659. The Farm House

I was a senior government official. 

When Punyakoti became the Chief Minister, he appointed me as one of his private secretaries.

Punyakoti had been known for surrounding himself with loyalists and sycophants, people who would readily carry out his wishes, even if they had to violate rules or harm people, in the process. 

Since I had a reputation for being independent and inflexible, I was surprised that he chose me as one of his personal secretaries. Till today, I have not been able to decipher the reasons behind his choice.

I was given a posting in the office at the Chief Minister's residence. Though a public servant is expected to work from the secretariat that housed the offices of various government departments, some political leaders holding a public office had the practice of having a small office at their residence, to facilitate their functioning from their residence, part of the time. 

The office at the residence was usually staffed by a couple of loyal officers, who would play important roles in making deals with various kinds of people, including businessmen and other kinds of people.

I believed that Punyakoti had me posted in his house, feeling confident that I won't reveal to the outside world the agreements and deals made in the privacy of his home office.

Thangappan, a relative of Punyakoti was residing with Punyakoti. It was widely believed that he was the one who negotiated and finalized most of the deals on behalf of Punyakoti. 

The spectre of businessmen and contractors arriving at Punyakoti's house with big suitcases, Thangappan asking the servants to take the suitcases inside for safekeeping, after personally  checking the contents of the suitcases and satisfying himself, was a frequent occurrence.

Though I could not but witness these events, I distanced myself from these activities, by not taking any conscious notice of them.

It was a holiday. I was sitting on a park bench. A middle-aged man came and sat next to me. After looking at my face for a while, he remarked, "Sir! I have seen you at Punyakoti's home."

"I work in the Chief Minister's office at his residence" I said. 

"I have seen you there" he said and after a pause added, "Is there no one to check the atrocities committed by these people?" in an angry tone.

"If you have any complaints, send a letter to the Chief Minister's Grievance redress cell" I said.

"Can I complain to the Chief Minister's Grievance Cell about an atrocity committed by Punyakoti?"

"Please don't talk to me about such matters" I said politely, but firmly.

Despite my request, he continued to narrate his experience. 

Many years back, he bought five acres of land in the outskirts of the city, established a farm in that land, constructed a farm house and lived there.

A few months back, he was summoned by Punyakoti to his house. Punyakoti and Thangappan coerced him to sell his farm house and land to them, for a price way below the market price. 

"The price they paid me for my property is not adequate to buy even an apartment in the city. I was deprived of my property and was virtually thrown on the streets, along with my family."

He began to sob uncontrollably.

"You could have declined to sell your property" I said, not knowing how to pacify him. 

"How could I have said no, when they threatened me that they would kidnap my child and kill her, if I didn't agree to sell my property on the terms dictated by them? I have read about an instance of their kidnapping the child of a well-known businessman and forcing him to sell his property situated in a prime area, for a throwaway price. If this was the plight of a wealthy and influential man, how can an ordinary person like me stand up to these thugs?"

Suddenly, his mood changed. He stood up, gesticulated angrily and said, "Right at this moment, I am throwing a curse on this duo. They would be drowned in the tears shed by me and many others like me. They would face retribution for their sins very soon."

He then left the park. 

I had retired from service. 

I got a phone call from my lawyer. 

Many years ago, I had bought a small piece of land in a village. A few years later, I was shocked to learn that some people sold that land to another person, using forged documents. I filed a case in the court, seeking the cancellation of that sale and restoration of the title to me. 

My lawyer conveyed to me the happy news of the court delivering a judgement in my favour.

I profusely thanked the lawyer for his services.

"No need to thank me, sir. You got back something that you acquired  through rightful means. How will a property acquired by you using the money honestly earned by you go out of your hands?" remaked the lawyer. 

He then remarked, "I saw a news item that Punyakoti's properties are going to be auctioned."

"Yes" I said tersely. Though I don't talk to anyone about Punyakoti, other people often talk to me about him.

