8. Shades of light! 

An unassuming persona. A man who smiles on rare occasions but is known amongst his peers as a man who would outrun a stand-up comedian of today. A man who had excelled as an advocate and a man feared for his on-the-face-thoughts! 

Dr. Haren Das, a man who has his political genes embedded in all probability by his mother Smt. Satyaboti Das, a freedom fighter for the country, has long been wishing to write, in spite of a schedule that hardly lets him do so. Knowing the ins and outs of media definitely made him a famous scion at the Press Council of India and he still has love for the cultural scenario intact.

It was in the early 80's when Dr. Das started writing his articles for the papers. This was a time when Assam was going through a major political upheaval with closures, riots and what not. Dr. Das thought this would be a good time to write and so he did...in numerous papers and magazines, which the readers took up with a lot of enthusiasm. Later, they wished he would compile these articles into a book. And hence, this book today; Bastobor Sa-Puhor*, with 41 articles, written over a couple of decades right up to the present year. Interesting read as Dr. Haren Das elucidates graphically the lives of most of the people who he had touched. 

*Light and Shadow of Reality

Book: Bastobor Sa-Puhor

Author: Dr. Haren Das

Released on: 29th Decemeber, 2013

Event: Northeast Book Fair 2013

Venue: Assam Engineering Institute Field, Guwahati

The author, Dr. Haren Das

Famous writer, Shri Ratna Ojha

Former Principal of B.Barooah College, Shri. Pramod Bhattacharjee

7. THE WIZARD OF OZ

L. Frank Baum (1856-1919) might have written the fairy story Wizard of Oz keeping young people in mind but somehow this tale doesn’t hold much relevance in the present context. Why I say this is because at a time when Baum wrote it, that is in 1900, the world definitely must have been covered with a lot of greenery. There must have been countless trees all around.

Having said that, I realised that more than being happy, I was horrified at the way trees were rampantly cut down by the Tin-man, with his shiny axe. This is not the first time I have read this story, but maybe I never really understood the horrid implications of trees being cut down. Maybe, I was too young to understand this the first time I read it as a little girl. And now years later, when the dwindling number of trees across the Earth is not being able to keep pace with the burgeoning population, we all need to sit up and take note and eventually do something about it lest we self-destruct!

The Wizard of Oz is a simple fairy-tale of a little girl called Dorothy, who by sheer magic is whirled by a storm into the desert, far far away from Kansas, where she lived with her aunt and uncle on a ranch. She searches for a way to get back home and in the meantime, by fluke, kills a wicked witch and wears her silver shoes, completely unaware of its magic powers.

On her journey to find the Wizard of Oz, who she believes will get her back to Kansas, she meets three other queer companions, who later on were to become her dear friends; the Tin –man, the Scare-crow and a Lion. They all accompany Dorothy to the Emerald City, the home of the wizard as they each had something to request from the magician. The Tin-man wanted a heart as he didn’t have one, the Scarecrow wanted some brains so that he could think properly and the Lion wanted courage as he thought he was a coward.

The story unravels nuances of human life as the four along with Dorothy’s dog Toto walk through the yellow brick road. What was really interesting though was the way these friends stayed together even when the worst situations befell them. They rescue each other from the troubles they faced and finally succeed in their mission.

A story of integrity, love, understanding, compassion, unity and much more.

Except for the obvious and nonchalant way the author allowed the Tin-man to chop off trees, the book is fast-paced with a more than comfortable-to-the-eye font to make the discerning reader say, “Now, that’s a good book.”  

6. The two-minute babble!

When Maggi-the two minute (actually it took more than 5 minutes to cook it) noodles hit the market, I was not a busy-bee as yet. But Mom was! So when she had to attend one of her endlessly 'gossipy' social-service meetings, she made sure she made the announcement, which had by then become more usual than the word usual, "Cook the packet of Maggi if you get hungry and don't forget to turn off the gas," before she sailed out of the door and hopped into one of her friends' car, who would be indignantly waiting for her, feigning pleasant surprise at how refreshing Mom looked in her not-so-new pure silk saree. 

