Tuesday, July 15, 2025

108. Promotion Denied

"How did this happen!" exclaimed Raj, expressing his disbelief and disappointment.

"What can I say? We can't always expect our expectations to come true, can we?" replied Prithvi.

"You should have definitely got this promotion. Meet the General Manager (GM) and convey your disappointment to him."

"What purpose will it serve? The promotion list has already been released."

"The GM would have recommended your name for promotion, wouldn't he?"

"Of course, he would have. From the time I joined the company, he has been highly supportive of me. The credit for all the advancements I have made in this company should go to him. In the present case, the promotion list was approved by the Managing Director (MD). So, it was the MD's decision. The MD would have preferred other executives over me." 

"It is believed that the MD would go only by the GM's recommendation. Is it not true?" asked Raj.

Prithvi didn't answer him.

That afternoon, Prithvi had to meet the General Manager in his cabin, for a discussion. The General Manager talked to him only about the matter they had to discuss. He didn't say anything about the promotion list released by the company and Prithvi's name not finding a place in the list.

Prithvi came out of the General Manager's cabin, reflecting on the denial of promotion to him, a person widely perceived as deserving by many people in the company.

Prithvi felt that the General Manager refraining from talking about the promotions was a confirmation of his suspicion that the General Manager had not recommended him for the promotion. 

In the evening, his friend Raj asked him, "I saw you going to the GM's cabin in the afternoon. Did he say anything about your missing the promotion?"

"Yes. He felt sorry about my missing the promotion. He said that he was surprised how it had happened and consoled me that I would get my promotion the next time, definitely."

Prithvi didn't tell his friend that for the past few weeks, he had been having a strained relationship with the General Manager, as a result of his disagreeing with the General Manager's approach on a matter, that he had already guessed that the General Manager wouldn't recommend him for the promotion and that he was, therefore, reconciled to the prospect of his name not finding a place in the promotion list.

Prithvi had decided that considering the good things the General Manager had done to him in the past, he won't talk to anyone, including his close friend Raj, about the injustice done to him by the General Manager, out of spite, resulting from a disagreement over an issue relating to an official matter.

Thirukkural
Section 1
The Path of Virtue
Chapter 11
Gratitude
Verse 108 (In Tamil)
nanRi maRappadhu nanRanRu nanRalladhu
anRE maRappadhu nanRu.

Meaning:
We should not forget the good deeds done to us by another person. But the harm done to us by another person should be forgotten immediately.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'padhavi uyarvu kidaikkavillai' by the same author)
Verse 109 (Soon)
Verse 107

467. Wait For A Month!

Even after working for ten years, Shanmugam didn't find much improvement in his job status. 

The small annual increment he was getting couldn't match the inflation level. So, in reality, after ten years of working, he was financially weaker than he was at the beginning.

His attempts to switch over to some other job did not succeed. He realized that there were not many opportunities, fitting with his qualification and experience.

After realizing the limitations of his career growth, Shanmugam considered the idea of doing a business.

When he looked around, after conceiving this idea, he observed one thing. There were a lot of people, without a high education, experience or even intelligence, doing some business or other, successfully.

Most of them had no offices. Noe of them had employees, either. So, they didn't have the financial burden of paying rents or salaries, every month.

'Why can't I run a business like that?'

When he told his wife Chandra about this, she said, "Think well and decide. You need money to invest. You need to have knowledge about the business. You need contacts," listing the things that he didn't have!

Shanmugam didn't reply. Though he found his wife's reply to be irritating, the realization that the issues raised by her were pertinent, disturbed him.

After a few weeks, Shanmugam told Chandra, "I am going to quit my job. Only after quitting my job, I will feel the urge to take up some activity for earning an income, decide what business to take up and then start the business. Otherwise, I will keep thinking of this till my retirement, without taking any concrete action."

"I don't understand. Should you not first decide what business to take up, prepare a plan for starting it and then quit your job? Quitting the job first and then thinking what to do, does not appear a wise thing to do" said Chandra, shocked by his announcement.

"No. I have decided. I don't want to reconsider my decision" said Shanmugam, firmly.

"Ok. In that case, for my sake, will you wait for one month, before carrying out your decision?"

"Why wait for one month? What is going to change in one month?"

"That is what I am also saying. What is going to change in one month? You can postpone your decision for one month, for my sake, can' t you?" pleaded Chandra.

