166. Priya's Wishes

"What mom, isn't there any other shirt?" asked Priya.

"Choose something good among the ones available" said her mother Thangam. 

"I don't find any new shirt!" said Priya, in a voice that appeared to be breaking down. 

"I will take a salary an advance from my office today and buy you a new set of dress tomorrow."

"I have the function in my school today. What is the use of your getting me a new dress tomorrow?" asked Priya, feeling frustrated.

Thangam found a lump of grief rising up in her throat. Why should her husband Raghuraman have left the world so early, orphaning her and Priya?

"Mom! Are we poor, or rich?" asked Priya.

"Neither. We are stuck in the middle!" said Thangam. Immediately, a thought occurred to her whether people like her who didn't want to admit that they were poor had been taking shelter under the dubious identity called 'the middle class.'

"If daddy were alive, would we be rich?" asked Priya.

Thangam didn't answer her. Her mind set out to take a quick tour of the past. 

Raghuraman was the eldest son of his parents. Kesavan was his younger brother. When Kesavan was a boy, a relative wanted to adopt him. He was a wealthy person. His wife was not alive. He was living alone. 

As per the terms of adoption, Kesavan could live with his parents. His adoptive father would take care of his education and marriage. He would visit him now and then. When he died, Kesavan should cremate him and perform the obsequies in the traditional way, as a son would perform the rites for his father. After his death, Kesavan would get his property. A will would be executed to facilitate this.

Considering that Kesavan would continue to live with his natural parents and that this arrangement would help Kesavan live a comfortable life after the death of his adopted father, his father agreed Kesavan to be adopted by the relative.

Raghuraman's education stopped at the school level, since his parents didn't have the means to give him a college education. Since, they lived in a village, college education had to be pursued in a nearby town, by staying in a hostel, making it even more expensive.

Kesavan, who completed his schooling the next year, joined a good college in a city, by taking up residence in a hostel, with his college and hostel fees met by his adoptive father. 

Raghuraman felt that it was unjust that while he couldn't pursue college education, his younger brother had the opportunity to study in a college, just because he had an adoptive father, who was rich.

"Dad! Kesavan's adoptive father is wealthy. Why couldn't he have helped me join the college, by financing my college education?" Raghuraman asked his father. 

"How can we expect such favours from him?" replied his father.

Raghuraman could not reconcile himself to the incongruity.

After completing his college education, Kesavan landed a good job in Chennai. Raghuraman also managed to get a job in Chennai. The job was not attractive, but given his level of education, he couldn't get a better job.  

A few months after Raghuraman married Thangam, his parents passed away in quick succession. 

After both his parents had passed away, Kesavan moved to a spacious house in Chennai, bought by his adoptive father. His adoptive father also stayed with him. After some time, Kesavan's adoptive father got Kesavan married to a girl from a wealthy family, 

The relationship between Raghuraman and Kesavan was reduced to almost a non-existing level. When Kesavan's adoptive father passed away, Raghuraman didn't visit Kesavan to express his condolences.

Though Raghuraman had completely cut off his connection with Kesavan, he would keep talking to Thangam disparagingly of Kesavan and his adoptive father, almost on a daily basis.  

"I wonder whether an injustice like the one done to me was ever done to anyone else in the world! We are two brothers. But, one gentleman adopted my brother and gave him everything, completely ignoring me, who was watching the show like a starving child watching in desperation another child eating a sumptuous meal. How does God tolerate this injustice?" he would say one day. 

Another day, he would say, "If somebody came forward to adopt my brother and shower him with riches, how could he accept it? Should he not have rejected it saying that he would stand only with his parents?"

"If my brother had come up in life by his own efforts, I would not have grudged his success. He is living on the charity of someone. This is not right!" he would fume another day. 

"Don't talk disparagingly of other people. Focus your thinking on what we could do to make our life better" Thangam advised him several times. Bur he didn't pay heed to her words.