"The atrocities committed by Punyakoti and Thangappan are unprecedented. Both of them having been sentenced to five years' imprisonment, the process of auctioning their properties as per court order has begun. I feel that it is the effect of the tears shed by the large number of people, harmed by this duo" said the lawyer.

The face of the hapless man who cried sitting next to me on the park bench came to my mind.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 66
Purity in Action

Verse 659 (in Tamil):
azhak koNda ellAm azhap pOm izhappinum
pin pyakkum naRpAl avai.

Meaning:  

All that has been obtained by a person causing someone to shed tears will depart from him. On the other hand, if one were to lose assets obtained by fair means, they will prove beneficial to him later.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'paRi pOna paNNai vIdu' by the same author.) 

Verse 660 (Soon)
Verse 658

658. The Rogue Elephant

"We need to expand our hermitage. The existing space is not sufficient. What shall we do?" asked Ishwar Yogi, the founder and head of the hermitage.

"We can buy some land in a nearby place and construct buildings there" said Muthulingam, his secretary.  

Ishwar Yogi laughed and said "Muthu! You are a highly educated man. I am having you as my secretary, expecting that you will give me creative and innovative ideas. Not for coming out with such lousy idea!."

Muthulingam knew that if Ishwar Yogi spoke with a laughter, it meant that he was angry at the person he was speaking to! So, he did not say anything further. 

"There is forest land nearby. We can cut off the trees in five acres of that land and use that place for constructing buildings" said Ishwar Yogi. 

"Swamiji! That is forest land. It belongs to the government. Construction of buildings won't be permitted there."

"The government has kept the land unused. So, we can take it. We can say that we are going to start a yoga school, construct a small building for the yoga school in a corner and use the rest of the land to construct the buildings we need. Tell the architect to prepare the plan. We have to start the construction soon."

"Swamiji! We need to get the building plan approved."

"We will first construct the buildings and then seek approval. We have our people in all the places, to do our bidding!" said Ishwar Yogi and laughed.

Muthulingam realized that this laughter did not result from Ishwar Yogi's anger but from his arrogant self-assurance that the government machinery was under his control.

About five acres of forest land were encroached. The encroached land was fenced and high-rise buildings were constructed in the forest land, after cutting off a large number of trees, defying opposition and protests from local people and environmental activists. 

A number of animals living in that area were confused that the lands they have been using for dwelling and moving about were blocked and began to search for other places of abode nearby. 

At one corner of the encroached land, a small make-shift building carrying the name board 'Ishwar School of Yoga' remained aloof and abandoned, while the other buildings buzzed with activity. Devotees both from within and outside the country flocked to listen to the lectures and discourses of Ishwar Yogi and on special occasions, to witness and enjoy his dancing with glamorous film stars 

A new government that assumed office in the state after three years, by winning the assembly elections, issued a notice to the hermitage that the government was going to demolish the buildings constructed without approval and in violation of rules and take over the land encroached by the hermitage. 

Ishwar Yogi approached the courts, praying for exemption from environmental rules, since his institution was a yoga school. With the central government filing an affidavit in support of Ishwar Yogi, the court quashed the notice issued by the state government. 

"Did you see what happened? You preached to me that we shouldn't buildings on forest land. What do you say now?" Ishwar Yogi gloated to Muthulingam, rubbing him for the reservations he had expressed for the proposal.

'You are the one who preaches to others about ethics and morality. But you do things in violation of both government rules and principles of morality, unmindful of the harm being done to people as well as animals. Who am I to preach to you?' thought Muthulingam.

The lady reading the news in a television channel read the following news:

"This morning, a rogue elephant that entered the hermitage of Ishwar Yogi, lifted him by its trunk and threw him down with force. The Yogi suffered injuries in several parts of his body and was immediately taken to a hospital for treatment. The doctors said that the Yogi has suffered multiple fractures, some mild and some severe. The incident happened, when the Yogi was taking his usual morning walk inside the hermitage. Hearing his cries, several people rushed to the spot from the hermitage. Seeing the people coming out, the elephant ran away. Therefore, no one else was affected.

