He had the answers to himself http://www.mid-day.com/news/2008/jul/270708national.htm

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Randy Pausch delivers his Last Lecture in September 2007 which would inspire millions around the

world

Coimbatore:

Carnegie Mellon (CMU) student Lakshmi Iyengar actually went for Randy Pausch's Last Lecture.

Iyengar is a second year masters student in Entertainment Industry Management Program at CMU.

Lakshmi says, "I was one of the lucky ones who attended Professor Randy Pausch's Last Lecture last year. Honestly, none of us knew who he was when we were going for it - we were going because one of our professors who was close to him said 'you should hear him'.

"There was a line wrapped completely around the building because so many people had come to hear him speak. We were at the end of the line and when we went in and understood who he was and what kind of a person he was, we

felt blessed to have gotten inside. It was truly a gift to have been there.

"We didn't know it was being recorded, so I still have the notes I took down. These were definitely words to live by... I was certain I was going to want to hang on to what he said.

"I would truly call him a hero in every sense of the word. I'm not hugely religious although I come from a traditional family and was born and brought up in the US. But I found him to be very godly because he really had a way about him and his humility was so powerful, I can imagine it would sprinkle off on every one who saw him whether at the lecture or on YouTube or TV.

"He was someone who had the answers to himself and seeing something like that is very inspiring and heroic. We're in our 20s - a transitioning phase in our life, trying to figure our career paths and life choices and it was so impactful. People our age want the answers, the solution, and to hear his perspective was a blessing.

"Towards the end of his lecture, the audience got very emotional. His voice was so strong and his voice did not weaken at any point. In fact the lecture resonated so strongly, that none of us thought he was going to pass away - he's so healthy and here in America he was on TV so often - that we didn't really realise and accept that he was terminal. It was shocking when we found out he had passed away.

"He observed maximum normalcy and sanity towards the end. In light of such a horrible reality, people began to take notice of his heroic strength, which I don't think anyone had seen before. No one had seen a cancer patient who was so calm about it. That was incredible.

"In his lecture he had the recurring theme of ideas of the brick wall and how we have to break them down to see how badly we want something. I think I have employed that into my lifestyle very heavily. He definitely left a mark on my present and future and I am so thankful for that. I was talking to my friend yesterday, we had attended the lecture together, and she said, 'today we lost a leader'."

Lecture was shown at Indian Uni tooThe Last Lecture was screened at the Amrita University in Coimbatore in October last year. It all happened when Ajai Narendran, webmaster for the institute's website, was forwarded a mail by a friend at Carnegie Mellon who had attended the Last Lecture. The mail contained links to Pausch's speech. Narendran and his colleagues at Amrita decided to screen the video for the university.Alpana Lath Sawai spoke to some of the students who attended the video lecture.

K Priyadarishini, computer scienceOne of his teachings was about facing a brick wall and how you can surmount it if you really want a thing.

Shiv Pratap, teaches data structures, algorithmI have been teaching for two years. I keep in mind that you cannot teach a student; you can only inspire them. Pausch ignited your need to search and know more.

Sathyan Devakannan, mechanicalHe talked about chasing your dream and inspiring others' dreams - the idea that you can influence the world positivelyand in a lasting way.

Dipannita Duttaroy, computer scienceNot only did he achieve his own dream, he also inspired others. And he spoke about never quitting and asked you to just achieve the impossible.

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By: Alpana Lath Sawai Date: 2008-07-27He had the answers to himself

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He had the answers to himself http://www.mid-day.com/news/2008/jul/270708national.htm

2 of 2 7/27/2008 11:09 AM

Shriram V, electrical electronics.When the doctor says you have five months to live, you can give up or you can be like Randy Pausch. It's brutal, he was happily married and had three kids but it's not how you think about death but how you embrace it.

Amrita Ajit Kumar, electronicsHe was considered a bridge between the arts and science faculty in college. He made you realise that if you can do one thing, you don't have to lose the other side. You can have it all. You don't have to give up anything in life; you don't compromise at all. I try to apply that in my life.

Ajai NarendranI went through a near death experience about a decade back, so I know what it feels like. Ever since I came to know about it, I was restless for it to reach more people. It is a feeling of conviction that it can really change lives. Students at the university were moved when they saw the video, and it was not just a short-lived emotional reaction. I see them talking about his brick wall concept even now. They remember every bit of his lecture and are applying it.

We want to take it further. We want to dub it into regional languages and then develop small teams to take it to rural areas across the country.

Related TagsCarnegie Mellon , professor , lecture , pancreatic , cancer , CMU

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