126. A Pilgrimage Tour

"Have you taken everything?" asked Saravanan.

"Everything means?" asked Vanaja, in a tone of irritation.

"Biscuits, snacks and other eatables we had bought from the shops, for the tour."

"Are we going on a pilgrimage, or are we going for a picnic?"

"Just because we are going on a pilgrimage, we don't have to live on an empty stomach. We are traveling by a tourist bus. We can have our food only at the time and place decided by the tourist operator. We will be fed only at places where the bus will be halted. Do we have to starve till the time the tourist operator chooses to feed us?"

"Why are you taking these novels?"

"To spend time by reading them, when I get bored."

"But, you have the mobile phone and earphones. You can listen to songs."

"I can read a book, while listening to the songs played in the mobile. If we read an interesting book, while listening to music and munching the chips, how ecstatic will that experience be!"

"You have left out two things?"

"Which ones?"

"Of the five sense organs, you have mentioned feeding your eyes, ears and the tongue. There are two more sense organs."

"Well. The falvour of the chips will excite the nose. Sitting in a well-cushioned seat and traveling will give pleasure to the body. So, the other two senses will also be covered!"

"You can't refrain from feeding your five senses, even when you are visiting temples!"

"Only if we feed our five senses, our mind will be able to focus on sublime thoughts."

Most of the people who were part of the pilgrimage seemed to have the same thinking as Saravanan. As soon as the bus had departed, many of the passengers wore their headphones and opened the snacks packs.

Wile most of the passengers comprised families with two or more members, one young man was traveling alone. He was sitting on a seat in front of Saravanan and Vanaja and looking outside the window. 

The bus was halted in front of a hotel, in which accommodation was arranged for the pilgrims by the tour operator. The pilgrims were waiting in the hotel lobby, while rooms were being allotted to them by the hotel staff.

The young man asked a clerk sitting at the reception desk, "I want to make a phone call. Do you have a telephone booth nearby?"

The clerk told him that he could use the hotel phone.

The young man called his home from the hotel phone and talked to his parents briefly, informing them of his arrival at the hotel.

When he returned to the lobby after making the phone call, Vanaja asked him, "Have you come alone for this trip?"

"Yes, auntie. My parents had taken this tour package a couple of months back. It is on their advice that I joined this tour" replied the young man.

"What has happened to your mobile phone? Is there no charge in the battery."

"No, auntie. I didn't bring my mobile phone."

"Why? did you forget to take your phone, while leaving your home?"

"No. This being a pilgrimage tour, I thought I should go without my mobile phone for a week, during the tenure of this tour. If I had my mobile with me, I would receive some calls. I might be tempted to watch videos, listen to songs etc. I thought while visiting the temples, I should keep away from other interests and focus my thoughts on God."

Looking at his small bag, Vanaja asked him. "Is this bag your only luggage?"

"Yes. I have brought only a few clothes. I plan to wash and dry my clothes during the night. If I brought a number of clothes, I would be thinking about which dress to choose, which combination would give me a better appearance etc. I wanted to avoid such thoughts."

Vanaja looked at her husband. He was wearing the earphone and heartily enjoying a song playing on his mobile phone.

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 13
Restraint

Verse 126 (In Tamil)

orumaiyuL Amai pOl ainthadakkal ARRin
ezhumaiyum EmAppu udaiththu.

Meaning:

If one can restrain his five senses, like a tortoise that retreats into its single shell, it will benefit him in his seven births.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'Alaya dharisanam' by the same author)

Verse 127
Verse 125

532. Who is He?

Bharath was struggling to get a job even several months after he had completed his college education and obtained an Engineering degree.

Oneday, his neighbour Padmanabhan came to see Bharath.

Bharath was not acquainted with Padmanabhan. But he knew that Padmanabhan was working as a machine operator in a factory. He was five or six years elder to Bharath.

"Hey, Bharath! Did you get any job?" asked Padmanabhan.

"Not yet" replied Bharath, irked by Padmanabhan's question, even as he wondered why Padmanabhan had come to see him.

"The company I am working for is small. But our proprietor is setting up a big factory. He said that he would be recruiting engineers for his new factory. I told him about you. He told me to ask you to meet him. If you can come with me tomorrow, I will introduce you to him" said Padmanabhan.

Bharath looked at Padmanabhan with unbelievable excitement and said, "Thanks a lot, brother!" 

The next day, Bharath was given a job by Padmanabhan's proprietor in the new factory being set up by him.

"Mr. Bharath! Today, you are one of the leading industrialists of our country. You have received numerous awards for various achievements. You are frequently featured in the media. Various kinds of people including industrialists, economists and media persons are always curious to know what your next move is going to be. How do you feel about your status?" asked the Television anchor who was interviewing Bharath.

"I feel very happy" said Bharath. But, thinking that this won't be an appropriate reply, he added, "But, I am aware that I still have to traverse a long distance." 

He hoped that this would be considered a humble response.

"Do you remember Mr. Ramanathan?" asked the interviewer.

"How can I not remember him? He constantly dwells in my heart. He was the person who gave me my first job. It was the seed planted by him that had grown into a big tree today!" 

