Talking about nature and masculinity was a memorable experience

[Shahrukh Atpade]

While walking around Nandwal village today, I saw a man cleaning his garden in front of his house, Rajaram Ulpe. The calm and contented expression on his face reflected how peacefully he spends his time in the company of nature. Upon greeting him, we sat under a chikoo tree and began our conversation.

His life story begins in the 1980s a time when resources were scarce and opportunities to earn beyond farming were limited. Despite such conditions, he pursued higher education and fulfilled his dream of joining the Indian Army. Today, he is retired, yet his discipline, dedication, and patriotic spirit are still evident in his words and actions.

Key Learnings from the Conversation

1. Self-confidence
His story taught me the importance of believing in oneself and one’s dreams. In 1988, when most people were focused on fulfilling basic needs, Rajaram dared to dream of education and a career and turned it into reality.

2. Recognizing One’s Strengths
When a person recognizes their own strengths, they can achieve any goal. Rajaram’s father constantly encouraged him, which gave him the strength to pursue his dream of joining the army.

3. Love for the nation
A deep sense of love and responsibility toward the country became the strongest motivation behind his life’s mission.

4. Strength of Mind and Resolve
Some things in life come easily, but others require courage and preparation. He showed that making the right decisions and taking action demand strong willpower and mental strength.

Discussion on Masculinity

During our talk, several important points emerged about masculinity.

1. A man must think about his future responsibilities while pursuing his dreams.

2. Balancing personal dreams with family responsibilities is difficult but essential.

3. Society still believes that showing emotions is not a man’s role.

4. A man is considered suitable for marriage only if he earns money at a young age.

5. Higher education is often seen as more necessary for men because they are expected to provide for the family.

6. There is pressure on men not to reveal their weaknesses publicly.

7. Ancient scriptures often portrayed the male god as supreme.

8. Real social change will happen only when individuals decide to change themselves.

Through this discussion, I understood the true meaning of masculinity. Rajaram’s life story is deeply inspiring. By speaking openly about his struggles, he showed that societal expectations and pressures often force men to suppress their emotions. However, his experience makes it clear that real change begins within oneself, and only then can it spread to society.

Rajaram Ulpe is not just a retired soldier he is an inspiring figure who embodies the values of self-confidence, patriotism, and responsibility. His story delivers a powerful message to the younger generation.
Dream big, keep trying, and believe in yourself.

[Nishat Tasnim Liza]

This story beautifully shows how true strength lies not just in physical power, but in self-belief, discipline, and emotional honesty. Listening to Rajaram Ulpe’s journey reminded me that masculinity is not about suppressing emotions, but about embracing responsibility, compassion, and resilience. I learned that real change begins when we reflect on ourselves and dare to redefine what strength truly means

[Brinty Saha]

When a person recognizes their own strengths, they can achieve any goal - loved this line. Also, masculinity points were really insightful!