1102. What Ails Gururajan?

"You are looking dull. Are you not feeling well?"

This was the question that several people who happened to see Gururajan had been asking him for the past few days.

"I am fine," was Gururajan's response to every one. However, he had been inwardly sensing a feeling of weakness.

Gururajan consulted a doctor. After examining him, the doctor said, "There is nothing wrong with you. Perhaps, a change of place for a few days may do you good. Sometimes making a short trip to some other place and returning will make you feel refreshed."  

A friend of Gururajan, living in a village had, since long, been asking him to come and stay with him for some time. 

Gururajan went to his friend's place, by way of following the doctor's advice.

The village atmosphere was pleasant. Spending time with his friend made Gururajan happy. But, Gururajan was still feeling some weakness.

Gururajan's friend told him, "You are looking dull. Are you not feeling well? There is an Ayurvedic doctor here. He will be able to diagnose you, just by checking your pulse."

The Auirvedic doctor, after checking Gururajan's pulse, said, "Since you have been used to live in a city, perhaps, the village life has made you feel dull. You will become normal, once you go back to your place!"

Gururajan controlled his urge to laugh.

Even after returning home from the village, Gururajan didn't find any improvement in his health. He began to worry that he might have been afflicted by some severe illness, which the doctors couldn't diagnose.

One night, when Gururajan was rolling in his bed, unable to get sleep, a thought occurred to him. 'Have I been deceiving myself all these days?'

The next morning, he left for his aunt's place, which was not very far from the place he was living.

"What a surprise! Last month, you made a sudden visit here, at a time I was thinking that that you had forgotten this poor aunt, your father's sister! Now, you have come again after a month. It seems you have begun to think of me more often, these days!" said his aunt, welcoming him heartily.

"I had lost my mother in my childhood. After my father also passed away, you remain my only relative" said Gururajan.

"That was my point. It is five years since your father - my brother - passed away. But you began to think of me only recently. Anyway, I am glad you have come."

After the lunch, his aunt went into her room, for taking her afternoon nap.

When Gururajan was sitting alone in the porch of the house, his aunt's daughter Vanaja noiselessly came near him from behind and touched his shoulder.

Electrified by Vanaja's touch, Gururajan turned back and looked at her.

"Vanaja! I came here only to see you. But till now, I couldn't find you in the house!" said Gururajan.

"Did you come to see me? Don't lie to me. You came to see your aunt!" said Vanaja, with a playful smile on her face.

"You ae teasing me, Vanaja. I had seen you as a little girl. When I had come to see my aunt last month, I was thrilled to see you as a grown up girl. I spent quite some time talking to you. Seeing you as a grown up girl and talking to you was an exhilarating experience. From that time, my mind and body have undergone some change. It was as if I was struck by fever. Everyone in my place kept asking me 'what is wrong with you?' I realized that I would become normal, only if I meet you again and exchange a few words with you!"

After that, the two were holding each other's hand and talking to each other, for a long time.

Gururajan regained his vigour and energy, after returning from his aunt's house.

Note: In Tamilnadu, South India, there has been a practice of a young man marrying the daughter of his mother's brother or father's sister. In fact, in ancient Tamilnadu, it was considered that a girl satisfying this relationship was called 'muRaippeN' (the girl who could be rightfully claimed as a bride, by the boy, having the qualifying relationship.) 

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 111
The Joy of Being Together in Love

Verse 1102 (in Tamil):
piNikku marundhu piRaman aNiyizhai
than nOykkuth thAnE marundhu.

Meaning:

Various medicines serve as remedies for various ailments. But, for the ailment caused by this girl wearing jewels, she herself is the remedy.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'gururAjanukku vandha nOy' by the same author.)

Verse 1103 (Soon)
Verse 1101

421.Live Telecast

Gnanasekaran, started his business in a small way fifty years back, and successfully made it grow big, over the years.

When Gnanasekaran reached the age of seventy five, he announced that he was retiring from the business.

A leading Television channel approached him for an interview.

"I will give you an interview. But you should telecast my interview live!" said Gnanasekaran.

