192. A Cabin for Gajapathy

No one in that firm knew what work Gajapathy had been doing. In fact he had no work to do!

Gajapathy was a friend of Sundaramurthy, the founder of the firm. He had been working in that firm, since the time the firm was launched. 

The firm was engaged in supplying various products to government departments. When the firm was started, it was selling stationery items like paper, files etc. Within a short period, a number of other goods including furniture and fittings were added to the list. 

During the early days of the firm, Gajapathy worked hard, along with Sundaramurthy, to improve the business of the firm. But, with the firm having grown big and the number of employees also gone up, Sundaramurthy's workload gradually came down and he began to relax.

In the firm, no one was given any designation. In the beginning Gajapathy was acting like the manager, but in the course of time his involvement in the firm's management came down.

The employees also gradually gave up the practice of reporting to Gajapathy and seeking his guidance. They began to report to the proprietor directly. 

The firm's office was functioning in two floors, the ground floor and the first floor. Sundaramurthy's cabin was at one end of the first floor. 

There was no separate cabin for any employee, including Gajapathy. Gajapathy's seat was near the staircase. 

Gajapathy would stop every employee, who was going up or coming down the stairs and chat with them. No one was able to avoid him. The employees could not help spending a few minutes talking to him. 

The chat could be on various topics like the employee's family matters, accidents and crimes in the town, movies, politics or occasionally, matters relating to the firm too!

Some employees enjoyed the chat, since it provided them with a short diversion from the monotony of work. But, Some others, particularly the lady employees, did not relish this. 

Gajapathy had a stentorian voice. So his voice would invariably reach most of the employees sitting on that floor. Everyone would be forced to turn their attention and listen to this chat. 

Since Gajapathy was a senior executive close to the proprietor, no one complained about the distraction caused by his chat.

One day Sundaramurthy shifted his cabin from the first floor to the ground floor.

When Gajapathy asked him, "Why did you change your room?" Sundaramurthy said, "Just for a change." 

A few days after shifting his cabin to the ground floor, Sundaramurthy called Gajapathy to his cabin. 

"Do you know why I moved to the ground floor?" asked Sundaramurthy.

"When I asked you, you said it was just for a change!" replied Gajapathy.

"Gajapathy! You have been with me from the time I started my firm.Your contribution to the growth of the firm is immense. I wanted to recognize your contribution and give you the importance you deserve. As you know, it is my policy to not give any designation to any employee in our firm. Otherwise, I would have designated you the general manager, even at the time I started the firm. Now, I am going to designate you the general manager. As a general manager, you need to be given a cabin. I vacated my cabin only for giving it to you. That cabin is bigger than this. Hereafter, you will be sitting there. I will send you some important files. You can look into the files leisurely and give your views. You won't have any work pressure."

Gajapathy was both happy and confused. 

"I have designated Gajapathy the general manager of the firm. I have vacated my cabin and given it to Gajapathy" Sundaramurthy told his wife, when he was at home.

"Why did you make this change suddenly?"

"Gajapathy has done a lot for the firm. When the firm became well established, I should have given some responsibility to him. I thought he could relax and enjoy his time in the firm till the time he retired. But, he had been stopping people passing through his seat and wasting their time by chatting with them and spoiling the work atmosphere of the office, in the process. The employees couldn't avoid him. I didn't know how to restrain him, since I didn't want him to feel hurt by my confronting him. So, I adopted this approach."

"How has Gajapathy taken the change?"

"He appears to be happy about getting a separate cabin. But, his cabin is located in a corner on the first floor. No one would have any need to go that side. So, he is isolated now. If he wants to chat with someone, he has to come out of his cabin and look for people. He can't do this quite often. Since the cabin has a glass door, he has been signaling people to come to his cabin by waving his hand. But people avoid looking at the glass door and even if they do, they signal back saying that they would come later, since they have some important work."

"I pity him."