"Do you meet Mr. Padmanabhan quite often?"

"Who is Padmanabhan?"

"Before answering your question, we would like to play a video clipping of the interview we had with Mr. Ramanathan, in which he has talked about you."

Presently, a video was played on the giant screen in that room. 

An elderly person who appeared in the video told his interviewer, "I am proud of the phenomenal growth of Bharath. About thirty years back, Pamanabhan, a machine operator in my factory came to me and said, 'Sir! An Engineering graduate, who is my neighbour, has been hunting for a job. Can you offer him a job in the new factory you are going to start?' I told him to ask that boy to meet me. At that time, I didn't know that I was going to offer a job to a person who would become a leading industrialist of the country!"

The video was stopped at this point and the screen became dark again.

Bharath sat frozen in his seat. 'How did I fail to remember Padmanabhan immediately?' he cursed himself. 

"Do you remember Padmanabhan now?" asked the anchor, with a smile.

Bharat recognized the smile as a sign of victory of the anchor, in having caught Bharath off guard. 

Bharath nodded his head and said, "When you suddenly mentioned the name, I couldn't recall the person immediately."

"When did you last see Padmanabhan?"

"Soon after my getting the job, I moved over to another house. After that, I lost touch with him" said Bharath, feeling embarrassed.

"After Mr. Ramanathan had mentioned Mr. Padmanabhan's name, in his interview given to us, we traced Mr. Padmanabhan and located him. He lives in a small rented house, still working, in spite of his old age and is struggling to make both ends meet. But, he is very proud of you" said the anchor.

When the thought of what people viewing this interview would think of him struck him, Bharath felt a feeling of shame, flowing through his entire body.

Thirukkural

Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 54

Avoiding Forgetfulness and Complacency

Verse 532 (in Tamil):

pochchAppuk kollum pugazhai aRivinai

nichcha nirappuk konRAngu.

Meaning:

Complacence, sloth and contempt slaughter one’s reputation

just as begging and endless pursuit of wants will kill one’s wisdom.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'yAr avar?' by the same author.)

Verse 533
Verse 531

125. Six Months of 'Forest Life!'

"Many companies pay a salary of fifty thousand to one hundred thousand rupees to Engineering graduates, recruited fresh from the college. But, here they pay us a stipend of just ten thousand rupees per month. How pathetic is our state!" lamented Sukumar.

"This is our training period. They provide us free accommodation and food and over that, pay a stipend of ten thousand rupees. Is this not good enough?" countered Ramkumar.

"For beggars like you, this pittance may look like a handsome sum. But, for people like me, hailing from a wealthy family, this is peanuts. The stipend won't even cover my cigarette and liquor expenses!" shot back Sukumar.

"This stipend is only for six months. After that, we will get a salary of fifty thousand rupees per month" I told Sukumar, even while taking a sideways glance at Ramkumar.

Hailing from various places, we had our studies at various institutions and got acquainted, after joining this company as trainee engineers. I felt bad about Sukumar speaking deprecatingly of Ramkumar. But, Ramkumar seemed to have ignored Sukumar's insulting epithet and kept quiet.

"They have built this training institute in a forest area and made us stay here, during the training period. Our life here during the next six months is going to be like the one in prison. We are allowed to go out only on Sundays, like prisoners being allowed to go out on parole!" said Sivasubramaian.

Six months had passed and we completed our training. The last evening of our stay in the hostel, we were sitting together in the hostel lobby and chatting.

"They paid us a total amount of sixty thousand rupees for six months. This amount should have been earned by us in one month. But, what can we do? I don't know how you people have been managing, but I asked for and got ten thousand rupees every month from my father" said Sukumar. 

"I have managed to save twenty thousand rupees, out of sixty thousand rupees received by me as salary" I said.

One by one, other people also shared how much money each had saved. 

When Ramkumar's turn came, every one was eager to know how much he had saved.

"I have also saved some money" said Ramkumar.

"How much?" asked one person.

"Well, we don't have any expenses here. Even the laundry is free. I didn't have to spend even one thousand rupees per month. I have fifty thousand rupees in my bank account" said Ramkumar.

"I think you should be crowned Mr. Miser! Why do you need a salary at all? If someone feeds you, you will work like a dog!" said Sukumar.

"Sukumar, this is too much. Ramkumar might have hailed from a poor family. Therefore, he might have been habituated to being economical in spending. Till now, he has not said anything about his family background. It is unfair to talk ill of a fellow trainee" I said, upset by Ramkumar's use of intemperate language

"I didn't say anything disparaging. I only pointed out that he doesn't need money at all" said Sukumar, not inclined to apologize for his remark.

"Okay. Our hostel life is getting over. We will be going home tomorrow. Many of us are from Chennai. My home is in Mambalam. Where is your home?" I asked Ramkumar, trying to divert the topic.

"MRC Nagar" said Ramkumar.

"That is a posh locality. It is an abode for wealthy people. Where are you residing there? At the footsteps of the Ayyappan temple?" asked Sukumar, deridingly.

"What is your father's profession?" I asked Ramkumar.

"He is working in a company."

