402. The Star Speaker

 

People who watched the talk shows in television channels would be familiar with the name Murugesh.

Murugesh was considered a star speaker for his participation in various kinds of talk shows, including the popular debate shows.

The moment Murugesh came to the stage and stood before the mike, there would be a big ovation from the audience. And after he started speaking, there would be a loud laughter or a big applause for every line he uttered.

Sometimes, during his speech, Murugesh would pause for a few seconds, in anticipation of an ovation from the audience. The audience would pick up the signal and clap.

Murugesh was not much educated. He was running a small business. Somehow, he got a chance to participate in a few talk-shows in a television channel and soon became popular as a clever speaker, who had the power to entertain the audience and the knack to make the audience react the way he wanted them to. Eventually, he was accredited a star speaker.

Because of his popularity in television shows, Murugesh was invited to speak in several events and functions.

The executive committee of 'City Citizens Club' decided to invite Murugesh as a guest speaker, for the anniversary program of the club. Out of the nine members of the committee, three expressed their reservations about inviting Murugesh.

"Most of our club members are highly educated. Some of the members are experts in certain areas. Do you think that these people will relish his speech?" asked a senior member. 

"Among those who watch television talk shows, there are many educated people too. Have they not been enjoying his speech? Murugesh is going to speak on some general topic. I think every one will be able to enjoy his speech" said the Secretary of the club.

Murugesh was asked to speak on the topic 'Science and Spirituality.'

"You can speak naturally, the way you always speak" said the Secretary.

After Murugesh was introduced by the Secretary, the audience greeted him with a gentle applause.

Murugesh began to speak.

"I know nothing about Science, nor do I know anything about Spirituality! So, how do you think that I am going to speak on the topic?"

Murugesh paused for a minute. The audience was quiet, showing no reaction. If this had been a television program, the audience would have laughed out aloud and displayed their enthusiasm to hear what he was going to say.

"But I have a precious possession. I am going to speak by making use of that possession!"

Murugesh gave another pause. Again, there was no reaction from the audience.

"That possession is called ignorance!" said Murugesh, with a broad smile.

"Normally, at this point, there should have been a big applause and loud laughter. But these people are so impassive!' thought Murugesh, feeling frustrated.

The next half an hour passed the same way. Murugesh's plan to impress the audience through his clever way of speaking, even without providing any valuable inputs about Science or Spirituality, the subjects he had no knowledge of, did not work out.

Within a few minutes of his starting his speech, Murugesh began to feel nervous. He found it arduous to continue to speak without any substance, since the audience didn't fall for his gimmicks.

Though Murugesh was given one hour to speak, he completed his speech in half an hour. He kept looking at his wrist watch every five minutes and felt relieved when half an hour got over.

After Murugesh completed his speech, the audience clapped mildly, just for the sake of courtesy.

'Hereafter, I should not accept any speaking assignment, without knowing about the composition of the audience' resolved Murugesh, to himself.

As the Secretary got up to present a vote of thanks, his mind was being rocked by concerns about how he was going to field the strong criticism from the members for bringing Murugesh as the guest speaker.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 41
Lack of Education

Verse 402 (in Tamil):

KallAdhAn soRkAmuRudhal mulai iraNdum
illAdhAL peN kAmuRRaRRu.

Meaning:

The desire of the ignorant to speak is like the desire of a woman without breasts desiring (the enjoyment of) womanhood

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

Verse 403 (Soon)
Verse 401

401. Nallamuthu's Predicament.

It was an unwritten rule in that village that any celebrity coming to that village for any function should stay at Nallamuthu's house.

Nallamuthu was not much educated, but he was the wealthiest man in that village. It was accepted by every one that Nallamuthu, in addition to being an influential person, was adept at getting along well with people and making them feel at home.

In keeping with this practice, the Tamil scholar Arulnambi who came to that village to give a spiritual discourse at a temple in that village also stayed at Nallamuthu's house.

The discourse was scheduled for ten days. Arulnambi was to stay at Nallamutu's house all the ten days. He also had his food at Nallamuthu's house.

Nallamuthu prided himself as a gifted conversationalist. During the times a celebrity was staying at his house, Nallamuthu would be spending a lot of time with the celebrity. 

In the evenings, Nallamuthu and the celebrity would would be sitting on chairs placed outside the house and conversing. For the people walking on the street, this would be an interesting sight.