"Till recently, it was the office which was in a position to be pitied! I am sure Gajapathy would adjust to the new situation. I have started giving him some assignments too. Who knows! He may start working hard and contributing to the firm again, as he was doing in the early days" said Sundaramurthy, with a smile.

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 20
Avoiding Vain Speech

Verse 192 (In Tamil)

payan ila pallAr mun sollal nayan ila
nattAr kaN seydhalin thIdhu.

Meaning:

To speak useless things in the presence of many is a greater evil than to do unkind things towards friends. 

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'padhavi uyarvu' by the same author)

Verse 193 (Soon)
Verse 191

191. Discourses Gone Sour

"indhath thiNNaip pEchchu manidharidam oru kanna irukkaNum aNNAchchi!" 
("Oh brother, Be wary of people chatting idly, sitting on the pial!")

Listening to these lines from an old Tamil film song telecast in Murasu television channel, Bhuvana asked Vedachalam, "What is a thinnai, grandpa?"

"It is a raised platform at the front of a house. Houses in village used to have it, to facilitate people sit on it and relax" said Vedachalam.

"No one is more qualified to talk about the use of the thinnai than your grandpa. After all, those days, he had been spending a major part of his day sitting on the pial, inviting people walking on the street to sit with him and chatting with them endlessly" said Vedachalam's wife Gowri, with distaste.

Vedachalam immersed himself into old memories.

Vedachalam had agricultural lands in his village, which he had leased out. With the lease rent he was getting from the land being substantial, Vedachalam didn't feel the need to go for any job or do a business to earn money.

He would spend the whole day sitting on the pial of his house. He would call out some people walking on the street, ask them sit with him and chat with them on sundry trivial topics, ranging from the weather to political developments in the country.

He would often talk about the glory of his ancestors like his father having constructed a bamboo bridge across the narrow canal in his village, the temple festivals sponsored by his family and his 'adventures' as a boy.

Often, he would repeat the narration of events already recounted by him several times, as if he was narrating them for the first time. People sitting with him would pretend to be listening to him, picking betel leaves, applying a thin coat of lime paste on the back side of the leaves, clipping the short stems and ingesting them along with liberal doses of sliced arecanut pieces and an optional pinch of tobacco, all from the small metal box kept by Vedachalam near him for his own frequent use and savouring the taste as the mix would be ground in their mouths, with saliva mixing with it and enhancing its taste.

If the stock of any item in the metal box got exhausted, Vedachalam would call a boy walking on the street and command him to buy that item from the nearby betel nut shop and bring it to him.

If Vedachalam was too engrossed in delivering his lecture to observe the depletion of the stocks, one of the people sitting there and listening to him would take the liberty of replenishing the stock.

"Hey! Buy two kavulis* of betel leaves, two packets of arecanut slices and two packets of first grade tobacco from Kanniah's shop. Ask for large packets. Get cash from aiya**," the person would tell the boy summoned by him.

Most of the times, Vedachalam would quietly hand over the cash to the boy. Occasionally, he would cast a look of reprimand at the person who gave the order to the boy. The other person would smile in a silly way. Vedachalam would then part with the cash.

Gowri had repeatedly tried to dissuade Vedachalam from continuing with this practice.

"If you don't have anything to do, lie on the reclining chair and relax. Or, just go for a walk around the village. You can even go to our paddy fields and observe the cultivating activities. Though you have no business to be there with our tenant doing the cultivation, you can idly watch the work going on there. But, for heaven's sake, don't spend your time in idle talk, sitting on the pial and spend money on buying betel leaves and tobacco for your chat partners!"

But, Vedachalam didn't pay heed to her advice.

Once, Selvaraj, a distant relative of Vedachalam, living in the village told Gowri, "Aunty! Uncle is under the illusion that people come and sit with him on the pial to listen to his talk. But, only people addicted to chewing betel nut and tobacco come to him. They sit on the pial for a while, pretending to listen to him, get a free supply of betel leaves and tobacco, chew them, relish them and go away. But, they mock uncle behind his back and laugh at his narratives. I heard one person telling another, 'I have to listen to his vain talk for the sake of a few betel leaves and a pinch of tobacco!' Another person said, 'The man is as hollow as his speech!' Why does uncle have to entertain such people and subject himself to this kind of ridicule?"