"We don't have the practice of telecasting interviews live" said the official of the Television channel.

"In that case, I can't give you an interview. I am sorry" said Gnanasekaran.

The official told him that he would check with his higher authorities, about Gnanasekaran's condition for giving an interview. But, the top management of the TV channel didn't accept Gnanasekaran's condition. 

The information of a popular Television channel having approached Gnanasekaran for an interview, and his having imposed a condition that the interview should be telecast live, got leaked and several channels became aware of it.

Kumar, the CEO of 'Live News,' a Television channel that had been launched only a few months back, called the senior executives of the channel for a discussion.

"Why don't we telecast an interview with Mr. Gnanasekaran?" asked Kumar.

"Sir, ours is a news channel. Our viewers are interested only in political news. They may not be interested in viewing an interview with a businessman" said a senior executive.

"On the other hand, we may get new audience, interested in business news. That will be good for us" said another executive.

Kumar looked at him with interest.

"We don't know why Mr. Gnanasekaran has been insisting on a live telecast of his interview. What if he says something embarrassing or offensive about someone? That will create a problem for us. It may even lead to litigation, involving serious charges like defamation etc." said another executive.

"That is my concern too!" said Kumar.

"Sir, I have an idea" said Ravi, the Chief Editor.

The announcement that Gnanasekaran's interview would be telecast live in 'Live News' created a lot of sensation, both in the media circles and among the general public. 

The fact that a news channel that has been mostly telecasting news and programs relating to politics and current affairs would be telecasting an interview with a businessman evoked a lot of interest. 

That the interview would be telecast live, as demanded by the businessman giving the interview, added an element of curiosity, stimulating a desire in the minds of a large number of people, to watch the program.

Several minutes after the interview began, Gnanasekaran revealed the reason for his insistence on the interview being telecast live.

"From the time I started my business, till the present time, I have faced a lot of competition. Many of my competitors have followed honest business practices, but a few have resorted to unethical practices, subterfuge and even fraud. There have been several occasions, when a section of the media had predicted that my business would collapse, unable to face the competition. There have been instances, when my company's position became weak, leading to a steep fall in the price of my company's shares. But I have encountered all those problems and emerged victorious. The one factor that ensured my success is..."

Gnanasekara paused at this moment. 

Ravi, the Chief Editor who was conducting the interview, the CEO Kumar, other executives of the channel and the audience watching the interview were all curious to know what factor would be mentioned by Gnanasekaran.

"...the wisdom that I had acquired!" said Gnanasekaran, smiling.

"Sir!" said Ravi, somewhat shocked.

"It is only for the purpose of bringing this to the notice of the public that I wanted this interview to be telecast live! Now, I feel happy that this information will reach every one!"

Kumar, who was watching the interview felt disappointed.

'Is it for singing his own praise that Mr. Gnanasekaran wanted his interview to be telecast live? I have allowed myself to be misled by anticipating that he would say something sensational!'

"Sir, can you elaborate on what you meant by the 'wisdom acquired by you?'" asked Ravi, continuing the interview.

"Definitely. I have come here only for showcasing the wisdom I possess! By the way, a few of my friends are sitting outside the studio. Will you allow them to come inside?" asked Gnanasekaran.

"What for?" asked Ravi, perplexed.

"They are the senior executives of my company. Some of the executives, who joined my company, soon after I had started my company, have retired. Some are not alive now. When I said, 'wisdom acquired by me,' I was referring to my senior executives. From the time I had started my business, I realized that knowledge and wisdom were the tools that would offer the best protection to my business. So, I recruited persons of knowledge and wisdom and kept them with me, not just as employees, but as guides, advisors, troubleshooters, thinkers and innovators. They have not only helped my business to grow, but also protected my business from the strategies of my honourable competitors and the devious tactics of my less honourable competitors and my enemies. They shielded my business by functioning as effective bulwarks against all kinds of obstacles and attacks faced by my business. If you permit me, I will introduce them to the world through your channel and register my gratitude to them. The reason I insisted that my interview be telecast alive was to bring the people who have provided me the knowledge and wisdom to run and safeguard my business all these years, to the limelight" said Gnanasekaran.

