535. Effluent Treatment Plant

"For a chemical industry, effluent treatment is very important. Both the liquid and gaseous effluents will pose a problem. In your factory, there are no gaseous effluents. But you have liquid effluents. Therefore, it is essential that you set up a full-fledged effluent treatment plant" said the consultant.

"What will be the investment required for it?" asked Udhayakumar, the proprietor.

After hearing the amount mentioned by the consultant, Udhayakumar asked "Do I have to invest such a large sum? In addition to my investment for the manufacturing unit, do I have to invest money in this unproductive equipment? Is there a way out of this?"

After hesitating for a while, the consultant said, "You can treat the effluents by installing a low cost effluent treatment plant. But that plant won't function effectively for a long period. Its efficiency will come down after two or three years. After that, the percentage of impurities in the treated effluent will begin to increase gradually. At that time, you will have to upgrade that plant. But, if you set up a full-fledged plant by investing more in the beginning itself, it will function well for a long time."

"I don't want to invest a big amount for the effluent treatment plant, now. I will go for the alternative mentioned by you. I will set up a plant at a low cost. After two or three years, I can upgrade it, using the profit generated by the unit" said Udhayakumar.

Udhayakumar went through the letter received by him by registered post. It was a notice sent by the Pollution Control Department stating that during the inspection of his factory by the officials of the department, it was found that the percentage of impurities in the effluent released by his factory was more than the permitted level and directing him to shut down his factory within fifteen days of the receipt of the notice.

Udhayakumar cursed himself for his negligence and lethargy that led to his failure to upgrade the effluent treatment plant two years after starting his factory, as advised by the consultant.

Thirukkural

Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 54

Avoiding Forgetfulness and Complacency

Verse 535 (in Tamil):

munnuRak kAvAdhu izhukkiyAn than pizhai
pinnURu irangi vidum.

Meaning:

One who is complacent and derisive, and doesn’t safeguard himself against the repercussions, by failing to anticipate them, will resent his lapses later.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'kaZhivu nIr suththikarippu nilaiyam' by the same author.)

Verse 536 (Soon)
Verse 534

534. The Two Brothers

"You spend half of your salary in buying unwanted products and doing wasteful things" said Bhargavi.

"Is keeping the mosquito repellent switched on a wasteful expenditure?" countered Manohar.

"It would be fine if you used just the mosquito repellent to drive out mosquitoes. But you have also covered all the windows with net and blocked the entry of fresh air into the room. And, you sleep inside a mosquito net. In addition to all these measures, you apply mosquito repellent cream on your body, before going to bed. Should you be scared of the mosquitoes so much?" asked Bhargavi. 'Of course, you are scared of every thing!' she whispered in a tone Manohar couldn't hear.

"What can I do? Even after my taking all these precautionary measures, the mosquitoes still bite me. I think a couple of mosquitoes somehow sneak into my net and bite me, undeterred by the cream that should repel them. Perhaps, I should light a couple of mosquito coils also every night."

"I have heard that in ancient times, sages will sit in a place, surrounded by fire on all the sides and do penance. You can also try that approach. The house may get burnt but you can be free from mosquito bite!" said Bhargavi, in a mocking tone.

"Now that you had mentioned about fire, I was reminded of something I wanted to tell you. I have ordered a fire extinguisher. We will be getting it tomorrow."

"Is it an appliance like the one they keep in offices, movie theatres etc?"

"Yes. But it will be small. They also manufacture the appliances suitable for homes."

"Why wouldn't they? When there are people like you, being scared of everything, manufacturers of such products will have a roaring business. You have been spending a considerable part of your salary for buying these kinds of safety equipment. Look at your elder brother! How he has come up in life! He has built a second house already and invited us for the house-warming ceremony being performed next week" aid Bhagavi, with a sigh. 

Soon after returning home, after attending the house-warming ceremony of Manohar's elder brother Dayanidhi, Bhargavi told Manohar, "I thought that your brother being financially well off, he and his wife would be happy. But it appears that they are not."

"Possible. I also noticed that Daya was a little down in spirits. He told me that he was disappointed by the poor turnout for the function and regretted that the surplus food was going to be wasted. 