One day, Raghuraman had a heart attack and passed away. Kesavan attended the funeral, as a show of courtesy. After that, he didn't bother to find out how Thangam was managing her life. 

Thangam got herself a job. She was struggling to live her life, taking care of her daughter Priya. 

"Come and have your dinner!" Thangam called out Priya.

"I find it boring to eat at home every day. Can we go to a restaurant?" asked Priya. 

"You know I can take you to a restaurant only once in a month, just after I receive my salary."

"Not good enough, mom. My friends dine in restaurants almost every weekend. I don't have good dress to wear. We are unable to enjoy dining in a restaurant now and then. Why are things this way for us?" asked Priya, giving vent to her exasperation.  

"I don't know" replied Thangam. 

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 17
Bearing No Envy

Verse 166 (In Tamil)

koduppadhu azhukkaRuppAn suRRam uduppadhUm
uNbadhUm inRik kedum.

Meaning:

One who feels envious of the wealth given away as charity to another person, will have even his kin suffer without adequate food and clothes.

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

Verse 167 (Soon)
Verse 165

680. Say No to Ransom Demand!

"Pay ransom to another country? Even if rejecting the ransom demand were to result in all of us dying, fighting a war with the country demanding ransom, paying ransom would be unthinkable" said King Rajavarma.

"Your Majesty! Your stand is laudable. But we are a small country. If the Solinga country wages a war with us, our troops cannot withstand the attack of the Solinga forces, even for two days. But, if we can strike a peace agreement with the King of Solinga, you can continue to rule our country" said the Minister.

"I don't like to be a king, by paying ransom to Solinga country" said Rajavarma, firmly.

After a few days, Rajavarma summoned the Minister and told him, "Minister! After pondering over the advice given by you earlier, I have decided to strike a peace agreement with the King of Solinga, by paying the ransom demanded by him."

"It is a wise decision, Your Majesty. But, may I know why you came to this conclusion?" asked the Minister, politely. 

"After we discussed the matter earlier, I visited various places of our country in disguise, to ascertain what people were thinking about the situation. I listened to the conversations among the people. I realized that many people were apprehensive of the tyrannical rule of the King of Solinga, if he were to take over our country, after defeating us in a war. People were saying 'Our King can levy additional taxes and use the sum raised from the additional taxes to pay ransom to the King of Solinga. We will be happy to pay more taxes as the price for continuing to live happily under the rule of our King. But, if the King of Solinga were to rule our country after defeating our King in a war, it will be a disaster for all of us!' Coming to know of the faith our people had in me made me feel proud. But, it also made me feel that I should not allow our people to come under the rule of the King of Solinga, under any circumstances. Though paying ransom to another country is dishonourable, I decided to accept Solinga's demand for ransom, in the interest of our people. I believe that dispelling the fear in the minds of our people is more important than upholding my honour. So, let us send a message to the King of Solinga that we are willing to negotiate a peace agreement with that country" said Rajavarma.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 68
The Method of Executing An Action

Verse 680 (in Tamil):
uRai siRiyAr uL nadungal anjik kuRai peRin
koLvar periyArp paNindhu.

Meaning:

The ruler of a smaller state, perturbed by its people fearing a bigger state attacking them, will submit to the superior power, if his concerns are addressed.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'mudivai mARRik koNda mannan' by the same author.) 

Verse 681 (Soon)
Verse 679

165. Maheswaran's Concerns

"Sundar is leaving for London tomorrow. Shall we go to the airport to send him off?" Kavitha asked her husband Maheswaran.

"Why don't we accompany him to London, leave him at the hotel he is going to say and then return to India?" asked Maheswaran, sarcastically. 

"Is my younger brother going abroad not a significant event? Every one in our family is going to the airport to see him off."

"Till two years back, your brother was struggling to find a regular job. After he had got a job in this company, his status changed overnight. He has been showing off, like a pauper who stumbled on a treasure. Should I become a bearer of the palanquin he is traveling on? If you want, you can go to the airport. Don't drag me along."

'You can't stomach other people's success!' Kavitha murmured to herself. 

