by Aditya Bhatia

These words echo within me whenever I stand at a crossroad between the comfort of the familiar past and the challenge of stepping freshly into the future. This internal conflict serves as a gentle reminder that every ending holds the seed of a new beginning.  Does this incessant mantra sound familiar to you? These words were the guiding motto of the inspiring movie ’12th Fail’. 

Talking about a new beginning always reminds me of this movie, which was based on a true story where the protagonist Manoj Kumar embodies the essence of ‘restarting’ in the face of adversity. Manoj’s academic journey was never easy. In class IX and X, he received only a third division while everyone else achieved first, and in class XII, he failed almost every subject.  Despite this, Manoj remained optimistic; he left his village and family behind in hopes of becoming a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), only to realise his belongings had been stolen and the exams to become a DSP had been discontinued.

Manoj is left with nothing, he has no home, no money, and is filled with resentment due to disappointing his family. The only thing he hasn’t lost is hope. He learns about the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exams and Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers for the first time from his new friend Pritam Pandey, and with this new hope, he sets out with his friend to start a new life, attempting this arduous exam.

However difficulties began again for him; with no knowledge to begin with, and very limited English fluency, he failed the exam. Not once, not twice but thrice, however, he restarted from square one every time. While preparing, he lived, studied and worked in a flour mill to support his family, and despite societal pressures, he triumphs and tops the exam on his final fourth attempt.

Every time I face a setback, however large it may be, I champion the perspective of Manoj himself and step into his shoes. He struggled financially and academically, he grappled with feelings of shame and inadequacy, however, he always embraced his shortcomings and realised that failure did not define his worth. Personally, whether Manoj cleared his final attempt or not did not matter, his uplifting attitude and the desire for a fresh start even in the worst of circumstances is true success to me. 

If you struggle with letting go of the past and creating a new future for yourself, just remind yourself of what Manoj was able to achieve with his attitude. A rather intriguing takeaway from the movie is that ‘every successful person has a Pandey behind them’; if you struggle to find the motivation to restart your endeavours, seek out the advice of your friends and family. Ultimately, ‘12th Fail’ reminds us that life’s greatest triumphs often stem from the willingness to embark on new beginnings, no matter how impossible the journey may seem. 

The famous Hindi poem titled, ‘कोशिश करने वालो की कभी हर नहीं होती’ by Harivansh Rai Bachchan tells us that ‘if you try your best, you are always a winner’, which resonates with movie’s message of resilience and courage. So as we navigate our journeys, let us draw inspiration from this message, and take on the limitless possibilities of a new beginning.