'Perhaps, she is buying time to dissuade me from my decision. But it is not going to work' thought Shanmugam. 

However, deciding to oblige her, he said, 'Ok. I will wait for a month.

After two weeks, Chandra told Shanmugam, "If you want to quit your job, you can do it now."

"You asked me to wait for one month. But it has been only two weeks now! What has changed now?" asked Shanmugam, in surprise.

"I have got a job."

"What job? What is the salary?"

She gave him the details.

"Why should you go for a job, at such a low salary?" asked Shanmugam, perplexed by Chandra's decision.

"I can get only this much for my qualification. That is why I didn't think of going for a job, all these days. You didn't ask me to go for a job, either. But, after you have taken a hasty decision to quit your job, without any plan of how you are going to earn an income for running our family, how can I keep quiet? Should we not have at least one meal a day, for our survival? That is why, I asked for one month's time and tried for a job. Now, I can be free from the apprehension of our children facing starvation."

Even before completing her reply, Chandra began to sob.

"No, Chandra. There is no need for you to go for a job. I will not take any decision in a hurry. I am not quitting my job."

Shanmugam held her hand by way of giving her an assurance.

Thirukkural
Section 2
Materialism
Chapter 47
Acting After Due Consideration

Verse 467 (in Tamil):
eNNith thuNiga karumam thuNindha pin
eNNuvam enbadhu izhukku.

Meaning:
Think before you take up a task. The idea that we can think after we take up a task is foolish.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'oru mAdha avakAsam' the same author.)
Verse 468 (Soon)
Verse 466

Monday, July 14, 2025

1118. Love Me!

"Oh, my milky moon!
Are you the elder sister
or the younger sister
of my lover?"

"You sing nicely!"

Vikram, who was singing in a relaxed mood, lying on the terrace, was startled by this comment. He opened his eyes and looked around to find out from which direction the voice was coming.

There was no one on the terrace. Moreover, the voice appeared to come from above.

'Only the sky is above me!'

"It was me, friend. You were singing about me, weren't you?"

'Who is speaking? Is it the moon? How is it possible?'

The act of a tiny cloud passing the shining moon, touching at it at its edge, gave the appearance of the moon winking at him.

"I sympathize with you! It seems your lover has gone to some other place, leaving you to suffer solitude."

'Now, there is no doubt. The voice is coming from the moon only!'

Brushing aside the rational thought that arose in a corner of his mind 'how can this happen?' Vikraman looked at the moon and asked, "How do you know that?"

"I witnessed the farewell drama that was enacted on the same spot last night. Is it the way to conduct yourselves in an open area? I myself found it embarrassing to watch a few scenes and hid myself behind a cloud" said the moon.

Vikraman shrunk his body in embarrassment. 'We felt free to hug and kiss each other, only because we felt assured that no one was watching us.'

"Are you are suffering the pangs of separation, after your lover had gone out of station?" asked the moon.

Vikram nodded his head unconsciously. Only after nodding his head, he wondered whether the moon could see his nod from such a distance.

"Why don't you love me, till your lover comes back?" asked the moon.

Vikraman laughed aloud and said, "I can never do that!"

"Why? Am I not beautiful?"

"Of course, you are beautiful. You have a round face, but..."

"But?"

"You saw my lover's face yesterday. You would have seen how resplendent it was. Your face doesn't have even half that brilliance!" said Vikram.

Feeling hurt and embarrassed, the moon instantly hid its face under a large cloud.

Vikram opened his eyes, sensing that someone was shaking him.

His mother who had awakened him, said, "How many times have I told you not to sleep on the open terrace? You will catch cold. Come down to the house."

Vikram looked at the sky, still feeling confused. The moon that was reluctantly coming out of a cloud, shed its faint light on him.

Thirukkural
Section 3
Love
Chapter 112
In Praise of Her Charms

Verse 1118 (in Tamil):
mAdhar mugam pOl oLi vida vallaiyEl 
kAdhalai vAzhi madhi.

