1121. What made Sugandhi Angry?

"In the mythological work 'Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam,' there is a story. The Pandya king had a doubt whether women's hair had a natural fragrance. So, he announced a contest..." Sundar began to narrate.

"Stop it, buddy! You are narrating this story as if this is something new. This story had become popular, when it was featured in the film 'Thiruvilaiyadal,' with actor Nagesh playing the character Dharumi and making the story viral through his brilliant performance. There won't be a single Tamil-knowing person who doesn't know this story!" said his friend Murthy, interrupting him.

"Every one will remember Nagesh's performance, but not many may remember the story."

"But, why are you mentioning this story now?" asked another friend Ramesh.

"I have a doubt. We three have our lovers. So, answer this question. Do women's lips have a natural sweetness?"

"Of course, they have. Do you think that women apply honey on their lips?" asked Murthy.

Ramesh didn't say anything.

"What is your opinion?" Sundar asked Ramesh.

"My answer is: women's lips don't have any natural sweetness" said Ramesh.

"Hey! If your lover Sugandhi comes to know of what you have said, she won't spare you!" said Murthy.

"We three are talking among ourselves in a lighter vein. Who will tell Sugandhi about this?" said Sundar.

But, someone had told Sugandhi about this! Ramesh surmised that one of his two friends would have told his lover about this and she, in turn, would have told Sugandhi.

"Sugandhi! We friends had a casual conversation among us and we said things in a lighter vein. Why do you get upset about this?"

"Why should you say such a thing? What did you imply by this? Hereafter, don't come to see me!" said Sugandhi, angrily.

"Oh! Don't say like that. What will I do, if you impose such a ban on me?"

"Why did you make such a statement?"

"Sundar asked me whether the lips of women have a natural sweetness. I said no. I didn't say that your lips don't have sweetness."

"What does this mean?"

"Let us take an example. One person is born rich. Another person is not born rich, but becomes wealthy by his own efforts. Of the two, who is superior?"

"I will say that the one who became wealthy by his own efforts is superior. But what has this example got to do with the nonsense you uttered" said Sugandhi, her anger still not showing any sign of subsiding.

"What I said was not nonsensical, but factual. The lips of women don't have a natural sweetness. But your lips have sweetness. You have earned it!"

"I have earned it! How?"

"It is the sweetness of the words coming from your mouth that makes the saliva oozing out from your teeth sweet. By using harsh words against me, don't block the flow of sweetness from your mouth!" said Ramesh, wondering how she would take his explanation.

Sugandhi laughed spontaneously and said, "You are being very clever!"

She came close to him, bringing her lips close to his.

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 113
In Praise of Love

Verse 1121 (in Tamil):
pAlodu thEn kalandhaRRE paNi mozhi
vAl eyiRu URiya nIr.

Meaning:

The saliva coming out of the clean teeth of this girl of sweet words is like the taste of honey mixed with milk.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'sugandhiyin kObam' by the same author.)

Verse 1122 (Soon)
Verse 1120 

475. No Fatigue For Me!

"You seem to be more busy after retirement than you were when you were working!" said Sundaresan.

"It is true. Because I am engaging myself in the activities I enjoy doing, I don't feel bored or tired" said Raju.

"What kind of activities are you engaged in?"

"I enjoy gardening. So, I bought this house with a garden, located in the outskirts of the city. I grow the plants I like and maintain them. The garden area is small. So, I have set up a garden on the terrace too. I am also interested in social service. I go to an old age home now and then and render whatever service I can."

"What kind of services?"

"Maintaining accounts, getting things from shops, taking the physically weak inmates for a walk by holding their hands and other kinds of help they need."

"Remarkable! I am of the same age as you. But I can't do these kinds of jobs, exerting my body" said Sundaresan.

"When we do the activities we enjoy doing, there will be a feeling of happiness and satisfaction. Therefore, we won't feel any fatigue" said Raju.

After Sundaresan had left, Raju's wife Uma told him, "Your friend says only what I have been telling you repeatedly. When you were working, on holidays, you would rest for the whole day. Whenever you were taking me and our children out, you would feel fatigued. But, nowadays, you go out even on festival days for doing service at some place or other. Even during the time you are at home, you are working in the garden, unmindful of the scorching sun. Will your body withstand all this strain?"

