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 (Soon)
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

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