"Forest minister Vezhavendan told media persons that this incident justified the stand of the government that construction of buildings in forest land posed danger to animals living there. Quoting this incident of a rogue elephant driven out from its abode, attacking the head of the hermitage, the government would approach the court seeking permission to take over the forest land that belonged to the government, he added."

The newsreader paused with a smile and then switched to the next item in the news bulletin. 

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 66
Purity in Action

Verse 658 (in Tamil):
kadindha kadindhorAr seydhArkku avai thAm
mudindhAlum pIzhai tharum.

Meaning:

The actions of those, who have not desisted from doing deeds forbidden (by the virtuous) will, even if they succeed, cause them sorrow.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'madham pidiththaa yAnai' by the same author.) 

Verse 659
Verse 657

1145. What Makes Poonguzhali Intoxicated?

"I have been repeatedly requesting you to put an end to your drinking habit. But you won't listen to me" said Poonguzhali, in exasperation.

"I have been trying. But I couldn't succeed. I need the state of intoxication, drinking gives me" said Inamkumaran.

"Why do you need that state? I don't feel the need for such a state!"

"Everyone needs a kind of intoxication. I don't know what will make you fee you such a state."

"Just because you are unable to give up drinking, don't theorize that every one needs some kind of an intoxication" said Poonguzhali.

At that time, Poonguzhali's attention was drawn to something she just noticed. Turning her head to look in a particular direction, she told Ilankumaran, "I will be back in a minute" and walked in that direction.

When she came back to Ilankumaran after ten minutes, Ilamkumaran asked her "Where did you go?"

"I saw two women looking at us and talking. I went near them and listened to what they were talking about us" said Poonguzhali.

"What did they talk about?"

"What will they talk about? They were remarking that you and I have been roaming about the village together. They said that it would be better if we get married and then go about the village as a married couple!"

"Did you fight with them for gossiping about you?"

"Why should I fight with them? After all, what they said was true" said Poonguzhali, with a smile.

"When you went near them, I came after you, stood behind you and observed you. I noticed that you felt elated listening to them speak about our love!" said Ilamkumaran, laughing.

"You will indulge in such surreptitious acts!" exclaimed Poonguzhali, in feigned anger.

"Aren't you doing the same thing? You look for people gossiping about you, listen to their conversation stealthily and rejoice. I think it makes you feel intoxicated!"

"How can you call it intoxication?"

"It is intoxication, alright. I saw the sign of intoxication in your eyes, when you were listening to the gossip. It was as if you were going to enter a state of stupor. The intoxication you get by listening to the gossip about our love is similar to the one I get from drinking liquor!" said Ilamkumaran.

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 115
Shedding Shyness

Verse 1143 (in Tamil):
kaLiththoRum kaLLUNdal vEttaRRAl kAmam
veLippadum thORum inidhu.

Meaning:

Just as one who has a habit of drinking feels delightful, whenever he consumes liquor, we feel delightful, whenever there is a gossip in the town about our love.

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

Verse 1146 (Soon)
Verse 1144

657. Loan Recovery Officer

If someone were to ask Kumaran where he was working and Kumaran give an answer, that person would look at Kumaran with respect, hearing the name of the multi-national bank he was working for.

Usually, people won't ask him what position he was holding in that bank. If someone asked, he would say, Loan Recovery Officer.' They won't probe him further about the nature of his job.

Kumaran's parents were not alive. His father's brother took the initiative of finding him a suitable match.

When Kumaran's uncle took him to a prospective bride's house, Kumaran expressed his wish to talk to the girl, in private. With the girl's parents acceding to his request, Kumaran and the girl sat inside a room and conversed.

"Do you know about my job?" Kumaran asked the girl. 

"Loan Recovery Officer in a multi-national bank" said the girl, named Girija.