During the first day of Arulnambi's stay, Nallamuthu went to Arulnambi's room several times, sat there and talked to him. In the evening, he sat with the guest outside his house and conversed with him, in keeping with his practice.

But, on the second day, Nallamuthu didn't try to spend much time with Arulnambi. He went out and kept himself away for most of the time. He didn't sit with the guest outside his house in the evening and converse with him, as he did the previous day. 

On the subsequent days also, he chose to not spend much time with the guest.

A couple of days later, Nallamuthu went to his friend Gajendran's house.

During the course of the conversation, Gajendran asked Nallamuthu, "Usually, you spend a lot of time, conversing with the celebrities staying in your house. But it seems you are not engaging Mr. Arulnambi in conversation much. In fact, after the first day, I have not seen you sitting with him outside your house and conversing with him."

 

Nallamuthu was silent for a few seconds and then said, "I have been able to converse well with all the celebrities who stayed in my house in the past. But I find it difficult to converse with Mr.Arulnambi!"

"Why? Is he not a good conversationalist?"

"No. He converses with me well. But I am unable to understand most of what he says. Even on topics relating to religion and temples, with which I am familiar, he speaks at a level I am unable to comprehend. He is a scholar. I had been under the impression that with what little I knew, I would be able to converse with anyone. But I now realize that if I have to converse with learned people, I should get myself educated at least to some extent!" said Nallamuthu.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 41
Lack of Education

Verse 401 (in Tamil):

aranginRi vattAdi yaRRE nirambiya
nUlinRik kOtti koLal.

Meaning:

Entering an assembly (of the learned) without sufficient knowledge is like playing chess (on a board) without squares.

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

Verse 402
Verse 400

1090. Why did Murugan Give Up Drinking?

"The destructive habit of drinking has been inherited by my son from his father. I have been repeatedly pleading with him to give it up, but he won't listen to me" lamented Meenakshi.

"Don't worry. He will come out of it, once he gets married" said her friend Mangalam.

"I doubt! My husband didn't give up his drinking habit after our marriage!"

"Well, some men get into this habit only after they get married?"

"What do you mean?" asked Meenakshi, wondering what her friend was implying.

"I was referring to my own experience" said Mangalam.

"Then, how do you say that my son will come out of this habit, once he gets married?"

"My son gave up his drinking habit, soon after his marriage. The same thing may happen with your son too!" said Mangalam.

Meenakshi was confused.

"However, we can't say that getting married will automatically make a man give up driving!" said Mangalam, smiling.

Meenakshi became even more confused.

"My mother had been pleading with me to give up the drinking habit. But I couldn't do it. But soon after I began to love you, I have given up drinking" said Murugan.

"How can it be? I never asked you to give up drinking!" asked Nila.

"I am not sure whether I would have been able to do so, if you had asked me to. After all, I was not able to give it up, when my mother asked me to!"

"Then, how did you give it up?"

"When I drink, I feel intoxicated. That intoxication makes me feel elated. But, after I started loving you, I feel that I am in a state of intoxication throughout the day. When I am intoxicated already, I don't feel the need to drink alcohol!" said Murugan.

"I don't understand what you say!" said Nila.

When Murugan was thinking how to explain his point to Nila, his attention was drawn to the song that was being played in her mobile phone.

'If you drink alcohol, you will get intoxicated.
That intoxication will come from love also!'

"How beautifully has the lyricist explained the point I have just made. Do you understand now?"

Nila nodded her head, signaling that she had understood the point and smiled.

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 109
Beauty that Torments

Verse 1090 (in Tamil):
uNdArkaN alladhu adunaRAk kAmam pOl
kaNdAr magizh seydhal inRu.

Meaning:

Brewed spirits intoxicate only when they are consumed.

They cannot, like love, enthrall even those who merely behold.

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

Verse 1091 (Soon)
Verse 1089

78. Sethu's Temperament

Sethu was lonely, despite having a wife and two, children and despite being wealthy!

When Vanaja got engaged to Sethu, she thought she was lucky. Sethu was wealthy and he was the only son of his parents. She envisaged a life of happiness after marriage.

Soon after her marriage, Sethu's mother told Vanaja, when they were alone, "Sethu is a bit short tempered. You should learn to live with his frequent display of anger."

Vanaja didn't think much of her mother-in-law's warning. She knew that some people were short-tempered by nature. She thought she could manage to live with his temper.