I would definitely not wait for my hunger pangs to get the better of me, so much was my craze for this ready-to-eat-stuff. As soon as I was sure Mom was too far off to return, I would rush into the kitchen, get the water boiling and then make myself a large bowl of Maggi, the five and a half minute ready-to-eat noodle. And then get myself nice and comfortable in front of the television, while I surfed the channels to my heart's content. I had all the time in the world to enjoy my life.

But these days, it looks like we have become too busy to enjoy even a second of our lives. Everyone seems to want things on a platter even faster than the Maggi-two minute noodles. Ok, I can understand that we are moving at a pace faster than we can decipher, but what about the most important factor we all can't do without or at least some of us can't. Reading? Have we forgotten this most beautiful romantic affair we had or are we just pretending to be in love with something not so beautiful? I don't understand how we can even forget the smell of books? The new, the old, all have their distinctive aroma, a heady concoction to steer us into a mystic realm. An aphrodisiac, I may say! I cannot stay without touching a book. Throughout the day, I have to feel either the hard-cover or a paper-back to get me started through life. I have books in the living room, the veranda, the washroom, in the bedroom, study room and not to forget my car and my handbag. I am intensely in love with the books all around me!

The last book fair at the AEI grounds at Chandmari, Guwahati, Assam had a dismal foot fall; far less than any of the years. It is sad that people are reading less every year. I just hope that they don't stop reading at all! It is for the parents and elders to show the young people the romance of reading! This beautiful past-time can be made into a habit for the people who have just started reading. If reading is a habit with the rest of the people at home, then the children will invariably follow.

The hedonistic culture most of our young minds are now getting moulded into is not a very positive sign if we go by what social-networking sites like Facebook is showing us day in and day out. I have noticed to my dismay that there are very few readers of something interesting and important, which might be of relevance, socially or otherwise. Recently, there was an excellent write-up on how the sun will transform to into a red nebula and then to a white dwarf. I observed that there were merely a few readers for this article, whereas when a picture is put up, the 'likes' would go from anywhere between a 100 to over a 1000. 

Have we become lazy waiting for a 2-minute platter to satiate us or is it just a plain non-thinking, lackadaisical attitude. 

"No, we don't want to read and waste time, " a young girl in her late teens replied grumpily to my statement of how books can be one's best friend. "I have my best friend and I would rather go shopping and hang around with her at the cafe." 

And talk about what? The latest mobile, the fashion runway, bags, shoes, boys, jarring comments about someone not present with them? What else and for how long? All this is great! We all need to chill out with our best buddies once in a while but let it not become a habit. It would be so much more nicer if young minds get together and discuss things less ordinary. Books can be a good topic.

I just hope it won't be too late before they realise that the two-minute platter they had opted for is no longer healthy for the body and mind. Fingers crossed but at the end of all this, we have to make ourselves responsible as it is we who have to lead them and show them the way!

5. Mishing Link

I have been reading the book as if the world would end the very next second. It was riveting and captivated me to no end. I somehow never anticipated that a 96 page book could actually turn me into a bloody leech and that this leech would squirm to drink up each and every word in the book.

Mishing written by Yeshe Dorjee Thongchi, in Assamese, somewhat demystified a lot about the Sherdukpen community of Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. The Mishing (The spirit of a person, which travels between spaces to meet the people he loves while he is still alive) of an old driver goes to meet the protagonist in a hotel. He tells him gory secrets during his employment as a driver with the protagonist’s father.  The protagonist is pretty much shocked learning about things he never knew as a young boy, more so because he stayed away from home most of the time studying in a distant locale. His seething anger was pacified only after meeting in spirit form the long lost driver who preferred to run away from their place, fearing for his life, which he saw as an apparition on a fateful evening. He saw that the truck he used to drive rolled down the hill killing the owner’s second wife and little baby. However, he couldn’t find his body in the debris of the car, further aggravating his fear.

A couple of days after the Mishing makes a visitation to the hotel where the protagonist was lodged in during his stay in Guwahati, the ailing driver returns to the city in person to meet the protagonist for one last time before his final destination.

Every page is worth turning and reading. Thrilling to the core.

