take all the most famous ones of course
take all the most famous ones of course Mahatma Gandhi his moment was probably
Mahatma Gandhi his moment was probably
Mahatma Gandhi his moment was probably not
not
not to do with the with with the Indian
to do with the with with the Indian
to do with the with with the Indian freedom struggle it had to do with being
freedom struggle it had to do with being
freedom struggle it had to do with being thrown off a train because he was
thrown off a train because he was
thrown off a train because he was travelling by in a first-class
travelling by in a first-class
travelling by in a first-class compartment as he sat on that platform
compartment as he sat on that platform
compartment as he sat on that platform he tried to explain that he had a ticket
he tried to explain that he had a ticket
he tried to explain that he had a ticket for the first class but the reason he
for the first class but the reason he
for the first class but the reason he was thrown off was because of the color
was thrown off was because of the color
was thrown off was because of the color of his skin or in the u.s. Martin Luther
of his skin or in the u.s. Martin Luther
of his skin or in the u.s. Martin Luther King in 1956 he was already a civil
King in 1956 he was already a civil
King in 1956 he was already a civil rights activist but there are lots of
rights activist but there are lots of
rights activist but there are lots of civil rights activists I mean there were
civil rights activists I mean there were
civil rights activists I mean there were lots even at that time what was his
lots even at that time what was his
lots even at that time what was his moment of truth was being pulled over
moment of truth was being pulled over
moment of truth was being pulled over not for protesting not for burning a
not for protesting not for burning a
not for protesting not for burning a flag or burning his registration card
flag or burning his registration card
flag or burning his registration card but for over speeding he was pulled over
but for over speeding he was pulled over
but for over speeding he was pulled over because he was 5 kilometers over the
because he was 5 kilometers over the
because he was 5 kilometers over the speed limit but the way that he was
speed limit but the way that he was
speed limit but the way that he was treated once again because of the color
treated once again because of the color
treated once again because of the color of his skin is what made Martin Luther
of his skin is what made Martin Luther
of his skin is what made Martin Luther King jr. the man that we saw the man
King jr. the man that we saw the man
King jr. the man that we saw the man that we don’t even realize today was
that we don’t even realize today was
that we don’t even realize today was less than 40 years old when he was
less than 40 years old when he was
less than 40 years old when he was killed so there are all these stories
killed so there are all these stories
killed so there are all these stories from before Malala yousufzai for example
from before Malala yousufzai for example
from before Malala yousufzai for example we all know what her moment of truth was
we all know what her moment of truth was
we all know what her moment of truth was right that moment of clarity should have
right that moment of clarity should have
right that moment of clarity should have been when she was shot by a Taliban
been when she was shot by a Taliban
been when she was shot by a Taliban gunman for attempting to go to school
gunman for attempting to go to school
gunman for attempting to go to school and give her exams but that’s not the
and give her exams but that’s not the
and give her exams but that’s not the most important thing she’s done so it’s
most important thing she’s done so it’s
most important thing she’s done so it’s not just important what your moment of
not just important what your moment of
not just important what your moment of truth is because each of us will have a
truth is because each of us will have a
truth is because each of us will have a moment of truth when we know what what
moment of truth when we know what what
moment of truth when we know what what matters to us it is what you do with
matters to us it is what you do with
matters to us it is what you do with that moment of truth that really counts
that moment of truth that really counts
that moment of truth that really counts so Malala yousufzai will now be
so Malala yousufzai will now be
so Malala yousufzai will now be remembered I don’t know how many of you
remembered I don’t know how many of you
remembered I don’t know how many of you saw that she is now five years later
saw that she is now five years later
saw that she is now five years later entered Oxford and is known for her one
entered Oxford and is known for her one
entered Oxford and is known for her one book one pen one teacher one child
book one pen one teacher one child
book one pen one teacher one child campaign I had in my life to such
campaign I had in my life to such