But she couldn't.

If Sethu was 'a bit short-tempered,' as described by her mother-in-law, Vanaja would have managed. Even if he was 'much short-tempered,' she could have managed. But how could she manage to live with a person, who appeared to have no emotion other than anger.

"Auntie! Why is he like this? He gets angry for no reason at all. How can I manage such a person?" Vanaja asked her mother-in-law.

"That is the way he talks to me also. I won't know what he expected from me. Earlier, he was afraid to talk to his father. But subsequently, he started yelling at his father also. His father has since stopped talking to Sethu.

The question 'In such a background, why did you get him married at all?' arose in Vanaja's mind. But she didn't ask the question.

Life went on. Three children - two boys and a girl - were born to Sethu and Vanaja.

Vanaja was nurturing a faint hope that Sethu would change, after children were born to them. But that hope turned out to be a mirage.

Sethu didn't show any love to his children, nor did he play with them. He often showed his irritation to them. He treated them as if they were children of some neighbours, who were in his house, causing nuisance to him.

As the children grew up, they learnt that their father was a person who could never speak to them with kindness. So, they began to avoid him and found it safe to keep away from him. This made them look upon their mother as their only source of love and become intimate with her.

Sethu's parents died one after another. Sethu didn't seem to have any feeling about their passing away. "It is natural for people to grow old and die. You and I will also be leaving this world, some day!" he told Vanaja, as if he was a philosopher.

The children were growing up fast.

After their eldest son had completed his education, he got a job in a far off place. Vanaja told him, "Your brother, sister and I will come and live with you. Your brother and sister can join a school there and continue their studies."

"What about dad?" asked the son.

"Let him remain here. I am suggesting that the three of us come to your place we all can live there so that we can be away from your father!" said Vanaja.

"What a wonderful idea!" said Vanaja's daughter, the youngest of her three children, feeling excited by the idea.

When Vanaja revealed her decision to Sethu, he asked her, "Why are you going away?"

"We are unable to live with your angry outbursts and lack of kindness!"

"Who will cook the food for me?"

"I will ask the maid Selvi to cook. But if you yell at her the way you have been yelling at me and the children, she will quit. You can fix the salary for her, after talking to her!" said Vanaja.

It was three years since Vanaja and the children had gone away. Vanaja would write to Sethu at least once in a month. Sethu would read the letters and tear them off. He didn't reply to any of her letters.

Their younger son had also completed his job and got a job. Their daughter was was about to complete her studies. Vanja was looking for a suitable groom for her. Sethu learnt these developments through Vanaja's letters.

Sethu was sitting on the pial of his house, feeling irritated. Some boys were playing ball on the street. The ball fell inside Sethu's house.

  

A boy came to Sethu and asked him, "Grandpa! Our ball has fallen inside your house. Can I go and take it?"

"No, you can't!" yelled Sethu, angrily.

Other boys came there and begged him to let them take the ball. But Sethu was adamant. The boys went back, feeling disappointed.

One boy picked up a pebble from the street and threw it at Sethu.

Sethu felt the pain.

Thirukkural
Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 8
Love and Affection

Verse 78 (In Tamil)

anbagaththillA uyir vAzhkkai vanpARk kaN
vaRRal maram thaLirththaRRu.

Meaning:

The life of a person who has no love at heart is as futile as a dried up tree blossoming in a desert.

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

Verse 79 (Soon)
Verse 77

400. Dhanapal's Business Venture

"I have worked for 25 years. We own a house. We have some savings. If I quit my job now, I will get some money from my Provident Fund savings. If I can't take a risk now, when can I?" said Dhanapal.

"You are highly educated. You have a well-paying job. You get a pay rise every year. You still have eight years' service left. There is a god chance of your company asking you to continue in your job, even after you reach the retirement age. When things are going well for us, why should you quit your job and take risk, by starting a business now?" asked his wife Ambika.

"Doing my own business has been my dream. I am not staring a business at a young age, giving up a career opportunity. I have worked for 25 years. I have educated our daughter and got her married. We have some savings too. This is the right time for me to work on my dream."

"You are not going to listen to me, anyway!" said Ambika, in a tone of resignation.

As planned by him, Dhanapal started a business in a small way, by investing a small amount. In six months, the business became profitable. He decided to expand his business by investing more. He approached a bank for a loan. The bank offered to give him the loan, if he would mortgage his house as security.

