The Great Divide

What does a notorious terrorist have in common with a 19th century German?

a) Nothing
b) They both were circus clowns
c) Both loved spicy parathas
d) Both were civil engineers

No need to go “50 - 50” or “Phone a friend” on this one. The answer is option‘d’.

He is about 6’4”, weighs 160 pounds and was born in Saudi Arabia in 1957. The only son of Muhammad, (a billionaire Saudi businessman) and Hamida Al Attas; he completed his schooling in 1976 and decided to pursue a course in civil engineering. He never did complete his graduate studies and was distracted by religion. He occupied himself by interpreting the Quran. As the founder of Al Qaeda, he vociferously opposed the stationing of US troops in Islamic countries. Osama Bin Laden graduated from handling a dumpy level to holding a gun. He is a mass murderer, with a reward of up to 25$ million to anyone who knows his whereabouts.

John A. Roebling was born in Germany on July 12, 1806. He was a visionary who wanted to achieve his dreams by designing and building big bridges. As a student of architecture, bridge construction, foundation engineering and hydraulics, he migrated to America to fulfill his dreams.
In 1867 Roebling started design work on what is now called the Brooklyn Bridge. In 1869, barely two years after the conception of his design, he met with an accident and was admitted to the hospital. His condition deteriorated until it was clear he had tetanus, and 24 days after the accident he was dead.
His son, Washington Roebling decided to continue his dad’s legacy and finish the bridge. He made alterations to the original design and personally monitored the progress of the bridge. Decompression sickness due to working in compressed air under the river, combined with over work, shattered his health and rendered him unable to visit the site He became an invalid, was bedridden, could not even speak but monitored the progress of the bridge from his bedroom window. He communicated to his wife Emily using only hand gestures, telling her to make changes (wherever necessary) in the bridge. Emily would go to the site and carry out her husband’s instructions. The Brooklyn Bridge was completed successfully in 1883 and is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the world. The bridge is symbolic of the dedication and the devotion of the Roebling family and connects Manhattan and Long Island.

Both Bin Laden and Roebling were civil engineers. They attended classes not unlike you and me. They must also have hibernated in the hydraulics class, groaned in the geotech class, and carried heavy theodolites during their college days. What they later became was solely decided by the choices they had made. While one engineer bought a gun and started a war, the other literally connected people (like Nokia!).

The choices that you make in your life depend on you and how you want to be remembered. Make the right ones!! All the very best.. :)