"With pleasure!" said Ravi, with enthusiasm, returning to him. 

"Sir! Telecasting Gnanasekaran's interview has given a very good boost to our channel's viewership. In fact, our viewership has doubled. The bold decision taken by you to accept Gnanasekaran's request to telecast his interview live, is the reason for this" said Ravi.

"No, Mr. Ravi. The reason for this success is executives like you providing me the wisdom, the way Gnanasekaran's executives provided him. I am not saying this just to make you feel good. When I was bogged down by the question about the repercussions, in case Mr. Gnanasekaran said anything offensive about someone, you came out with the idea that by making use of technology, we could telecast the interview with an one minute lag, so, if he said anything objectionable, we would be able to block the objectionable part, before it would be telecast. It was based on this brilliant idea of yours that I agreed to telecast the interview live. So, it was your knowledge and wisdom that made this success possible!" said Kumar, in atone of genuine appreciation.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 43
Wisdom

Verse 421 (in Tamil):

aRivu aRRam kAkkum karuvi seRuvArkkum
uLL azhikkaLagA araN.

Meaning:

Wisdom is the shield against ruination. It is a fortress,

impregnable to and indestructible by the enemies.

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

Verse 422 (Soon)
Verse 420

93. "People Don't Listen to Me!"

Madhavan had been having a concern since long. It was that when he was speaking, no one listened to him. 

He was the leader of a team in his company. There were six members in his team, including him. He had to speak to the team members quite often about work, sometimes individually and sometimes addressing them as a group. 

When he was talking to the group, some in the group would talk among themselves. Sometimes, someone would interject him or raise some point not relevant to the discussion. 

Madhavan knew that he couldn't mend them using his authority.

Sometimes, someone in his team would do a task given by him in a way different from the way in which he had asked that person to. If Madhavan questioned that person, he or she would say, "Did you say like that? I didn't get it right. I am sorry!"

Unable to overcome the communication problem, Madhavan started giving instructions to the team members, through email. He found it irksome that he had to communicate through email with a person sitting at a hearing distance from him. But he was helpless.

After that, if he gave any oral instruction to his team members, some of them would say, "Why don't you send me an email?"

Such replies made him even more irritated.

Learning that an Advisor who had joined his company recently gave solutions to communication problems, Madhavan approached him and explained his problem.

Even as Madhavan was narrating his problem, the Advisor intercepted him saying, "Mr. Madhavan! I can see what your problem is. Why do you wear such a serious look on your face."

"That is how my face expression is!" said Madhavan, trying to smile.

"You are smiling now. Practice having a smiling face always."

"How do I practice it?"

The Advisor taught him some exercises. "Practice these exercises for one month. After that, you will find that your team members listen to you, with attention."

After two months, Madhavan met the Advisor, again.

"How are things now?" asked the Advisor.

"My team members listen to me more attentively than they did earlier. But I find that after some time, their attention gets shifted."

"Let us check what the problem is" said the Advisor.

He called four of his assistants. He then told Madhavan, "Assume that these are your team members. Explain a task that they have to perform."

Madhavan spoke to them, the way he would talk to his team members. 

The Advisor observed him talking. After fifteen minutes, the Advisor said, "That's enough." 

He then sent his assistants back to their seats.

"Mr. Madhavan! I am giving my assessment based on my observation. You are particular about doing things in the proper way. So, when you find that others don't understand what you say correctly, you get angry. Your anger is reflected in your words" said the Advisor.

"Sir! I didn't talk to your assistants angrily!" said Madhavan.

"You don't show your anger deliberately. But your anger gets expressed in your tone and in the words you use. Those who listen to you will feel hurt by the tone and the words used by you. After that, they will unconsciously stop listening to you. Even if they try to listen to you, your words won't get registered in their minds."

"What should I do?"

"When you came to me for the first time, I should have conducted a mock session like this and made a complete diagnosis of the problem faced by you. It was my mistake to have hastily seen one change you needed to make, advised you on that and sent you away, without realizing that you had another problem that needed to be addressed!"

