444. The Award

"Sir, next week, we have the function for conferring the award on you. An official from the government called me up to confirm that all arrangements have been made" said Raghupathy, Manager of the firm. 

"Okay. The function has to be webcast live. Send them an email, asking for their approval" said Gajendran, the Managing Director.

"Sir, this is a function arranged by the government. They won't give consent for live webcast."

"Send them an email asking for permission. Then call up the official, who spoke to you and give the line to me."

After a few minutes, Raghupahy came to Gajecndran's cabin again and told him, "Sir, the official says that the government can't permit webcasting the event live. He is on the line."

Gajendran lifted the receiver of the phone in his cabin and spoke to the government official. "Sir, we will arrange for the webcast at our cost. We are only seeking your consent...Oh, you say it is a policy issue! I will participate in the function and receive the award, only if you permit webcasting the event. Please convey this to your secretary."

Gajendran put the receiver down, terminating the conversation.

After two days, Gajendran received an email from the government, conveying the government's consent to Gajendran's firm webcasting the award giving function, at its own cost.

After receiving 'The Best Industrialist of the Year' award, Gajendran spoke.

"I consider receiving this award a great honour. I am thankful to the government and the selection committee, for choosing me for this award. It is customary for people receiving this award to say, 'I have not done anything to deserve this award. I accept this award with humility.' This is usually said as a display of politeness, and sometimes, by way of sheer formality. But, in my case, this will be a true statement, because, there is someone else behind the growth of my organization. 

"I didn't start this firm. I bought this firm ten years back, from Mr. Thirumurugan, the founder of this firm. Mr. Thirumurugan started this venture to manufacture a new product, developed by him. He established the factory and successfully manufactured and marketed the product. He was running the firm successfully for many years.

"But, at one stage, he found it difficult to run the firm, due to financial problems. At that time, I, realizing the worth of the business assiduously built up by Mr.Thirumurugan, bought this firm from Mr. Thirumurugan.

"When Mr. Thirumurugan sold his business to me, he wanted to take home the chair, in which he had been sitting and running the business for the past several years. I told him that he should take not only his chair, but also his cabin! I meant that he should continue to sit in his chair, inside his cabin and guide me to run the business. He accepted my request. 

"Mr. Thirumurugan has been guiding me for the past ten years. It is his counsel, wisdom and and guidance that have helped me to take this business to new heights. This award should rightly go to Mr. Thirumurugan. It has been given to me, since I have been holding the position of the Managing Director of the firm.

"For the past few weeks, Mr. Thirumurugan has been indisposed and confined to his house. Since I wanted him to witness this event, I requested the government to permit us to webcast this event and the government kindly consented to my request.

"I now dedicate this award to my guide Mr. Thirumurugan. I solicit the good wishes and blessings of Mr. Thirumurugan, who, at my request, has been watching this event from his home."

Thirumurugan, who, lying on a bed in his home, listened to Gajendran's speech and the big applause that followed it, found that his eyes were welling up in joy and ecstasy.

Thirukkural

Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 44
Condemnation of Faults

Verse 444 (in Tamil):

thammin periyAr thamarA ozhugudhal
vanmaiyuL ellAm thalai.

Meaning:

To follow in the footsteps of those who are greater than oneself is the crown of one’s strength.

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

Verse 444 (Soon)
Verse 443