626. Kanthimathy's Concerns

When Vairavan married  Kanthimathi, he was employed as an office assistant in a small firm on a modest salary.

Soon after the marriage, Kanthimathi realized that while the two of them could live comfortably on Vairavan's salary, they won't be able to make the ends meet, if their family grew, after the birth of a child. 

This caused concern to Kanthimathi. But, Vairavan didn't seem to be concerned with such thoughts.

When Kanthimathi shared her concerns with Vairavan, he said nonchalantly, "We are two now. My income is sufficient to meet the needs of the two of us. Why should we think of the problems that we may face after our family grows and worry about them now?"

By the time children were born to them, Vairavan's salary had gone up. So, the family didn't face any financial problems, as apprehended by Kanthimathi.

Vairavan earned a good name with his proprietor by his sincerity, dedication and hard work. As a result of this, Vairavan's position in the firm and his salary both kept going up.

By the time Vairavan's son and daughter joined college, Vairavan's economic status had gone up considerably, to the extent of the friends of his son and daughter in their colleges calling them 'children of wealthy parents.'

Even as Vairavan's income was going up, the expenses also kept increasing. Vairavan was liberal in spending money in buying high end home appliances for the household, a motorcycle for his son, a scooter for his daughter etc.

"You have been spending your entire earnings on necessities as well as luxuries. Don't we need to save some money for our future needs?" Kanthimathi asked Vairavan. 

But, Vairavan didn't bother to apply his mind to the concerns raised by his wife.

Both their children had completed their studies and landed good jobs. Vairavan performed the marriage of both. He spent money lavishly for the weddings.

"I pleaded with you repeatedly to save some money for our future. But you didn't pay heed to my words" said Kanthimathi, in an accusing tone.

"What has happened now? Are we not doing well?" asked Vairavan.

"Are we doing well? You earned a lot of money. But, you didn't buy a home for us. You spent a lot of money on our son and daughter. Now, they live very far from us. They are not even bothered to find out how we have been doing. They have no concern for our needs. They don't send us any money. Both of them have been thinking only about their families. You are now retired. You don't receive any pension. We live on the interest we receive on the provident fund received by you, on your retirement. We are living in a rented accommodation. The house rent and other expenses keep going up. But the interest income we have been getting on our bank deposit is coming down, due to the bank's lowering interest on deposits continuously. In this scenario, I don't know how long we will be able to manage to survive!" burst out Kanthimathi.

"When we had a good income, we lived a comfortable life. When our income gets dwindled, we have to reduce our standard of our living befitting the level affordable by us. That is what we have been doing. Why should we bother about the problems we may face in the future?" said Vairavan, calmly.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 63
Unfazed in the Face of Trouble

Verse 626 (in Tamil):
aRREm enRu allal padubavO peRREm enRu
Ombudhal thERRAdhavar.

Meaning:

Those who, in times of wealth, don’t stingily cling to their wealth, will not be distressed by poverty.

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

Verse 627 (Soon)
Verse 625

625. 'Sick' Sitaraman

Gurumurthy's blood pressure having gone up, he was admitted to a private hospital on the advice of his physician.

The doctors in the hospital told him that he should remain in the hospital for a few days and get treated for bringing his blood pressure to the normal level.

Since Gurumurthy was not able to get a separate room, he was accommodated in a room with two beds.

Gurumurthy introduced himself to Sitaraman, the patient lying in the other bed and began to converse with him.

"What is your problem?" asked Gurumurthy.

"The problem I now have is accumulation of mucus in my chest" said Sitaraman.

"Why do you say now? Did you have some other problem earlier?"

Sitaraman smiled wryly.

"I keep facing some health issue almost on a continuous basis. So, I had been getting admitted to the hospital for treatment, every now and then."

Even before Sitaraman could complete the sentence, he began to cough. The cough lasted for several seconds.

"I am sorry. I have provoked your coughing, by engaging you in a conversation" said Gurumurthy, feeling guilty.

"No, no. It is not your fault. I can't be muting myself always, for the sake of preventing the cough from surfacing. If I were to do so, I won't have a life at all" said Sitaraman.

"Do you have this problem since long?"

