398. Arul's Decisions

 Arul would often regret that he didn't have good education.

Three generations before, his ancestors were respected as learned men and scholars.

When Arul's grandfather Murthy was studying in fifth standard, his father passed away, because of which Murthy's schooling came to an end.

Murthy began to look after agriculture and his family business right from the age of fifteen. With the business growing well and the family becoming wealthy, Murthy decided that his sons didn't need education. He got them involved in business, even at a young age. Therefore, Arul's father also didn't study beyond fifth standard.

Arul's father believed that it was adequate if one learnt to read and write and to add and subtract numbers. So, he didn't educate Arul beyond the primary school.

Unlike his father and grandfather, Arul began to realize the value of education, as he grew up. He regretted that he didn't study beyond fifth standard.

Arul married Jaya, who came from a family of educated people. Though Jaya herself was not highly educated, both of her brothers were.

Soon after their marriage, Arul told Jaya, "Unlike me, your brothers are well educated. I think their counsel will be useful to me." 

Jaya felt proud.

However, Arul didn't do as he said he would.

When it was time for sending their son to school, Arul didn't get the boy admitted in the school in which Jaya's brothers' children were studying but admitted him in another school.

"The school in which my brothers' children are studying is a reputed school. Why don't we get our son admitted in that school?" asked Jaya, when Arul told her about his decision.

"I don't like that school. They make the students work very hard so that the school would get good results" said Arul.

"Is it not good for our son? By working hard, he can get good scores!"

"I don't like our boy to study in a place where they make life miserable for the children. The school where I intend admitting our son is also reputed. But they won't make the students sweat!"

On the matter of investing his savings also, Arul didn't heed the advice of Jaya's brothers. He invested in bank deposits, government bonds and in shares of good companies.

Jaya conveyed her unhappiness to Arul, saying, "You told me that you would make use of the counsel of my brothers, since they are well educated. But you don't heed their advice in any important matter!"

Fifteen years had passed. Arul's son had scored well in the higher secondary examination and taken up a a course of his choice, in a reputed college.

"Our son has joined a good college. Are you happy now?" asked Arul.

"Of course, I am. I was a bit apprehensive, when you refused to heed the advice of my brothers and sent our boy to a school of your choice, But your decision has turned out to be right!" said Jaya,

"Your brothers' children have also done well in their studies and joined reputed colleges."

"It's true. But, as you had said, they were made to sweat by their school. They were feeling tense most of the time. But, our son was spared such an ordeal, thanks to your choice of the school."

After a pause, Jaya continued, "Even in the matter of investing, my brothers tell me that your investments have done better than theirs."

"Is it so?"

"Yes. Though you are not well educated, you have thought well and taken good decisions. I wonder how!"

"Perhaps, I was well educated in my previous birth. That education might have come to my help in this birth!" said Arul.

Jaya didn't say anything.

"Ok. In case you are not convinced by this, I can give you another explanation" said Arul.

"What is it?"

"It is said that a person's good deeds will benefit his descendants for seven generations. Till three generations ago, my ancestors were learned men. Perhaps their learning might have helped me to think well and take the right decisions!" said Arul.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 40
Education

Verse 398 (in Tamil):

orumaikkaN thAn kaRRa kalvi oruvaRku
ezhumaiyum EmAppudaiththu.

Meaning:

The learning one acquires during his lifetime will come to his aid for seven births.

Alternative meaning:
The learning a person acquires in his lifetime will be useful for seven generations that succeed him.

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

Verse 399 (Soon)
Verse 397

397. A Trip to Paris

"Hey, Azhageasan! When did you come back from Paris?" asked Kanakasabai.

"Two days back. I had spent the last two days sleeping! I stirred out of my house only today!" replied Kanakasabai. 

"Yes. I have heard the term jetlag, I haven't travelled beyond Tirupati, though! How is your son at Paris?"

"He is doing well!" said Azhagesan, with pride.