"After having, for a long time, ignored people who had helped him, if your brother invited them for the function to showcase his wealth, would the people have interest to attend the function?" commented Bhargavi.

"How do you say this? You don't know about my brother's affairs."

"I don't. I am telling you what your brother's wife told me. She said that many people had helped your brother to rise up to this stage in his life. But your brother didn't bother to be in touch with them, even for the sake of courtesy. If she mentioned to your brother about any of his benefactors, he would say, 'Oh, he? Yes, he helped me a bit at some point of time. But, should I be thinking about it for the rest of my life? I remember him only after you mentioned him.' She said that because of this attitude of your brother, no one was close to them and expressed her anguish at not having intimate friends made her life hollow."

"It is five o' clock. It's time to close the windows. If I don't do this, mosquitoes would enter the house" said Manohar, rushing towards one of the windows.

Thirukkural

Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 54

Avoiding Forgetfulness and Complacency

Verse 534 (in Tamil):

achcham udaiyArkku araN illai Angillai
pochchAppu udaiyArkku nangu.

Meaning:

No fortress is good enough for those who have fear;

no good can occur to those who are smug, slack or derisive.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story aNNanum thambiyum' by the same author.)

Verse 535
Verse 533

533. A conversation Between Two Journalists

"This happened a few years back. There was a leader in a political party, who had come up from the ranks, through his dedication and hard work. After the demise of the President of the party, he became the party President. At that time, that party was not in power. But, it was widely expected that that party would win the next elections and come to power. He was expected to become the Chief Minister. The party won the elections, as expected. But he couldn't become the Chief Minister."

"Why?"

"He was defeated in the election. He lost by a huge margin."

"What happened after that?"

"His political career came to an end."

"Interesting. I won't ask you why he lost the election. I know the reason for his defeat."

"How could you know the reason? You don't even know who the person I talked about is. I didn't even mention in which state this had happened. Moreover, you have no interest in politics and you have not been following the political developments in various states of our country!"

"I don't know the person you talked about. But I will tell you the reason for his defeat, as per my assessment. Tell me whether I am right. Many people would have helped him in his growth in politics at various stages. But after coming up in the ladder of the hierarchy in his party, he would have forgotten those people and the help rendered by them. That was why, when he contested the election, his partymen did not work enthusiastically for his victory. Am I right?"

"You are on dot! We political journalists spend a lot of time in the field, gather information from various sources, like a bee gathering honey and then arrive at conclusions and make assessments. But you are stating the facts, as if you have witnessed the happenings from close quarters. How did you do this?"

"After all, I am also a journalist like you. While you focus on political developments, I concentrate on commerce and industry. A similar experience happened to an industrialist. He started his business in a small way and grew up to be a big industrialist. A lot of people helped him end encouraged him from the very beginning in various ways, from giving him orders and supplying goods on credit to helping him get a loan from a bank.  But, with success having gone to his head, he forgot the help done by various people. He was not only not grateful to those who had helped him, but didn't bother to be in touch with them as well.  He deluded himself that he attained success because of his intelligence and hard work. When he was at the pinnacle of success, he was lonely, with no friends or well-wishers. When, after a few years, the tide had turned and he began to face problems in his business, he couldn't seek help from anyone, since he had distanced himself from his benefactors. As it happens in the snakes and ladders game, he had a steep fall from the top and he could never rise again. It is by recalling this incident that I guessed what could have happened in the case of the leader mentioned by you."

"It is surprising that similar events have happened in two different fields!"

"If we check with people studying other fields, we may find similar stories. After all, facts of life should apply to all fields."

"From being a journalist, you seem to be evolving into a philosopher!"

Both laughed.

Thirukkural

Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 54

Avoiding Forgetfulness and Complacency

Verse 533 (in Tamil):

pochchAppARkku illai pugazhmai adhu ulagaththu
eppAl nUlOrkkum thuNivu.

Meaning:

There is no fame for those who are smug, lax or derisive:

scholars of all walks and beliefs concur on this.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'kaNdu pidiththadhu eppadi' by the same author.)

Verse 534
Verse 532

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 (Soon)
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