campaign I had in my life to such journalists who sort of told me it’s not
journalists who sort of told me it’s not
journalists who sort of told me it’s not important what you do it’s not important
important what you do it’s not important
important what you do it’s not important what your moment of truth is it’s what
what your moment of truth is it’s what
what your moment of truth is it’s what you do with that moment of truth that
you do with that moment of truth that
you do with that moment of truth that counts
counts
counts the first was a camera woman who by
the first was a camera woman who by
the first was a camera woman who by coincidence I had traveled to Kashmir
coincidence I had traveled to Kashmir
coincidence I had traveled to Kashmir with who said to me what are you scared
with who said to me what are you scared
with who said to me what are you scared of in those days I was
of in those days I was
of in those days I was you know Java top can just get an honor
you know Java top can just get an honor
you know Java top can just get an honor stage and speak I just did not have the
stage and speak I just did not have the
stage and speak I just did not have the courage to even get in front of a camera
courage to even get in front of a camera
courage to even get in front of a camera I do 30 takes 35 takes and I’d still not
I do 30 takes 35 takes and I’d still not
I do 30 takes 35 takes and I’d still not be able to say my own name you know in
be able to say my own name you know in
be able to say my own name you know in one go and she said to me what are you
one go and she said to me what are you
one go and she said to me what are you afraid of now it’s very intimidating
afraid of now it’s very intimidating
afraid of now it’s very intimidating when somebody like her was saying it to
when somebody like her was saying it to
when somebody like her was saying it to me because about 10 years before she had
me because about 10 years before she had
me because about 10 years before she had come with me to Kashmir to do some very
come with me to Kashmir to do some very
come with me to Kashmir to do some very grueling camera work
grueling camera work
grueling camera work Margaret Motte was in Sarajevo and she
Margaret Motte was in Sarajevo and she
Margaret Motte was in Sarajevo and she just had you know beat around the corner
just had you know beat around the corner
just had you know beat around the corner and she was filming something when a
and she was filming something when a
and she was filming something when a mortar shell hit her from here it took
mortar shell hit her from here it took
mortar shell hit her from here it took her entire jaw off Margaret had to go
her entire jaw off Margaret had to go
her entire jaw off Margaret had to go through all kinds of you know
through all kinds of you know
through all kinds of you know restructuring of her jaw and she was
restructuring of her jaw and she was
restructuring of her jaw and she was finally able to come back and and and
finally able to come back and and and
finally able to come back and and and and work as a camera person and she said
and work as a camera person and she said
and work as a camera person and she said to me if I can come back you can do
to me if I can come back you can do
to me if I can come back you can do anything you want to do basically but
anything you want to do basically but
anything you want to do basically but you have to find that moment of truth
you have to find that moment of truth
you have to find that moment of truth the fact is that all of us you know we
the fact is that all of us you know we
the fact is that all of us you know we we seem to think that motivation is
we seem to think that motivation is
we seem to think that motivation is going to come from something that is
going to come from something that is
going to come from something that is external but the truth is that
external but the truth is that
external but the truth is that motivation ends up being something that
motivation ends up being something that
motivation ends up being something that has happened to you there’s no other way
has happened to you there’s no other way
has happened to you there’s no other way around it for some people it’s an
around it for some people it’s an
around it for some people it’s an accident for some people it’s something
accident for some people it’s something
accident for some people it’s something terrible like this for some it’s a
terrible like this for some it’s a
terrible like this for some it’s a really great occasion you get married to
really great occasion you get married to
really great occasion you get married to someone you love you you you have a
someone you love you you you have a
someone you love you you you have a child there are others who have been
child there are others who have been
child there are others who have been just motivated by you know a pet or
just motivated by you know a pet or
just motivated by you know a pet or motivated by a desire to go into the
motivated by a desire to go into the
motivated by a desire to go into the mountains there was one of my friends