"Does he know French?"

"He doesn't. He has started learning it only recently."

"How does he manage, then? People in that country may not speak English" said Kanakasabai.

"You say you have not travelled beyond Tirupati, but you are well-versed in the practices in various countries in the world!" said Alagesan, appreciatively. "Since he has gone to work there as a software professional, not knowing French may not be a problem at office. However, he has to learn French, to communicate outside the office." 

"It seems that going abroad and working there comes easy to your family! Several years back, your younger brother went to the U.S. He is settled there now!"

"Yes. He studied motor mechanism. He was working in an automobile manufacturing firm here. Recognizing his talent, his company sent him to U.S. to work in its factory there. Now he has settled there. When he went to the U.S, he  had had no knowledge of English. It was his technical knowledge that took him to the U.S" said Azhagesan. 

He suddenly snapped his fingers and said, "I just remembered one thing. My son has sent some articles through me for his friends. I have to hand them over to them. He has given me a list with the name of the person and the article to be given to him. Just wait. I will bring it."

He went inside and came out with a sheet of paper in his hand. He gave the sheet to Kanakasabai and said, "My son read out the list for me. I want to make sure that I remember the list correctly. Can you please read out the list for me? When his friends come here to collect the articles, I want to hand over each article to the right person, without any mix up!"

"What, Azhagesan! Your younger brother went to the U.S, by virtue of his technical knowledge, even though he was not highly educated. Your son has been working in Paris, after studying Computer Science. But, you have still not become a literate person!" said Kanakasabai, smiling.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 40
Education

Verse 397 (in Tamil):

yAdhAnum nAdAmAl UrAmAl ennoruvan
sAndhuNaiyum kallAdhavARu.

Meaning:

When for a learned person, any country or any town in the world will be a place of his own, why is it that one remains unlearned throughout his life?

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'pArisukkup pO' by the same author.)

Verse 398
Verse 396

1088. A Flash in the Garden

"Your Majesty, there is a message from Rajavarma, the King of Chinnamalai" said the Minister.

"What has my friend written?" asked King Killivalavan.

"He has conveyed the news that King Nedungari, who was planning to invade Chinnamalai, had given up his plan, on learning that you would send our troupes to support Rajavarma!"

"It is good that a war has been averted. But, Nedungadi had not confronted me in a war. How did he know about me?"

"Your Majesty! Is it necessary for other kings to have fought with you, to know about your valour? Learning about your prowess and valour from the kings who had fought with you, other kings are also afraid to face you in the war front."

Killivalavan was proud to hear what the minister had said.

Killivalavan entered the garden adjoining the palace, after ensuring that no one saw him going towards the garden. Though being a king, he could seldom go to any place alone, without his security guards following him, Killivalavan managed to leave for the garden from the backdoor of his mother's residence after vising her, by giving a slip to the security guards. Some of the maids could have seen him, but he knew that they won't mention this to any one. After all, this was a scene they had been witnessing every day!

Killivalavan went near the stone platform in the garden. There was no one.

'She should have come here by this time. Why hasn't she come yet?"

"Kanchana!"called out Killivalavan, in a whispering tone.

"The mighty King, the protector of the county, is entering the garden stealthily like a thief!" said a voice that came from behind a bush.

Killivalavan looked in the direction from which the voice had come. He saw a head behind the plants.

As killivalavan advanced towards the spot, Kanchana came out from where she was hiding, pushing the plants with her hands and making way for her.

Killivalalavan stood transfixed, as if he was hit by an invisible object.

"Women don't hide what needs to be hidden" he said, after a moment.

"What are you referring to?" asked Kanchana, looking down at her attire with concern.

"A little while ago, the Minister told me that even those warriors who had not confronted me in a battle feared me, on learning about my valour from other warriors. But, when you showed your face suddenly, the glow from your brow struck me like a ray of lightning and crippled my strength for a moment!" said Killivalavan, smiling.