"That is my designation, alright. But, in reality, I am a Loan Recovery Thug!"

"What do you mean?"

"My job is to recover the dues from people who owe money to the bank in the form of credit card dues or loan installments. I would go to their homes, yell at them and speak disparagingly of them, in a way to make them feel humiliated and shamed in the presence of the neighbours, who are bound to hear me deliberately speaking in a loud voice, intending it to be heard by as many people in the neighbourhood, as possible. Sometimes, I would enter the house, lock it from inside and threaten the borrower. Of course, only the borrower and his family members would be able to hear my threats, since I couldn't have any witnesses hearing the threats issued by me. Sometimes, I may even slap or hit some people to terrorize them. I will even threaten the borrower with murder, if he won't clear the dues within a specified period. I would also forcibly seize two-wheelers, TVs and other appliances from the defaulters. This is how I function as a Loan Recovery Office" said Kumaran, feeling bitter.

"Once I saw someone threatening one of our neighbours. We all felt scared" said Girija.  

"In the beginning, I didn't feel bad about what I had been doing. But, nowadays, I feel disturbed about creating a fear in the minds of the borrowers and making them pay the dues, even by taking extreme measures like selling their precious assets. Though I am only doing my duty, I feel that the guilt gets attached to me. Some people would curse me saying, 'You heartless fellow! You think you are going to be happy, after doing these things to us?' Some would curse me saying, 'Take it from me. You will be ruined!' I know that a lot of people would have cursed me silently. One person committed suicide, after I had threatened him of dire consequences, since he was unable to pay his dues."

"Why are you telling me these?"

"I don't want to continue in this job. I am not highly educated. I don't have special skills or experience. So, if I quit this job, I won't be able to get a good job. I may only get a job with a modest salary. Will you still consent to marry me?" asked Kumaran.

"Of course, I will" said Girija. "It is better to have a job with a small salary and live in poverty than have a well-paying job that involves doing harm to others" said Girija.

"In that case, I will come to your house and seek your hand in marriage, after taking up another job" said Kumaran, feeling elated.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 66
Purity in Action

Verse 657 (in Tamil):
pazhi malaindhu eydhiya Akkaththin sAnROr
kazhi nalguuravE thalai.

Meaning:  

The extreme poverty of the virtuous is far superior to the wealth obtained by heaping up sinful deeds.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'kadan vasUl adhikAri' by the same author.) 

Verse 658
Verse 656

1144. Sivakami Aunty

"Then?" asked Manimekalai.

"Then what? We have spoken about every thing!" said Chandran.

"Does it mean we don't have anything else to talk about? If this is the state of things now, how will things be after we get married?"

"After marriage, we will have many things to have a fight about. Life will be exciting, with fights and truce coming one after the other."

"Are you suggesting that there is nothing interesting in our love life?"

"Oh, my God! I didn't mean to say so. When we are in love, we will be careful that we shouldn't quarrel, lest a quarrel should lead to a break up. But, after we get married, we won't have this fear. That is what I meant" said Chandran

"It is true that our love life lacks excitement. Normally, there will be opposition to love from the parents. But we didn't have that problem. Your parents are not alive. Though I have not yet told my parents about our love, I have no doubt that they will consent to our marriage. After all, their marriage was love marriage too. So, our love life has been going on without any hitch. Only if some problem crops up, there will be excitement" said Manimekalai. 

They didn't meet for the next five days. Chandran came to their usual meeting place every day, waited for Manimekalai and returned home, disappointed.  

When Manimekalai came to the meeting place the sixth day, she had a worried expression on her face.

"What happened, Manimekalai? Are you not feeling well?" asked Chandran, with concern. 

"Are you not aware of what is happening around us?" asked Manimekalai, in an angry tone.

"What is happening around us?"

"Some people have been gossiping about you and me. Has the gossip not reached your ears?"

"No. But, what are they gossiping?"

"They say that you and I hugged and kissed each other in public!"