Brushing aside Ambika's protests, Dhanapal mortgaged their house and borrowed money from the bank.

"The business has been running well. So, there is no need for any apprehension. In five years, I will repay the loan and redeem our house," Dhanapal assured his wife.

Unexpectedly, after a year, Dhanapal's business went through a decline. He faced cash flow problems. He was forced to borrow more money from private financiers. Within a few months, the problem became severe and a stage was reached, when Dhanapal had to close down the business.

He sold his house and cleared his liabilities. He was left with only a small amount of money.

Dhanapal and Ambika moved to a rented house.

"You were like a king. Now, we have been forced to live in a rented house. How long can we survive with the amount of money left? How are we going to pay the rent every month? Where from will we get the money for our food expenses?" lamented Ambika.

Dhanapal didn't say anything.

For the next few days, Dhanapal went out in the morning and returned in the evening. Ambika didn't ask him where he was going. He didn't tell her anything, either.

After a week, Dhanapal told Ambika, "From Monday, I will be going for a job!"

"You have got a job! Where?" asked Ambika, surprised.

Dhanapal told her the name of the firm in which he had got a job.

"What is the salary?"

"One lakh rupees per month!"

"Oh, good! After we lost our house and our savings, I thought we had lost everything!"

"Though we lost our wealth, the education I have had, has come to our help!" said Dhanapal.

Thirukkiral
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 40
Education

Verse 400 (in Tamil):

kEdil vizhuch chelvam kalvi oruvaRku
mAdalla maRRaiyavai.

Meaning:

The only wealth that doesn't get depreciated is education. Other riches do not constitute wealth

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

Verse 401
Verse 399

399. The Teacher Becomes A Learner!

"Grandpa! Shall I recite the Tamil rhymes taught by you?" asked Rithvik.

"Tamil rhymes? I have never heard of them! How could I have taught them to you?" asked Periasamy, surprised by the question.

"Don't you remember, grandpa? 'Aram seya virumbu,''Aruvathu sinam!"

"Oh! These are not rhymes. These are lines from the ancient Tamil classic 'Athichudi."

"Yes. That's what I meant. Please check whether I am reciting the lines correctly" said Rithvik and recited the thirteen lines of Athichudi.

"You have recited the lines correctly. Keep reciting them now and then. Otherwise, you may forget the lines" said Periasamy.

After a few days, Rithvik came to Periasamy along with one of his classmates and his mother. He introduced his classmate to Periasamy, saying, "Grandpa! He is my classmate, Ashwin."

Periasamy greeted Ashwin and then looked at his mother.

Ashwin's mother paid obeisance to Periasamy, through the gesture of bringing her palms together, and told him, "Namaste*, uncle! I am Ashwin's mother. Having listened to Rithvik recite Athichudi, my son Ashwin also wants to learn Athichudi. If you have time, can you teach Athichudi to Ashwin also?"

"With pleasure, madam! I am a retired person and I have a lot of time at my disposal. If your son learns ten minutes per day, he will be able to learn Athichudi in five or six days" said Periasamy.

"Thank you, uncle" said Ashwin's mother.

A couple of days later, Ashwin's mother came to see Periasamy, along with three other ladies.

"Uncle! Knowing that Ashwin has been learning Athichudi from you, some more parents desire that their children also learn Athichudi. There are about ten children. It will be good, if you can teach them ancient Tamil texts like Athichudi, Kondrai Venthan etc. If you can spare half an hour per day, that will be adequate. Please don't mistake me for saying this, but we will consider the sessions as tuition classes and pay you a small remuneration for your teaching!" said Ashwin's mother.

"I will be happy to teach the children hat I know, but I can't accept any remuneration for this. After all, I am not a teacher and my knowledge is also limited" said Periasamy.

"You can teach them what you know, uncle. That will suffice. Nowadays, these ancient texts are not taught in schools. Though we have studied them in our school days, we don't remember them now. In fact, I am learning these again, hearing my son recite them. My husband says that he feels happy to listen to these texts again, after several years."

"Ok. Whoever is interested may come. I will teach them what I know" said Periasamy.

"What dad! Nowadays, you have been borrowing Tamil classics like Kambaramayanam, Silappadhikaram etc. from the library and reading them?" asked Periasamy's son.