"I have told him many times to desist from this practice. But, he won't listen to me. He is not home. Maybe, he has gone to the nearby shop to buy betel leaves and tobacco! When he comes home, I will tell him what you told me." 

Vedacham had not gone out, as assumed by Gowri. He was inside the house, listening to the conversation. 

The next day, when Vedachalam sat on the pial, he didn't have the betel nut box on the pial. The regular visitors came and sat on the pial, as usual. They looked for the metal box and were disappointed that it was not there.

One person asked Vedachalam, "Where is the betel nut box, brother?"

"I intend to stop the practice of chewing betel nuts!" said Vedachalam.

After that, the number of people visiting Vedachalam and sitting with him on the pial of his house for a chat with him began to dwindle. Eventually, the number was reduced to zero.

Vedachalam kept sitting on the pial of his house, watching the people walking on the street, hoping that someone would step on to the pial for a chat. If a person who used to chat with him happened to pass by his house, he would walk fast while crossing his house and avoid Vedachalam's gaze by looking the other side.

Sometimes, Vedachalam would call out someone walking on the street. That person would say, "I have some urgent work to attend to. I will come after sometime" and move away, avoiding him

With hardly anyone to listen to him, Vedachalam's talk shows came to an end.

"What are you reflecting on? Old memories?" asked Gowri.

"Those days, people of my village mocked me. But, you are mocking me now, after so many years" said Vedachalam, feeling hurt.

"Those people were with you only for getting free supplies of betel leaves and tobacco. I have been with you all these years, without expecting anything from you!"

At that time, another song was being played on the television channel.

'pAnaiyilE sORirundhA pUnaigaLum sondhamadA'

('If there is food in the pot, even cats will be your kin')

"Change the channel. Listening to old songs opens up my old wounds" said Vedachalam, in disgust.

*kauli - a unit measuring 100 betel leaves.

**aiya - a respectful term used to refer to or address a person..

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 20
Avoiding Vain Speech

Verse 191 (In Tamil)

pallAr muniyap payanila solluvAn
ellArum eLLappadum.

Meaning:

One, who, to the disgust of many, makes vain discourses, will be despised by all.

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

Verse 192
Verse 190

190. The Gentleman From Kolkatta

When Kumar married Malathi, he was aware that her extended family was quite large. 

Malathi had two brothers and two sisters. And, she had many relatives from the sides of both of her parents. 

In contrast, Kumar didn't have many relatives. His parents had very few relatives. After the demise of his parents, his contacts with those relatives have dwindled. 

He would meet some of his relatives occasionally during the functions in the families of one of them and just exchange pleasantries with them. Otherwise, he was not keeping touch with them, by visiting them or by talking to them over phone, even occasionally.

On the other hand, the contacts and interactions between Malathi's relatives were frequent and intimate. 

Having a large number of relatives gave opportunities to Malathi to meet them quite often in the functions of the families of one relative or other. She and her relatives were also in the habit of visiting one another and keeping in touch through exchange of letters by post (during the earlier years, before they got telephone connections at their homes) and later, through telephone conversations.

During the initial years of his marriage, Kumar felt happy about Malathi being in such intimate contact with a number of her relatives, in contrast to his inability to reach out to his relatives. 

But, after a few months, he was concerned by a trend he observed in the interactions between Malathi and her relatives

Though they had been moving closely, Malathi's relatives had the habit of finding fault with one anotherr. Malathi was no exception to this. 

There were many informal groups and sub-groups among Malathi and her relatives. Members of one group would find fault with some of those not in their group. There would be gossip and slander. 

They also did this to members in their own group, while individually interacting with a person in their group or with someone in another group.