"Sir! You are holding such a high office in our company but you talk to me, who is lower to you in rank, about your mistake!" said Madhavan, genuinely moved by the Advisor's humility. 

"If we learn to speak in a pleasant way, humility will automatically become our second nature. Or, if we cultivate humility, we will start speaking pleasantly, even without consciously attempting to do so."

"Great, sir!"

"Have you understood what you have to do?"

"Yes, sir. The two things mentioned by you. One, I should keep a smiling face. I have already cultivated this habit. Two, I should speak in a pleasant way. I will practice this also. Thank you, very much!"

"Good. I am sure you will succeed. If your problem is still not solved, you may come to me again, after a month."

After a month. Madhavan came to meet the Advisor. But this time, he came to thank the Advisor.

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 10
Speaking Pleasantly

Verse 93 (In Tamil)

mugaththAn amarndhu inidhu nOkki agaththAnAm
insol inidhE aRam.

Meaning:

To look at someone with kindness, to smile at them

and to say pleasant words, is being virtuous.

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

Verse 94 (Soon)
Verse 92

420. "I don't remember!"

"There is a music concert at Jayalakshmi Sabha tomorrow. I have got two tickets. Are you coming?" asked Sethupathy, over phone.

"Sorry. I can't. I will be attending a religious discourse tomorrow" said Padmanabhan.

"I didn't know that you were interested in religion and spirituality" said Sethupathy, surprised.

"We need to listen to good things at least to some extent."

"Ok. See you later."

After a few days, Sethupathy came to Padmanabhan's house. The two friends were conversing about various things.

Sethupathy recalled his conversation with Padmanabhan a few days back and asked him, "Last week, you attended a religious discourse. How was it?"

"It was good" said Padmanabhan.

"Who was the speaker?"

Padmanabhan thought for a moment and said, "I am unable to recall his name."

"When I invited you to a music concert, you declined my invitation and went to that discourse. Now you say you can't even recall the speaker's name!" said Padmanabhan, laughing.

"Santakumar" said Padmanabhan's wife Dharini, speaking from the kitchen.

"Oh! He is a popular speaker. How did you forget his name?" asked Sethupathy.

"Well. I have not attended any religious discourse earlier. Maybe, that is why his name was not registered in my mind"

"What was the subject he spoke on?"

"Something relating to Ramayana, I think!"

"Santakumar speaks only about the Gita!"

"Whether it was Gita or Sita, it was about spirituality. that's all" said Padmanabhan, in exasperation.

After Sethupathy had left, Dharinin asked him, "You have listened to the discourse for two hours. But you remember neither the name of the speaker, nor the topic he spoke on. What is wrong with you?"

"I have heard that the sweet pongal they had been offering at the end of the discourse as prasad, is very delicious. That is why, when you suggested that I attend that discourse, I came along with you. I didn't pay attention to his talk. My mind was on the sweet pongal I would be getting at the end of the discourse, as prasad. I was playing with my mobile phone for some time. Then I became drowsy. I had a nap sitting in the chair. I woke up only at the end of the speech. I felt fresh. I enjoyed the taste of the sweet pongal they distributed, after the speech got over!" said Padmanabhan. 

"You could have as well gone to the music concert with your friend. After all, you have some interest in music. There is a canteen at the concert hall too!"

"I could have. I would prefer to go to the canteen first, relish my favourite dishes and then enter the concert hall. But Sethupathy won't allow me to go to the canteen till the concert got over. That's why I didn't like to go to the concert with him!" said Padmanabhan.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 42
Learning through Listening

Verse 420 (in Tamil):

seviyin suvai uNarA vAyuNarvin mAkkaL
aviyinum vAzhinum en?

Meaning:

People who are interested only in the taste relished by the tongue, but are unaware of the enjoyment the ears could get through listening (to words of wisdom) make no difference whether they are alive or dead.

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

Verse 421
Verse 419

92. Karna and Yudhishtira

Prelude 

This is a fictional story featuring the characters in the epic Mahabharata. 