"I have this problem from the time I was born. My parents were not well-to-do people. They got me treated at the government hospital in our place. I would get better after taking the medicine, but the problem would relapse. My parents were not tired of taking me to the hospital repeatedly. I was afflicted by various problems like cough, severe cold, fever etc, one taking over from other, like the runner of a relay race, passing the baton to another. Despite repeated treatments, the problems kept coming up again and again. The same story continues till now."

"Life would have been very difficult for you."

"Yes. Initially, my parents were not sure whether it was wise to send me to school. However, they did get me admitted to a school. In the school, I was seated a little away from other students, lest other students should contract the ailment from me. I had to miss school several days in a year, due to my ill health. But I worked hard and studied well.

"When I moved to the high school, the head master of the school took special interest in me and encouraged me in many ways. When I didn't have the minimum attendance required to qualify me for taking the SSLC examination, he gave me attendance for additional days and made me take the examination.

"Since I had secured high scores in the SSLC examination, I got a scholarship for my college studies. In the college, some students nicknamed me 'Sick Sitaraman.' Perhaps, they had the satisfaction of creating a rhyming phrase, apparently showing their proficiency in English! When I was studying in the college, my father passed away. Despite the financial problems faced by my family after my father's demise, I somehow managed to complete my college education and acquire a B.Com degree.

"Then began my employment phase. Since I had to take leave quite often due to my health problems, I could not continue in a job for a long time. I would lose one job and take up another. After losing my job three times, I joined a small firm as the Accountant. The proprietor of the firm empathized with me and supported me. He gave me paid leave for the days I couldn't attend office, due to my illness.

"Those days, only the wealthy people could afford to have a telephone in their homes. You may not believe this. My proprietor got me a phone connection at my house and facilitated my working from my home by talking to my subordinates over phone and directing them to do the tasks required to be done. I think I am the first person in the world to have worked for an office by sitting at home, long before the concept of 'work from home' came into vogue!"

Sitaraman laughed.

Gurumurthy looked at him with the apprehension that his laughter could provoke the cough again.  

"How many people are there in your family?" asked Gurumurthy, reluctantly.

"I understand your question. You want to ask me whether I got married. I had decided that I won't get married, given my health condition. My mother was also reluctant to seek an alliance for me, after telling the parents of the prospective brides about my health condition. But, a girl belonging to a family known to us came forward to marry me. When she told me 'A person like you needs a companion,' I was in tears."

Sitaraman's voice was choked with emotion. 

"What a noble heart she has! Is it not something you should feel happy about" said Gurumurthy, in an attempt to cheer Sitaraman and bring him out of his emotion, out of concern that becoming emotional would make him cough again.

"Yes, of course. But, alas! She is no more. She left me, after giving birth to a son. I used to think that she left after giving me a son, realizing that I needed someone to take care of me. My mother had left me even before my wife died. You can't imagine how much I struggled to bring up my son, with me being alone and sick!"

"What is your son doing?"

"He is well placed in a big company. He earns handsomely. From my childhood, I had been getting treatment only in government hospitals. But, after my son took up a job, I enjoy the luxury of getting treated in private hospitals" said Sitaraman and laughed.

"I am amazed to listen to your story. I am a person who gets upset even by small inconveniences. But you maintain a cheerful disposition, even after undergoing so many sufferings" said Gurumurthy, with genuine admiration.

"Whenever I face a problem in my life, I will think about the good fortunes I have had in my life and rejoice. The love and affection showered on me by my parents, my ability to do well in my studies despite my chronic ailments, my high school headmaster who encouraged and helped me, my proprietor who went to extraordinary lengths to help me perform my job, by devising ways to overcome my shortcomings, the fortune that shined on me in the form of my wife, my son who has so much concern and affection for me...When I have been blessed with so many good things in my life, why should I grieve over my sufferings?" said "Sick Sitaraman' with a smile that reflected his cheerful mind.

"No setback will affect you, sir. You will live long with good health and happiness. Meeting you in this hospital room is a blessing for me" said Gurumurthy, feeling overwhelmed.

Gurumurthy's son who stepped into the room told him, "Dad! A single bed room has fallen vacant. You can move over there."