The disparaging remarks made by one person against another would, on occasions, be leaked by a member of the group, sometimes inadvertently, but often deliberately. This would result in mutual recriminations and bickering and ultimately to bitterness and at times, even lead to the relationship getting sour, at least temporarily.

During the times people had an opportunity to meet and talk to each other, the issues would be raked up. It would lead to arguments and verbal fights. When one person accused another of having done or said something against him or her, the other person would hit back saying, 'Did you not make a bad remark about me to that person, at such and such a time?' 

Kumar often heard Malathi complaining about her brothers and their wives, during her telephonic conversations with her sisters.

When he asked Malathi why she was doing so, she replied, "We sisters will share our grievances and disappointments among ourselves. Why should this disturb you?"

"Will you talk to them about me also?" asked Kumar, in a lighter vein. 

"I could. If I did so, obviously, I can't admit it to you!" said Malathi.

Kumar was not sure whether she said it in a lighter vein, or whether she really meant it!

"If you and your relatives keep finding fault with others among you and sharing it with some others, won't the relationship bonds get weakened? I find that almost everyone among your relatives has a grouse against every other person. Is there any one in your family against whom no one has a grievance?"

"Yes. there is one. Our Kolkatta uncle" said Malathi.

"But he is not closely related to you. He is your father's cousin. And, since he is residing at a place far off from Chennai, where most of your relatives are residing, you may not have had many opportunities to interact with him. Maybe, that is why none of you has any grievance against him!" quipped Kumar.

"It is not so. Though he is only distantly related to us, he is very intimate with us. He would attend all the functions in our families, by traveling down to Chennai all the way from Kolkatta. In fact, he will be coming to Chennai next month, to attend Priya's wedding" said Malathi.

Kumar began to think how Priya was related to Malathi, but didn't ask Malathi about it, lest she should find fault with him for having not remembered who Priya was!

Kumar had an opportunity to converse with Nagarajan, referred to as Kolkatta uncle by Malathi, during Priya's wedding.

When Kumar was alone with Nagarajan for a few minutes, he told him, "Sir! I have married a girl from your family. I am not sure how much liberty I could take to talk to you about your relatives. But, I find that there has been a tendency among many members of your family to nitpick and quarrel about various matters, many of which are petty and insignificant. As a result, there has been bitterness, resentment, anger and hostility in the minds of many of them. Malathi told me that you were one person, against whom no one had any growse. I admire you for this!" 

Nagarajan smiled and said, "I learnt a secret many years back in my career. It has been helping me in maintaining my family relationships too!"

"What is the secret, sir?" asked Kumar.

"We had a manager in our office. He used to keep a small wooden plaque on his table, inscribed with the message, 'The Boss is always right.' He didn't like any of us working in the office contradicting him or expressing a divergent view. If someone tried to argue with him, he would show him the plaque. Then, the other person would keep quiet. One day, the plaque was missing from his table. I asked him why he had removed that plaque. He told me, 'The general manager from the head office is visiting our branch today. If this plaque is on my table, I won't be able to express my opinion, when I may disagree his views. So, I don't want this plaque to be on my table, when my boss is here!' At that time, a truth struck me. Almost all of us think that we are right. If the other person contradicts us, we dislike it, resent it and get angry too. We dislike another person who expresses a view different from ours. We follow one yardstick for us and another for others. Our manager didn't want his subordinates to express an opinion different from his. But, he didn't want to accept what his boss would say, without any question."

"Interesting" said Kumar.

"I applied what I had realized to my relationships. If someone commits a mistake, we point it out. But, we never think whether we had also committed such a mistake in the past. Such situations would occur quite frequently in domestic matters. When I am attending a wedding, I may feel that the host has not paid much attention to me. The moment I had such a thought, I would think of weddings in my family, in which I had been the host. I would ask myself whether I had paid enough attention to all the guests, greeted them and treated them well. Most of the times, I won't even remember how I had acted in those situations. I would realize that I was so engrossed in looking after the wedding arrangements that I did many things mechanically. I might not have paid enough attention to some of the guests. So, I should give allowance to other people also for their inability to pay as much attention to me as I expected them to. By applying this approach to several areas of our life, I realized that most of the times, I also had the fault I found with another person. This realization was astonishing to me. So, I stopped finding fault with others. I made it a practice to refrain and pointing out anyone's fault to that person. This could be the reason why my relatives have no growse against me!"