4. Transmutation

Tirus told me the other day, “Mom, why don’t you buy books from Flipkart.com?” Disarming question for a 6 year old! But I guess kids are far smarter than what we were as children. We were treated like kids. We now have to talk and behave with kids in a much more matured manner.

But Tirus, my dearest son, I am like that only. I might sound like a person way behind everyone’s league, but what the heck! I love picking up books from the bookstore...smelling the rows and rows of books lined up on the shelves and just flipping through a book, which I would probably never buy. Just like that! The very feel of pages, touching them, thumbing through them and then sniffing in between the pages just to smell them. Oh, heaven! The most delirious feeling ever!

I remember Sangita, my neighbour from Shillong, was a girl with special qualities. She would invariably wake me up with her first ‘Sa’, which was louder than the ‘Re, Ga, Ma.....’, around six in the morning. Even though I would try hard to rock myself back to sleep with her crooning, Mom would come, as is ritualistic, stand next to my bed and in a voice too loud and stern for my comfort, say, “There see, Sangita is up and practicing her singing. And here, you are still sleeping. Get up right now!” And with eyes half closed, to catch a last glimpse of the handsome man in my dreams, I would woefully drag myself out of bed.

So Sangita made it a habit to regularly come to my place whenever there was a holiday, sit cross-legged in the living room sofa and read one of my many books in one and a half hours flat. Wow! I have never completed a book that fast. I take time, read, think, analyse, ponder, dream and leaf through the pocket dictionary and the big fat Thesaurus once in a while. I love it this way! Even now, I take time to complete a book.

My reading habit was serious though as a girl. I remember, when I came for my holidays to Guwahati, I would stack up my room with books and comics brought from my cousin’s place. I would read them morning, day and night. And when I ran out of stock, I would re-read them. The Famous Fives, The Secret Sevens, The Naughty Girl Series, The Brer Rabbit Series; the list was endless. And the best part was my birthday gifts from my friends and family were all books. My joy knew no bounds!

I would wake up in the morning and even before I brushed, I would complete a couple of pages of a book. Then, after breakfast, after lunch, in the evening and after dinner. Mom would keep reprimanding me, “You are reading so much, if something happens to your eyes, just see what I do to you.” I did have to take power glasses when I was in Class 6 but thankfully the doc said my myopic condition was purely hereditary and had nothing to do with my reading habit. And then I started reading with double the spirit ‘cause now Mom would have nothing to say!

The habit has stayed on. Now I have books near my bed, in the living room, in the washroom, in the study-room, in the veranda, in my car and in my hand-bag. I know that even if I can catch up on two or three pages when I am waiting at the dentists, it gives me an exhilarating feeling; an amazing feeling of freedom! Freedom to transmute myself at will!

3. Go, Go, Go! 

“Thinking always ahead, thinking always of trying to do more, brings a state of mind in which nothing seems impossible.”  Henry Ford

Now, I know of this lady who has loved in spite of the odds. The only thing she has known all her life is to give; give love, time, affection and what not. Yet, she has been rejected many a times by the very same people who she had loved, shattering her heart to smithereens. Wow! And I thought I was the only one. Not likely. There are so many ‘good’ people in the world who are doing their bit to just give. And give without any conditions, even after the very people they had loved have moved on. My friend here has been reprimanded n number of times by her associates, “Look, we don’t want you to be hurt. You have been a giver all your life and one fine day you will have nothing left inside you. So, we wish you’d be more careful.” All this has not deterred her and she has stood her ground with, “I have been born to give. No matter what happens, I will continue throughout life to love my people.” Most likely, there will be people who will hurt her again, but all this will never deflect her from that one goal, one motive, one wish she has in her heart and mind; to give love.

Although love and giving has nothing to do with what I am about to say, yet there is one pointer that I would like to take from this lady’s attitude. Her goal! She has her eyes set on what she wants and she has not swayed from that one thing she wants to do desperately and passionately; to give love. And she has done this all her life uptill now.

