Accountant Sachidanandam went to the proprietor's cabin, feeling apprehensive about being summoned by him. His proprietor Motilal was notorious for his short temper and sharp tongue.
When Sachidanandam stepped into Motilal's cabin, Motilal told him, "Please take your seat!
Schidanandam was both surprised and concerned by Motilal's courteous behaviour. Motilal didn't have the habit of asking the employees coming into his cabin to sit!
'Is he going to sack me? Is that why he is showing some kindness to me, before giving me the bad news?'
"Please tell me, sir!" said Sachidanandam, without sitting down.
"Please sit down. I will tell you."
Sachidanandam sat down quickly.
"I want you to teach me Accounts!" said Motilal.
"Sir, what do you mean?" asked Sachidanambam, perplexed by Motilal's words.
"Don't worry. I am not going to fire you. Your job is safe. I am well versed in business, but I know nothing about Accounts. During my father's time, they used to maintain a simple system of Accounts. They will just record receipts and payments in a two-column notebook. That was the system my father taught me. Nowadays, they use terms like debit and credit. They say cash balance is a debit balance and loan is a credit balance. I don't understand these terms at all. I am unable to follow most of the things our auditor tells me. When he talks to me, I am forced to nod my head, without understanding what he says."
"Sir! I have been looking after the Accounts. I have been interacting with our Auditor also."
"You are right. I am happy with the way you have been handling the Accounts. But as a business owner, I want to understand the basics of Accounts. Can you come to my house at 8 o' clock every morning and teach me the basics of Accounts for one hour? Since you will have to leave from your home early, you can have breakfast at my home. After having your breakfast at my home, you can straightaway come to the office from my home. I will reimburse the autorickshaw fare for coming to my house from your house and coming to the office from my house. I will pay you five thousand rupees per month as the tuition fees. I think it will be adequate if you can teach me for six months. If you want me to buy any book, I will buy it" Motilal.
Sachidanandam had no problem with this proposal. In any case, he couldn't say no to his proprietor! He began his role as an Accounts Teacher from the very next day.
One day, after Sachidanandam left Motilal's house, after completing the class for the day, Motilal's wife asked him:
"He is your employee. The moment he enters our home, you get up from your seat and pay obeisance to him, by folding your palms. I can see how you struggle trying to lift your fat body that has sunk deep into the sofa, as soon as you see him. When he leaves, you accompany him till the doorstep and send him off. Though he is teaching you a subject, you are paying him for his services. Even as a teacher, he is your employee. I think that the respect you have been showing him is a bit too much!"
"He is my employee at the office, alright. As you say, I pay him a salary for teaching me the subject. But, what is important is that he is a teacher! When one learns something from another, the learner should receive the education with humility, the way a person receiving a help will stand humbly before the helper. Though I am not a learned person, I am aware of this principle and I am following it!" said Motilal.
Thirukkural
Section 2
Section 2
Materialism
Chapter 40
Education
Education
udaiyAr mun illAr pOl EkkRRum kaRRAr
kadaiyarE kalAdhavar.
kadaiyarE kalAdhavar.
Meaning:
The unlearned who learns from the learned, standing humbly before him, like a poor would before the rich (while receiving his help), is great indeed. The unlearned is lowly.
No comments:
Post a Comment