mountains there was one of my friends
mountains there was one of my friends who in fact address a TED talk just last
who in fact address a TED talk just last
who in fact address a TED talk just last year who was motivated by a book he read
year who was motivated by a book he read
year who was motivated by a book he read at the end of the evening this was a
at the end of the evening this was a
at the end of the evening this was a techie MBA traveling around the world
techie MBA traveling around the world
techie MBA traveling around the world living in the best of style who finished
living in the best of style who finished
living in the best of style who finished a book one evening and said I want to be
a book one evening and said I want to be
a book one evening and said I want to be a writer who can evoke these kind of
a writer who can evoke these kind of
a writer who can evoke these kind of images and overnight he turned from this
images and overnight he turned from this
images and overnight he turned from this techie MBA into into an author and he’s
techie MBA into into an author and he’s
techie MBA into into an author and he’s already
already
already three books in so that became his his
three books in so that became his his
three books in so that became his his moment of truth and each of us has to
moment of truth and each of us has to
moment of truth and each of us has to find it and find what it is that we want
find it and find what it is that we want
find it and find what it is that we want to do with that moment to be honest I
to do with that moment to be honest I
to do with that moment to be honest I wasn’t very good about my moment of
wasn’t very good about my moment of
wasn’t very good about my moment of truth at least not immediately when I
truth at least not immediately when I
truth at least not immediately when I got over my injuries and I had to have
got over my injuries and I had to have
got over my injuries and I had to have surgery I felt that this was a sign that
surgery I felt that this was a sign that
surgery I felt that this was a sign that I should basically take it easy then
I should basically take it easy then
I should basically take it easy then somehow if there was a moment of clarity
somehow if there was a moment of clarity
somehow if there was a moment of clarity in my mind that clarity actually meant
in my mind that clarity actually meant
in my mind that clarity actually meant that I needed to take a back seat in
that I needed to take a back seat in
that I needed to take a back seat in what I was doing I had two young girls
what I was doing I had two young girls
what I was doing I had two young girls less than three years old at the time
less than three years old at the time
less than three years old at the time and a husband and while he never said
and a husband and while he never said
and a husband and while he never said anything I’m sure nobody wants to be at
anything I’m sure nobody wants to be at
anything I’m sure nobody wants to be at the opposite end of a phone being told
the opposite end of a phone being told
the opposite end of a phone being told your wife is injured she’s in hospital
your wife is injured she’s in hospital
your wife is injured she’s in hospital and I felt that this was then my sign
and I felt that this was then my sign
and I felt that this was then my sign just take a little bit of a backseat I
just take a little bit of a backseat I
just take a little bit of a backseat I you know don’t put your hand up for
you know don’t put your hand up for
you know don’t put your hand up for every assignment when you do go on
every assignment when you do go on
every assignment when you do go on assignment look over your shoulder be a
assignment look over your shoulder be a
assignment look over your shoulder be a little more careful you know I even
little more careful you know I even
little more careful you know I even could change jobs in the mean in the
could change jobs in the mean in the
could change jobs in the mean in the meanwhile in all of this but if you were
meanwhile in all of this but if you were
meanwhile in all of this but if you were lucky as I was that moment of truth is
lucky as I was that moment of truth is
lucky as I was that moment of truth is going to follow you and I found that
going to follow you and I found that
going to follow you and I found that even while I was taking my backseat I
even while I was taking my backseat I
even while I was taking my backseat I was being pushed into areas as a
was being pushed into areas as a
was being pushed into areas as a journalist where I just I didn’t have a
journalist where I just I didn’t have a
journalist where I just I didn’t have a chance for my fears so I was sitting in
chance for my fears so I was sitting in
chance for my fears so I was sitting in in in an office minding the office wild
in in an office minding the office wild
in in an office minding the office wild vacations were on when the phone call
vacations were on when the phone call