Robin Sharma has been one teacher I have followed like a shadow over several years now and I have loved each and every book he has written. After reading MegaLiving!, I felt nothing is impossible. We use only 25%of our brain in activities which either brings us small amounts of success or no success at all. The other unexplored 75%, if utilized to its fullest extent will definitely take us to new heights.

I love what Robin Sharma says about MegaLiving! 7 Step Formula to Achieve Your Goals:

1.       Know what you want

2.       Set precise goals with a deadline & develop a strategy

3.       Let your goals dominate your thoughts

4.       Use pressure to your benefit

5.       Enlist support

6.       Remember the rule of 21

7.       Have fun and reward yourself

And for all this, you have to give yourself time. Invest in yourself by waking up early morning and planning your day, setting goals, both short term and long term. If you want something desperately, then the only thing you can possibly do is set goals for yourselves and take steps, even if they happen to be baby steps. Just see the difference and ofcourse, don’t forget to love. That’s the only thing the world needs and that too loads of it at this very moment.

2. Keep the Faith

As we talked across a few air kilometres away, he sounded distressed but not defeated, or so I thought. As he narrated and I listened in rapt attention about his fight with life, there was not a grain of doubt that here was a man who has painstakingly gathered bits and pieces of his life together in the hope that it will regain its past normalcy and glory. But he seemed lost and confused. “But trust me. I had been caught in the cross-fire. I was just not aware of the shortcomings of trusting people.” And thus he went on to tell me in details of what had happened when he first started his career as a young ambitious engineer. And I listened without a word of interruption. “You know, I feel everyone is moving away from me. They don’t love me anymore. I am lost without their faith in me.” I didn’t retort.

After a point of time, when my friend across the distance thought he had said enough and wanted me to speak, I took a pause. I picked up the one word from his monologue; faith.

Faith, I told him, is the biggest asset anyone can possess. Faith in the omnipotent and faith in yourself is what can change the entire dimension of your life. It can give a 360⁰ twist to your life and in the process create magic.

A couple of years back, I had randomly picked up The Secret from a book-shop at the airport and read it slowly till I was satiated by its contents. I hope to read it again sometime. But the biggest mantra that I learnt after reading the book was to keep the faith. Faith in oneself. Faith that everything will be according to what I think and plan. Faith that I will be the happiest person by my deeds and actions.

The mind is the most powerful system in the whole human body. It can think and make things happen. I read about this person in The Secret who met with the most horrendous mid-air accident as he was flying in his air-plane. He was paralysed from neck down and done up all in plasters. The only thing he could move were his eye-balls while he was bound to survive on a life-support system, which the doctor said was definitely not going to ever get him on his feet again. Of course, the other thing in his whole body he could exercise was his brain. And he put it to an enormously good use. He just thought. He thought of only the things that he would do after he got back on his feet. His brain sent powerful signals to the rest of the body to improve and recover. When he was able to communicate to a certain extent, the doctor came to understand that the man has this great desire to walk out of the recuperating centre come Christmas, which was exactly in another six months time. The doctor only shook his head and decided to give the man the moral support in spite of debilitating thoughts deep within. However, as Christmas approached, the man was only too excited as it was time for him to go home. And that is exactly what he did. Even though he limped out of the facility, the doctor and nurses were exuberant and amused to see a strong-willed man walk out into the sunshine with all the faith in his heart on Christmas Day.

Faith, belief in oneself and positive thinking can make a man go to places that he had only hoped for and dreamt about. So, for example, if you wish to see yourself in a famous and powerful position, just think and make it happen. Ofcourse, you also have to plan towards this goal. If you just day-dream and don’t take actions on your plans, then your dream will remain as it is; on a vision board inside your head. Work towards them. And to keep in mind that the biggest asset that you have, which you can use as and when you wish to is faith. Faith in yourself!

“So, is it possible to just think and make things happen? Will my family love and trust me again?” he asked me,  maybe slightly composed and calm after telling me his story and hearing what I had to say about the belief and faith in oneself. But he was also expecting me to give the answers, which I really don't have. The answers are always within oneself. However, I signed off with a smile by saying, “Yes, it is possible. And your family is going to love you back sooner than you think. The only thing you got to do is keep believing in yourself that everything's going to be fine and also stay focussed. And you better think good positive thoughts. If perchance the Universe hears you wanting something nasty and negative, be it for yourself or for others, it will actually give it you. So, just be careful what you think.” And don’t forget to read The Secret and listen to the lyrics of the song by Michael Jackson, "Keep the Faith."