"Wonderful, sir! But, have you realized that because of your approach, you have lost one important faculty?" asked Kumat.

"Which faculty?" asked Nagarajan, somewhat taken aback.

"The ability to find fault with others" said Kumar, laughing aloud.

Nagarajan joined in his laughter.

Thirukkural
Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 19
Refraining From Backbiting

Verse 190 (In Tamil)

EdhilAr kuRRam pOl tham kuRRam kANgil pin
thIdhu uNdO mannum uyirkku.

Meaning:

If one looks at his faults in the same way he does at others’ faults, will any harm befell the lingering human lives?

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'KalkaththA ChiththappA' by the same author)

Verse 191 (Soon)
Verse 189

728. A Missed Opportunity

The interview for selecting new entrepreneurs for rant of venture capital funding for their start-up ventures was being held in public view, to demonstrate the transparency of the selection process.

A panel of five experts, representing the venture capital firms, was sitting on the stage and interviewing the applicants, while the audience was watching the interviews, with interest. 

Dilip and Varun were among the candidates. They had together applied for venture capital investment for setting up a plant for manufacturing an innovative product created by them.

The applicants were required to make presentations about their products in English. 

Since Dilip had a good command over English, the duo decided that Dilip would make the presentation. However, Dilip had a shortcoming. He was diffident to speak before others. Varun had repeatedly exhorted Dilip to speak boldly.

They were listed 8th in the order of making the presentations.

After listening to first few presentations, Varun told Dilip with excitement, "Dilip! When it comes to the quality of innovation, the products of others cannot come anywhere near ours. I am sure, once we make our presentation, we will be selected for venture capital funding. You just have to make your presentation with confidence."

Dilip, who was apprehensive about how he was going to make the presentation with confidence, didn't say anything.

When the turn of Dilip and Varun came, Dilip began to speak. In spite of having prepared the presentation well, Dilip was unable to make a convincing presentation. He stumbled quite often, made mistakes and corrected himself, making himself a pitiable person in the process. 

Vaun tried to come to Dilip's help a couple of times, but the panel members didn't allow it, saying that under the rules, only one person was allowed make the presentation.  

After Dilip had completed his presentation, Varun told him, "You have made a mess of it, Dilip!"

"What could I do? I was not able to speak coherently. When I was explaining a point, I would remember that before introducing that point, I should have talked about another point, but I wouldn't know how to bring it up at that stage. It affected my flow and organization" said Dilip, sounding apologetic.

"Well! You are able to explain to me clearly why you couldn't make a coherent speech! It is pathetic that in spite of our having an excellent product, we are going to lose this opportunity to receive venture capital funding, because of our inability to make a good presentation" said Varun, expressing his frustration.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 72
Divining the Mind

Verse 728 (in Tamil):
pallavai kaRRum payam ilarE nal avaiyuL
nangu selach chollAdhAr.

Meaning:

One may be a person of great learning, but that learning can serve no purpose, if one cannot speak effectively before a good audience.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'pudiya muyarchikku nidhi udhavi' by the same author.) 

Verse 729 (Soon)
Verse 727

727. "Ignoamus"

When Vanchinathan, a Tamil scholar, who had made a deep study of many Tamil literary works, written a number of scholarly essays expounding Tamil literary works and authored a few books too, received an offer to participate in a debate, he was reluctant to accept it.

However, his friend Namasivayam talked to him and convinced him to accept the offer.

"You are more erudite than all the people who will be participating in the debate, including the Tamil scholar, who will be serving as the moderator. While people with a little learning have been showing off their knowledge, you have been keeping a low profile, like a lamp glowing inside a pot, as the saying goes! Someone who is aware of your erudition has given you this opportunity. Please make use of it" said Namasivayam. 

