They say during his long 27 years in prison, Nelson Mandela drew strength and inspiration from the following poem.

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeoning of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

The poem is Invictus.The poet, William Earnest Henley, knew a thing or two about taking charge of one's destiny in the face of abysmal darkness. When he was twelve, he contracted tuberculosis of the bone, and a few years later, when it progressed to his foot, it had to be amputated. Despite his disability, he led an active life.

But do we believe that we are the master of our own fate? We just celebrated the month of victory. This was the victory of belief. Unconquerable souls and their utmost desire brought us our beloved Bangladesh.

Who were they and who are we today? They were the indomitable, unconquerable souls who believed that they could reach their destination. They dreamed of a country with freedom and vision. They sacrificed their lives to create a better place for the generations to come.

But how many of us believe that we are the captain of our soul? It is amazing to see a nation who won the liberation war by giving away the precious lives struggle to be a land with integrity and soul. Yet we want to dream and dream big to leave one of the strongest footprints on earth. Belief and dream can change the picture of a person, a nation and a world.

But being the master of our fate doesn't mean only believing in our goals, it also means taking responsibility for them. We are a nation of glory and courage. In this New Year if we look back over at least the past twelve months; we will be able to measure our gains and losses. As a country and as an individual it is really important to evaluate our own acts. Assessing each day, each month, each year will reveal the progress and the sectors to improve.

Trust me; you are the master of your fate and you are the captain of your soul. Just like the martyrs each of us has the capability to reach the destination we look for in our life time.

This is 2013 and this is the starting of an era of revolution. This insurgency is to find the real us inside. We will promise to change ourselves in the light of our beliefs. It is the inception of a time where people will taste their dreams as their reality. It is the time when a country will come up from the ashes with heads high. Not a single man will be killed in front of thousands without an act to resist the injustice. There won’t be a single family in fear of losing a loved one. Can’t we promise to see a nation with solidarity and harmony? We actually can; only when we will know our destination. It is time to take responsibilities for what we do and what we promise. This is the phase where we need to make the oath to be a better individual, a better nation.

Are you ready to be the master of your destiny and the captain of your soul?