Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon on 21 July 1969. We read about the historical event in the newspapers the next day. I think on a subconscious level, the event sowed the seed of the first dream that I saw with open eyes. For days on end, all that I could think of was ways to create a miniature earth and moon within the confines of our bedroom and the ways that I could send my own Apollo to the moon.

My dreams kept on evolving. At that stage, all that I would look forward to was to move to the next class with good marks. Much later, coming from a family of first-generation engineers, it was only natural for me to join an engineering course. Towards the end of my course, I started dreaming of becoming an entrepreneur. I realised the difficulties in pursuing this goal at that stage due to the limitations of a middle-class background. I parked my dream, to be retrieved at an appropriate time.

 I thought of my next steps. At the age of 21, it was only natural to dream of a good job, followed by marriage and children and promotions; till I realised that I wanted something beyond the predictable routine of a Government job. This led me to join the private sector. It was now time to bring forward my earlier dream of being an entrepreneur. The dreams kept on evolving with my advancing age; some were discarded, some were attained and few remain, hoping for fruition in the years to come.

 One unfulfilled dream is to help others, much younger and less privileged than me, to dream. A child is born a child. It does not know the meaning of being poor, till others make it conscious of the disparity. I firmly believe that each human being dreams with open eyes; it could be a prayer to be able to see the dawn next day, a hope that the wages would be better tomorrow, or the belief in a better life.

I know a couple, now settled in America, who have started a foundation to assist the underprivileged young. The lady passionately told me about the introductory annual session that they arrange for the youngsters, usually at some rated property, to give them exposure to a life that currently is beyond their means, but which they might be able to lead one day if they pursue their dreams. I was sceptical as I thought that such an environment might be too intimidating.

My fears might be unfounded. The Internet has made available a plethora of possibilities to the younger generation. A young boy, whose education we have been supporting for the past few years, wants to be an astronaut. He might not make it, but the best advice that I could give him and others, is to continue to dream even if you fail — there is always something new to look forward to.

We know of people who get paralysed or lose their eyesight and sometimes even their limbs. Yet, there are many instances of people overcoming their handicaps through sheer grit and courage. A visually impaired young woman found dumped in a waste bin 25 years back, cleared Maharashtra services examinations recently. There are many more around us. All that they need is for someone to help them nurture their dreams.

We need only to remember writer Mary Anne Radmacher, “Nurturing is not complex. It’s simply being tuned in to the thing or person before you and offering small gestures toward what it needs at that time.”