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 109
Beauty that Torments

Verse 1088 (in Tamil):
oNNudhaRkO udaindhadhE GnAtpinuL
naNNArum utkum en pIdu.

Meaning:

My prowess that is feared even by those of my enemies who have not faced me on the battle field, lies shattered before her glowing brow.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'nandhavanaththil oru minnal' by the same author.)

Verse 1089 (Soon)
Verse 1087

76. Unbelievavable!

Gunasekaran had been working in that firm for the past twenty years. No one in the firm had any grievance against him. 

On the one side, he was considered honest, reliable and trustworthy by his superiors. On the other side, he also earned the goodwill of his colleagues and subordinates, for treating them with kindness, consideration and tolerance.

So, the Managing Director Nambirajan could not believe the things the firm's auditor said about Gnasekaran.

"What you say couldn't have happened at all. Gunasekaran is a man of integrity. How could he have manipulated the accounts and embezzled money?" asked Gunasekaran.

"In my profession, I have come across several people like Gunasekaran. Till a person is exposed. he will have the image as an honest man!" said the auditor.

"Are your allegations based on reliable evidence or are they based on presumptions? We have seen instances of serious allegations being made on presumption, even at the national level!"

"My findings are based on certain apparent discrepancies in the accounts. They need to be probed further. But I am reasonably certain that during the past two years, about two lakh rupees have been siphoned off, by inflating certain expenses. Since your firm has been earning a profit of several lakhs per annum, the embezzlement might not have come to your notice."

"Gunasekaran leads a simple life. He has no greed for money. Why should he have done it?" asked Nambirajan, still unable to believe that Gunasekaran would have resorted to dishonest practices

"Greed is not the only thing that drives people to resort to swindling. Every one has a need for money. When the need becomes strong, it drives a person to desperation. When a person in desperate need of money has no means to increase his income in honest ways, he will be forced to adopt dishonest means. Do you know anything about Gunasekaran's family? He might have needed a large sum of money for his children's education, daughter's marriage etc!"

"Gunasekaran has only one son. He is studying in an Engineering college. Since he got high marks in his higher secondary education, he got a seat in a good college, where the tuition fee is low."

"I suggest you keep a watch over him. If you keep him under watch, you will be able to catch him, if, in future, he tries to misappropriate the firm's funds" suggested the auditor.

Nambirajan kept thinking about what his auditor told him.

After a few days, Nambirajan summoned Gunasekaran to his cabin. After asking him a couple of questions relating to the firm's activities, Nambirajan asked him, "By the way, how is your son doing in his studies?"

"He is studying well" said Gunasekaran, surprised by Nambirajan's sudden interest in his son. Nambirajan sensed that Gunasekaran's voice was trembling, as he answered the question.

"In which college is he studying?"

Gunasekaran mentioned the name of the college. 

"I heard that the tuition fees charged by that college is very high. The college is also known to be taking donations from the students seeking admission."

"But my son got the seat under the 'merit quota!'" said Gunasekaran. His voice seemed to be sinking.

"How much did he score in the higher secondary examination?"

Gunasekaran wiped off the sweat that began to form on his face and said, "I don't remember the score. But he got a very good score!"

"I am sorry, Mr.Gunasekaran. I trusted you, but you have betrayed me!" said Nambirajan, sharply.

"Sir, what do you mean" asked Gunasekaran, taken aback by Nambirajan's words.

"Have you not been cheating me by fudging the accounts?"

"Sir, I never..."

"Stop!" said Nambirajan, cutting him short. "Our auditor has found out your fraud. If I complain to the police, you will have to go to jail. I thought you were a good man. Why did you cheat me?"

Gunasekaran broke down and began to sob. "Oh, my God! Everything is lost! Trying to do some good to my son, I have ruined my life" he said. amidst sobs.

"Tell me! I know you were a good person. What made you deviate from the path of virtue?"