A few months back, Maheswaran avoided attending the sixtieth birthday celebration of his elder brother.

"Anyone who lives long enough will grow to the age of sixty. What is there to celebrate about it? Having worked in a government department, he earned well, augmented his income by taking bribes and accumulated a lot of money. He doesn't know what to do with all that money. So, he is squandering money to exhibit his wealth. I am not going to attend the function. You can attend along with our children" Maheswaran told Kavitha.

"What will I say, if your brother and other relatives ask me why you didn't come?"

"Tell them that I am laid up with fever, unable to get up from the bed."

Kavitha told every one, "He has high fever. He was unable to get up from the bed this morning. He is feeling chill and is lying on the bed, covering himself with a blanket."

Concerned about Maheswaran's health, his brother came to visit him the next day.

Maheswaran was sitting on the sofa, watching television.

"The fever subsided this morning. Just now, he got up from the bed and came to the hall" said Kavitha, by way of explaining Maheswaran not looking like a sick man.

When it came to becoming jealous, Maheswaran did not distinguish between his relatives and his wife's relatives. He hated every one who was successful in life. He was jealous of anyone who achieved something in life and who enjoyed or celebrated life. He had a similar attitude towards his office colleagues and friends.

After Mukundan, a close friend of Maheswaran, got a promotion, Maheswaran began to move away from him. Though Mukundan continued to move with Maheswaran in the same friendly way as he had always moved, Maheswaran did not reciprocate his affection. 

"He knows nothing about the work in our office. He would ask for my help and guidance, even for little tasks. Now, he has got a promotion and moved above me. How strange!" he told Kavitha, about Mukundan. 

Maheswaran looked dull and fatigued.

"Are you not well?" asked Kavitha.

"When I ponder over my life, I feel depressed. During the last ten years, many people in my circle have overtaken me and risen to higher levels. I don't understand why nothing good has been happening to me. I didn't get promotion in my office. I tried for a better job, but I didn't succeed. I find that several people like my brother, your brother and my friend Mukundan, who are much below me in intelligence, competence and capabilities have risen up to levels much higher than mine. I am unable to stomach this incongruity. Sometimes I wonder whether someone is conspiring against me" said Maheswaran, his voice showing his frustration and exasperation.

"Why do you think so? Many good things have happened to us also. Some of the things you had expected to happen might happen with some delay. Our children and I are happy about the life you have given us" said Kavitha, in an attempt to assuage his frustration.

After some hesitation, she added, "If you won't mistake me, shall I share my feelings with you?"

"Yes. I am eager to hear what you are going to say" said Maheswaran, with interest.  

"You said that you were unable to stomach the success of other people. Why should you think that way? If something good happens to another person, we don't have to feel happy about it. But, why should we feel sad or disappointed? You said that someone might be conspiring against us. Why should anyone do so? After all, we have no enemies. I have heard the principle that it is our thoughts that shape up our life. Perhaps your feeling jealous about other people's success is blocking your progress. I don't know whether I am right. But, please think about what I have said and come to your own conclusion" said Kavitha.

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 17
Bearing No Envy

Verse 165 (In Tamil)

azhukkARu udaiyArkku adhu sAlum onnAr
vazhukkAyum kEdInbadhu.

Meaning:

One who is afflicted by envy doesn't need enemies to cause him destruction. The envy itself will destroy him.

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

Verse 166
Verse 164

679. Unsolicited Help

"I called you several times during the past two days. You didn't pick up my calls" Ramaswamy told his friend Madhavan, in a complaining tone, over the phone. 

"I am sorry. I was unable to do the help you wanted from me. I was trying to arrange for the money you asked for. I thought I would call you after I got the money. I didn't pick up your calls, since I didn't want to disappoint you with negative information" said Madhavan.

"You have never failed me in the past. I was depending on you a lot" said Ramaswamy, with disappointment.

"I am unable to help you this time. I am sorry" said Madhavan and ended the telephone conversation. 