"This is atrocious! I have not even touched you. Who created this story?" asked Chandran, angrily.

"There is one Sivakami aunty in our village. Gossiping is her full time profession. She seems to have noticed our talking to each other. She has created a story around our sitting together and conversing with each other, by adding elements like hugging, kissing etc to our conversation and spread it to a wide circle of people."

"What is the reaction of people to this gossip?"

"I don't know about it. But, this gossip has reached the ears of my mother too. She asked me about it. I told her about our love. She told me, 'Ask your lover Chandran to meet me and your father soon and seek our consent to marry you.' But, I was scared to come out, since I didn't know what the people of this village would be thinking about me and how they would be judging me. That is why I didn't come to meet you for the past few days" said Manimekalai.

"We were feeling that there was no excitement in our love life. Sivakami aunty has filled this void, by creating some excitement. Let us go and meet her and and convey our thanks to her" said Chandran, laughing.

Manimekalai stared at him with disbelief, for a while. Then, she relaxed herself and joined in his laughter.

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 115
Gossiping by Others

Verse 1144 (in Tamil):
kavvaiyAl kavvidhu kAmam adhu inREl
thavvennum thanmai izhandhu.

Meaning:

Our love grows due to the gossip of the villagers. Otherwise, it would lose its power and languish.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'sivakAmi seydha udhavi' by the same author.)

Verse 1145
Verse 1143

656. A Desperate Moment

Ramadas' task was to canvass passengers traveling long distance to board a particular bus. For every passenger brought by him to the bus, he would be paid a small sum as commission.

Ramadas would often lament to himself 'what kind of a profession is this?'

His dissatisfaction with his profession was the reason for his not getting married, despite having been repeatedly persuaded by his mother Kantimathi, to get married. 

"What is the point in marrying and having a family, when I don't have a steady income? How will I feed my family members on the days I don't have any earning?" Ramadas would argue with his mother. 

Kantimathi would counter him, saying, "When the need arises, you will find the means to earn the amount of money required to fulfill the need. Your wife may also be able to earn and supplement your income. Will it not be good for you?" 

But, Ramadas did not want to act on blind faith.

He found it amusing that some people came forward to offer their daughter's hand in marriage to him.

When Ramadas explained his financial position to them, they said, "Don't worry. You will be able to manage. I don't have a steady income too. But, I have been able to manage my family."

Ramadas wondered whether it was their ignorance or the desperation to get their daughter married off that was behind such a blind faith.

Ramadas had no income for two consecutive days. In spite of his repeatedly shouting the name of the destination of the bus and reaching out to people, no one boarded the bus he directed them to.

This situation was not unusual. During those times, he would manage with his savings.

But, this time, his savings had exhausted. Both Ramadas and his mother had nothing to eat that day. He would at least have a few cups of tea at the tea stall in the bus station, on credit. But, his mother couldn't have even a cup of tea.

Only if he earned something that day, he and his mother would have something to eat that night. The thought of how long his mother would be able to withstand hunger created a churning sensation in his gut. 

"What Ramadas, didn't get any customer today?"

Hearing the voice from behind, Ramadas turned back, 

Gokul!

Gokul was running a profession near the bus station. But, his profession was not something that he could speak about. 

"Just look at the sea of people throbbing this bus station. If you go near a small cluster of men standing alone and murmur the message into their years, a couple of them are bound to respond and come behind you. Take them to the spot and you will get a commission. This is guaranteed. Do you have an idea how many men standing alone here are craving for a female companion? Those men are desperately looking for someone to come to them and solicit them."

Gokul was right. Ramadas has noticed people working for Gokul approaching single men standing in the bus station, talking to them a few words and some of them following the men to a spot near the bus station. 

Sometimes, it had occurred to Ramadas that what those men were doing was easier and definitely more lucrative than his job of canvassing passengers to board a particular bus.