"My son didn't get good scores in his higher secondary examination. My hopes of putting him in a good college were shattered, since he couldn't get a seat in a good college under the merit quota. Getting admission in a good college required paying a considerable sum as a donation in the beginning and paying high fees every year. Out of my strong desire to give my son a good education, I got him admitted in a good college by paying donation. I had to borrow money from some sources to pay the donation and the tuition fees. I told other people that my son had got a seat under the merit quota. But I told my wife and son that you had been financing his education."

"But, that's true, isn't it?'' quipped Nambirajan. Immediately, he wondered at the fact that he had a sense of humour, even at a time, he was indignant at the betrayal of Gunasekaran.

"Sir!"

"Proceed!"

"Initially, I resorted to borrowing. But, after sometime, when there was pressure from the lenders for the payment of principal and interest..."

Gunasekaran was unable to complete the sentence. Realizing his position, he broke down again and said, "Along with my life, my son's life is also going to be ruined."

Nambirjan was silent for a few minutes and then said, "Mr. Gunasekaran! The reason for your choosing to traverse an immoral path was not greed, but love! The love you have for your son! You have committed a crime, but I don't want to hand you over to the police. I am sure that you won't resort to any dishonest activity in future. But I cannot allow you to continue to work here, after you have committed a wrongdoing. I suggest that you seek voluntary retirement from service. Your son has two more years to complete his degree. I will ensure that you get a retirement package that will take care of your son's education as well a life of retirement for you and your wife.

"You may go now, not to your seat, but to your house. I will tell everyone in the office that since you were not well, I sent you to a doctor. After a couple of days, I will tell everyone that as per medical advice, you have decided to seek retirement and rest at home. You can also tell the same story to your family members and others.

"Shortly, you will receive a cheque for a substantial sum. The sum will be more than what you would have got, if you had opted for voluntary retirement. I am thankful to you for the services you have rendered to my firm for the past many years."

"Sir, I know that what I had committed is an unpardonable crime. But you have been so generous to me. Once my son gets a job and begins to earn, I will return to you with interest, all the money I had misappropriated during the last two years. What else can I do?"

Gunasekaran got up from his seat with folded hands and walked away, his steps faltering. 

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 8
Love and Affection

Verse 76 (In Tamil)

aRaththiRkE anbu sArbenba aRiyAr
maRaththiRkum ahdhE thuNai.

Meaning:

The unwise will claim that love is the foundation for righteousness. Love is the foundation for sinfulness as well.

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

Verse 77 (Soon)
Verse 75

396. The Well that Dried Up

"You and I took up teaching jobs in this college, after earning a doctoral degree, which of course. came after we had earned our bachelor's and master's degrees. We have spent several years studying. Now, after getting a job, should we not feel relaxed? But I find that you keep reading books on your subject. I notice that you borrow weighty tomes from the library and spend your time at home, in reading through them. At this age, it will be more appropriate, if you spend your time reading thrillers or romantic novels!" said Raghuram.

Ravikumar smiled, without giving an answer.

"Are you planning to do one more Ph.d degree?"

"No. I read books on my subject so as to gain a deeper understanding of the concepts."

"My goodness! These days, if a person gets a bachelor's degree, he thinks he is an expert in the subject of his degree. But, after spending a major part of your youth in studying and earning the bachelor's, the master's and the doctoral degrees through persistent efforts, should you still keep studying? Should you not spend your time enjoying your life?"

"Well, I am not reading the books with the objective of getting high scores in the examination, the way we did when we were students! I believe that only through continued reading, I will be able to sustain my learning" said Ravikumar.

"Ok. It is your outlook. But, as far as I am concerned, in my life, the phase of studying is over!" said Raghuram.

Raghuram's household began to face water scarcity. Due to the failure of the monsoon, the municipal water supply being received by his household, had stopped.

Raghuram thought of making use of the well in his house, which he has not been using for a long time, since all along, the water he was getting from the municipal line was adequate to meet the needs of his household.

