Television Interviewer
: “So Sir, who own the patent of the vaccine.”
"There is no patent. Could you patent
the sun?” the American medical researcher replied.
The man who denied patenting one of the
greatest works for the humanity was Sir Jonas Salk who invented the Polio
Vaccine. “His sole focus had been to develop a safe and effective vaccine as
rapidly as possible, with no interest in personal profit. “ [1]
It took fully devoted 7 years of his life to invent the
vaccine which if patented could have made him the world’s richest man. “Until
1955, when the Salk vaccine was introduced, polio was considered the most
frightening public health problem of the post-war United States. Annual epidemics
were increasingly devastating. The 1952 epidemic was the worst outbreak in the
nation's history. Of nearly 58,000 cases reported that year, 3,145 people died
and 21,269 were left with mild to disabling paralysis, with most of its victims
being children.” [1]
The text above is startling enough to raise a thought asking “what
can motivate a man for such a long time that has no intention of making money and
or fame”. I consider myself very weak in General Knowledge (or in any kind of
knowledge) but still few other names of great personality surrounded my
knowledge fringe and reminded me that it is not always something tangible or
understandably or boastful that keeps you working. The great achievements come
for those who are motivated by great thoughts; money is surely not one of them.
Swami Vivekananda
(Narendranath Dutta) was son of a well known lawyer of Calcutta. Swami
ji were a great scholar and he studied the works of David Hume, Immanuel Kant, Johann
Gottlieb Fichte, Baruch Spinoza, Georg W. F. Hegel, Arthur Schopenhauer, Auguste
Comte, Herbert Spencer, John Stuart Mill, and Charles Darwin, most of which during
his adolescence. In 1881 he passed the Fine Arts examination and in 1884 he
completed a Bachelor of Arts degree. [2]. All of us know who he was and what
life he later led to give Indian spirituality and Hinduism a global face. Many
of you are might not aware that after the death of his father, when swami ji
were a student of Shri Ram Krishna Paramhans , he and his family went through a
ailing poverty. Swami Ji were so concerned for his responsibilities for the family
that many times thought of leaving all his ongoing learning and start working
for the family. But his master Swami Paramhans knew the ache of his heart and
he guided Swami Vivekanand accordingly. What happened later in his life is known
to all of us. After finding the truth of life Swamiji wanted to leave his body
as he found it too heavy to bear. His was at the door of moksha and he wanted
to quit his life. But Shri Paramhans showed him the nobler and selfless path
walking on which later on he spread his teachings for the well being of
mankind. Such was the greatness of that man and his master. Was a man with the
intellect and education of Swami Vivekanand unable to live a prosperous life?
What if he was after money or his own salvation ?
Marie Curie, as all of us know was one of the greatest scientists
who took research on radioactivity as her life. Marie Curie had a childhood
full of agony and she strived for money during those days.
“She was known for her honesty and
moderate life style. Having received a
small scholarship in 1893, she returned it in 1897 as soon as she began earning
her keep. She gave much of her first Nobel Prize money to friends, family,
students and research associates. In an unusual decision, Marie intentionally
refrained from patenting the radium-isolation process, so that the scientific
community could do research unhindered. She insisted that monetary gifts and
awards were given to the scientific institutions she was affiliated with rather
than to herself. She and her husband often refused awards and medals. Albert
Einstein reportedly remarked that she was probably the only person not
corrupted by fame.” [3]
Such is the greatness of those who made a difference in the
world. Others who are living are living for the livelihood not making
livelihood for living. There is always a purpose of everyone’s life; if not
understood by the person himself, that purpose will be left unsolved forever. One
can work well for better money but no better money can bring the best out of a
man. Great work comes out of a great purpose and great desire, not great money.
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Curie
No comments:
Post a Comment