"Which company? What is he working as?" I persisted.

"He is working as the Managing Director - of our company!" said Ramkumar, quietly.

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 13
Restraint

Verse 125 (In Tamil)

ellArkkum nanRAm paNidhal avaruLLum
selvarkkE selvam thagaiththu.

Meaning:

Humility is a good quality in everyone; in particular,

for the wealthy, it is like their wealth.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'kAdARu mAdham' by the same author)

Verse 126
Verse 124

531. The Letter from Mother

Murali's father passed away at his village home, one week after Murali had joined a company at Chennai, after completing his collegiate education.

His sudden death was a big shock to Murali and his mother Sakuntala.

"Your father struggled a lot to get you educated and ensure that you come up in life. But he died without even witnessing your receiving your first month's salary" lamented Sakuntala.

After one month's training in the Chennai office of his company, Murali was posted at the Nagpur branch of the company.

Since Sakuntala didn't want to leave the village, Murali stayed alone at Nagpur.

Before Murali had left for Nagpur, Sakuntala told him, "Murali! Your father has borrowed ten thousand rupees from his friend Kasi, for your education. The loan carries no interest. Your father had promised Kasi that you would repay the loan in installments, after your taking up a job. No one will give a loan on such liberal terms. Mr. Kasi is a noble person. He has a lot of regards for your father. That is why he extended the loan to us. Your father was not inclined to seek any loan from anyone, including our relatives. Considering that Kasi had been lending money to people on interest and that he was a close friend of your father, your father approached him for a loan repayable with interest. But Kasi said that he won't collect any interest from your father, who was his close friend. Kasi is a good person, but he is strict on money matters. He is known for using harsh words against defaulters. Make it a point to send him a thousand rupees every month by means of a bank draft."

"Definitely" said Murali.

After receiving his first month's salary, Murali sent two hundred rupees to Sakuntala, through Money Order.

"I am glad that you sent me two hundred rupees, after receiving your first month's salary. I hope you would have sent thousand rupees to Kasi, as I had advised you earlier" wrote Sakuntala, in her letter acknowledging the receipt of money sent by Murali.

On reading his mother's letter, Murali was irritated.

'I have just started earning. Without considering that at least for some time in the beginning, I could be spending the money freely and enjoying my life, my mother has started pestering me! After all, it is an interest-free loan. What If I repay it with some delay?' he reflected angrily.

He replied to his mother: 'I will send money to Mr. Kasi from the next month. Please don't write to me on this subject again."

But, Murali didn't send money to Kasi the next month either, a major part of his salary having been used for buying some expensive dresses and partying with his friends. He told himself that he would start sending money to Kasi from the next month.

Since Murali continued to spend money on luxuries and entertainment during the next month also, the thought of sending money to Kasi didn't cross his mind at all!

During the next few months, he forgot about sending money to Kasi. 

After Murali had, in his letter, expressed his displeasure about being reminded about sending money to Kasi, Sakuntala refrained from writing to him on this subject in her subsequent letters.

After about eight months, Murali received a letter from his mother, which carried these lines:

"Since you had written to me that I need not remind you about sending money to Kasi, I didn't write to you on this subject again. I was under the impression that you were sending money to him every month. It was only after Kasi came to our house yesterday and spoke to me angrily that I realized that you had not been sending money to him. I paid him five hundred rupees from the amount saved by me out of the money you had sent me during the past several months, and apologized to him.  Some of our neighbours could have heard his angry outburst. I felt humiliated by Kasi's coming to our house and yelling at me. However I don't feel shamed by Kasi's angry outburst as much as I am by your nonchalance in forgetting your commitment to repay his loan."

Thirukkural

Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 54

Avoiding Forgetfulness and Complacency

Verse 531 (in Tamil):

iRandha veguLiyin thIdhE siRandha
uvagai magizhchchiyin sOrvu.

Meaning:

Getting slack and smug when relishing a joyous moment

is more harmful than excessive anger.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'ammAvin kadidham' by the same author.)

Verse 532
Verse 530

530. A Friendship Revived

"Your Majesty! We have received a message from Asokavarma, the King of Varuna country" said the Minister.

"What does he say? Is he threatening to invade our country?" asked King Magizhvanan.

"No, Your Majesty. He has sent a message seeking our friendship. He says he wants to be friendly with us again, as he was in the past. He has expressed his regret for having been estranged from us, during the past few years."

"The pain of a person who was friendly with us getting estranged for no reason is intense. I experienced such a pain because of Ashokavarma's sudden alienation. Now, I am heartened by his change of heart" said Magizvanan.

"That means..." asked the Minister.

"We have always considered Varuna country a friend. Send a reply to Ashokavarma that we welcome his change of heart and are ready to accept his extended hand of friendship."

After a few days, the Minister came to the King and asked him, "Your Majesty! Please pardon me for asking this. I had misgivings about your accepting Ashokavarma's offer of friendship, without ascertaining the reasons for his change of heart. But, you have now decided to send our troops to Varuna country. Is this act not dissonant with our accepting his offer of friendship? Will this not make Ashokavarma estranged once again?"