"He is your friend. He asked you for a loan for his business. You could have helped him" Madhavan's wife Parvathy told him.

"If I had money with me, I would have helped him."

"But, in the past, you have helped him, by arranging funds through some other friends."

"If it was possible, I would have arranged. This time, I couldn't do so. Sometimes, it happens like this!" said Madhavan, ending the topic.

"I will never forget the help you have extended to me" Manickam told Madhavan. 

"One should never borrow money from loan sharks. If one does, one will end up in a situation like this" said Madhavan. 

"You are right. I chose to borrow money from them for an urgent need. I was paying interest to them regularly. But, when I could not pay the interest for two months, due to a tight money situation, they began to apply the screws on me. I was terrorized to the extreme. I have heard that these people would even go to the extent of kidnapping the family members and threaten to harm them, if the dues are not paid within the deadline set by them. You and I have been rivals in the business. There have been occasions, when we have had bitter confrontations. But, you have kept every thing aside and come forward to help me, after coming to know of my situation through some source. By quickly arranging for the money and helping me, you have saved me from a desperate situation. I can never thank you adequately for your timely help. I will repay the money to you at the earliest" said Manickam, holding Madhavan's hands, with gratitude. 

"Well, don't borrow from another loan shark, in order to repay the money to me!" said Madhavan, smiling. "But, I do expect something in return from you."

"Tell me, Mr. Madhavan. I will do anything I can."

"A friend of mine asked me to lend him money for his business needs. I have always helped him in the past. But, this time, since I wanted to help you, I had to say no to him."

Manickam was waiting to hear what Madhavan was going to say.

"The reason I chose to help you, rather than help my friend was to use this opportunity to end the bitterness in our relationship. It is true that we are competitors in the business, but we don't have to feel inimical to each other. This is what I expect from you" said Madhavan. 

"If I am going to be inimical towards you, even after you have rendered such a great help to me, I won't be considered human at all. Though we are rivals in the business, let us be friends" said Manickam, extending his hand.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 68
The Method of Executing An Action

Verse 679 (in Tamil):
nattArkku nalla seyalin viraindhadhE
ottArai ottik koLal.

Meaning:

Befriending foes should be considered more pressing than doing good to friends.

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

Verse 680
Verse 678

678. A Transfer to Kolkatta

"Sir! I have only two years to retire from service. You are transferring me to Kolkatta now!" said Ramakrishnan, dismay

"Yes, Mr. Ramakrishnan. Our Kolkatta branch needs the services of a senior person like you" said Managing Director Dayalan. 

"My daughter is studying in the college. My son is in the school final year. I won't be able to take my family to Kolkatta."

"Why don't you enjoy two years of 'bachelor life' in your old age? We will be providing you accommodation free of cost, in the guest room inside the office premises. You will also get an extra allowance. So, the additional expenditure you will be incurring by living in Kolkatta will be compensated."

"Every one will be faced withe question what to do after retirement. But, even several years before my retirement, I had decided what I was going to do after retirement!" Ramakrishnan told his friend Raghavan.  

"What did you decide you were going to do?" asked Raghavan.

"I decided that I would become a spiritual speaker.  

"I know that you have a deep interest in religion and spirituality. I also know that even from your younger age, you have been acquiring knowledge on this field, by reading books on religion and spirituality. But, can you become a spiritual speaker, by using the knowledge you have gained from books?"

"I can't. To become a spiritual speaker, one should undergo intensive training under a scholar in the field. During the period I was employed, I could not find the time to undergo such training. While the whole day was spent in the office, after coming home in the evening, I had domestic affairs to attend to. When I was pondering over how I was going to find the time to acquire the training, I was offered such an opportunity by my company!"

"What was that opportunity?"

"Two years before my retirement, my company transferred me to Kolkatta. Initially, I thought the transfer was a problem, since I could not take my family with me to Kolkatta at that time, due to constraints imposed by my children's education. But, subsequently, I found a way to use the transfer as an opportunity" said Ramakrishnan.