The Pandavas, the five brothers led by the eldest Yudhishtira, were ruling Indraprasta. Their cousins, the Kaurvas, the hundred brothers led by Duryodhana, were ruling Hastinapura. 

The visually handicapped Dhritarashtra was the Kaurava king, but his son Duryodhana wielded the real power. 

Prompted by Duryodhana, Dhritarashtra invited the Pandavas for a game of dice at his palace. The Pandavas lost everything including their country in the game of dice. 

They were banished from the country and commanded to live in the woods for twelve years and then live incognito for one year. If they completed this successfully, they would get back their country, they had lost in the gamble.

Krishna, a prince belonging to the Yadava dynasty, was a friend of the Pandavas. Krishna was an avatar (incarnation) of Lord Vishnu. This was known to most of the characters in the epic but they treated him as a fellow human being. Various people sought his counsel at different times, though. 

Kunti, the mother of three of the Pandavas, while being a teenager, was granted a boon by a sage that she could beget children by invoking any of the celestials. 

Kunti playfully tested the boon, by invoking the Sun God. As a result, a male child was born to her, which she subsequently abandoned. 

The child was picked up by a charioteer, christened Karna and brought up by him.

Duryodhana made Karna, the king of a small province Anga, that was a part of his kingdom. Karna, was therefore beholden to Duryodana. 

Karna remained a strong supporter of Duryodhna and despised the Pandavas, without being aware that they were his brothers. 

Karna had the reputation of being a munificent person.

The above introduction will help those not familiar with the story of the Mahabharata to understand the following story, built using the setting and characters of Mahabharata.

Karna and Yudhishtira

At the time the Pandavas were residing in the woods. Karna had a chance meeting with Krishna, when the latter had been to Hastinapura.

"Krishna! I have a question for you!" said Karna.

"Shoot!" said Krishna.

"What is your assessment about me?"

"You are a great warrior and a highly skilled archer."

"Anything more?"

"You are also adept at using the dagger. You are well-versed in other types of martial arts, as well!"

"I am not asking for your assessment of my skill in the use of weapons!" said Karna, feeling disappointed.

"What are you asking me about?" queried Krishna.

"People say that I am a benefactor."

"Yes. I have heard it, I have had no personal experience of witnessing your munificence, though!" quipped Krishna.

"Does it mean that you won't acknowledge me as a benefactor?"

"I didn't say that. I have heard that you donate to people whatever they ask for. I am aware that you have been observing a vow of giving people what they ask for, without saying 'no.'"

Karna was silent.

"What is your problem, Karna? Unless you spell it out, how can I help you?" prompted Krishna.

"I am the King of the Anga country. Every day, many people come to me, receive gifts from me and return happily. They hail me as a benefactor. But I find that quite a few people walk a long distance and throng to the woods to meet Yudhishtira. Why are they doing this? To my knowledge, Yudhishtira has not donated much to people. In his present status, he doesn't have things to donate, either. But even when he had been a prince of the Hastinapura kingdom or the king of Indraprasta, he didn't donate much to people. Why do people flock to him?"

"You have answered the question, yourself, Karna!" said Krishna, with a smile.

"I don't understand what you mean, Krishna!" 

"People who go to Yudhishtira, don't go there with the expectation of receiving any gifts from him."

"Then, why do they go to him? That was my question."

"They go to him, for listening to his pleasing words."

"What do you mean, Krishna?"

"Just as you have been observing the vow of donating to people whatever they ask for, Yudhishtira has been following the principle of speaking without hurting anyone's feelings. Therefore, only words pleasing to the ears and the heart will come out of his mouth. People residing in the cities and towns in the country go to his abode in the forest, to listen to those pleasant sounding words!"

"I also speak only pleasant sounding words!" said Karna.

"Do you? Are the demeaning, derogatory and mortifying words you used against Pandavas and Draupati, in the court of Duryodhana, after the Pandavas lost the game of dice, pleasant sounding? In contrast, Yudhishtira won't use harsh words against even Duryodhana, who had committed such vicious and cruel acts against the Pandavas."