"No. I am happy to be in this room, with my friend here!" said Gurumurthy, looking at Sitaraman, with a friendly smile.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 63
Unfazed in the Face of Trouble

Verse 625 (in Tamil):
adukki varinum azhivu ilAn uRRa
idukkaN idukkaN padum.

Meaning:

if one remains unfazed even under an onslaught of adversities, 

his torments will be tormented

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

Verse 626
Verse 624

1140. What Ails Kumudhini?

People tell me that Kumudhini, living in the house opposite of mine, has gone mad. But I don't think so

Kumidhini is not a person close to me. Living in opposite houses, we two would see each other now and then. During those times, we would just exchange a smile by way of acknowledging that we knew each other.

The reason for some people coming to the conclusion that Kumudhini has gone mad is that there have beem some peculiar changes in her behaviour, since the past few days.

They say that while walking on the street, she is talking to herself and laughing out loud.

While remaining in her house, she would sometimes lock herself into a room. People outside the room would hear her talking to someone. Sometimes, she would talk angrily and some other times, she would beg. Sometimes, there would be footsteps of her running inside the room.

Once, her mother heard her saying, "Catch me if you can!" in a loud voice and laughing loudly. This was followed by the sound of her running inside the room.

Perturbed by this, her mother knocked at the door of the room. The noises stopped immediately. After a couple of minutes, Kumudhini opened the room and asked her mother calmly, "Why did you call me, mom?" as if nothing had happened.

Her mother asked her, "What was the noise? Whom were you chasing within the room?"

Kumudhini, visibly surprised by her mother's question, replied, "How can I chase anyone within the room? There is no one else in the room!"

Kumudhini's mother reported this incident to several people and lamented about the strange behaviour of her daughter. 

After hearing this, people began to look at Kumidhini in a strange way and laugh, as if mocking at her.

But, I don't laugh like others do. I know what ails Kumudhini.

Kumudhini is afflicted by a disease called 'love.' People afflicted by this disease, will initially try to conceal it from others. But the disease will reveal itself in many ways and show the person as mad, to the outside world, leading to people laughing at the afflicted person.

If the 'love' comes to the knowledge of the girl's parents and if they approve of it, then the disease will be cured.

That was what happened to me some time back. At that time, Kumidhini was one among those who mocked at me. 

Now, when Kumudhini sees that while others are laughing at her, I am not, Kumudhini acknowledges my empathy through her look. I can read the message, 'Earlier, when you were afflicted by the disease of love, I was among those who laughed at you. Only when I experience what you have experienced in the past, do I realize how stupid I had been in laughing at you!' conveyed to me by her gaze.

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 114
Shedding Shyness

Verse 1140 (in Tamil):
yAm kaNNin kANa naguba aRivillAr
yAm patta thAm padA ARu.

Meaning:

Ignorant folks sneer at me, when they see me. Ah, they haven’t been through what I have undergone.

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

Verse 1141 (Soon)
Verse 1139

624. TV Service Centre

Nandagopal was working as a Television service technician in the repairs and service section of a reputed home appliances showroom.

Finding that repairing television sets was not a profitable activity, the showroom decided to discontinue the service and repairs activity. 

As a consequence of the dealer's decision, Nandagopal and two other technicians working with him, Anbu and Satish, suddenly found themselves out of a job.

Losing his job was a big blow to Nandagopal. Getting a job in a good company like the one he had been working in was difficult. He could get a job in a small firm engaged in service and repairs of electronic equipment. But, the pay would be less and the tenure of the job would also be uncertain.

Nandagopal discussed the problem with Satish and Anbu.

"Why don't the three of us together start an electronics service centre?" asked Nandagopal.

"Are you joking? Do we have the capital needed to start such a business? We can't even afford to hire a place" said Satish.

"We can use a room in my house for the activity. It has a window facing the street. If we keep a board outside the window, people walking on the street will be able to see the board. Though I reside in a rented house, I will be able to get the consent of my landlord for running a TV service centre at my house" said Nandagopal.

"What about the investment needed for buying tools and equipment?" asked Anbu.