"How?" asked Raghavan.

"I came to know that a renowned spiritual speaker, who was residing in Chennai for long, had moved to Kolkatta and taken up residence there. I found out his address and met him. He agreed to give me training in giving spiritual discourses. He said that I could go to his house, whenever I had time and learn things from him. If I had been transferred to a place near Chennai, I would have come home to Chennai during the weekends, for being with my family. Kolkatta being very far from Chennai, I couldn't come to Chennai often. I made use of the weekends for getting trained by him. Now, after my retirement, I have come back to Chennai. With the training acquired by me, I am ready to give spiritual discourses immediately and start my journey as a spiritual speaker" said Ramakrishnan, feeling excited. 

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 68
The Method of Executing An Action

Verse 678 (in Tamil):
vinaiyAn vinaiyAkkik kOdal nanaigavuL
yAnaiyAl yAnai Yaththu aRRu.

Meaning:

Making use of one undertaking as the means of accomplishing another is like using one elephant to catch another.

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

Verse 679
Verse 677

677. A New Member in the Team

"We will be the first one in India to manufacture this product" said Project Manager Aravind, with pride.

Managing Director Kumar smiled gently. 

"It is our Managing Director who has taken a bold decision to manufacture this product, for the first time in our country. He has appointed Aravind as the Project Manager. But, this man talks as if he is the one who has planned and initiated this project!" Accounts Manager Shanmugam whispered into the ears of Administration Manager Sakthivel, sitting next to him in the meeting.

"Well. Our Managing Director has appointed Aravind as the Project Manager, only because he has executed a few projects successfully. It is only natural that he feels proud" said Sakthivel. 

"At present, there are eight members in this Project Implementation Group. I have included one more member in this group. He will join our company tomorrow. He will work together with Aravind. He will participate in the future meetings of this committee" said Kumar.

Kumar's announcement caught every one by surprise. Aravind's face expression indicated that he was not only surprised, but also shocked.

"The project has been completed successfully. The trial production has come out satisfactorily. The next step is to start commercial production. My greetings and heartfelt congratulations to all the members of the Project Implementation Committee, who had worked hard with dedication and co-ordination" said Kumar.

All the members acknowledged his appreciation with joy.

Aravind entered Kumar's cabin, after tapping the door and getting his permission.

"Come in, Aravind. I should specially appreciate you, for your role in the successful completion of the project. When every one was present, I didn't want to mention your name and personally appreciate you" said Kumar.

"Thank you, sir" said Aravind. After a pause, he said, "I have a grievance, though!"

"I know what it is. After making you the Project Manager, I asked you to work along with another person. You couldn't have been happy about it!"

"Why did you do it, sir?" asked Aravind, but hastened to add. "I have no complaints about Sundar. He is very knowledgeable and well experienced. Working with him was a pleasant and useful experience. His contribution to the project is substantial. But, in my opinion, you could have completed this project, by having either of us manage it. Pardon me, if I am wrong."

"Just now, you mentioned that Sundar's contribution to the project was substantial. Both of you have contributed a lot to the project. Can you say that if only one of you had managed the project, the project would have been implemented so successfully?" asked Kumar. 

"You may have a point there, sir. But, I have a question. You didn't tell us anything about Sundar's background. You also enjoined us that we shouldn't ask Sundar anything about his background. Why, sir? Now that the project has been completed, can you tell me what his background is? How did he come to possess so much knowledge about the product we are manufacturing in this project?

"Aravind. I have often heard you mentioning proudly that we are the first in the country to manufacture this product. I have never disputed your claim, but your claim is not entirely true. Before us, some other people had tried to manufacture this project."

"Yes, sir. Many people have tried, but no one has succeeded" said Aravind. 

"When people take up a task to perform, they have the intention to complete the task. We also started with such an intention. But, only after successfully completing the task, we are able to claim that we have done it. Though many people had taken up this project in the past, about five years back, one person made strenuous efforts and came close to the stage of implementing it. But, due to some problems encountered by him towards the end, he could not complete the project. I thought I could make use of the experience of that person" said Kumar.