When Gokul made the offer to Ramadas, albeit in an indirect way, there was a momentary thought in Ramdas' mind that he could try doing that at least for that day, since he had no earnings till that moment.

But, Ramadas swept off that thought immediately with a strong resolve and told Gokul, "Sorry, sir! That job won't suit me."

He then moved shouting, "Madurai, Dindigul, Theni" hoping that some passengers heading to those places would hear him and come to him. 

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 66
Purity in Action

Verse 656 (in Tamil):
InRAL pasi kANbAn Ayinum seyyaRk
sAnROr pazhikkum vinai.

Meaning:

Even when you see your mother starving, don’t do deeds that the virtuous people would deem contemptuous.

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

Verse 657
Verse 655

160. Who Will Win the Endurance Test?

When Mukundan joined that firm, he had high expectations about the job.

It was a small firm engaged in shipping and forwarding business. Mukundan expected that working in such a firm would be both challenging and exciting.

But, within a few days of joining the firm, he began to sense disappointment. The main factor that caused the disappointment was the attitude and actions of the Managing Director of the company. 

The company had a turnover of a few million rupees and was considered one of the best companies in its line of business. But, the Managing Director Marthandam was running it like a farm. 

The employees had no authority to take decisions even on routine matters. They had to seek the approval of the Managing Director at every step. Marthandam had the habit of finding fault with the actions of the employees and severely reprimanding them, without bothering to hear their side.

Only after joining the company did Mukundan realize that Marthandam's abrasive style of functioning made many employees leave the firm within a short time, in spite of the attractive salary package and perquisites offered to the employees.

The only source of solace for the employees was General Manager Kannan. In striking contrast to the Managing Director who acted with arrogance and treated the employees with contempt, Kannan was an embodiment of patience and dignity.

Marthandam treated Kannan also with the same contempt with which he treated the other employees. In fact, he treated Kannan even worse than he did the other employees.

Marthandam acted as if he wanted to humiliate Kannan in the presence of other employees. He would reprimand Kannan in office meetings, in which other employees participated. Sometimes, he would come out of his cabin, come and stand outside Kannan's cubicle and shout at him, unmindful of the fact that this would be witnessed by the entire office. Additionally, he would summon Kannan to his cabin and criticize him for his alleged lapses.

But Kannan was attending to his work, unmindful of the humiliations harped on him by Marthandam. 

If any mistake was committed by an employee, Kannan would talk to him about his mistake calmly and advise him to exercise care to avoid such mistakes in future. 

In fact, on many occasions, Kannan protected the erring employees from the rage of the Managing Director, by dealing with the problem at his level and resolving it, obviating the need for the matter to come to the attention of the Managing Director.

When Mukundan went to the lunch room, he saw Kannan sitting there alone. When Mukundan was about to start a conversation with Kannan, Assistant Manager Kasi entered the room.

"What Mr. Kasi, you are not fasting today?" Kannan asked Kasi, smiling.

"Why, sir? Will Mr. Kasi observe fasting often?" asked Mukundan.

"Yes. He observes fasting five or six days a month, on some count or other" said Kannan. 

"Fortunately, I am not fasting today. If I were, I wouldn't have had the stamina to withstand the verbal thrashing given to me by the Managing Director this morning!" said Kasi. 

"I am amazed that you are able to endure hunger five or six days a month, by observing total fasting" said Kannan. 

"I endure suffering only for a few days a month. But my endurance is no match to yours" said Kasi.

"What do you mean?"

"You listen to the harsh words spoken by the Managing Director every day but remain calm and unperturbed. The endurance I practice is not superior to your endurance" said Kasi.  

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 16
Forbearance 

Verse 160 (In Tamil)

uNNAdhu nORpAr periyar piRar sollum
innAchchol nORpArin pin.

Meaning:

Those who endure abstinence from food are great. But, they rank below those who patiently endure the harsh words of others.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'nALum oru nOnbu' by the same author)

Verse 161 (Soon)
Verse 159