Meaning:
Long live, my dear moon! I shall love you too, if only you can be as radiant as my girl’s face.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'ennaik konjam kAdhali' by the same author.)
Verse 1119 (Soon)
Verse 1117 

466. The Chief Minister

"Kalingarayan! When Chenniappan was my Chief Minister, I refrained from interfering in his administration. He had been telling me that he was taking many steps for the welfare of our people. But the feedback I got from the intelligence service was that people were undergoing a lot of suffering under his administration and were consequently unhappy and angry with the administration. That was why I dismissed him and appointed you as my Chief Minister. You have been interacting with the government officials and various categories of people, for the past few days. Can you tell me what the situation is, as ascertained by you?" asked the King.

"Your Majesty! What I have learnt through my interactions with various people is that the administration, I mean the Chief Minister who was running the administration, had not fulfilled several basic needs of people" said Chief Minister.

"What are things he had failed to do?"

"For the past two or three years, canals, lakes and tanks had not been desilted. Because of this, flow of water for irrigation was irregular and inadequate. Subsidies for temples, choultries and charities were not properly disbursed. Old and sick people, orphans, poor people, travelers etc, who were being fed by these institutions, had to face starvation and suffering. Adequate medical facilities and other aid were not extended to people affected by the recent epidemic."

"Oh, my God! There have been so many lapses! It was my fault that I had not ensured that these lapses were brought to my notice."

"There is more..."

"No need for you to list more of his lapses. I don't like to hear them."

"No, your Majesty. I listed the things he failed to do. He has also done things which he shouldn't have. I should mention those things too, shouldn't I?"

"What do you mean by things he shouldn't have done?"

"While allocating government work to contractors, he allocated a large number of works to his friends and relatives. He made appointments, by taking bribes from the aspirants. Because of these actions of his, there was a huge loss to the government treasury. Apart from these, he had done many things that caused pain and suffering to people. By prohibiting farmers from selling their produce to the small traders they were usually selling to, and bringing a rule that they should sell their produce only to the big traders specified by the government, he had created a situation where the farmers could sell their produce only to a few big merchants. Because of this, while on the one hand, many small traders lost their business, farmers found themselves at the mercy of the large traders. The large traders bought the produce from the farmers at low prices and sold them to the consumers at high prices. Thus, for the ordinary people, purchasing  food grains at an affordable price became a challenge..."

"I understand. Chenniappan is guilty not only of failing to do what he should have done, but also of doing things he shouldn't have done. When I think of the sufferings caused to my people, by the omissions and commissions of Chenniappan, my heart bleeds. It was a blunder on my part to have not supervised him, after entrusting the responsibility of administration to him. I am giving you the power and responsibility to undo the wrongs done by Chenniappan and take steps to make life easy for our people. But, unlike I was earlier, I will be closely watching the performance of my Chief Minister" said the King, with a smile.

"Yes, Your Majesty. That is what I would like you to do" said the Chief Minister.

Thirukkural
Section 2
Materialism
Chapter 47
Acting After Due Consideration

Verse 466 (in Tamil):
seythakka alla seyak kedum seythakka
seyyAmaiyAnum kedum.

Meaning:
Doing what ought not to be done will cause hardships. Not doing what ought to be done will also cause harm.

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

107. Wedding Invitation

Rangarajan read the names of the bride and bridegroom, printed on the cover of the wedding invitation received by post.

Anandhi - Ramesh.

Before opening the envelope, Rangarajan tried to recall who they were. He would know who the people were, once he opened the envelope and read the details given in the invitation. However, the mind always showed an urge to guess the details, before receiving the input!

Even after opening the envelope and reading the English version of the invitation, Rangarajan couldn't recognize the bride or the groom. The name Anandhi rang a bell, but he couldn't remember how he had known her. During the ten years of his medical practice, he had come across a large number of people, including his patients and their relatives. She could be one of them.

When Rangarajan read 'Anandhi, daughter of Karagakkumbam Ramamurthy' in the Tamil version of the invitation, he cursed himself for his failure to immediately recall his connection with her.

I
t was the year 1965. After completing his medical education and getting a job in the government, Rangarajan was posted as the Medical Officer of the Primary Health Centre at Naththambakkam, a village situated in Thanjavur District (the village may now be in Tiruvarur District, after reorganization of districts.)

Since it was the only hospital accessible to the people in several villages surrounding that place, the hospital would always be crowded. Since Rangarajan was provided accommodation near the hospital, some times, people would even knock at the door of his house, even during the nights.