The two debating teams had four speakers each. Vanchinathan was the third person to speak on his his team.

The moment he stood before the mike, Vanchinathan became nervous. His mind suddenly went blank. He didn't know where to begin. 

While listening to the speakers from the other side, he had made mental notes of the points made by them and decided how to counter those points. But, all those thoughts seemed to have evaporated the moment he came before the mike.

Vanchinathan said something for the sake of saying something. He was at a loss for words and he couldn't speak coherently. 

After speaking a few sentences, he looked at the moderator, hoping that his time would have been over. The moderator signaled him to continue with his speech.

Vanchinathan spoke for a few minutes, without even being conscious of what he was saying and concluded his speech, even before his time was over.

After going back to his seat, he looked at the leader of his team and the other two speakers on his team. Their faces reflected their disappointment about the bad job done by him. The speakers from the other side appeared to look at him with glee and a sense of mockery.

After the event had got over, neither the leader of his team, nor the other two speakers said anything to Vanchinathan. The moderator attempted to say something, but on second thoughts refrained from saying anything.

When Vanchinathan was leaving the hall, he heard some members of the audience speaking disparagingly of him. He heard one person remark, "Everyone except one person spoke well. But, one speaker seems to be an ignoramus!"

When Vanchinathan wondered whether all his education, research and extensive studies were only to get the title 'ignoramus' from a member of the audience, he could not help feeling amused, even at that moment of humiliation.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 73
Knowing Your Audience

Verse 727 (in Tamil):
pagai agaththup pEdi kai oL vAL avai agaththu
anjum avan kaRRa nUl.

Meaning:

The learning of a person who is diffident before an assembly is like the shining sword in the hand of a coward facing a foe.

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

Verse 728
Verse 726

189. Vice President Vaiyapuri

"Sir! He is Arunmozhi, the Secretary of our party's Social Media Wing" Muthu, a senior leader of People's Rights Party (PRP), told Vaiyapuri, the Vice-President of the party, introducing Arunmozhi.

Arun paid obeisance to Vaiyapuri, by folding his palms in the traditional way. 

Arunmozhi was Arun, till he joined the party recently. It was the party president Vetri Vendhan, who elongated his name as Arunmozhi, saying that the longer name would sound more impressive.

"Social Media Wing! What is it?" asked Vaiyapuri. not paying attention to Arunmozhi's gesture of respect.

"Sir! This wing has just been created to spread our ideology and messages through social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter etc. We can not only carry our messages to a wide section of people through these platforms, but also reply to criticisms made by our political opponents and others" explained Muthu. "Our party president has appointed Mr. Arunmozhi as the Secretary of the Social Media Wing. He asked me to introduce him to you" he added. 

Though Veteri Vendhan would never consult Vaiyapuri, the Vice-President on any issue, he never failed to extend small courtesies like this to Vaiyapuri.

"Ok. Do your job well" said Vaiyapuri, by way of dismissing Arunmozhi. 

After Arunmozhi had left, Vaiyapuri asked Muthu, "Why do we need people like him? We have fire-emitting orators like Thunderbolt Thanikachalam!"

"Sir, in the present times, the role of social media has become very important. Only after getting convinced of the power of the social media, have our president recruited this young man, who was working in a software development firm, by offering him a huge salary" said Muthu.

'I now understand why our party president never consults you on any issue!' Muthu said to himself, mentally directing the comment to Vaiyapuri.

Within a few weeks of Arunmozhi's taking over the task of managing the Social Media Wing of the party, there was a considerable improvement in the reach of the party's messages to social media users.

Combining his technical skills and the creative talents of some young people belonging to the party, Arunmozhi was able to turn out highly impactful campaigns.

He met the party president, a couple of times. The party president appreciated Arunmozhi's work, making specific references to some of his campaigns. Arunmozhi realized that the party president had been keenly observing his work and evaluating it.