"As you know, I have been teaching ancient texts like Athichudi, Kondrai Venthan etc to the children. The children are excited to learn the verses. Their parents are also happy that they could relearn these texts from their children. Seeing this kind of enthusiasm, I also felt a desire to read other classics. So I have been borrowing books from the library and reading them" said Periasamy.

*Namaste - A respectful greeting

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 40
Education

Verse 399 (in Tamil):

thAm inbuRuvadhu ulagu inbuRak kaNdu
kAmuRuvar kaRRaRindhAr.

Meaning:

Seeing that the learning they enjoy is enjoyed by the world as well, 

the erudite fall more in love with learning.

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

Verse 400
Verse 398

1089. The Chain Snatcher!

"How is this place?" asked Jayaraman.

"It's beautiful. But walking on the hilly area is a bit tedious for me" said Latha. 

"There is a rock there. We will go and sit on it."

"Men take their lovers to places like a beach, a park etc. But you have brought me to a hilly area surrounded by forests!"

"What lovers need is solitude. We won't get it in a park or a beach. Not many people will come to a place like this. Don't you like this place?" asked Jayaraman.

"Of course, I do. Didn't I say that this place is beautiful? All the same, my legs are paining. Women are tender beings. They shouldn't be subjected to a lot of strain" said Latha, smiling.

"You have walked hardly half a kilometer on the hill road. Are you so tender that you can't withstand even this strain? Ok. Let us not go further up. We will sit here for a while and then leave."

"Ok" said Latha. She turned suddenly and said, "I saw some movement there. Was it a hare running there?"

"Possible. There are a few animals like hares, deer etc, here!"

"Oh! Will there be lions and tigers too?"

"No. If such wide animals were here, they won't allow people to come here."

"What about monkeys?"

"When we were coming up, didn't you notice a boy yelling 'monkey! monkey?"

"Yes, I did. But I didn't see any monkey!" said Latha.

"How could you have seen? He yelled 'monkey' on looking at you!"

"You..." said Latha, with feigned anger, picked up a pebble from the ground and threw it at him.

"Ok, ok! Don't get annoyed. Now, just sit there. I will take a snap of you" said Jayaraman.

"Why do you want to take a snap of a monkey?" asked Latha, pretending to be still angry with him.

"There is no portrait of Anjaneya* at my house. That's why."

"In that case, you need a portrait of yourself. Stand here. I will take a snap of you!"

"Ok. Tit for tat. The account has been balanced now. So, please pose for the photo!" said Jayaraman.

Latha sat straight on the rock and posed for the photo.

"Be still. I will take a few snaps. Don't move till I say 'ok.'

When Latha tried to say something, Jayaraman gestured her to be silent, by keeping his forefinger on his lips.

After a couple of minutes, he said, "You can get up now!"

Latha got up and looked at the photos captured in his mobile.

"Oh, there is a deer behind me, in one of the photos. How?" asked with surprise.

"When I was about to click the photos, I saw a deer standing behind you. I wanted to click the photo before it would move away. That's why I asked you to be silent, lest the deer should be alerted, and then clicked the photo. Fortunately, I was able to capture your photo, with the deer in the background."

"It is fabulous!" said Latha, with excitement.

"You won't know how fabulous it is. Only I know it."

"What do you know?"

"Look at the deer's gaze. How innocent does it look!"

"Yes, it does."

"If you observe the photo closely, you will see that the innocence in the deer's gaze is found in your gaze too!"

"Get lost, you Cupid!" said Latha, blushing.

"Oh, how beautiful do you look, when you blush! I missed taking a snap of you, when you were blushing!"

"Enough of your flattery!"

"Oh, even now, I could have captured your blushing face. But, there is just one problem."

"What is it?"

"When you have a gaze with the innocence of a deer's gaze and a natural expression of blushing on your face, the chain you are wearing looks out of place"

"Oh, now I understand. All this flattery was only with the intention of relieving me of the chain I am wearing. Once we climb down the hill, I will go to the nearest police station and report you as a chain snatcher!" said Latha, and hit him with her hand, playfully.

*Anjaneya - the Hindu God in the form of a monkey.

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 109
Beauty that Torments

Verse 1089 (in Tamil):
piNaiyEr mada nOkkum nANum udaiyAtku
aNI yevanO Edhila thandhu.

Meaning:

When she is adorned with the innocent gaze of a doe, and modesty to boot, of what use to her are jewels made of extrinsic materials.