Anandhi, a fifteen year old girl, was one such person, who knocked at his door, one late night. She told him that she was coming from Karagakkumbam, a nearby village. A man was standing near her. Looking at the cycle parked outside his house, Rangarajan inferred that she had commuted to his place by riding on the bicycle driven by that man.

"Doctor! My father had fainted suddenly. He regained consciousness after a while, but his left hand and left leg has become immobile" said Anandhi, amidst sobs.

Rangarajan immediately went to her house on his bicycle, following Anandhi and her escort.

Anandhi's father was struck by paralysis, due to high blood pressure. Rangarajan gave some tablets he had with him, for bringing down Ramamurthy's blood pressure. 

He asked the person who accompanied Anandhi, "Are there any elders in the house?"

Before the person could answer, Anandhi said, "Doctor! My mother is there. Other people in my family are my younger brother and me. I am studying in the eleventh standard. You can tell me the details, doctor."

Rangarajan admired Anandhi's equanimity of mind, even under such trying circumstances.

He told her:
"Your father had this paralytic attack because of high blood pressure. The paralysis may be cured, if the blood pressure is brought down. It will be better to get him treated at the Government hospital, Thanjavur. But, it is not advisable for him to travel, in his present condition. I will prescribe some tablets. Get these tablets from Tiruvarur tomorrow and start giving the tablets to him. I will talk to a specialist known to me, who is in Madras. There is no phone in the hospital. I have to go to the post office, book a trunk call and speak to him. I can't go to the post office, during the day time, since I have to be at the hospital. The post office won't be open in the night. Therefore, I will write a detailed letter to the specialist in Madras and send it by post. I will get a reply from him in two days. I will come and see him tomorrow." 

When Rangarajan began to leave, Anandhi told him, 'Sir, just a minute" and ran inside. She returned with a five rupee note in her hand. She handed it to him reluctantly, saying, "Doctor! Your fees..."

Rangarajan smiled and said, "No. I am a Government doctor. I should not accept any fee," gently tapping on her shoulder.

"But you came to our house in the night and treated my father!"

"I am expected to treat the patients only at the hospital. I should not do home visits. Citing my visiting your house for an emergency, someone may even complain that I have been doing private practice! I came to see your father, because when he was in a critical state, I could not have refused to come with you and see him. Until the time your father gets better, I will visit him periodically. When he gets better, I will give a letter to the Government Hospital, Thanjavur. You can take him there. With the treatment he will get there, he will be cured completely." 

After that, Rangarajan visited Ramamurthy several times, daily for the first few days and once in three days, subsequently. Based on the advice he received from the specialist in Madras, he prescribed medicines for the patient.

At the end of three months, there was considerable improvement in Ramamurthy's health

He was taken to the Government Hospital, Thanjavur, as per Rangarajan's advice. The doctors at that hospital endorsed the treatment given by Rangarajan and advised that the patient continue to take the same medicines.

While almost the entire village had been under the impression that Ramamurthy won't survive his illness, his recovering from his illness and returning to normalcy as a result of Rangarajan's treatment was an unbelievable feat for most of the villagers. 

During the time Ramamurthy was bed-ridden, Anandhi, despite being a girl of fifteen years, acted like an adult, displaying an exceptional sense of maturity and responsibility. She was the one who would go to Tiruvarur to buy the medicines for her father and visit the hospital periodically, to consult Rangarajan on what was to be done at every stage. In the midst of these activities, she also paid attention to her studies and passed the school final examination, scoring good marks.

After one year, Rangarajan decided to quit his job, since he got a good offer from a private hospital in Madras.

By that time, Ramamurthy had fully recovered. He came to the hospital with Anandhi to thank Rangarajan in person and bid farewell to him.

"You saved my father. To us, you are like God" said Anandhi, feeling genuinely grateful. 

"You seem to have been watching a lot of films at the touring talkies in your village!" said Rangarajan, laughing.

N
ow, after ten years, the family remembered him and sent him the invitation for Anandhi's wedding. He recalled that Ramamurthy got his Madras address, when he met him at the hospital.

The telephone rang, when Rangarajan was in the hospital.

"Sir! Trunk call for you" said the Telephone Operator of the hospital.

"Hello!"

"Doctor! This is Anandhi from Karagakkumbam."

"Hi, bride! Congratulations. How is your father?"

"Sir! You remembered us immediately! I am thrilled. My father is with me. I will give the receiver to him...Hello, doctor! This is Ramamurthy!"