"The showroom we worked for won't need the tools and equipment it has, since it has discontinued the repairing service. We can request the showroom to sell them to us , at a low price. If the showroom tries to sell them to others, it will be able to sell only at the scrap rate. The showroom manager is a reasonable person. We can convince him to sell us the tools and equipment at a price better than what the scrap dealers will offer. The showroom has also a fairly large quantity of spares in stock, which it won't be able to dispose of. If we offer to buy the entire stock over a period, buying in small quantities at a time, the manager will agree. We can also request the manager to furnish the contact details of the people who have bought the electronic appliances from the showroom. We can contact those buyers and request them to contact us for any service requirement."

"I don't think it will work out for me. I will go for a job" said Satish.

After thinking for a while, Anbu said, "I won't be able to invest any money. I will join with you in your venture. Depending on the revenue earned in the business, you can pay me whatever you think is appropriate. But, if I get a good job offer, I will leave. I will also leave, if I don't get sufficient income from the business."

Two moths passed since Nandagopal started his service centre, along with Anbu.

They didn't get much business in the first month. But, there was a considerable improvement in the second month.

Nandagopal was confident that in the next couple of months, they would be able to earn a substantial revenue.

But, they received an unexpected jolt in the form of the lockdown on account of the COVID epidemic.

"It is over. We cannot recover from this blow" said Anbu, feeling dejected.

"Let us see!" said Nandagopal.

"What is there for us to see? What is the basis for your optimism?" asked Anbu, showing his irritation.

"Anbu! Look at the situation this way. Now, there is a complete lockdown. People will be confined to their homes. They will watch TV more. Therefore, there will be a greater need for TV service. Some people who have kept defective TV sets unrepaired will be motivated to get the TV sets repaired. During the lockdown, all big shops and service centres will be closed. So, there will be more opportunities for small service units like ours" said Nandagopal.

Anbu looked at his friend with surprise and admiration. 

As predicted by Nadagopal, they received a number of calls for servicing TV sets. 

The two of them carried the essential tools and small equipment in a suitcase, went to the homes and repaired the TV sets on the spot.

After a few weeks, they ran out of some spare parts.

Nandagopal rang up to the manager of the showroom and requested him to supply the spare parts needed by them.

The manager not only declined Nandagopal's request, citing the lockdown restrictions but also vented out his frustration.

"Well. I could have sold all the spare parts to someone. I accepted your offer to buy the spare parts from us over a period, purely out of a desire to help you. Now, the spare parts are still lying with us. Because of the lockdown, we are unable to sell the spares either to you or to others. We are stuck with the stock. I don't know when the lockdown will be over. The resale value of the stocks would have fallen considerably by the time the lockdown is lifted. Our proprietor is going to blame me for the loss" he lamented.

Nandagopal and Anbu spent the next two days, feeling tense and helpless. People who had asked them to repair their TV sets called them up and expressed their concern about the delay.

"Sir, because of the lockdown, we are unable to get the spare parts. Please give us two more days" Nandagopal, pleaded. 

"Just when I felt relieved that things have become to go smooth after some rough ride, new problems are cropping up" said Anbu.

Nandagopal called up the manager of the showroom again.

"Sir! Please have trust in us and give us the keys of the showroom. We will collect the keys from your house, open the showroom, take the spare parts needed by us and return the keys to you within an hour. We will also make the payment immediately. I assure you that we will buy all the spare parts within the next six months. You will not incur any loss" said Nandagopal.

After hesitating for a moment, the Manager said, "Okay. You can come to my house and collect the keys from me."

Six months passed since the lockdown had been imposed.

"Not bad. We have managed to run our business for six months, during the lockdown. I hope that we will be able to carry on" said Anbu.

When Anbu was carrying a TV set from a customer's house to the service centre, for getting it repaired, he was intercepted by a policeman.

"From where did you steal the TV?" asked the policeman.

"I didn't steal it. I am taking it to our service centre for repairing it, sir" said Anbu.

"It is still worse. Keeping your service centre open during the lockdown is an offense. Come with me to the station." said the policeman.

After receiving a call from Anbu, Nandagopal went to the police station..

He explained to the policeman how they had been operating.