If You Call Out Loud
Will It Get Inside
Through The Heart Of Your Surrender
To Your Alibis
And You Can Say The Words
Like You Understand
But The Power's In Believing
So Give Yourself
A Chance

'Cause You Can
Climb The Highest Mountain
Swim The Deepest Sea, Hee
All You Need Is The Will To Wart It
And Uhh, Little Self-Esteem

So Keep The Faith
Don't Let Nobody Turn You 'Round
You Gotta Know When It's Good To Go
To Get Your Dreams
Up Off The Ground Keep The Faith, Baby, Yea
Because It's Just A Matter Of Time
Before Your Confidence Will Win Out
Believe In Yourself
No Matter What It's Gon' Take
You Can Be A Winner
But You Got To Keep The Faith
...Gon' Keep It Brother
You Got It

And When You Think Of Trust
Does It Lead You Home
To A Place That You Only Dream Of
When You're All Alone
And You Can Go By Feel
'Stead Of Circumstance
But The Power's In Beliving
So Give Yourself A Chance

I Know That You Can
Sail Across The Water
Float Across The Sky, High
Any Road That You Take
Will Get You There
If You Only Try

So Keep The Faith, Ow
Don't Let Nobody Take You Down, Brother
Just Keep Your Eyes On The Prize
And Your Feet Flat On The Ground
Keep The Faith, Baby, Yea
Because It's Just A Matter Of Time
Before Your Confidence Will Win Out


I Told My Brother How To Do The Thing Right
Lift Up Your Head And Show The World You Got Pride
Go For What You Want
Don't Let 'Em Get In Your Way
You Can Be A Winner
But You Got To Keep The Faith
Gon' Keep It Brother
You Got It

I Know That Keepin' The Faith
Means Never Givin' Up On Love
But The Power That Love Has
To Make It Right
Makes It
Makes It Right

Keep The Faith
Don't Let Nobody Turn You 'Round Brother
You Got To Know When It's Good To Go
To Get Your Dreams Up Off The Ground
Keep The Faith Baby, Yea
Because It's Just A Matter Of Time
Before Your Confidence Will Win Out


Better Stand Up And Act Like You Wanna Do Right
Don't Play The Fool For The Rest Of Your Life
Work On It Brother
And You'll Make It Someday
Go For What You Want
And Don't Forget The Faith

Look At Yourself
And What You Doin' Right Now
Stand Back A Minute
Just To Check Yourself Out
Straighten Out Your Life
And How You're Livin' Each Day
Get Yourself Together
'Cause You Got To Keep The Faith
Uh, Uh, Uh

So Keep The Faith, Ow
Don't Let Nobody Take You Down, Brother
Just Keep Your Eyes On The Prize
And Your Feet Flat On The Ground
Keep The Faith, Baby, Yea
Because It's Just A Matter Of Time
Before Your Confidence Will Win Out


Lift Up Your Mind
Before Your Mind Gets Blown
Some Things In Life
You Best Just Leave Them Alone
Go For What You Want
Don't Let It Get In Your Way
You Can Make It Happen
But Ya Got Ta Keep The Faith

Gon' Keep It Brother
You Got To Keep The Faith
Yeah Keep The Faith
Gon' Keep It Sister
You Got To Keep The Faith
Now, Now

I'll Show My Brotha
How To Do The Thing Right
Lift Up Your Head
And Show The World You Got Pride
Go For What You Want
Don't Let 'Em Get In Your Way
You Can Be A Winner
If You Keep The Faith
Straighten Out Yourself
And Get Your Mind On Track
Dust Off Your Butt
And Get Your Self-Respect Back
You've Known Me Long Enough
To Know That I Don't Play
Take It Like You Want It
But You Got To Keep The Faith
Gon'