"You know that Ashoka Varma who was friendly with us became alienated as a result of getting instigated by the foxy Sutavarma, the King of Chenny country, who poisoned Asokavarma's mind, by making him believe that we were planning to annex Varuna country and thereby creating a distrust in his mind about us. 

"Though I accepted the hand of friendship extended by Asokavarma, I asked our Chief of Espionage to find out the reason for Ashokavarma's change of heart. He has ascertained that Ashoka Varma's change of heart was caused by the realization that Sutavarma's plan was to annex Varuna country, by making Ashokavarma break his friendship with me and thereby preventing us from coming to the help of Varuna country, when it would be invaded by the troops of Chenny country. 

"After seeing through the game plan of Sutavarma. Asokavarma regretted his action of alienating us and sought to restore his friendship with us. Obviously, Askokavarma expects that if he is friendly with me, we will come to his country's help, if it is invaded by Suthavarma's troops. I have sent our troops to Varuna country, only to fulfill the expectations of Ashokavarma."

Seeing the confused expression of the Minister, the King continued, "Our troops have gone to Varuna country, not to fight, but to guard that country. Our troops will be positioned near the border of Varna country. I have already apprised Ashoka Varma of my move. Knowing that our troops are positioned near the border of Varuna country, Sutavarma won't dare to invade Varuna country. Since I have fulfilled the purpose for which Ashoka Varma wanted to reestablish his friendship with us, he will ever remain friendly with us!"

There was a broad smile on King Magizhnan's face.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 53
Cherishing One's Kith and Kin

Verse 530 (in Tamil):

uzhaip pirindhu kAraNaththin vandhAnai vEndhan
izhaththirundhu eNNik koLal.

Meaning:

If an estranged person returns to the king's fold for some reason, the king will render him the help needed and accept him in his fold, after making a proper assessment of him.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'mINdum thuLirththa natpu' by the same author.)

Verse 531
Verse 529

529. Getting Back with the brother

When Sudhakar returned home from the office, his wife Meena greeted him with the news, "There is a letter for you from your elder brother."

"I have been expecting a Money Order from him, but he has sent me a letter! Is he lamenting that due to poor harvest, he won't be able to send me any money?" asked Sudhakar, taking the letter from his wife's hand.

"You had a good education. You are living in a town, working on a job, with a fairly good salary. Unlike you, your brother had no education. He lives in the village and looks after the lands belonging to your family. He sends you a share of the income from the lands. This is an additional income for us. Instead of being satisfied with this, why do you keep finding fault with him?" asked Meena.

"We don't know how much is the yield from the lands. I have to accept my brother's statement about the yield. He gives an account of the income and expenses, takes his share and sends me a sum of money towards my share. I suspect that he may be cheating me. If I ask for any clarification on the accounts sent by him, he asks me whether I don't trust him and says he is hurt by my questioning him. I have no faith in him."

"People visiting our town from your village make it a point to meet you, say things about your brother and sow the seeds of suspicion in your mind. Whenever we visited your village, your brother and his wife treated us with kindness and affection. But, due to the suspicion you had developed on your brother, you skipped visiting your village for the las couple of years!"

As Meena was talking, Sudhakar read his brother's letter and told her, "He says since the yield from agriculture keeps coming down year after year, hereafter farming won't be a profitable activity. He plans to sell the lands and wants me to come to the village to finalize the sale."

"It could be a good idea. We can deposit the sale proceeds of the lands in the bank and keep the money as a reserve for our future needs. You won't have to suspect your brother any more! We will all be going to your village, won't we?"

"There is no need for you and the children to visit the village. After all, I don't want any relationship with my brother. I will go to the village and together with my brother, will finalize the sale and execute the sale deed. I will take my share of the sale proceeds and come back. After selling the lands, there will be no need for me to have any relationship with my brother" said Sudhakar.

After Sudhakar had returned from the village, he told Meena, "The lands have been sold. I have received my share of the sale proceeds. People in the village told me that given the market conditions in that region, we got a good price for our lands. Hereafter, I will have no truck with my brother. Goodbye to my village and goodbye to my brother!"

After several months, Sudhakar received a letter from his brother, inviting Sudhakar and his family for his daughter's marriage. A printed invitation was attached to the letter.

After reading the letter, Sudhakar told Meena, "Let all of us go to the village for the wedding. We will stay with my brother for a week. I will apply for leave from my office" said Sudhakar, enthusiastically.

"After getting your lands sold, you said that you won't have any truck with your brother!" asked Meena, in surprise.

"It was because of the lands commonly owned by us that my relationship with my brother became strained. Now that the lands have been sold, I have no issues with my brother. Even if he had cheated me in the past, I could disregard the past and have a good relationship with him!" said Sudhakar.

Thirukkural

Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 53

Cherishing One's Kith and Kin

Verse 529 (in Tamil):

thamarAgith than thuRandhAr suRRam amarAmaik
kAraNam inRi varum.

Meaning:

Well-wishers who had broken with you before, will return if the cause for resentment is rectified.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'en aNNan' by the same author.)

