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By:

Asha Tripathi

14 April 2025 at 1:35:28 pm

Stop Comparing, Start Growing

Success does not grow in comparison; it grows in focus. Over the years, women have made significant strides in every sphere of life. From managing homes to leading organisations, from nurturing families to building successful careers, women have proved that strength and resilience are deeply rooted in their nature. Financial independence has become a significant milestone for many women today, bringing with it confidence, dignity, and the freedom to shape one’s own destiny. However, along...

Stop Comparing, Start Growing

Success does not grow in comparison; it grows in focus. Over the years, women have made significant strides in every sphere of life. From managing homes to leading organisations, from nurturing families to building successful careers, women have proved that strength and resilience are deeply rooted in their nature. Financial independence has become a significant milestone for many women today, bringing with it confidence, dignity, and the freedom to shape one’s own destiny. However, along with growth has come another silent challenge — the tendency to constantly observe, compare, and sometimes even compete with the journeys of others. But a crucial question arises: Is it necessary to track the growth of others in order to grow ourselves? From my personal experience of more than two decades as an entrepreneur, I have realised something very powerful — true growth begins the moment we stop looking sideways and start looking within. A Small Beginning I had a flourishing career of teaching abroad, but when I restarted my career after moving back to India, my beginning was extremely small. My very first assignment was a simple home tuition for a single student, and the amount I earned was meagre. There was nothing glamorous about it. No recognition, no large batches, no big earnings. Just one student and one opportunity. But instead of worrying about how others were doing, how many students they had, or how much they were earning, I made a conscious decision—my only focus would be on improving myself. I focused on teaching better, preparing better, and becoming more disciplined and consistent. And slowly, without even realising it, things began to grow. One student became two, two became a small group, and gradually, over the years, the work expanded beyond what I had initially imagined. Looking back today, I can confidently say that the growth did not happen because I competed with others. It happened because I competed with myself yesterday. Comparison Creates Noise When we keep watching others' journeys too closely, we unknowingly divert our own energy. Comparison creates unnecessary noise in our minds. It brings doubts, insecurities, and sometimes even negativity. Instead of walking our own path with clarity, we start questioning our speed, our direction, and our worth. True success grows through focus, not comparison. Every woman has her own story, her own pace, and her own struggles that others may never see. The path of one person can never be identical to another's. So comparing journeys is like comparing two different rivers flowing towards the same ocean — each with its own route, its own curves, and its own rhythm. As women, we already carry many responsibilities. We balance emotions, relationships, work, and society's expectations. In such a life, the last thing we need is the burden of comparison with one another. Instead, what we truly need is support for each other. When women encourage women, something extraordinary happens. Confidence grows. Opportunities multiply. Strength becomes collective rather than individual. There is enough space in the world for every woman to create her own identity. Each of us can build our own niche without stepping on someone else's path. Choose Encouragement Envy weakens us, but encouragement empowers us. Rather than questioning how someone else is progressing, we can ask a more meaningful question: "How can I grow a little better than I was yesterday?" Lift As You Rise Today, after twenty years of experience, the most valuable lesson I have learned is simple yet profound — focus on your own work with honesty and dedication, and success will quietly follow you. We, women, are capable, resilient, and creative. We do not need to pull each other down or compete in unhealthy ways. Instead, we can lift each other up while building our own dreams. Because when one woman rises, she does not rise alone. She inspires many others to believe that they can rise, too. And perhaps that is the most beautiful form of success. (The writer is a tutor based in Thane. Views personal.)

3D (Dreams, Dystopia, Destiny)

Anandajit Goswami stands among the most compelling contemporary voices in Indian literature today. Known for his genre-defying imagination and intellectual depth, Goswami has carved a distinct niche in science fiction, sustainability literature, and speculative narratives for both young readers and adults. His critically acclaimed Lucy series has been recognised by Indian Literary Review as one of the most original contributions to children’s science fiction.


Goswami’s works have been widely covered by leading media houses, earning him multiple Best Fiction Author awards. His scholarship and sustained engagement with ecological consciousness have also led to his recognition by prestigious platforms such as the Manorama Lit Fest and Green Lit Fest. In a recent in-depth conversation with Shiv Sethi, the author spoke about his evolving creative universe. Excerpts…


Literature seems to occupy a deeply personal space in your life. How do you define literature?

Literature, for me, is not a static product but an ongoing process of observing, shaping, and reshaping the reality that surrounds us. While engaging with reality, the human heart simultaneously dreams of alternative worlds. Literature is born from this tension between what exists and what could exist. It becomes a bridge between the real and the imagined, the present and the futuristic, the known and the unknown. Through literature, multiple worlds intersect, converse, and sometimes collide, enabling us to reimagine humanity and our collective future.


Your body of work spans multiple genres. Could you tell us about your books and recurring themes?

My writing moves across diverse genres and emotional landscapes—science fiction, dystopia, sustainability, climate fiction, court drama, violence, culture, identity, and crime thrillers. Rather than writing isolated narratives, I create what I call a “matrix of narratives.” Within this matrix, characters such as Lucy, Hema, Madhyam, Shopno, Siddharth, Esha, Rasul, Jacob, and Dr. Ghosh are born and reborn across texts.


The Lucy Series, comprising three English and two Bengali books—from Lucy and the Train to Lucy and the Rise of Parabola—explores dystopian realities shaped by environmental collapse, survival instincts, and socio-political violence. These characters inhabit fragile worlds such as Pink Gender Extended, where fate, chance, magic, and catastrophe intersect. As the narratives progress, the characters evolve from beings driven by survival into seekers of meaning and self-realisation, particularly in The Rise of the Club of Central Tendency and Siddharth – The Soul Seeker. Future works will further expand this matrix, offering new perspectives on interconnected realities.


Your latest book Siddharth – The Soul Seeker is receiving wide acclaim. What is the essence of this book?

Siddharth – The Soul Seeker is fundamentally a journey—across time, space, and consciousness. It traces the life of an individual navigating a rapidly transforming society while negotiating the complexities of his inner psycho-social world. The narrative unfolds through episodic drama, interwoven with moments of introspection and lived experience.


The protagonist’s journey is marked by love and loss, violence and compassion, hatred and healing. Through these experiences, Siddharth seeks an identity that transcends social labels and historical constraints. What begins as an ordinary life gradually transforms into something extraordinary, as the individual rises to stand for humanity itself. Ultimately, the book suggests that personal salvation is inseparable from historical memory and collective revival.


Many authors explore similar themes. How do your books differ?

My books are not limited to plots, characters, or themes—they move beyond conventional narrative structures. In many ways, they function as a mirror and a catharsis for the reader. Each narrative invites multiple interpretations, encouraging readers to explore their own inner selves.


Rather than offering definitive answers, my books open philosophical pathways. They allow readers to confront different versions of reality, truth, and possibility. Characters and chapters do not merely tell a story; they reveal layered truths—some comforting, others unsettling—gently yet persistently pushing readers to engage with life’s ambiguities.


You are also an accomplished musician. How does music influence your creative life?

Music has been an inseparable part of my life since the age of four. Melodies, notes, and sounds come to me instinctively and help me understand aspects of myself that words alone cannot express. My nearly forty musical compositions, available across various streaming platforms, influence the rhythm, emotional tone, and flow of my writing. For me, literature and music are not separate arts; they are parallel expressions of the same inner search.

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