"How are you, sir?" asked Rangarajan. He felt both happy and proud that a person, successfully treated by him for a serious condition like a paralytic attack, called him over phone after ten years and spoke to him.

"I am fine. Till today, people of our village keep saying that you saved me from death, just as Lord Siva saved his devotee Markandeya from Yama, the God of death!*" said Ramamurthy.

"Sir! I only did my duty as a doctor."

"No, sir. You went beyond your duty, by coming to my house at the request of my daughter when I was in a critical state of illness and several times subsequently, treating me and bringing me back to normalcy. The help you had done to me and my family is not an ordinary one. It was a new life for me. My family members won't forget you, even in our future births."

Rangarajan sensed that Ramamurthy became emotional and his voice choked.

"I am unable to come in person to invite you to my daughter's marriage. I thought I should invite you at least over phone."

"I will definitely attend the marriage, sir" said Rangarajan. He observed that his voice also became choked, as a result of becoming emotional.

'When they show so much love towards me, I should definitely attend the marriage' he resolved to himself.

* a mythological story

Thirukkural
Section 1
The Path of Virtue
Chapter 11
Gratitude
Verse 107 (In Tamil)
ezhumai ezhu piRappum uLLuvar tham kaN
vizhumam thudaiththavar natpu.

Meaning:
The good remember with gratitude, all through seven births, the friendship of those who wiped out their suffering. 

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

Saturday, July 12, 2025

465. Beware of Enemies!

In the meeting of the Board of Directors of the company, Managing Director Babu spoke about the problems that were being created by the company's rivals in the business and the steps taken by him to overcome them.

"They made several efforts to destroy us. They spread misinformation about the quality of our product. That didn't work. After we gave advertisements in the media, giving exhaustive information about our product quality, the misinformation was not only thwarted, but our sales increased, as well.

"Then, they instigated some leaders of our workers' union to go on a strike, making some unreasonable demands. We took firm action by dismissing the leaders of the union who instigated the strike. At the same time, we raised the wages of the workers. The workers got the message that if they were loyal to the company they would be rewarded and that if they rebelled, they would be punished with dismissal. Hereafter, they won't fall prey to any instigation by mischievous elements."

"Excellent, Mr. Babu. You have our full support for your actions" said a senior Director. Other Directors applauded, endorsing what he had said.

"But our enemies won't give up. They will try something else. Therefore, I believe that to safeguard ourselves from their future attacks, we should not stop with taking defensive action but also launch an offensive" said Babu.

"What is your plan?" asked a Director.

"I think we should manufacture one of their products and create some competition for that product. Then, they will be forced to turn their attention to safeguard their interests. They won't have the time or energy to attack us."

"What product do you intend manufacturing? What are your plans for that?"

Babu explained his proposal.

"But we need to invest money to set up the manufacturing facilities for this product. How are we going to raise the money for this?" asked another Director.

"The investment required is not much. We can skip paying dividends for this year and use that money for the investment. I have circulated a one page note, summarizing the details of the proposal. Please go through the note."

The Directors spent a couple of minutes going through the note. Most of them nodded their heads in agreement.

"If we skip the dividend, it will send a negative signal about our company to the market. Our share price will fall" said one of the Directors.

"It will only be a short term effect. We will issue a press release explaining that we are skipping the dividend for this year, because we are investing this year's profit for setting up facilities to manufacture a new product, that our profit would increase next year, after we start manufacturing the new product and that we would be able to pay dividend at a higher rate, from the next year. So, even if the share price were to fall, it would recover soon" explained Babu.

"I think you need to make a deeper study of the consequences of skipping the dividend" said the Director, not convinced by Babu's reply.

However, the other Directors voted in favour of the Managing Director's proposal.

After about a week, the Company Secretary came to Babu's cabin outwardly perturbed, and told him, "Sir! For the past five days, our share price has been falling in the market. Some people seem to have spread some misinformation in the market about the reason for our skipping the dividend."

"Don't be perturbed. This was expected. The price will begin to go up in a couple of days" said Babu.

"No, sir. The volumes are very high. I hear that our enemies, taking advantage of our announcement of skipping the dividend for this year, have been spreading false information about our finances, thereby creating a fear among the shareholders. This has led to a panic selling. Now our enemies are buying the shares. Since we don't have majority holding, they may be attempting to take over our company, by buying a huge proportion of our shares from the existing shareholders, at a low price" said the Secretary.