Arunmozhi also met Vice President Vaiyapuri, a few times. 

Vaiyapuri just said, "I hear that you have been doing a good job. Congratulations."

Beyond that, he made no reference to any of Arunmozhi's work. 

Arunmozhi came to know that Vaiyapuri was making slanderous comments about him to other leaders of the party. 

"We are squandering our funds by paying this man Arunmozhi a fat salary and spending money on his unproductive projects. Our party doesn't need this kind of promotion. Party workers have been telling me that this is wasteful and requesting me to put a stop to this" was his comment Vaiyapuri made to several leaders and office-bearers of the party.

Arunmozhi was pained to hear about Vaiyapuri's comments through other people. 'If he talks to me directly, I can explain to him the importance of my work and convince him how my campaign has improved the image of our party' he thought.

He met Vaiyapuri again, expecting that he would vent his criticism to him. But, Vaiyapuri didn't say anything to him.

"Sir! If you have any misgivings about my work, please tell me" Arunmozhi asked him. 

Vaiyapuri said, "I don't know anything about the field in which you have been working. I will read our party organ and give my feedback. I don't read online stuff like quitter etc" said Vaiyapuri.

Arunmozhi was not sure whether the use of the incorrect name 'quitter' was due to Vaiyapuri's ignorance or a deliberate slant by him, to express his lack of interest in social media.

Even after that meeting, Arunmozhi learned that Vaiyapuri continued to speak disparagingly of him.

Arunmozhi considered whether he should bother about Vaiyapuri's slander, when his work was recognized and commended by the party president.

However, he found that he couldn't ignore Vaiyapuri's criticism, which was pricking him like a thorn.

Once, when he had a chance to be alone with the party president, Arunmozhi told him, "Sir, please don't mistake me, for saying this. It appears that the vice president is not happy about my work. He didn't say anything to me. But, he has been belittling me and my work, while speaking to other leaders. While I am elated by your words of appreciation, I am also pained by the vice president's remarks. I don't understand what wrong I have committed."

The party president remained silent for a moment. He then said, "Don't worry about it. Keep doing your job."

After two days, Arunmozhi received a call from Sengai Singam, one of the top leaders of the party, who was considered close to the party president, asking Arunmozhi to meet him at the party office.

Arunmozhi met Sengai Singam in the latter's cabin, at the party headquarters.

"It seems you expressed some grievance about the vice president, to the party president!" said Sengai Singam.

Worried that his expressing a grievance against Vaiyapuri to the party president had been construed as complaining about a top leader of the party and taken a serious note of,  Arunmozhi said somewhat apologetically, "Sir, I didn't mean to complain..."

"Just a minute," Sengai Singam interrupted him. I didn't call you to seek an explanation from you. I called you to apprise you of a few tings."

He continued.

"Everyone in our party knows about Mr. Vaiyapuri. Since you have joined the party only recently, you don't know about him. It is the nature of Mr. Vaiyapuri, to find fault wit every one and every thing. That is his only occupation. He won't express his views to the concerned person directly. He would speak about people, behind their backs. He has even spoken ill of our president to some people. Our president knows about this. Our president has made Mr. Vaiyapuri the vice president of the party, in recognition of his stature, as a senior leader of the party. The office of the vice president being held by him is a position with no power. Mr. Vaiyapuri is of no use to the party. In fact, he is a burden. Our president has been bearing this burden, out of a sense of responsibility. It is the magnanimity of our president. Obviously, our president cannot tell you these things about the Vice President. So, he asked me to explain the situation to you.Therefore, don't bother about what Mr. Vaiyapuri says about you. Our president is very happy about your work. Get the thought of Mr. Vaiyapuri's criticism out of your mind and keep doing your job. Best wishes" said Sengai Sivam. 

       

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 19
Refraining From Backbiting

Verse 189 (In Tamil)

aRan nOkki ARRum kol vaiyam puRan nOkkip
pun sol uraippAn poRai.