"Sir, usually, we visit the customer's home and carry out the repair there. Only this time, it became necessary for us to bring the TV set to our service centre. When I say service centre, I am referring to my house. We do the service inside the house, keeping the outer door closed."

"Your partner was caught on the road, when he was carrying the TV set. Now, you have joined him on your own. I think both of you are going to be sentenced to six months' imprisonment, for violating the lockdown rules. Let the inspector come" said the policeman.

Presently, the inspector came to the station.

After listening to the constable's complaint and Nadagopal's explanation, the inspector said, "The lockdown rules have to be followed. Hereafter, don't roam about the streets, carrying TV sets."

He let them off, after warning them orally.

After they stepped out of the police station, Nandagopal told Anbu, "Usually, you will be upset, even if a small problem surfaces. But today, you are so calm!"

"I have been observing the happenings for the past several months. We encountered one obstacle after another. But you have remained unperturbed. The obstacles have become scared of you and run away. Hereafter, I am not going to be perturbed, either."

Even before Anbu had completed saying this, a police constable came running towards them from inside the police station. "Guys! The inspector is calling you."

"Just after my saying that obstacles have begun to run away from you, another obstacle seems to be showing up. Go and see what it is. I will wait for you here" said Anbu, with a sigh.

Nandagopal, came out of the station and joined Anbu, after a couple of minutes,.

He told Anbu, "The inspector has a TV setvin his hose that needs repairing. He couldn't find anyone to repair it. He wants us to go to his house and repair it. He also told me that if anyone else in the police department required repairing of their TV sets, he would ask them to approach us."

Seeing the worrying expression on Anbu's face, Nandagopal added, "He said that he would pay us our charges!"

Nandagopal then laughed aloud. 

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 63
Unfazed in the Face of Trouble

Verse 624 (in Tamil):
maduththa vAy ellAm pagadu annAn uRRa
idukkaN idarppAdu udaiththu

Meaning:

If one chugs along like a bull that keeps pulling the cart even when it is stuck in a mire, troubles facing him will be distressed.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'ingE TV rippEr seyyappadum' by the same author.) 

Verse 625
Verse 623

622. When Adversity Strikes...

"How is your father?" Sampath asked his friend Bhaskar.

"He had been brisk and active all along, but he suddenly had a heart attack. After getting treated in the hospital for a few days, he was brought home only a couple of days back. The doctor has advised him bed rest for a few months" replied Bhaskar.

"Oh, God! Should this happen at this time?"

"It should be considered a blessing in disguise. Since I was home, being under suspension, I was able to take him to the hospital immediately. I also had the time to be near him and attend to him. If I had been working, getting leave from the company would have been difficult" said Bhaskar, smiling.

"It is amazing to me how you manage to be cheerful, after what has happened you. Every one in our company knows that our Manager has made you a scapegoat, to cover up his wrongdoing. Everybody is sympathetic towards you and angry with our Manager, for the injustice he has done to you."

"Oh, I am grateful to all of you for your trust in me. I hope that the truth will come out during the enquiry and that I will be restored in my position. But I may have to wait for a couple of months for this to happen."

"How will you manage till that time? You have to take care of the medical expenses of your father also."

"Yes. It is going to be a problem. My father was going for a part-time job and earning some money. That income has stopped now. Since I am under suspension, I will get only fifty percent of my pay. My finances are going to be tight" said Bhaskar, in a matter of fact manner.

"You are stating your problems, as if narrating the problems of someone else. If I were to face such problems, I would go mad. You are facing your situation calmly. I am sorry that I am not in a position to offer you any help. I can lend you a small amount of money, if you need" said Sampath, apologetically.

"I feel gratified by your intention to help me. I will ask you, if I feel the need. I hope that things will become normal soon" said Bhaskar.

"How did you meet the hospital expenses? Did your father have any medical insurance?"

"No. There was no medical insurance. I may get a small amount from our company's Family Welfare Scheme. But I can't apply for the aid, when I am under suspension. My wife had some jewels given to her by her father as marriage gift. And, there are pawn shops to finance against pledge of gold jewelry! So I had managed. I have managed the situation till today. I don't know how the situation will be tomorrow, but I am hopeful that the path will keep getting cleared, as I move forward."