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

Verse 1090
Verse 1088

77. Mangala Vilas Hotel

We cannot forget certain events we witness in our life. Some events will be registered in our minds like video recordings.

As a Government official, I have visited many places to audit the accounts of village and town panchayats*.

Of these visits, the visits to some of the places remain engraved in my memory. This is due to some unforgettable experiences I had had at those places.

One such incident happened in a small village. That village had a town panchayat. I had to be there for three days to audit the accounts of that panchayat.

It was a small village. There was no lodging house at that place. In those days, even towns had only a few lodges, The President of the Panchayat Board asked me to stay in his house. But I politely declined his offer and stayed at the Panchayat Board office itself.

During the day time, I did my audit. During the night, I slept on a wooden bench in the office. I had to go out for taking my food and for taking my bath. I took bath in the river that flowed in that village. Fortunately, during that time, there was a good flow of water in the river.

There was an ancient Siva temple in that village. Though the temple had the distinction of having been mentioned in the hymns of the ancient Saivite saints known as Nayanmars, it was not very popular at that time. Some devotees from far off places, knowing about the distinction of the temple would occasionally visit that place. 

Sometimes, devotees would come in tourist buses. To cater to the needs of these visitors, there was small restaurant in that village. It was called 'Mangala Vilas Hotel.' The hotel was maintained well and the quality of food offered was also reasonably good.

I had my food at that hotel thrice a day for the three days of my stay in that village. Though the President of the Panchayat Board repeatedly invited me to have food in his house, I politely declined his invitation.

The Panchayat Board office had only one employee, called Ramalingam. He assisted me in doing the audit by providing me the accounts and other records needed by me. He accompanied me to the restaurant, when I went there to eat. I tried to discourage him from doing this, but he insisted on providing me company.

I knew that the President of the Panchayat Board would have advised Ramalingam to pay the restaurant bill for my food. But I didn't allow him to pay for my food. I think that this might have created a respect for me in his mind. (His experience with other auditors in the past might have been different!)

At the restaurant, an elderly person was sitting at the cash counter. I learnt that he was the proprietor of the restaurant. His son was commanding the employees. He was about thirty years old. He was short and stout. He looked like a villain's henchman in films. Even during my first visit to the hotel, I noticed that he was rude to the employees. However, he would speak pleasingly to the customers, with a smile on his face.  

When I was having my lunch at that restaurant on the third day of my stay there, I heard some noises and looked inside. The proprietor's son was beating a cleaner boy who was about twelve years old, with a broom. It appeared that  the man had grabbed the broom from the boy and beat him with it. 

The boy was crying desperately, "Please, boss. Don't beat me," but the man didn't show any mercy. After beating him seven or eight times, the man threw down the broom. The cleaner boy picked up the broom crying and went inside.

The proprietor who was watching the incident from his seat didn't try to restrain his son. The people dining in the restaurant - most of them belonging to the village - didn't try to stop the cruel act, either. They were just watching it. So was I!

"What is this. sir!?" How can the man be so inhuman?" I asked Ramalingam. 

"Sir, this is a recurring incident. The boy is an orphan. It is his misfortune that he has come to work here" said Ramalingam.

I left the village the same evening.

Even after many years, the cruel treatment meted out to the cleaner boy by the hotel proprietor's son and the desperate wail of the boy would vividly run before my mind's eye, like a scene from a film and make me feel sad.

After about twenty five years, I had an opportunity to visit that village again. Not on official work, though, since I had retired from service a few years back. It was on account of my wife's desire to visit the temple at that place, after she had read an article about the temple in a magazine.

Though I went to that village, for the second time, at the behest of my wife, I was also driven by the curiosity to know whether the restaurant 'Mangala Vilas Hotel' was still running and how the proprietor, his merciless son and the poor cleaner boy were doing.

The village had not changed much over the years, except for the number of visitors to the temple appearing to have gone up. 

After coming out of the temple, I wanted to ask someone about 'Mangala Vilas Hotel.'  Immediately, I thought of Ramalingam. At that moment, I cursed myself for not thinking of meeting him, but entertaining an idle curiosity about the people connected with the restaurant.

When I enquired someone about Ramalingam, I learnt that his residence was nearby. We walked towards his house.

My wife was not enthusiastic about my visiting Ramalingam.

"Is he a friend of you? You have met him once twenty five years back, when you had been here for official work. What is the need to meet him now? Should we not catch the next available bus and return home?" she protested.