vacations were on when the phone call came to say there’s a military plane
came to say there’s a military plane
came to say there’s a military plane going into tsunami hit areas do you want
going into tsunami hit areas do you want
going into tsunami hit areas do you want to go and I looked around and literally
to go and I looked around and literally
to go and I looked around and literally there wasn’t even a mouse in that office
there wasn’t even a mouse in that office
there wasn’t even a mouse in that office on Christmas Day and I said well I guess
on Christmas Day and I said well I guess
on Christmas Day and I said well I guess there’s nobody else to go so I will
there’s nobody else to go so I will
there’s nobody else to go so I will there was another time when I was
there was another time when I was
there was another time when I was sitting very safely inside a studio and
sitting very safely inside a studio and
sitting very safely inside a studio and reading the news when a call came to say
reading the news when a call came to say
reading the news when a call came to say they’re asking if you can go to Lebanon
they’re asking if you can go to Lebanon
they’re asking if you can go to Lebanon because Indians are being evacuated from
because Indians are being evacuated from
because Indians are being evacuated from the war over there can you go cover it
the war over there can you go cover it
the war over there can you go cover it and again you know I got pushed into
and again you know I got pushed into
and again you know I got pushed into into going back and trying to find what
into going back and trying to find what
into going back and trying to find what it is I love to do another was follow
it is I love to do another was follow
it is I love to do another was follow there was Syria there was Libya there
there was Syria there was Libya there
there was Syria there was Libya there was in my own region I I have a passion
was in my own region I I have a passion
was in my own region I I have a passion for South Asia an identity I believe is
for South Asia an identity I believe is
for South Asia an identity I believe is very very very important to all Indians
very very very important to all Indians
very very very important to all Indians and I feel sorry that the next
and I feel sorry that the next
and I feel sorry that the next generation hasn’t yet come to terms with
generation hasn’t yet come to terms with
generation hasn’t yet come to terms with the South Asia we once grew up believing
the South Asia we once grew up believing
the South Asia we once grew up believing would be there and I got to travel to
would be there and I got to travel to
would be there and I got to travel to Pakistan I traveled to Bangladesh to Sri
Pakistan I traveled to Bangladesh to Sri
Pakistan I traveled to Bangladesh to Sri Lanka to Nepal and slowly I realized
Lanka to Nepal and slowly I realized
Lanka to Nepal and slowly I realized that that moment of truth was coming
that that moment of truth was coming
that that moment of truth was coming back as a result I have to say I’m very
back as a result I have to say I’m very
back as a result I have to say I’m very lucky to have been recognized and you
lucky to have been recognized and you
lucky to have been recognized and you know TED talk is one of them I often get
know TED talk is one of them I often get
know TED talk is one of them I often get to speak at convocations for journalism
to speak at convocations for journalism
to speak at convocations for journalism students and there was this convocation
students and there was this convocation
students and there was this convocation speech I gave that some of you may have
speech I gave that some of you may have
speech I gave that some of you may have somewhere heard about it was entitled I
somewhere heard about it was entitled I
somewhere heard about it was entitled I hope you have many job rejections and
hope you have many job rejections and
hope you have many job rejections and when I gave the speech I remember the
when I gave the speech I remember the
when I gave the speech I remember the students had a kind of nervous laugh
students had a kind of nervous laugh
students had a kind of nervous laugh when I said I really hope you get a lot
when I said I really hope you get a lot
when I said I really hope you get a lot of job rejections and their parents look
of job rejections and their parents look
of job rejections and their parents look like oh my god this woman is absolutely
like oh my god this woman is absolutely
like oh my god this woman is absolutely mad and my god why I was saying this and
mad and my god why I was saying this and
mad and my god why I was saying this and then I explained why I was saying it
then I explained why I was saying it
then I explained why I was saying it because in this period that I was just
because in this period that I was just
because in this period that I was just describing to you in this haze there was
describing to you in this haze there was
describing to you in this haze there was a moment where I went to apply for a job