Verse 530
Verse 528

528. Bharani's Apprehensions

"Launching a political party, contesting the elections and registering a win is no mean feat. You did it!" Dhamu told Bharani, in a commending tone.

"Hey, every one! We are all friends, alright. But, Bharani is going to be the Chief Minister. So, we can't address him the way we have been doing in the past. He has to be addressed, with the respect due to his position. Though I am elder to all of you, including Bharani, I will also address him only respectfully" said Chakrapani. 

"What, uncle? Are you trying to lure Bharani to make you the Deputy Chief Minister?" Natarajan taunted Chakrapani, affectionately called 'uncle' by the group, because he was elder to every one in the group.

"What uncle says is correct. Already, there is a talk that we had started the political party for fun, but that people craving for a change voted for us, taking us seriously. Therefore, we should be careful to avoid acting like greenhorns and do things the way wise, mature and responsible people will. Though the party was launched by the efforts of the six of us, many people from other parties, celebrities and other kinds of people have joined our party, subsequently. Therefore, we should avoid creating the impression that the party belongs to the six of us and make every one in the party feel at home" said Aravindan.

"Does it mean that uncle is not getting the post of the Deputy Chief Minister?" quipped Suresh. Every one including Chakrapani, laughed genially. 

"It is because of the efforts of all of you that our party grew so fast, resulting in our winning the election and coming to power. It is only due to your initiative and support that the party has chosen me to be the Chief Minister. The friendship between the six of us will always remain strong. But, as some of you have pointed out, we should earn a good name from other people in the party and from the public. Only then, we will be able to carry out the objectives for which we had launched the party. I request that all of you understand the rationale behind my actions and back me in running the government" said Bharani.

Six months had passed since Bharani formed the government. One day, he asked Chakrapani, when the two were alone, "How are things going for us, uncle?"

"Everything is going on well, Bharani. People appreciate your approach and style of governance. They are happy about the schemes you have launched. Our state is progressing in all areas. I feel very proud of my association with you" said Chakrapani.

"Uncle! Among our friends, I have offered ministerial berth only to Aravindan. Many people expected that I would make you the Deputy Chief Minister..."

"But, I didn't!" said Chakrapani, interrupting Bharani.

"You are not disappointed by my decision!" asked Bharani, with a sense of embarrassment.

"Definitely, not. I told you I didn't expect you to offer that position to me!"

"I hope you are not saying this out of anger or sorrow!"

"No. I am being truthful. I knew how your thinking would be. At the time we launched the party, none of us had any experience in politics. Your becoming the Chief Minister was natural, because you were our leader. But, you could have offered ministerial berths only to those who had the requisite skills and the capacity to function as a minister. I expected you to follow that approach. All of us have known that in our group, Aravindan is a genius. So, making him a minister was the right decision."

"I am relieved that you have understood my line of thinking and approach. But I am not sure whether our other friends have understood me correctly. Since you are a person who can look at things in the proper perspective, I spoke to you openly. But, I wonder whether I will be able to talk to others and convince him."

"You don't have to worry about it, Bharani. Everyone has understood you correctly. Moreover, you have given us responsibilities in the party. You have carefully assessed the strength of each of us and given appropriate responsibilities. All of us appreciate your objective approach and your acting without showing any favouritism or special consideration to your friends. All of us admire the way you do things, by weighing the pros and cons of every option before you. We are all proud to be your friends. You can talk to any of our friends. They will confirm what I have said" said Chakrapani, his tone conveying his pride.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 53
Cherishing One's Kith and Kin

Verse 528 (in Tamil):

podhu nOkkAn vEndhan varisaiyA nOkkin
adhu nOkki vAzhvAr palar.

Meaning:

A king, who avoids an undifferentiated approach, but tailors his approach to suit differing capabilities, will retain the goodwill of many who will appreciate his approach.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'pudhiya mannargaL' by the same author.)

Verse 529
Verse 527

124. The Star Speaks

"Actor Sowmyan has said that he will be making an announcement today, about his entry into politics. What do you think his decision will be?" asked Shankar.

"No marks for guessing what his decision is going to be. Undoubtedly, he is going to reveal that he will be launching a political party. If he had decided not to enter politics, he would have just issued a statement. When he is making a show of his announcement by scheduling a date and calling a press conference, it is obvious that he is going to announce his entry into politics" said Nataraj.

Shankar and Nataraj are press reporters. Though working for different publications, both would often meet and exchange their views on current affairs and political developments.

"If he were to do so, he will go down in my esteem!" remarked Shankar.

"Why do you say so? You don't like Sowmyan entering politics?" asked Nataraj.

"It is not about my liking or not liking his entry into politics. All these years, he has been focused on his profession, taking care not to wander in other areas. Even with respect to films, he has been saying that other than acting, he knows nothing about other areas of film making and that even with respect to acting, he has a lot to learn. If he decides to enter politics, enthused by the clamour of his fans and some other people urging him to enter politics, it will go against his ethos of knowing where his talents lie and what his boundaries are. This is my view."

"Let us see what he is going to do. We will know in an hour."

The press conference of Sowmyan was arranged in a public hall. The hall was overflowing with media persons.