However, I was keen on meeting Ramalingam.

When we reached Ramalingam's house, I saw an elderly man standing on the door-step of the house. When I asked him about Ramalingam, he greeted me cheerfully, "Sir! What a pleasant surprise! I am meeting you after so many years."

Realizing that he was Ramalingam, I said, apologetically, "I am sorry I couldn't recognize you. But you have recognized me instantly!" 

"Out of about thirty auditors I had met during my service at the Panchayat Board office, you were the only person who didn't allow us to buy you food even. How can I forget you?" he said, with sincere admiration.

After we had mutually shared some information about our families and our present state of life, I asked him about 'Mangala Vilas Hotel.'

"Oh! That hotel has been closed" said Ramalingam, tersely.

"Oh! There was a cleaner boy there. When I was here, he was beaten up by the proprietor's son. You may also remember that incident. Where is he now?"

"He had run away after sometime. After that, they couldn't get a suitable replacement for him. After the proprietor passed away, his son Shanmugam, the short, fat man who beat up the boy, couldn't manage the hotel. With another restaurant coming up, he had to close down their restaurant due to recurring losses and inability to face the competition!" said Ramalingam.

"Then?"

My wife gave me a stern look, as if reprimanding me for seeking information about people unconnected with us. "We may miss the bus" she said, by way of hinting that she didn't approve of my inquiries.

"Don't worry, madam. Bus service is very frequent here!" Ramalingam reassured her, without understanding her real concern!

"After that, Shanmugam suffered a lot. He had to work as a labourer, for survival. From being an employer and treating his employees arrogantly, he came down to to the position of a labourer, who had to be humble before his employers. He has two sons. After they grew up, they persuaded him to sell the land on which the restaurant was located so that they could start a business, using the sale proceeds as the capital. After Shanmugam sold the land and gave the money to them, they went away, never to come back. They were not bothered about their parents. Even their whereabouts are not known to Shanmugam. Eventually, Shanmugam's wife also passed away. Now Shanmugam doesn't have the strength to work. With no house to live in and no income, he is eking out a livelihood by begging, sitting outside the temple. He is living and sleeping on the street."

"How pathetic!" I said, genuinely feeling sorry for Shanmugam.

We took leave of Ramalingam and proceeded towards the bus stand. Soon after we stepped out of Ramalingam's house, my wife told me, "Don't say we should go to the temple and see how Shanmugam is doing! I don't have the strength to walk a long distance. We will also be late to catch the bus!"

I didn't have the mind to see Shanmugam, whom I have seen as a merciless bully, begging people for money, either!

* panchayats - elected local administrative bodies

Thirukkural
Section 1

The Path of Virtue

Chapter 8
Love and Affection

Verse 77 (In Tamil)

enbiladhanai veyil pOlak kAyumE
anbiladhanai aRam.

Meaning:

Just as the Sun's rays scorch boneless creatures, the God of Righteousness will torment an unkind person.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'mangala vilas hotel' by the same author)

Verse 78
Verse 76

398. Arul's Decisions

 Arul would often regret that he didn't have good education.

Three generations before, his ancestors were respected as learned men and scholars.

When Arul's grandfather Murthy was studying in fifth standard, his father passed away, because of which Murthy's schooling came to an end.

Murthy began to look after agriculture and his family business right from the age of fifteen. With the business growing well and the family becoming wealthy, Murthy decided that his sons didn't need education. He got them involved in business, even at a young age. Therefore, Arul's father also didn't study beyond fifth standard.

Arul's father believed that it was adequate if one learnt to read and write and to add and subtract numbers. So, he didn't educate Arul beyond the primary school.

Unlike his father and grandfather, Arul began to realize the value of education, as he grew up. He regretted that he didn't study beyond fifth standard.

Arul married Jaya, who came from a family of educated people. Though Jaya herself was not highly educated, both of her brothers were.

Soon after their marriage, Arul told Jaya, "Unlike me, your brothers are well educated. I think their counsel will be useful to me." 

Jaya felt proud.

However, Arul didn't do as he said he would.

When it was time for sending their son to school, Arul didn't get the boy admitted in the school in which Jaya's brothers' children were studying but admitted him in another school.

"The school in which my brothers' children are studying is a reputed school. Why don't we get our son admitted in that school?" asked Jaya, when Arul told her about his decision.

