Sid Mittra’s To Bee or not to Bee is the kind of book that will stay with readers for a very long time, impacting their minds in a unique way. The title itself is a catchy one, based on a mere ostensibly insignificant creature such as the bee, which can inspire us beyond all imaginable boundaries.

However, before we delve into a detailed analysis of the book and narrow the content down into small chunks, we must, at this juncture, take into account the basic message that Mittra endeavours to deliver: this whole world is a family; we are all one, irrespective of our caste, colour or creed; the way to individual success goes through collective care.

It is one thing to preach, and it is totally another to practice. What sets the book apart from other motivational or inspirational content that is produced on a regular basis nowadays is the way the writer realistically divides his strategies, experiences, principles and even shortcomings smartly into more understandable, easier to implement, and methodical smaller ground plans. And Mittra does that right at the outset when straightaway he gets down to business and lays down four basic principles that, in his opinion, if followed religiously, can pave the way to success for any individual:

Sid Mittra teaches how to not buzz around aimlessly, but get to work, in his quirky self-help book

“Conveniently called The Four Ps Principles, these universal principles comprise the following:

Persevere with passion.
Pursue professional, family-oriented, social, and spiritual goals.
Persuade family and friends to help.
Promote a culture of giving back.”

Needless to say, there is a prevalent element of philosophy throughout the book. Since there is a pun on the word Bee in the title, it is quite fitting that Mittra quotes a real-life example from his past in one of the opening chapters that defies not just logic, but also science: “Dr Webb let that sink in a moment before continuing. ‘I just told you that according to the theory of aerodynamics, the bumblebee shouldn’t be able to fly. But the creature doesn’t know that; so it defies the laws of physics and flies away.’”

“As I look back, I marvel at the twists and turns of my life’s journey, from being born into marginal circumstances with discouraging prospects to working for the UN and settling down in the US as a distinguished professor and revered financial planning expert. Seemingly impossible? Indeed. But like the bee that really never should have been able to fly, I recognise that I have met every improbable, frantic, and often hilarious challenge with unswerving determination, sheer will, and optimistic grace.” — Excerpt from the book

The book is divided into 16 chapters, and each chapter contains an exciting incident from Mittra’s life that challenged him, got his back against the wall, and had him stumbling forward in the face of adversities that life dished out. Intriguingly, at the end of every chapter, Mittra highlights just those Ps in a matrix that helped him either overcome, or at least survive a certain hardship discussed in that particular chapter. It is conspicuous that only in the closing chapters does Mittra develop the ability to apply all or most of his principles simultaneously in order to tackle the adversities of life, which basically highlights the fact that it took him a lifetime to master these principles.

Another facet that Mittra emphasises a great deal in the book is that of the strengths or weaknesses of the human mind, and the adherence to certain deep-seated, but illogical and untrue notions that eventually hamper a person’s progress and play a critical role in someone’s downfall: “Because the stars did not align properly at my birth, the horoscope also warned that I was condemned to live in poor health and might die young … Eventually, I got used to expecting failures in my studies and accepted punishment as inevitable.”

Expounding more on how an individual can initiate the process of exploring their personality specifically with respect to discovering one’s strengths, Mittra subtly suggests focusing on the things that one picks up fast, and consciously downplaying those aspects of one’s learning process that make one struggle unnecessarily. After all, it is more important to prove yourself to yourself before you set out to prove your ability to the rest of world: “Because of my lack of formal education, I am shunted from one school to another. My weak education background and various ailments force me to drop out of school before eventually graduating from high school as an average student. I also earn a diploma in tabla and become a King Scout — thereby proving to myself that I am not a dunce after all.”

It is commendable that Mittra portrays all the drawbacks and tragedies that befall him in a way that will not only stir enthusiasm and inspiration in readers, but also keep a constant smile on their face: “That day, in January 1963, we were legally pronounced man and wife, effective January 31, 1961. I now had an official license to fall in love with my new bride.”

The reviewer is a freelance writer who lives in New Zealand and writes mainly on education, literature and social issues. He is also a freelance trainer and teacher.

To Bee or not to Bee
(SELF-HELP)
By Sid Mittra
Sage, India
ISBN: 978-9351503149
280pp.

Published in Dawn, Books & Authors, August 21st, 2016