Sowmya began to speak exactly at 11 a.m, the scheduled time.

"Please pardon me for having brought you to this hall. I could have made this announcement by releasing a statement from my home. But, I arranged for this media conference, with a view to speaking my mind elaborately on certain aspects.

"I am not well-educated. If I had gone for a job, I would have got only a low-paying, mediocre job. It was my good fortune that I was catapulted into the film world. I was acting in plays staged by an amateur group of friends, of which I was a part. Mr. Narayanan, the film director, whom I hold in high esteem, happened to watch one of our plays. He liked my acting and gave me a role in one of his films. With people liking my acting, I became a popular actor and rose to become a big star. But, even today, while witnessing the acting of of several other actors much more talented than me, I often tell myself, 'I am no match to these people.' I have also expressed this feeling in public, several times.

"If I were to make an announcement that I am going to manufacture automobiles, what will people say? If I approach a bank and ask for a loan, what will the bank officials say? Won't they ask me, 'What is your expertise in this line and what is your experience in this field?' But if I act in an advertisement film, promoting a particular brand of car, and say. 'this is the best car available in the market,' no one will ask me, 'What do you know about cars?' This is an advantage of being a star! The opinion of a person like me who knows nothing about cars will carry more weight than the considered opinion of a qualified automobile engineer! This is the reason I have turned down offers to act in ad films.

"Like many other people, I have been observing political developments. I have been voting in elections. But, till now, I have not expressed my views on any political development. I have never spoken either in support of or against any political party, or political leader.

"The political leaders we see today started as political workers, rose through the ranks and emerged as leaders. The idea of an actor starting a political party and coming to power, using his film popularity, is like someone entering a house by descending on the terrace of the house on a helicopter. I believe that one should enter a house only through the front door.

"Do people ever suggest that a political leader should become an industrialist or an actor? Never! So, why do some people suggest that a film star should become a political leader? Does it mean that if one is an actor, he has the capacity to function in any field?

"If I ever decide to enter politics, I will join a political party whose ideology and action plans appeal to me the most. If I don't find any such party, then I won't enter politics. Since I am not with any political party now, it doesn't mean that I don't like any political party. It only means that at present, I have no interest in entering politics.

"One practice I have been following in my life all these years is to make an assessment of my capabilities and my position and then act in conformity with them. As an actor, I can paly any role. I may act as a king, a prime minister, the American President or even as Mahatma Gandhi. But, I will always remember that I am an actor. I believe that this outlook of mine is responsible for the recognition I have got as an actor.

"Therefore, I am not launching any political party. Like all of you, I will be observing politics and exercising my choice through my vote, during elections. I am grateful to the people for the confidence they have reposed in me. I earned this confidence by the way I conducted myself as an actor and as a human being. Continuing to function in the same way will be the appropriate response from me for the faith and goodwill people have towards me." 

After reading out his statement, Sowmyan thanked everyone, by raising his hand, and left the hall. He didn't answer any question posed to him by the media persons, who followed him till he got into his car.

"Sowmyan has not disappointed me. He has gone up much higher in my esteem" Shankar told Nataraj. 

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 13
Restraint

Verse 124 (In Tamil)

nilaiyin thiriyAdhu adangiyAn thORRam
malaiyinum mANap peridhu.

Meaning:

The stature of one, who doesn’t diverge from the right path

and remains restrained, will be much higher than that of a mountain.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'arasiyal pravEsam' by the same author)

Verse 125
Verse 123

527. When Perumal got food from the Perumal temple...

When Perumal returned home, his wife Sita was sitting near the door, awaiting him. 

Looking at the fatigued expression on Perumal's face, Sita knew the situation.

Perumal had not earned any income that day!

After Perumal came inside the house and sat down, Sita asked him, "Did you have some coffee or tea?"

Sita's concern for him, while she herself had been starving for the entire day and had just learnt that she won't have anything to eat for the night too, made it difficult to Perumal to control his feelings.

"Has Gita slept?" asked Perumal.

Sita nodded her head affirmatively.

"Did she go to sleep on an empty stomach?"

"When she went to Alagammai's house to play, Alagammai gave her two dosas*" said Sita. "Alagammai knows about our situation and wants to help us. But, she knows that if she offers us food, we won't accept it. Otherwise, she would have given some food for us too!" said Sita, with a sigh. 

Perumal got up from his seat and told Sita, "Give me a vessel."

By the time Perumal reached the temple, after walking two kilometers, the priest Sadagopan was about to close the temple.

Seeing Perumal, Sadagopan exclaimed, "Oh! Perumal has come to see Perumal**!" and smiled, enjoying his own pun.

"Sadagopan! Every day I return home only by 9 o' clock in the night. So, I don't find the time to visit the temple. That I need to walk two kilometers to the temple from my home is another reason why I don't visit the temple often" said Perumal.

Perumal and Sadagopan had studied together in the primary school in that village. After completing their schooling, both settled down in that village.

"How is your business going?" asked Sadagopan.

"As you know, the profession of being a cattle broker is tough. Somedays, I earn well and some days, I earn nil. Today was a bad day. Hope you have been getting enough income by way of contributions from people who visit the temple" said Perumal.