Meaning:

The earth, out of its commitment to its virtue of patience, tolerates

the presence of a person, who slanders another on his back.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'thuNaith thalaivar' by the same author)

Verse 190
Verse 188

188. The New Neighbour

Kannan had the chance to meet his new neighbour Viswanathan, who had rented the apartment adjacent to his, a week after the latter had moved in. 

Kannan learnt that Viswanathan had worked in a company in Kolkatta and that after his retirement, he moved to Chennai.

During the subsequent interactions, each of them exchanged more information about their backgrounds. 

Kannan remembered that his friend's relative was a high level executive in the company, where Viswanathan had worked. 

"Do you know Mr. Balakrishnan?" Kannan asked Viswanathan. 

"How could I not know him? I had worked with him for the past several years" said Viswanathan. He then asked somewhat cautiously, "Is he related to you?"

"No. He is a distant relative of one of my friends. I happened to meet him in a function in my friend's family. At that time, my friend introduced me to him. When you mentioned the name of your company, I remembered him and asked you whether you knew him" replied Kannan.

"I just wanted to know whether he was close to you" said Viswanathan. After a pause, he added, "He is younger to me in age and junior to me in service. Since I joined this company after having worked in another company for a few years, Balakrishnan had become senior to me in our company. His knowledge about work in the company was poor. He would often seek my advice and guidance for doing his work! But he was sycophantic to his superiors. He had a nickname 'chamcha,' which in Hindi means 'a sycophant.' By virtue of his sycophancy, he was able to get quick promotions and go up in the ladder of hierarchy in the company. He is a General Manager now, there are quite a few General Managers in our company, though! But, I was unable to rise above the position of an Office Manager. Do education, experience, job knowledge, dedication, sincerity and performance have any value in today's world?" said Viswanathan, bitterly.

After a few weeks, Balakrishnan, who had come to Chennai on some work, came to Viswanathan's house, by way of paying a courtesy call.

When Balakrishnan took leave of Viswanathan, Viswanathan told him about his neighbour Kannan and took him to Kannan's house.

Viswanathan told Kannan, "Mr. Kannan! Since you told me that you had met Mr. Balakrishnan, I brought him to your house." 

He then left to his house, allowing the two to converse.

"We met in a function several years back. But, you still remember me. I was pleasantly surprised to hear Viswanathan tell me that you asked him about me. I couldn't place you immediately. Then I remembered that you are a friend of my relative Ravichandran" said Balakrishnan.

"Ravichandran would often talk to me about you and your fast rise in the hierarchy of your company" said Kannan.

After a few minutes, the conversation turned to the subject of Viswanathan.

"Have you been acquainted with Mr. Viswanathan, since long?" asked Kannan.

"I have known Viswanathan from the time he joined my company. When he came to Kolkatta from Chennai to join our company, he suffered for a few months, since he couldn't get a suitable house for rent. He had also vacated his house in Chennai. I had an extra bedroom in my house. I asked him to stay in my house with his family, till the time he was able to rent a house. His family stayed in my house for two months. So, our families have been close since that time. When he joined our company, both of us were at the same level. I was fortunate to get a few quick promotions and move up. But, Viswanathan was not able to get promotions quickly. He has been feeling bad about it" said Balakrishnan, smiling.

After Balakrishnan had taken leave, Kannan's wife Pushpa told him, "This person was so kindhearted to ask a newly acquainted person Viswanatan to stay in his house with his family till he got a house for rent. Both of them have worked together in the same company for several years. They seem to have been close. But, Viswanathan spoke ill of Balakrishnan to you, a person who just got acquainted with him! I wonder what he would say about you to some other people. I suggest that you keep a distance from him."

    

Thirukkural
Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 19
Refraining From Backbiting

Verse 188 (In Tamil)

thunniyAr kuRRamum thURRum marabinAr
enai kol EdhilAr mAttu.

Meaning:

If one is known to habitually sully his friends for their faults,

what damage would he do unto others?

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'Uru vittu Uru vandhu' by the same author)

Verse 189
Verse 187