"When I try to imagine how I would have coped with a situation like the one you are in, I feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the challenge. Seeing how you have been facing the challenges without getting perturbed even a little, I feel that I should learn to emulate your approach at least to a small extent" said Sampath, in a voice choked by emotion.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 63
Unfazed in the Face of Trouble

Verse 623 (in Tamil):
veLLaththu anaiya idumbai aRivudaiyAn
uLLaththin uLLak kedum.

Meaning:

Floods of tribulation will be wiped away,

when the wise set their minds on overcoming it.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'GnAyiRRuk kizhamai paper' by the same author.) 

Verse 624 (Soon)
Verse 622

623. In the Aftermath of the Accident

When Kalpana received a phone call about the accident that had happened to her husband Rathnam, when he was working in the factory, she felt devastated. 

When she unconsciously kept her palm over her chest, she sensed that her heart was beating very fast. For a moment, she wondered whether her heart would explode.

She thought about her son and daughter, who had been to the school. Realizing that with Rathnam having been hospitalized following the accident, she had the sole responsibility of taking care of her family, she consoled herself quickly.

The accident had happened anyway. She prayed to God for early recovery of her husband and rushed to the hospital.

When Kalpana reached the hospital, Rathnam's colleagues, who were in the hospital, noticed that despite feeling perturbed and anxious, Kalpana retained a sense of sobriety.

Rathnam underwent treatment at the hospital for about a month. His company claimed that the accident had happened because of negligence on the part of Rathnam. However, it came forward to bear his hospitalization expenses, as a goodwill gesture.

When Rathnam was discharged from the hospital after a month, his left leg had become disabled, as a result of the injury caused by the accident. 

Since Rathnam became incapacitated to work in the factory, his company paid him a modest sum, as compensation. The company made it clear that it was not lawfully obliged to give any compensation to Rathnam and that the compensation had been paid, purely on humanitarian grounds.

A few days after Rathnam returned home from the hospital, Manickam, the trade union leader of Rathnam's company, came to Rathnam's house.

"The company has to pay you compensation. But it is refusing to do so. Instead, the management is offering your wife a job, on compassionate grounds. If we take up the matter with the Labour Commissioner, there are good chances of the Labour Commissioner ordering that a compensation be paid to you" he told Rathnam.

"Okay. I will appeal to the Labour Commissioner" said Rathnam.

Kalpana asked Manickam, "In case we lose our case after appealing to the Labour Commissioner, will the company still give me a job?"

"It won't. Once I file an appeal before the Labour Commissioner seeking compensation, the company will become hostile to me" said Rathnam.

"So, does it not make sense for us to accept the company's offer of a job to me?"  asked Kalpana.

"You don't understand, Kalpana. The company has an obligation to compensate me for the accident that happened when I was working in the factory. The company is shirking its responsibility and offering you a job, in the form of charity. Should we accept this?" said Rathnam, angrily.

"Rathnam! I think that what your wife says makes sense" said Manickam. "If the company claims that the accident happened due to your negligence, it will be difficult for us to disprove that claim. Considering that the company came forward to bear your hospitalization expenses and also paid you a small sum of money as compensation, the Labour Commissioner may rule in favour of the company. So, your wife's suggestion that we accept the job offer made to her, appears to be wise."

"Kalpana is an educated lady. She will be able to get a good job elsewhere. Why should we accept the charity offer made by the company?" asked Rathnam.

Kalpana could not control her sobs.

In the midst of sobs, she told Rathnam, "The moment I heard the news about the accident, I decided that I should take up some job, to earn money needed to run our family. My vigorous efforts to get a suitable job were not successful. After attending a few interviews, I have realized that despite my educational qualifications, my lack of experience and my having been a housewife for the past few years stand in the way of my getting a good job. At a time I have reconciled to the reality that I could be employed only as a cook or as a housemaid, this opportunity has come. Can we afford to fritter this away? If you don't get a favourable decision from the Labour Commissioner, what are we going to do? Even if you are awarded a substantial sum as compensation, will it be sufficient to take care of our needs for the rest of our life?"

Kalpana went into an adjoining room, her sobs still continuing.

