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