"Well, most of the days, I am alone in the temple, with only the Lord giving me company. Since this temple is situated at a place far from the residential area, the temple attracts only a few visitors. It is good you have come. Have a good vision of the Lord."

Sadagopan lighted a camphor and held it close to the face of the deity.

Perumal had a good vision of the deity's face, brightened by the glow of the camphor flame and paid obeisance to the Lord.

As Perumal was about to leave, without asking for help from Sadagopan as he had intended, Sadagopan told him, "Today, a devotee had arranged for offering of food to be made to the Lord. As per his wish, I prepared pongal and offered it to the Lord. The devotee didn't take the offering with him, since his family members were not home. He asked me to distribute the offering to the devotees. But since no one has visited the temple today, I have not been able to distribute the offering. With my wife and I being the only people living in our house, I have been wondering what to do with the offering. Fortunately, you have come. I see that you have brought a vessel. Is it for buying oil from the shop? Give that vessel to me. I will fill it with the offering and give you."

Sadagopan took the vessel from Perumal's hand, went inside, filled it with the pongal offered to the Lord, brought it back and gave it to Perumal.

Perumal was overwhelmed with emotions. He was not sure whether wat he was feeling could be called happiness, astonishment or gratitude.

Earlier, he had paid obeisance to the Lord in a mechanical way, but he now worshipped the Lord heartily, with a spontaneous feeling of devotion and gratitude.

He then took leave of Sadagopan.

Sira looked at the vessel handed to her by Perumal and said, "Your friend has given us a sumptuous quantity of pongal."

"Yes, It will be enough for both of us. If Gita can be woken up, we can feed her too."

"She is asleep. Let us not wake her up. Anyway, she had taken dosa and would have been satiated" replied Sita, and then transferred about half the quantity of the pongal to another vessel.

"Are you keeping aside some quantity for tomorrow?" asked Perumal, puzzled by her action.

"No. We don't have a fridge in our home, after all! This evening, your elder sister came here. Her family has also nothing to eat for the night. She wanted to borrow some rice from us. But our rice container being empty, I couldn't oblige her. Her family members will also be starving. So, I will give this food to them and come back. Her house being in the next street, I will be back soon. In the meanwhile, you may please start eating, without waiting for me to return, since you are very hungry."

Sita left home with the container of pongal, without waiting for his response.

* dosa, pongal - dishes often made in South Indian homes. Pongal is one of the preferred offerings made to Hindu Gods.

** Perumal - Vishnu temples are usually referred to as Perumal temples, Perumal being a popular name by which the Hindu God Vishnu is known. With the protagonist having the name Perumal, Sadagopan makes a pun on his name!

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 53
Cherishing One's Kith and Kin

Verse 527 (in Tamil):

kAkkai karavA karaindhuNNum Akkamum
anna nIrArkkE uLa.

Meaning:

The crow never conceals food but cries out for company for sharing the food it has found; wealth and progress stay only with people of such quality.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'kOvil prasAdham' by the same author.)

Verse 528
Verse 526

123. Junior, Junior!

"Hope our senior has not yet walked in!" asked Rajesh, in a whispering voice, as he entered the office.

"Not yet, luckily for you. You are late, today also!" said Siva.

"Well, if we can leave the office in time, we can also come in time in the morning. Every day, it is about 8 or 9 pm, when we leave the office. I am not even able to go for an evening show, with my lover!"

"Oh, you have a lover. You never told me!"

"Not really. I just made it up. I am yet to scout for one, but where do I have the time or it, when I am working as a junior for our great lawyer? I can't be wedded to the job, the way you are. Sometimes, I curse myself for having studied law. People who do other courses in the college land a job, earn a salary and live happily. It is only in our profession that we, after studying law, have to work as an intern under a lawyer for a few years, before we can practice as a lawyer."

"Hey! Don't speak in a loud voice. The senior may walk in any time. Fortunately, Suganthi, the typist is on leave today" said Siva.

Even as he was saying this, Ramadurai, the senior lawyer entered the office.

Seeing Siva and Rajesh get up from their seats, Ramadurai said, "Sit down. Siva, have you prepared the brief I asked you to ?"

"Yes, sir. I have kept the brief on your table."

"Ok. What are you  working on now?"

"Sir! Mahadevan's property matter is coming up for hearing, next week. I am collecting the reference judgements for that case."

"Good. If you don't get a good reference in our library, go to the High Court Library and check. Tomorrow, I will go through the references collected by you and tell you whether anything more is needed. Rajesh, what are you doing?"

"Sir, I am arranging the papers for Mr. Ramakrishnan's insurance case."

"This is what you have been saying for the last three days! It appears that you don't do any work, when I am not in the office."

"No, sir. There are a large number of documents to be checked and compiled."

"Don't I know? It shouldn't take more than two hours. Working as a Junior under a busy lawyer like me is a great opportunity. If you don't make use of it, you will be the loser. Ok. I am leaving for the court now. I will come in the evening and check what you people have done. If anyone comes to see me on any important matter, give me a call."

Ramadurai left the office, after giving the above instructions. 