Don't Let Nobody Take You Down
Just Keep Your Eyes On The Prize
And Get Your Feet Back On The Ground
Keep The Faith, Baby, Yea
Because It's Just A Matter Of Time
Before Your Confidence Will Win Out
But Till That Day
I Said You've Got To Keep The Faith! And When You Think Of Trust
Does It Lead You Home
To A Place That You Only Dream Of
When You're All Alone
And You Can Go By Feel
'Stead Of Circumstance
But The Power's In Beliving
So Give Yourself A Chance

I Know That You Can
Sail Across The Water
Float Across The Sky, High
Any Road That You Take
Will Get You There
If You Only Try

So Keep The Faith, Ow
Don't Let Nobody Take You Down, Brother
Just Keep Your Eyes On The Prize
And Your Feet Flat On The Ground
Keep The Faith, Baby, Yea
Because It's Just A Matter Of Time
Before Your Confidence Will Win Out


I Told My Brother How To Do The Thing Right
Lift Up Your Head And Show The World You Got Pride
Go For What You Want
Don't Let 'Em Get In Your Way
You Can Be A Winner
But You Got To Keep The Faith
Gon' Keep It Brother
You Got It

I Know That Keepin' The Faith
Means Never Givin' Up On Love
But The Power That Love Has
To Make It Right
Makes It
Makes It Right

Keep The Faith
Don't Let Nobody Turn You 'Round Brother
You Got To Know When It's Good To Go
To Get Your Dreams Up Off The Ground
Keep The Faith Baby, Yea
Because It's Just A Matter Of Time
Before Your Confidence Will Win Out


Better Stand Up And Act Like You Wanna Do Right
Don't Play The Fool For The Rest Of Your Life
Work On It Brother
And You'll Make It Someday
Go For What You Want
And Don't Forget The Faith

Look At Yourself
And What You Doin' Right Now
Stand Back A Minute
Just To Check Yourself Out
Straighten Out Your Life
And How You're Livin' Each Day
Get Yourself Together
'Cause You Got To Keep The Faith
Uh, Uh, Uh

So Keep The Faith, Ow
Don't Let Nobody Take You Down, Brother
Just Keep Your Eyes On The Prize
And Your Feet Flat On The Ground
Keep The Faith, Baby, Yea
Because It's Just A Matter Of Time
Before Your Confidence Will Win Out


Lift Up Your Mind
Before Your Mind Gets Blown
Some Things In Life
You Best Just Leave Them Alone
Go For What You Want
Don't Let It Get In Your Way
You Can Make It Happen
But Ya Got Ta Keep The Faith

Gon' Keep It Brother
You Got To Keep The Faith
Yeah Keep The Faith
Gon' Keep It Sister
You Got To Keep The Faith
Now, Now

I'll Show My Brotha
How To Do The Thing Right
Lift Up Your Head
And Show The World You Got Pride
Go For What You Want
Don't Let 'Em Get In Your Way
You Can Be A Winner
If You Keep The Faith
Straighten Out Yourself
And Get Your Mind On Track
Dust Off Your Butt
And Get Your Self-Respect Back
You've Known Me Long Enough
To Know That I Don't Play
Take It Like You Want It
But You Got To Keep The Faith
Gon'

Don't Let Nobody Take You Down
Just Keep Your Eyes On The Prize
And Get Your Feet Back On The Ground
Keep The Faith, Baby, Yea
Because It's Just A Matter Of Time
Before Your Confidence Will Win Out
But Till That Day
I Said You've Got To Keep The Faith! I Know That You Can
Sail Across The Water
Float Across The Sky, High
Any Road That You Take
Will Get You There
If You Only Try

So Keep The Faith, Ow
Don't Let Nobody Take You Down, Brother
Just Keep Your Eyes On The Prize
And Your Feet Flat On The Ground
Keep The Faith, Baby, Yea
Because It's Just A Matter Of Time
Before Your Confidence Will Win Out


I Told My Brother How To Do The Thing Right
Lift Up Your Head And Show The World You Got Pride
Go For What You Want
Don't Let 'Em Get In Your Way
You Can Be A Winner
But You Got To Keep The Faith
Gon' Keep It Brother
( From: http://www.elyrics.net )
You Got It

