409. Karthick's Solution

Sivasamy asked Kumar, "Your father set up this factory in this small place with the noble intention of doing something good to this place. You want to close this!" 

Since Sivasamy was an influential person in that village, people of that village didn't do anything without consulting him.

"My father studied Engineering. After some work experience, he set up this steel rolling mill in this village. He had to sell all his properties to raise the capital for the investment. The mill has been running well. Thirty people are working in it. I have been getting a moderate income from the mill. But I have had no education. I don't know anything about the functioning of the mill. I have to accept whatever the manager of the mill says. I don't comprehend most of what he says. I don't understand the accounts, either. During some months, the profit is good. During some other months, the profit is less. When I asked about this, my manager said that the profit was less due to the fall in the price of steel. I have no way of knowing whether what he says is true or he is cheating me! The machines have become old. But since they are of good make and are in good condition, a person running a steel mill in another place has offered to buy them at a good price. If I continue running the mill, I will have to replace the machines with new machines after two or three years. I don't want to invest money for buying new machines. If I sell the machines and the land, I will get twenty five lakh rupees. I plan to deposit this sum in the bank and use the interest I will receive from the bank as the source of my income" said Kumar.

"But the income you will get by running the factory will be much higher than the interest income!"

"Maybe. But as I said, I don't feel confident of running the mill. I have a house. I have agricultural lands. The interest I will get on my deposits will be enough for me"

"What about the livelihood of the thirty people working in your mill?"

"What can I do about it?" said Kumar.

Govindan, who was working in Kumar's factory, met Sivasamy and asked him, "Sir! Our proprietor says he is going to close down the factory. Can you please advise him to give up the idea?"

"I tried to reason with him, but he didn't listen to me. Your son has completed his studies and is working in Chennai. You may have to live with him!" said Sivasamy.

"That may or may not be possible. And what about the other employees?"

Sivasamy was silent.

Govindan said, "Ok. I will call up my son and seek his counsel."

The next day, Govindan's son Karthick came to the village from Chennai. During the next few days, he spoke to many people in the village.

After a few days, Karthick went to see Kumar, taking Sivasamy with him.

Sivasamy told Kumar, "Kumar! you don't have to sell your machines and land to outsiders. Karthick will buy your factory for twenty five lakh rupees. But he needs one month time to pay the money."

Kumar asked Karthick, "Do you have that much money with you?" 

"I don't have. but I have made an arrangement. We are setting up a co-operative society to run this factory. Each of the one thousand families in this village will invest one thousand rupees each. That will create a capital of ten lakh rupees. Additionally, each of the thirty employees of the factory will invest ten thousand rupees each. Even if some of them may not readily have that sum with them, they have agreed to raise it by borrowing or by other means. After all, this is a livelihood issue for them. Three lakh rupees will be raised this way. I will be investing the remaining twelve lakh rupees" said Karthick.

"It has been hardly a year since you have taken up a job. Do you have that much money with you?"

"I don't have. But since I have a good job, I can get a personal loan of ten lakh rupees from a bank. I will repay it over a period from my salary. There is still a shortfall of two lakh rupees. Sivasamy uncle has agreed to invest that sum!" said Karthick, looking at Sivasamy.

"Yes, Kumar. Karthick's ancestors have had no education. Karthick is the first person in his lineage to get educated. Now, he has earned the respect and goodwill of the people of this village, by finding a solution to the problem created by your decision. His father's decision to get Karthick educated has been proved to be right!" said Sivasamy and looked at Kumar.

If his look was intended to convey a message to Kumar, 'But having been born in a a family of educated family, you have failed to earn the goodwill of the people!'  Kumar didn't get it.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 41
Lack of Education

Verse 407 (in Tamil):

mER piRandhaR Ayinum kallAdhAr kIzhp piRandhum
kaRRAr anaiththilar pAdu.

Meaning:

Even if a man is born in a noble family, if he is not educated, he won't be respected as an educated person born in a family with a low esteem.

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

Verse 410
Verse 408