404. Kanniah's Concerns

Industrialist Sukumar had prepared a plan for expanding the production capacity of his factory, discussed the plan with his company executives and almost finalized it. 

When Sukumar was alone in his cabin, Kannaiah came to see him.

Kanniah had been working for Sukumar's company since long. Though not well educated, Kanniah was given the respect due to a senior executive of the company.

All the senior executives, including the General Manager of the company, treated him with respect.

Kanniah was not assigned any particular work in the company. He was given the freedom to choose to do what he wanted to. No one would question him.

Kanniah was aware of his position in the company and confined himself to supervising the work of the employees at the lower level. He never tried to interfere in the work of the senior executives.

Sometimes, he would give some suggestions to the senior executives. He would do it in a polite manner. The executives would listen to him, but take their own decisions, whether to consider his suggestions at all.

Kanniah visited the customers and suppliers of the company at frequent intervals and interact with them. He would convey their feedback to the concerned executive, and if necessary to Sukumar, the Managing Director.

Since this initiative of Kanniah helped in sustaining and improving the relationship of the company with its customers and suppliers, Sukumar encouraged it.

Sukumar greeted Kanniah, who entered his cabin, saying, "Come in, Mr. Kaniah." 

"Sir, I heard that you are planning to expand the production" said Kanniah.

"Yes, Mr. Kanniah. I am working on that project. It is in the final stage."

"You will be taking a loan from the bank, won't you."

"Yes. This being a big project, we will be going for a bank loan. But, why are you asking about this?"

"Sir, please don't consider me presumptuous. I just wanted to bring to your notice the information I gathered during my interactions with people in the market. It appears that, in the recent times, the competition for our product has increased. The imports are also said to be going up. They say that because of these developments, the selling price of our product is likely to fall. Under these circumstances, please think whether it is desirable to go for expansion and borrowing money from the bank, for the project."

Sukumar, who was fuming, as he listened to Kanniah, controlled his anger and told Kanniah, "Mr. Kanniah! I encouraged you to meet our customers and suppliers, since your interactions with them had, in the past, helped us to understand their problems, solve them and hence improve our relationship with them. But I cannot take kindly to your listening to market gossip and advising me on what to do, based on your perceptions. I have great regards for you. Don't make me change my impression about you."

Kanniah, feeling humiliated, left the Managing Director's cabin, without saying anything.

After two months, Sukumar abandoned the expansion project. This was due to the market survey report given by the consultants, whom the company had appointed for a hefty fee of two lakh rupees, which stated that due to the twin factors of increasing competition from other local manufacturers of the product and increasing imports, the company would find it difficult to sustain its sales at the past levels and also face an erosion in its profitability, due to an imminent fall in the selling price of the product resulting from increase in supplies and competition and advised that the company give upits expansion plan!

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 41
Lack of Education

Verse 404 (in Tamil):

kallAdhAn otpam kazhiya nanRAyinum
koLLAr aRivudaiyAr.

Meaning:

Though the illiterate may display streaks of intelligence,

they would still not be acknowledged by the learned.

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

Verse 405
Verse 403