"What he is paying us is pittance. But the amount of work we have to do keeps piling up" said Rajesh, with disgust.

"Did he not tell you just now that this is a learning opportunity? If we make proper use of this, we will then get the earning opportunity!" said Siva.

"If you are so gullible, people will continue to exploit you. We have been Mr. Ramadurai's juniors for the past six months. What has he taught us during this period?" asked Rajesh.

"Rajesh! This is not a college, where professors will teach us the subjects. We have to learn things by doing the tasks given to us by our Senior. If we work in this office patiently for two years, doing the tasks given to us and learning things by concentrating on our work and by observing our Senior, we will gain the competence to practice on our own" said Siva.

"That is what you think! Our Senior will keep practicing till the age of ninety and you will be working as his Junior, till the end. Neither will he allow you to practice on your own, nor will you leave him and start your practice."

"Ok. But, what are you going to do?"

"I have waited for six months. He doesn't pay us well. Nor does he give us important tasks that will help us to learn. We can only sit next to him in the court and give him the papers that he wants. We will never be able to argue a case in the court. You will see that in two month's time, I will get a client of my own and start my practice!"

After two months, Rajesh quit as Ramadurai's Junior and started his own practice.

After about a year, Siva met Rajesh in a function.

"How is your practice going?" asked Siva.

"It didn't go as per my expectation. So, I have become a Junior of Lawyer Swaminathan."

"I have not heard his name. Is he having a good practice?"

"What can I say? He doesn't have many cases. So, I don't have much work either. Since his income is irregular, he has not been paying me regularly. I should have continued to work under Mr. Ramadurai. I now feel that I took a hasty decision and quit my job. But, how are you?"

"As you know, Mr. Ramadurai is a busy lawyer, with a number of cases to attend to. So, I have a lot of work to do. In the process, I have been able to learn a lot. Mr. Ramadurai told me that by next year, I would be able to practice independently. So, to equip me for my practice, for the past two months, he has been giving me opportunities to argue cases in the court."

"You are a lucky person" said Rajesh.

"I don't know whether I am lucky. But I have believed that if I remained patient, worked hard and learnt things, I would be able to come up in my profession. I am hopeful that my belief will come true."

"Once you start practicing on your own, I will work under you as your junior!" said Rajesh.

Siva was not sure whether Rajesh said it in a lighter vein or he really meant it.

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 13
Restraint

Verse 123 (In Tamil)

seRivu aRindhu sIrmai payakkum aRivu aRindhu
ARRin adangap peRin.

Meaning:

The greatness of one, who is wise and follows the right path

by being restrained, will be recognized and appreciated.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'junior junior' by the same author)

Verse 124
Verse 122

526. Prabhu's Anger

"Prabhu is a benefactor. He helps every one, particularly his relatives. That's why all his relatives consider him a member of their family."

"Yes, I have noticed that he is often visited by his relatives. Well, if one is wealthy, it is only natural that he is flocked by his kith and kin."

"No, not that way. It is true that wealthy people are respected by people around him. I also have wealthy relatives. If I meet them occasionally, I just greet them and move away. I have no regards or affection for them. Prabhu is different in that he loves his relatives and helps them in many ways. That is the reason for the intimacy between him and his relatives."

"I agree that Prabhu has been helping his relatives. But, I have heard that he is an irascible person. He often bursts out at his relatives and uses harsh words against them. His relatives have been putting up with his irascibility, only because he is wealthy."

"I don't think it is true. There is a difference between tolerating a person and being affectionate towards him. We have to put up with our boss in the office, whatever may be his behaviour towards us. But if the boss, rather than display his authority, treats us with kindness and consideration, won't we have a liking for him? The affection Prabhu's relatives have towards him is similar to that."

"Going by your own example, if our boss is cantankerous, will we have respect or concern for him? We will just be tolerating him, because we have no choice. I think Prabhu's relatives tolerating him is also similar to this."

"How do you say Prabhu is cantankerous? As far as I have observed, he has been genial towards all."

"I will share an anecdote I heard about him. Once, when there was a delay in his getting an approval from a government department, he went to that office and shouted at the official concerned. Hearing his yelling, all employees rushed to the spot. The public visiting that office also witnessed his outburst. Rattled by his angry outburst, the official pacified him by promising to look into his case immediately and kept his promise by giving the approval in a couple of days. Prabhu's anger is so notorious!"

"I have also heard about this anecdote. But there is a twist to this narrative. The official concerned had demanded a bribe for giving the approval. That is what made Prabhu angry. In fact, I have heard people close to Prabhu remark that Prabhu displayed his anger in public, only to expose the official and make him behave. So, Prabhu is not an irascible person at all. It is only because Prabhu is kind and helpful that his relatives flock to him, not because he is wealthy."

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 53Cherishing One's Kith and Kin

Verse 526 (in Tamil):

perum kodaiyAn pENAn veguLi avanin
marungudaiyAr mAnilaththu il.

Meaning:

None on this earth can have better kin than a person who gives generously and is free of anger.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'prabhuvin kObham' by the same author.)

Verse 527
Verse 525