I Know That Keepin' The Faith
Means Never Givin' Up On Love
But The Power That Love Has
To Make It Right
Makes It
Makes It Right

Keep The Faith
Don't Let Nobody Turn You 'Round Brother
You Got To Know When It's Good To Go
To Get Your Dreams Up Off The Ground
Keep The Faith Baby, Yea
Because It's Just A Matter Of Time
Before Your Confidence Will Win Out


Better Stand Up And Act Like You Wanna Do Right
Don't Play The Fool For The Rest Of Your Life
Work On It Brother
And You'll Make It Someday
Go For What You Want
And Don't Forget The Faith

Look At Yourself
And What You Doin' Right Now
Stand Back A Minute
Just To Check Yourself Out
Straighten Out Your Life
And How You're Livin' Each Day
Get Yourself Together
'Cause You Got To Keep The Faith
Uh, Uh, Uh

So Keep The Faith, Ow
Don't Let Nobody Take You Down, Brother
Just Keep Your Eyes On The Prize
And Your Feet Flat On The Ground
Keep The Faith, Baby, Yea
Because It's Just A Matter Of Time
Before Your Confidence Will Win Out


Lift Up Your Mind
Before Your Mind Gets Blown
Some Things In Life
You Best Just Leave Them Alone
Go For What You Want
Don't Let It Get In Your Way
You Can Make It Happen
But Ya Got Ta Keep The Faith

Gon' Keep It Brother
You Got To Keep The Faith
Yeah Keep The Faith
Gon' Keep It Sister
You Got To Keep The Faith
Now, Now

I'll Show My Brotha
How To Do The Thing Right
Lift Up Your Head
And Show The World You Got Pride
Go For What You Want
Don't Let 'Em Get In Your Way
You Can Be A Winner
If You Keep The Faith
Straighten Out Yourself
And Get Your Mind On Track
Dust Off Your Butt
And Get Your Self-Respect Back
You've Known Me Long Enough
To Know That I Don't Play
Take It Like You Want It
But You Got To Keep The Faith
Gon'

Don't Let Nobody Take You Down
Just Keep Your Eyes On The Prize
And Get Your Feet Back On The Ground
Keep The Faith, Baby, Yea
Because It's Just A Matter Of Time
Before Your Confidence Will Win Out
But Till That Day
I Said You've Got To Keep The Faith! I Told My Brother How To Do The Thing Right
Lift Up Your Head And Show The World You Got Pride
Go For What You Want
Don't Let 'Em Get In Your Way
You Can Be A Winner
But You Got To Keep The Faith
Gon' Keep It Brother
You Got It

I Know That Keepin' The Faith
Means Never Givin' Up On Love
But The Power That Love Has
To Make It Right
Makes It
Makes It Right

Keep The Faith
Don't Let Nobody Turn You 'Round Brother
You Got To Know When It's Good To Go
To Get Your Dreams Up Off The Ground
Keep The Faith Baby, Yea
Because It's Just A Matter Of Time
Before Your Confidence Will Win Out


Better Stand Up And Act Like You Wanna Do Right
Don't Play The Fool For The Rest Of Your Life
Work On It Brother
And You'll Make It Someday
Go For What You Want
And Don't Forget The Faith

Look At Yourself
And What You Doin' Right Now
Stand Back A Minute
Just To Check Yourself Out
Straighten Out Your Life
And How You're Livin' Each Day
Get Yourself Together
'Cause You Got To Keep The Faith
Uh, Uh, Uh

So Keep The Faith, Ow
Don't Let Nobody Take You Down, Brother
Just Keep Your Eyes On The Prize
And Your Feet Flat On The Ground
Keep The Faith, Baby, Yea
Because It's Just A Matter Of Time
Before Your Confidence Will Win Out


Lift Up Your Mind
Before Your Mind Gets Blown
Some Things In Life
You Best Just Leave Them Alone
Go For What You Want
Don't Let It Get In Your Way
You Can Make It Happen
But Ya Got Ta Keep The Faith