"Rathnam! Even after such a big shock, your wife did not get heart-broken, but managed to keep her cool. She has calmly thought about the future of your family and taken steps, within her means, to get a job so that she could compensate for the loss of your income. You are fortunate to have such a pragmatic and prudent person as your wife" said Manickam

aThirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 63
Unfazed in the Face of Trouble

Verse 623 (in Tamil):
idumbaikku idumbai paduppar idumbaikku
idumbai padAdhavar.

Meaning:

Those who don't get tormented by adversity will cause the adversity to suffer.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'GnAyiRRuk kizhamai paper' by the same author.) 

Verse 624
Verse 622

621. The Sunday Newspaper

After Paramu's father Sivam's demise, several people met the family members and condoled Sivam's death. Condolences also poured in through messages sent by mail and phone.

"A man with a strong will!"

"He would face any problem boldly."

"He had a fine sense of humour."

These were some of the observations made by people, about the late Sivam.

A few days after Sivam had passed away, Paramu asked his mother Uma, "I find many people describing dad as a person who was not easily perturbed. Is this true or, is it a ceremonial tribute paid to a departed person?"

"Why do you ask this question? Don't you know about your father?" asked Uma.

"I know that dad was a cheerful person. But, if he encountered some serious problem, he would lock himself into his room and come out only after half an hour or so. So, I used to think that dad was easily put out by problems and that he didn't have the mental strength to face or withstand challenges and difficult situations."

"What you had observed is true. But, did you notice what his mood would be, after coming out of the room?"

"Yes. I had observed that he would have a calm expression on his face. He would even be smiling."

"Did you think about the reason for the change in his state of mind?"

"I assumed that he would cry, after locking himself into the room. Perhaps, he regained a sense of placidness as a result of the crying."

"Paramu! Since you had studied in a residential school and hence been away from home for long periods, you didn't have the opportunity to watch your father closely. Okay. What kind of books did your father suggest that you read?" asked Uma. 

"He had advised me to read books with humourous content. But, I was not interested in reading books of authors recommended by him, like PG Wodehouse in English and Kalki, Devan, Bhagyam Ramaswamy etc. in Tamil, renowned for their humourous writing. I was interested in reading crime thrillers. But, dad didn't press me to read works of humour. He stopped with making the recommendation. But, why do you ask this now?"

"Going by the advice given to you by your father, didn't you realize that he was a person with a sense of humour?"

"That may be the case. But the fact remains that he didn't have the mental stamina to face adversities."

"Are you not able to guess what your father did, when he went into his room and remained there for several minutes?"

"Would he read some books? But the book shelf is in the living room. The room he would retire to has only a table and a chair!"

Uma heard someone calling her from the entrance of the house.

"Ok. You step into the room and see what is inside the drawer of the table. The waste paper dealer is at our doorstep. I will dispose of the old papers and come back" said Uma and went to the doorstep.

When Uma came to the room, after dealing with the waste paper trader, Paramu was having a large sized notebook in his hands and reading it. She observed that he was smiling and also chuckling intermittently.

Looking at Uma, Paramu said, "This is a treasure house of humour. The pages of the notebook have cuttings of cartoons and jokes affixed to them. One can't help bursting out in laughter. I think that even if one reads them several times, the humour will remain fresh. Did dad come to this room for the purpose of browsing these cartoons?"

"Yes. If he was upset by some problem or some tragic happening, he would come to this room, immerse himself in these cartoons for about half an hour and come out feeling fresh and energetic. He had told me many times that after having a hearty laugh after reading these humourous pieces, he would gain a sense of confidence about overcoming any obstacle.

"Madam! I have discarded papers that have clippings cut off from them. I will take the other papers and weigh them" the old newspaper merchant said loudly.

"That was your father's making. He would cut all the jokes and humourous cartoons from the Sunday newspapers" said Uma, smiling.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 63
Unfazed in the Face of Trouble

Verse 621 (in Tamil):
idukkaN varum kAl naguga adhanai
aduththu Urvadhu ahdhu oppadhu il.

Meaning:

Smile in times of trouble; there is nothing like that, to press upon and drive away sorrow.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'GnAyiRRuk kizhamai paper' by the same author.) 

Verse 622
Verse 620