Raghuram decided to get the stale water from the well pumped out and use the water that would spring afresh in the well. He engaged a professional well-digger for implementing his plan.

After the well-digger pumped out the stale water, fresh water did not spring from the well. The well digger climbed down the well and examined the springs. He then came up and asked Raghuram, "Have you not been using the well water?"

"No. We haven't been using the well water, since the water we were getting from the municipal water line was adequate for our needs."

"So, that has created the problem! Water springs in the well will be active, only if you keep using the well water. Since you have not been using the well water for a long time, the mouths of the springs seem to have been blocked by accumulation of mud. Now, only if we dig the well still deeper, new springs will get opened and water will begin to fill in the well."

Raghuram wondered why he thought of Ravikumar at that moment!

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 40
Education

Verse 396 (in Tamil):

thottanaithu URum maNaRkEni mAndharkkuk
kaRRanaiththu URum aRivu.

Meaning:

The deeper a well is dug, the more the water that springs;

the more one learns, the more the wisdom one gains.

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

Verse 397
Verse 395

395. The Accounts Teacher

"Accountant, sir! The proprietor is calling you" said, the peon. 

Accountant Sachidanandam went to the proprietor's cabin, feeling apprehensive about being summoned by him. His proprietor Motilal was notorious for his short temper and sharp tongue.

When Sachidanandam stepped into Motilal's cabin, Motilal told him, "Please take your seat!

Schidanandam was both surprised and concerned by Motilal's courteous behaviour. Motilal didn't have the habit of asking the employees coming into his cabin to sit!

'Is he going to sack me? Is that why he is showing some kindness to me, before giving me the bad news?'

"Please tell me, sir!" said Sachidanandam, without sitting down.

"Please sit down. I will tell you."

Sachidanandam sat down quickly.

"I want you to teach me Accounts!" said Motilal.

"Sir, what do you mean?" asked Sachidanambam, perplexed by Motilal's words.

"Don't worry. I am not going to fire you. Your job is safe. I am well versed in business, but I know nothing about Accounts. During my father's time, they used to maintain a simple system of Accounts. They will just record receipts and payments in a two-column notebook. That was the system my father taught me. Nowadays, they use terms like debit and credit. They say cash balance is a debit balance and loan is a credit balance. I don't understand these terms at all. I am unable to follow most of the things our auditor tells me. When he talks to me, I am forced to nod my head, without understanding what he says."

"Sir! I have been looking after the Accounts. I have been interacting with our Auditor also."

"You are right. I am happy with the way you have been handling the Accounts. But as a business owner, I want to understand the basics of Accounts. Can you come to my house at 8 o' clock every morning and teach me the basics of Accounts for one hour? Since you will have to leave from your home early, you can have breakfast at my home. After having your breakfast at my home, you can straightaway come to the office from my home. I will reimburse the autorickshaw fare for coming to my house from your house and coming to the office from my house. I will pay you five thousand rupees per month as the tuition fees. I think it will be adequate if you can teach me for six months. If you want me to buy any book, I will buy it" Motilal.

Sachidanandam had no problem with this proposal. In any case, he couldn't say no to his proprietor! He began his role as an Accounts Teacher from the very next day.

One day, after Sachidanandam left Motilal's house, after completing the class for the day, Motilal's wife asked him:

"He is your employee. The moment he enters our home, you get up from your seat and pay obeisance to him, by folding your palms. I can see how you struggle trying to lift your fat body that has sunk deep into the sofa, as soon as you see him. When he leaves, you accompany him till the doorstep and send him off. Though he is teaching you a subject, you are paying him for his services. Even as a teacher, he is your employee. I think that the respect you have been showing him is a bit too much!"