Babu began to feel apprehensive. He remembered the advice of one of the Directors to make a deep study of the impact skipping the dividend would create.

Thirukkural
Section 2
Materialism
Chapter 47
Acting After Due Consideration

Verse 465 (in Tamil):
vagaiyaRAch chUzhAdhu ezhudhal pagaivaraip
pAththip paduppadhOr ARu. 

Meaning:
Taking up an activity without proper planning is nurturing foes in a plantation.
 

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

464. Franchise Opportunity

This is a new business opportunity. It has good profit potential. I think it will be good if we can venture into this" said Ponraj.

"Our existing business is doing well. What is the need for us to venture into this?" asked Chakrapani. 

"Sir, our textile business has become well established. The business is growing on its own, every year. However, there is not much scope for us to expand this business. I have been thinking what new line of business we can venture into. I came to know of this opportunity through a friend of mine. Since I think this will workout well, I am bringing this to your notice."

"Mr. Ponraj! After appointing you as the General Manager, I have been sitting relaxed, with no need to feel concerned about the business. But, you want me to launch a new business, that too in the field of education, about which I have no knowledge. Do we need to go for this?"

"Sir! I am suggesting that we take up this activity, not for the sake of earning more money. Entering into the field of education will bring you high reputation, recognition and honour. Most of the people running educational institutions are not educationists. They have been engaged in some other business activities. Yet, some of them have earned the title 'father of education!' I think it will be good for our society, if a person like you, who considers business not as a means to earn money, but as a service, enters the field of education. It is only with this objective that I have evinced interest in this proposal" said Ponraj.

"Okay. Tell me more about this opportunity" asked Chakrapani, relenting.

"Sir! This opportunity is about our running a school, as a franchise of a large educational institution, based in Mumbai. You have been telling me since long that you have a fairly large extent of land lying idle and that you want to put it to productive use. We can establish the school in that land. We can start running the school in about six months' time, after constructing the buildings. The Mumbai firm has designed a scheme of education, in tune with the new education policy introduced by the government recently. The system of education created by them is comprehensive, involving a wide range of activities including preparing the students for various entrance examinations like IIT Entrance, CAT, NEET etc, even from lower classes and training students in extra-curricular activities like Music, Dance, Sports, Handicrafts etc. The plan of education prepared by them has the potential to prepare the students to face any challenge in life. I have information that some of the reputed schools in our city have been trying to get this franchise opportunity. But considering the good name you have, the firm wants to give the franchise to you" explained Ponraj.

"Listening to the details given by you makes me feel that this could be a good opportunity. Give me the brochure carrying full details about the opportunity. I will go through the details."

After two days, Chakrapani summoned Ponraj to his cabin.

"Mr. Ponraj! I went through the brochure. The terms say that all the teachers including the Principal of the school will be appointed by the firm and that the school will be under the control of the Administrative Officer appointed by the firm. Then, what is our role?" asked Chakrapani.

"Sir! We will be collecting the fees from the students, paying the salaries to the staff and for other expenses required to run the school. We have to pay a percentage of the fees we collect from the students to the firm. The remaining profit will be ours..."

"I am not talking about the profit, Ponraj!" intercepted Chakrapani. "I find that the school will be run by us only for namesake. We will have no control over any activity. But if something goes wrong, we will be responsible. Secondly, I am not convinced of the practical aspects of the educational system created by the firm. In the name of preparing the students to meet any challenge in life, the plan seems to be overburdening the students. It is mentioned that students may have to attend classes in the late evenings after school timings and also on weekends and other holidays. I am not sure whether this will be for the good of the students. I am also concerned that this kind of a rigorous curriculum may affect the students physiologically and psychologically. If the students are affected in some manner, will it not mar our reputation and bring a bad name to us? Considering all these factors, I feel that venturing into a field we are not well-versed is not advisable."

Thirukkural
Section 2
Materialism
Chapter 47
Acting After Due Consideration

Verse 464 (in Tamil):
theLivu iladhanaith thoDangAr iLivennum
EdhappAdu anjubavar.

Meaning:
Those who fear the stain of ignominy will not take up an activity about which they don't have clarity.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'vENdAm indha vAyppu' by the same author.)