Karnan was silent.

"Yudhishtira's resolve to speak only words that are pleasant and to desist from using offensive language against anyone is much superior to your vow of donating to people whatever they ask for" said Krishna.

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 10
Speaking Pleasantly

Verse 92 (In Tamil)

agan amarndhu Idhalin nanRE mugan amarndhu
insolan Agap peRin.

Meaning:

Being someone who speaks sweet words with a smile

is even better than being philanthropic with a happy heart.

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

Verse 93
Verse 91

1101. Gopal's Weekends

It would be very difficult to locate Gopal during weekends. He would be on an outing, visiting a restaurant or a theatre or attending some entertainment program.

Since Gopal had a well-paying job, his parents were not bothered about his being on a spending spree during the weekends. They were confident that once he got married, he would mend his ways.

Gopal preferred to spend the weekends in the company of his friend Senthil. But, Senthil found it difficult to accompany Gopal during every weekend. Spending substantial sums of money every weekend was financially burdensome to him. His parents didn't encourage this habit, either.

However, Gopal would insist on Senthil accompanying him. Some times, Gopal would even talk to Senthil's parents and obtain their permission to take Senthil along with him.

Senthil told Gopal, "Why are you crazy about filling the entire weekend with entertainments? You can at least restrict the weekend activities to one day and use the other day, to rest at home!"

Gopal said, "Life has to be enjoyed. God has given us five senses. Should we not delight all the five senses with pleasure? When we watch a film in a cosy theatre, it is a treat to the eyes and the ears. Sitting in the cool comfort of air-conditioning is a pleasure to the body. The perfume we smell in the theatre is a treat to the nose. Eating exquisite dishes in a good restaurant is a treat to the tongue. Again, the atmosphere in the restaurant gives pleasure to the other senses, as it happens in a theatre. Is this not the right way to enjoy life?"

"You are a connoisseur, indeed!" said Senthil.

For three weeks in a row, Senthil could not meet Gopal.

When Senthil was waiting for Gopal to come to his house during the weekend, Gopal didn't turn up.

When Senthil called up Gopal on Monday, Gopal told Senthil that he was busy with some domestic work.

The next weekend also, Gopal didn't turn up.

When Senthil called up Gopal, Gopal didn't pick up the call.

During the next weekend, Senthil went to Gopal's house, but Gopal was not home.

"He left home after breakfast, as he always does on weekends. I thought he was going out with you!" said Gopal's mother.

Senthil returned home disappointed.

Next morning, Gopal came to Senthil's house.

"Sorry. I was not home, when you visited my home yesterday!" said Gopal.

"Where have you been? I couldn't see you during the last two weekends too!" said Senthil.

Gopal looked around, and after satisfying himself that Senthil's parents were in another room, told Senthil, "I want to tell you something. I am in love with a girl!"

"Congrats! Since when?"

"For the past one month!"

"Oh! Is that why you have been giving me a slip for the past three weeks and going places with your lover? You could have told me. I wouldn't have been waiting for you!" said Senthil, in an accusing tone.

"How can I tell you about my love, without confirming that the girl reciprocated my love? It takes time, doesn't it?" said defensively.

"You have been going places with the girl for the past three weeks! What more confirmation is required? Where have you been taking the girl to? Restaurants and theatres? You might have been taking her to the shopping malls too!" 

"Not at all. She is not interested in going to theatres, restaurants etc. She likes to visit places like temples, parks, zoo, museum etc. So, we visited only such places. Will you believe me if I say that it has been three weeks, since I had been to a movie theatre!" said Gopal, smiling. He seemed to be feeling proud of having broken a habit!

"What has happened to your philosophy that we should allow all the five senses to enjoy the pleasures?" asked Senthil, mockingly.

After a brief pause, Gopal said, "She makes all my five senses experience pleasure. Looking at her beautiful face, listening to her sweet voice and the clinking of her bangles, feeling the touch of her hand while holding her hand, inhaling the fragrance of the flowers she wears on her hair and..."

"Ok, ok. You don't have to describe the pleasure enjoyed by your fifth organ..." interjected Senthil.