a moment where I went to apply for a job
a moment where I went to apply for a job which I thought would keep me very safe
which I thought would keep me very safe
which I thought would keep me very safe it was a documentary channel where I
it was a documentary channel where I
it was a documentary channel where I would be able to Commission
would be able to Commission
would be able to Commission documentaries without working very hard
documentaries without working very hard
documentaries without working very hard I really needed this job at that time or
I really needed this job at that time or
I really needed this job at that time or so I thought so I made a very strong
so I thought so I made a very strong
so I thought so I made a very strong pitch for it and when I walked in the
pitch for it and when I walked in the
pitch for it and when I walked in the interviewer said sit down and I felt
interviewer said sit down and I felt
interviewer said sit down and I felt actually like I done very well on my
actually like I done very well on my
actually like I done very well on my interview and the interviewer said you
interview and the interviewer said you
interview and the interviewer said you know you you are very convincing you’re
know you you are very convincing you’re
know you you are very convincing you’re probably very qualified for this job so
probably very qualified for this job so
probably very qualified for this job so don’t try and tell me you’re qualified
don’t try and tell me you’re qualified
don’t try and tell me you’re qualified don’t try and tell me you’re a good
don’t try and tell me you’re a good
don’t try and tell me you’re a good talker you can do the marketing because
talker you can do the marketing because
talker you can do the marketing because I can see that already
I can see that already
I can see that already you’re flexible you might even like to
you’re flexible you might even like to
you’re flexible you might even like to like your job you might enjoy this job
like your job you might enjoy this job
like your job you might enjoy this job but you are going to hate me because
but you are going to hate me because
but you are going to hate me because your passion is news and I’m going to
your passion is news and I’m going to
your passion is news and I’m going to take you away from it if I give you this
take you away from it if I give you this
take you away from it if I give you this job so sorry I’m not going to give you
job so sorry I’m not going to give you
job so sorry I’m not going to give you this job and that’s what I meant by
this job and that’s what I meant by
this job and that’s what I meant by saying I hope each one of you has that
saying I hope each one of you has that
saying I hope each one of you has that opportunity has the moment of truth
opportunity has the moment of truth
opportunity has the moment of truth where or somebody nudges you towards it
where or somebody nudges you towards it
where or somebody nudges you towards it to understand what it is that you want
to understand what it is that you want
to understand what it is that you want to do I’m not going to wish for you I
to do I’m not going to wish for you I
to do I’m not going to wish for you I mean as a journalist you can wish you
mean as a journalist you can wish you
mean as a journalist you can wish you know me you have lots of really good
know me you have lots of really good
know me you have lots of really good scoops may you have lots of really good
scoops may you have lots of really good
scoops may you have lots of really good interviews but I as a conflict
interviews but I as a conflict
interviews but I as a conflict journalist I can’t wish for you me you
journalist I can’t wish for you me you
journalist I can’t wish for you me you get into a bomb blast or me you get shot
get into a bomb blast or me you get shot
get into a bomb blast or me you get shot at and all the rest but I can wish that
at and all the rest but I can wish that
at and all the rest but I can wish that there is this this moment of truth so
there is this this moment of truth so
there is this this moment of truth so I’m going to play this video for you
I’m going to play this video for you
I’m going to play this video for you once again and this time I want you to
once again and this time I want you to
once again and this time I want you to watch it and close your eyes and have a
watch it and close your eyes and have a
watch it and close your eyes and have a sense of what it is that flashes before
sense of what it is that flashes before
sense of what it is that flashes before your eyes
your eyes
your eyes at that moment can we just play it again
Imagineer that person close your eyes
Imagineer that person close your eyes for exactly three seconds let’s hope you
for exactly three seconds let’s hope you
for exactly three seconds let’s hope you had your moment of truth thanks a lot
had your moment of truth thanks a lot
had your moment of truth thanks a lot lady
lady
lady [Applause]
”
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