"You mean..."

"Your guess is correct. Sundar was that person. Since you have experience in implementing a few projects, you have mastered the skills of implementing a project. Since Sundar made efforts to implement this project, I thought his experience would complement your skills and brought him in our team" said Kumar.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 68
The Method of Executing An Action

Verse 677 (in Tamil):
seyvinai seyvAn seyan muRai avvinai
uL aRivAn uLLam koLal..

Meaning:  

One who sets out to do a task should learn the method of doing it and seek the counsel of one who is experienced in doing the task.

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

Verse 678
Verse 676

676. "Before we start"

"You have chosen this small place in another state to set up the factory, for the reason that the raw material source is near this place. It is more than a month since we both arrived at this godforsaken place. You have been going out, now and then. Sometimes, you bring some people here and discuss with them for a long time. But, till now, you have not even got a building plan for the factory prepared. I don't understand what you have been doing" Chandran told his friend Ganesan. 

"Before setting up a factory, there is a lot of preparatory work to be done" said Ganesan. 

"Why did you bring me with you, then? You could have asked me to come here, after doing the preparatory work!"

Ganesan threw a reproachful look at his friend and said, "My dear friend! I want you to be my partner, in this project. A partner should be on the scene, from the very beginning!"

"But, I have not yet consented to be a partner. I know nothing about this business. I am willing to invest money, based on your faith in the project. But I have to get the money to invest from my father. I can't answer the questions he will be posing to me. I asked you to talk to my father about the project and convince him. But, you didn't do so. Instead, you have brought me here. Of course, you have been spending money for my travel and stay. But, I am sitting idle, which is tiresome" said Chandran. 

"Don't worry. Hereafter, you will also have work to do. Till now, I was engaged in technical aspects of the project. Since I didn't know to what extent you will understand the technical aspects of the project, I didn't involve you" clarified Ganesan. 

"You would have studied the technical aspects of the project, before deciding to set up the factory!"

"Yes, of course. I did a detailed study, consulted experts, prepared a project report, got it vetted by the bank and got a loan sanctioned for the project too. I have selected the site for the factory and initiated steps for procuring the land."

"So, what are the factors you have been studying now?"

"Before we start implementing the project, we should decide things like how we are going to implement the project, what part can be done by us directly and what part can be got done through contractors, whether there will be any resistance from the local people for the factory coming up here, strategies for carrying out various tasks ranging from digging a well, to laying electric cables over a distance, identifying different ways of doing things, the benefits and the problems each way of doing would throw up etc" explained Ganesan.  

"Are these things not considered even before preparing the project report? Should we do this exercise once again, before we start the work?"

"If this project were being implemented by a large organization, it would have made a thorough study of all these factors. But, this is a small firm having you and I as partners. We didn't prepare the project report, by engaging experienced consultants, which would have involved huge expenditure. So, it is better to have a thorough check of all the factors, before we set out to buy the land and construct the factory building. Have we not witnessed some projects launched by big companies running into problems during implementation?" 

"In case we find that there are some insurmountable problems in implementing the project, what should we do?"

"In such a scenario, we have to treat the money spent till now as a loss and abandon the project!" said Ganesan, laughing.

"Oh! That was the reason..."

"...I didn't speak to your father about the investment. I wanted you to bring in your capital, only after I got confirmation that the project could be implemented successfully. If the project were to be abandoned, I would bear the loss of the money spent till now" said Ganesh and added, "Fortunately, my study indicates that such a scenario is not likely to develop."

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 68
The Method of Executing An Action

Verse 676 (in Tamil):
mudivum idaiyURum muRRi Angu eydhum
padu payanum pArththuch cheyal.

Meaning:  

An act is to be performed after considering the means to be adopted, the obstacles to be encountered, and the gain expected on completion of the act.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'thozhilaith thuvangip pAr' by the same author.) 

Verse 677
Verse 675