"What is wrong in my describing how I enjoy the taste of we both eating the ice cream from the same cup, drinking a juice from a single glass etc?" asked Gopal, smiling. 

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 111
The Joy of Being Together in Love

Verse 1101 (in Tamil):
kaNdu kEttu uNdu uyirththu uRRaRiyum aimpulanum
oN thoDi kaNNE uLa.

Meaning:

The five senses of sight, sound, smell, taste and touch come alive only with this girl, wearing gleaming bangles.

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

Verse 1102
Verse 1100

419. The Professor's Jokes

Students would be enthusiastic about attending the classes of  Professor Gurumurthy. 

This was because, Gurumurthy, in his classes, would often talk about many extraneous topics.

He would particularly take jibes at incompetence of the college principal and the stupidity of the people managing the college.

Sometimes, he would even comment about some political leaders. But, the references would always be indirect.

Most of the students found this distraction a welcome change from the boredom of listening to the lessons. 

Mahesh was among the few students, who were not happy about the professor's meanderings.

"Are we coming to the college to study or to listen to gossip?" lamented Mahesh, while talking to his classmate Kesavan.

"What is your problem? We find his diversions welcome, since they provide us some relief from the monotony of the lessons. This is not a school, but a college. We don't have to learn things from the teacher. We can study by reading the books and score well in the examination. Let us get some entertainment in the classroom!"

This was Kesavan's response.

Mahesh knew that Gurumurthy had a master's degree, but not a doctorate degree. Gurumurthy himself revealed this in one of his classes.

"I have not done my Ph.D. What was the need? A person with a Ph.D. degree will be paid one thousand rupees more than a person with a master's degree. For getting this paltry incremental sum of one thousand rupees, should I have done a Ph.D, begging a senior professor to consent to be my guide and running errands for him, for a couple of years, so that he would approve my thesis? One may argue that unless one has a Ph.D. degree, one can't go up in one's career ladder. But, what is the reality? In our country, people with only a master's degree had become vice-chancellors of universities!"

When Gurumurthy laughed, the students joined him, without even having an idea of whether what he had said was true and if so, whom he was referring to!

When Mahesh had the opportunity to interact with a student placed in another section of the same course he was pursuing, he asked him about the professor who was handling the subject that Gurumurthy was handling for Mahesh's section. 

"It is Professor Dhanapal" he replied.

"How are his classes?"

"Hos classes are very interesting. In his classes, he won't talk about anything other than the subject. He has profound knowledge in the subject. So, he can go on and on about the topic he teaches. Sometimes, he will even touch upon certain advanced concepts, not included in our syllabus, to kindle our interest and make us appreciate the topic better. No student will like to miss any of his classes. I have gone to the staff room a few times, to meet him. During those times, I have observed that while other professors would be chatting, Professor Dhanapal would be reading some book. Once, seeing that he was reading a magazine, I asked him what that magazine was. He said it was a technical journal on his subject and that it was his practice to read such journals and get him updated on the latest developments in the subject. At present, he has gone to Mumbai, to attend a seminar. Initially, thought that he might have been sponsored by the college. But, subsequently, I came to know that he had taken leave and gone to Mumbai, at his own expenses!"

Mahesh reflected on the fact that in a college where there were professors like Gurumurthy, with a casual approach to the subject they were teaching, there were also professors like Dhanapal, willing to spend their own time and money to improve their knowledge, by listening to scholarly presentations, even at far off places.

The next day, Gurumurthy said in the class, "There are people in this college, who would take leave and go to far off places like Mumbai and Kolkatta, at their own expense, to attend some seminar there. This is what is called hoisting one's own petard!" 

He laughed out aloud, enjoying his own joke.

The entire class joined him in his laughter

Thirukkural

Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 42
Learning through Listening

Verse 419 (in Tamil):

nuNangiya kELviyar allAr vaNangiya 
vAyinar Adhal aridhu.

Meaning:

One who has not acquired learning through listening is not likely to be a person of humility in speech.

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

Verse 420
Verse 418