"He is my employee at the office, alright. As you say, I pay him a salary for teaching me the subject. But, what is important is that he is a teacher! When one learns something from another, the learner should receive the education with humility, the way a person receiving a help will stand humbly before the helper. Though I am not a learned person, I am aware of this principle and I am  following it!" said Motilal.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 40
Education

Verse 395 (in Tamil):

udaiyAr mun illAr pOl EkkRRum kaRRAr
kadaiyarE kalAdhavar.

Meaning:

The unlearned who learns from the learned, standing humbly before him, like a poor would before the rich (while receiving his help), is great indeed. The unlearned is lowly.

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

Verse 396
Verse 394

1087. A Veil to Cover the Beauty

When his friend Chinnaiyan asked Kathir to accompany him to the temple festival, Kathir was not enthusiastic about the idea. 

However, Kathir agreed to accompany Chinnaiyan, since he didn't want to decline his friend's request.

When Kathir went to Chinnaiyan's house to pick him up for the temple visit, a pleasant surprise was waiting for him. Chinnaiyan's cousin Sumathy, who had come to visit Chinnaiyan's family was also ready to accompany them to the festival.

Kathir had first seen Sumathy a couple of days ago, when she was passing by his house, along with Chinnaiyan. The moment he saw her, he felt attracted to her. However, considering that she had come to Chinnaiyan's house as a guest and that Kathir knew nothing about her background, he restrained himself from thinking further about her.

When Chinnaiyan introduced Kathir to Sumathy as his friend, Sumathy threw a smile at Kathir and said, "I have seen him already. He was standing outside his house, when we were passing by his house, two days back," 

Kathir felt an air of excitement flowing through his body. 

'She has also noticed me, just as I noticed her!'

Kathir proceeded to the temple festival in the company of Chinnaiyan and Sumathy, with a fresh sense of enthusiasm and excitement.

While witnessing the festival, Sumathy expressed her interest in Kathir at several moments. It appeared to Kathir that she expressed her interest in him through various gestures like throwing a direct gaze at him, smiling at him for no reason, making fun of him by taking liberties with him etc,

"This year, they have brought an elephant for the festival" said Chinnaiyan. 

"Oh, how exciting! But, where is it? We have not seen it so far" said Sumathy.

"Within a few minutes from now, the temple deity will be brought in a procession. At that time, the elephant will walk before the palanquin where the deity will be seated."

"But, where is the elephant now?"

"They must be decorating it at some place. It will be brought out, only after the decoration is over."

"They decorate the elephant too! Surprising!" asked Sumathy, in surprise.

"Why not? Do you think that only women should go for a make-up?" asked Kathir.

"If you want, you can also go for a make-up! Who is stopping you?" hit back Sumathy, and threw a mocking smile at him.

Chinnaiyan who was looking ahead, said, "Stop your spat and look ahead. The elephant is coming!" said with excitement.

"Oh, its gait is so charming!" shouted said Sumathy, excitedly. "Yes, as you had said, the elephant has been decorated. But, why is it that they have covered its forehead with an ornamental silk cloth?" she queried.

"It's a veil covering the elephant's forehead, from the top of the forehead to the top of the trunk" explained Kathir.

"I have heard that such a veil would be used only on wild elephants."

"It's true. They use a veil on a wild elephant to restrict its vision so that it won't run forward and attack people and properties. But they use the veil for decoration also."

"The forehead is one of the most beautiful organs of an elephant. Covering it with a cloth doesn't appear sensible to me" said Sumathy.

"Sometimes, beauty has to be covered. That is to stop the onlookers from turning wild or crazy, enchanted by beauty" said Kathir and looked at Sumathy with a cryptic smile.

Sumathy adjusted the top of her dress in an attempt to cover her breasts even more tightly.

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 109
Beauty that Torments

Verse 1087 (in Tamil):
kadAk kaLiRRin mEl katpadAm mAdhar
padA lulai mEl thugil.

Meaning:

The garment that covers the firm bosom of this maiden resembles the cloth that covers the eyes of a wild elephant.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'azhagai mUdum thirai' by the same author.)

Verse 1088
Verse 1086