Gon' Keep It Brother
You Got To Keep The Faith
Yeah Keep The Faith
Gon' Keep It Sister
You Got To Keep The Faith
Now, Now

I'll Show My Brotha
How To Do The Thing Right
Lift Up Your Head
And Show The World You Got Pride
Go For What You Want
Don't Let 'Em Get In Your Way
You Can Be A Winner
If You Keep The Faith
Straighten Out Yourself
And Get Your Mind On Track
Dust Off Your Butt
And Get Your Self-Respect Back
You've Known Me Long Enough
To Know That I Don't Play
Take It Like You Want It
But You Got To Keep The Faith
Gon'

Don't Let Nobody Take You Down
Just Keep Your Eyes On The Prize
And Get Your Feet Back On The Ground
Keep The Faith, Baby, Yea
Because It's Just A Matter Of Time
Before Your Confidence Will Win Out
But Till That Day
I Said You've Got To Keep The Faith! Better Stand Up And Act Like You Wanna Do Right
Don't Play The Fool For The Rest Of Your Life
Work On It Brother
And You'll Make It Someday
Go For What You Want
And Don't Forget The Faith

Look At Yourself
And What You Doin' Right Now
Stand Back A Minute
Just To Check Yourself Out
Straighten Out Your Life
And How You're Livin' Each Day
Get Yourself Together
'Cause You Got To Keep The Faith
Uh, Uh, Uh

So Keep The Faith, Ow
Don't Let Nobody Take You Down, Brother
Just Keep Your Eyes On The Prize
And Your Feet Flat On The Ground
Keep The Faith, Baby, Yea
Because It's Just A Matter Of Time
Before Your Confidence Will Win Out


Lift Up Your Mind
Before Your Mind Gets Blown
Some Things In Life
You Best Just Leave Them Alone
Go For What You Want
Don't Let It Get In Your Way
You Can Make It Happen
But Ya Got Ta Keep The Faith

Gon' Keep It Brother
You Got To Keep The Faith
Yeah Keep The Faith
Gon' Keep It Sister
You Got To Keep The Faith
Now, Now

I'll Show My Brotha
How To Do The Thing Right
Lift Up Your Head
And Show The World You Got Pride
Go For What You Want
Don't Let 'Em Get In Your Way
You Can Be A Winner
If You Keep The Faith
Straighten Out Yourself
And Get Your Mind On Track
Dust Off Your Butt
And Get Your Self-Respect Back
You've Known Me Long Enough
To Know That I Don't Play
Take It Like You Want It
But You Got To Keep The Faith
Gon'

Don't Let Nobody Take You Down
Just Keep Your Eyes On The Prize
And Get Your Feet Back On The Ground
Keep The Faith, Baby, Yea
Because It's Just A Matter Of Time
Before Your Confidence Will Win Out
But Till That Day
I Said You've Got To Keep The Faith! Lift Up Your Mind
Before Your Mind Gets Blown
Some Things In Life
You Best Just Leave Them Alone
Go For What You Want
Don't Let It Get In Your Way
You Can Make It Happen
But Ya Got Ta Keep The Faith

Gon' Keep It Brother
You Got To Keep The Faith
Yeah Keep The Faith
Gon' Keep It Sister
You Got To Keep The Faith
Now, Now

I'll Show My Brotha
How To Do The Thing Right
Lift Up Your Head
And Show The World You Got Pride
Go For What You Want
Don't Let 'Em Get In Your Way
You Can Be A Winner
If You Keep The Faith
Straighten Out Yourself
And Get Your Mind On Track
Dust Off Your Butt
And Get Your Self-Respect Back
You've Known Me Long Enough
To Know That I Don't Play
Take It Like You Want It
But You Got To Keep The Faith
Gon'

Don't Let Nobody Take You Down
Just Keep Your Eyes On The Prize
And Get Your Feet Back On The Ground
Keep The Faith, Baby, Yea
Because It's Just A Matter Of Time
Before Your Confidence Will Win Out
But Till That Day
I Said You've Got To Keep The Faith!