"I don't like that school. They make the students work very hard so that the school would get good results" said Arul.

"Is it not good for our son? By working hard, he can get good scores!"

"I don't like our boy to study in a place where they make life miserable for the children. The school where I intend admitting our son is also reputed. But they won't make the students sweat!"

On the matter of investing his savings also, Arul didn't heed the advice of Jaya's brothers. He invested in bank deposits, government bonds and in shares of good companies.

Jaya conveyed her unhappiness to Arul, saying, "You told me that you would make use of the counsel of my brothers, since they are well educated. But you don't heed their advice in any important matter!"

Fifteen years had passed. Arul's son had scored well in the higher secondary examination and taken up a a course of his choice, in a reputed college.

"Our son has joined a good college. Are you happy now?" asked Arul.

"Of course, I am. I was a bit apprehensive, when you refused to heed the advice of my brothers and sent our boy to a school of your choice, But your decision has turned out to be right!" said Jaya,

"Your brothers' children have also done well in their studies and joined reputed colleges."

"It's true. But, as you had said, they were made to sweat by their school. They were feeling tense most of the time. But, our son was spared such an ordeal, thanks to your choice of the school."

After a pause, Jaya continued, "Even in the matter of investing, my brothers tell me that your investments have done better than theirs."

"Is it so?"

"Yes. Though you are not well educated, you have thought well and taken good decisions. I wonder how!"

"Perhaps, I was well educated in my previous birth. That education might have come to my help in this birth!" said Arul.

Jaya didn't say anything.

"Ok. In case you are not convinced by this, I can give you another explanation" said Arul.

"What is it?"

"It is said that a person's good deeds will benefit his descendants for seven generations. Till three generations ago, my ancestors were learned men. Perhaps their learning might have helped me to think well and take the right decisions!" said Arul.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 40
Education

Verse 398 (in Tamil):

orumaikkaN thAn kaRRa kalvi oruvaRku
ezhumaiyum EmAppudaiththu.

Meaning:

The learning one acquires during his lifetime will come to his aid for seven births.

Alternative meaning:
The learning a person acquires in his lifetime will be useful for seven generations that succeed him.

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

Verse 399
Verse 397

397. A Trip to Paris

"Hey, Azhageasan! When did you come back from Paris?" asked Kanakasabai.

"Two days back. I had spent the last two days sleeping! I stirred out of my house only today!" replied Kanakasabai. 

"Yes. I have heard the term jetlag, I haven't travelled beyond Tirupati, though! How is your son at Paris?"

"He is doing well!" said Azhagesan, with pride.

"Does he know French?"

"He doesn't. He has started learning it only recently."

"How does he manage, then? People in that country may not speak English" said Kanakasabai.

"You say you have not travelled beyond Tirupati, but you are well-versed in the practices in various countries in the world!" said Alagesan, appreciatively. "Since he has gone to work there as a software professional, not knowing French may not be a problem at office. However, he has to learn French, to communicate outside the office." 

"It seems that going abroad and working there comes easy to your family! Several years back, your younger brother went to the U.S. He is settled there now!"

"Yes. He studied motor mechanism. He was working in an automobile manufacturing firm here. Recognizing his talent, his company sent him to U.S. to work in its factory there. Now he has settled there. When he went to the U.S, he  had had no knowledge of English. It was his technical knowledge that took him to the U.S" said Azhagesan. 

He suddenly snapped his fingers and said, "I just remembered one thing. My son has sent some articles through me for his friends. I have to hand them over to them. He has given me a list with the name of the person and the article to be given to him. Just wait. I will bring it."

He went inside and came out with a sheet of paper in his hand. He gave the sheet to Kanakasabai and said, "My son read out the list for me. I want to make sure that I remember the list correctly. Can you please read out the list for me? When his friends come here to collect the articles, I want to hand over each article to the right person, without any mix up!"

"What, Azhagesan! Your younger brother went to the U.S, by virtue of his technical knowledge, even though he was not highly educated. Your son has been working in Paris, after studying Computer Science. But, you have still not become a literate person!" said Kanakasabai, smiling.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 40
Education

Verse 397 (in Tamil):

yAdhAnum nAdAmAl UrAmAl ennoruvan
sAndhuNaiyum kallAdhavARu.

Meaning:

When for a learned person, any country or any town in the world will be a place of his own, why is it that one remains unlearned throughout his life?

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

Verse 398
Verse 396