414. Missed and Gained!

I got acquainted with Sowrirajan, when I was transferred as a teacher to a school in his village. 

Sowrirajan's father had been the Village Head. However, during his time, the post of the Village Head was abolished by the Government. Village Administrative Officers, appointed by the Government took the place of the Village Heads, picked by the villagers.

Even after Sowrirajan's father had lost his position as the Village Head, his family commanded resect among the villagers. Apart from the fact that his was a wealthy family, in possession of large extents of lands and other properties, the munificent nature of his family that had been in display over several generations also earned a respect for the family.

A few days after joining the school, I went to Sowrirajan's house and met him by way of making a courtesy call. Even during our first meeting, an intimacy began to develop between the two of us.

After that, both of us visiting each other became a frequent event.

My wife would often wonder, "You are educated and working as a teacher. Mr. Sowrirajan is a person with no education. How did the two of you become so close?"

Sowrirajan had a deep regret that he was not educated.

"When I was a boy, I had no interest in studying. But, I enjoyed going to our fields and engaging in activities relating to cultivation. I struggled to get through my fifth standard examination. In my later years, I used  to wonder whether my teachers had been awarding me enough marks needed to pass the examination, on the consideration of my being the son of the Village Head! At that time, our village had only a primary school. To study beyond the fifth standard, we had to go by walk to the secondary school in another village, situated a few miles away. I told my father that I didn't want to study beyond the fifth standard. My father agreed to my request. So my education came to an end. But, now I regret that I had not continued my studies" he told me, once.

"Even if you are not highly educated, you have knowledge about many things" I said.

Though, at that time, I said this only to make him feel good, I later realized that he, in fact, had knowledge about many things. 

Once, after hearing him talk about a subject, I asked him, in amazement, "Where did you learn this?"

"From educated people like you" he replied, politely.

Once, when Sowrirajan went to meet his friend Sadasivam, who was indisposed, he asked me to accompany him.

"He falls sick quite often. He doesn't have a steady income, too. Let us meet him and say some words of encouragement" he said.

"But why do you want to take me along? I am not acquainted with him!" I asked. 

"I think if a stranger visits him and wishes him a speedy recovery, he will feel good!"

After talking to Sadasivam for a few minutes, Sowrirajan took out an old book from his bag and handed it to Sadasivam. "This is Sundara Kanta*. I brought this for you."

"What is this for?" asked Sadasivam, after receiving the book from Sowrirajan.

"As you know, there is a popular belief that if we read Sundara Kanta, our problems will be solved and good things will happen to us. But, many people won't even attempt reading this book, since it is quite voluminous! There is a chapter in this book, which lists the good omens witnessed by Sita, when she was depressed, while being held a prisoner by Ravana in the Ashoka Forest, in Srilanka. After she observes the omens, she feels confident. Immediately after this, Hanuman, the messenger of her husband Rama, visits her and conveys a message from Rama that he would soon liberate her. This is narrated in the 29th chapter of Sundara Kanta. There are only eight verses in this chapter. So, it won't take much time to read this chapter. The verses are in Sanskrit, but they have also been transliterated in Tamil. The meanings of the verses are also given. If you or your wife will read these eight verses, for a few days, you will find things turning for the better. When my wife was bed-ridden, I read these verses. Since I was not well-educated and the verses were in Sanskrit, I had to struggle to read the transliteration. After about a week, my wife recovered from her illness. You will also find dramatic developments occurring, within a few days after you start reading the chapter every day!" said Sowrirajan.

While returning from Sadasivam's house, I expressed my amazement to Sowrirajan, saying, "How did you know about this? Though I am educated and supposed to be knowledgeable, I was not aware of this. I am sure that this is not known even to many spiritually inclined people!"

"I had a friend by name Ramu, living in this village. He is well-educated and highly knowledgeable. I have learnt many things from him. He is not here now. He has gone to Mumbai and settled down there. I have been missing him. But fortunately, I have been getting new friends like you, from whom I can learn many things" said Sowrirajan, holding my hand, by way of conveying his gratefulness to me. 

I thought that having not had a good education was not a handicap at all to Sowrirajan.

* Sundara Kanta is one of the seven parts of the Hindu epic Ramayana.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 42
Learning through Listening

Verse 414 (in Tamil):

kaRRilan Ayinum kEtka ahdhu oruvaRku
oRkaththin URRAm thuNai.

Meaning:

Even if a person is uneducated, he should learn by listening to men of knowledge and wisdom. That learning will act as a pillar of support, during the time of adversity.

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

Verse 415
Verse 413