"My answer to you is the same as the one I gave Sundaresan. If we do something we enjoy doing, how can there be fatigue or tiredness?" said Raju, smiling with pride.

"I don't know" said Uma, feeling tired of talking to her husband on this repeatedly.

Uma received a phone call from the organization, where Raju was rendering services. The caller told Uma that Raju suddenly complained of chest pain and that he was taken to a nearby hospital.

Uma rushed to the hospital.

Raju was lying on the hospital bed. Medicine was being injected from a bottle hung on the top of the cot, through a needle pierced into his wrist.

"Your husband had a heart attack. Don't worry. It is only mild. He will have to be in the hospital for a couple of days. After he is discharged, he has to take complete rest. Take care" the Doctor told Uma.

Uma looked at her husband with an expression of concern and anger, as if telling him, 'Did I not tell you repeatedly not to strain yourself too much?'

Raju turned his face away from her, feeling guilty and embarrassed about having not listened to her advice to restrain himself from getting strained too much.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 48
Knowing One's Strength

Verse 475 (in Tamil):

pIli pey sAgAdum achchiRum appaNdam
sAla miguththup peyin.

Meaning:

Even a cart loaded with peacock feathers will have its axis broken, if it is overloaded with the feathers.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'sOrvA enakkA?' the same author.)

Verse 476 (Soon)
Verse 474

110. The Interview

Varma stopped the person who came out of the interview room and asked him, "How was the interview?"

"It was easy. They asked only about my experience."

"Did you tell them about the wrongs committed by you?"

"We can't hide anything from them. They have 
our complete dossiers. It seems they may even have the scan taken when I was in my mother's womb!"

"How is it possible?"

"There is one Mr. Gupta in the room. It appears that he has our entire dossiers in his laptop. Browsing through the laptop, he brought out the things concealed by me."

"Really?" asked Varma, showing his disbelief.

"Yes. They asked me whether I didn't get a job by giving a fake degree certificate. I was shocked. I don't understand how they came to know of this. In my thirty years' career, no one had found out this."

"Perhaps, the person who made the fake certificate for you had revealed this."

"He had prepared fake certificates for hundreds of people. I am only one among them. Why should he tell about me? And why should he tell these people? It is puzzling to me."

"Ok. What did they say about this? Are they going to punish you for this?"

"I don't know. But I have done a lot of good deeds. They mentioned those also. In fact, they even mentioned some of the good deeds I had forgotten about, by getting the details from their laptop and commended me for those deeds!"

"Oh!" said Varma, expressing his surprise.

At that time, a young woman came there, said, "Mr. Kasi! Please come with me" and took him inside a room.

Varma was able to take a quick look into the room, when the door of the room was opened for a few seconds and closed. The shiny floor and the bright walls made the room look like a suite in a high class hotel. The sweet fragrance and the pleasant chillness of the air that emanated from that room lasted for several seconds. Varma noticed the inscription 'Paradise - 103' outside the room. 

'Where are they taking him?' wondered Varma.

After a while, Varma was called in.

The interview went on for more than thirty minutes. Varma was sweating, in spite of the air-conditioned atmosphere inside the room. He wondered whether it was an interview or an interrogation.

"Mr. Varma! You have concealed one important information about you" said the interviewer.

"Which one are you referring to?" asked Varma. He felt that the sweating of his body was becoming more intense.

"After you had lost your job, you struggled for a long time, without getting another job. You were on the verge of being on the street. At that time, one Mr. Arthanari took pity on you and gave you a job. He reposed faith in you and within a short time, entrusted you with a responsible position in his organization. But, after learning the intricate details of his business, you joined his competitor's firm, pulled some of the valuable customers of Mr. Arthanari to your new firm and sabotaged his business. After some time, he was forced to wind up his business. Rather than being grateful to the person who had helped you during a critical period of your life, you betrayed him."

"Sir! In business, such practices are common" said Varma, in an apologizing tone.

"Forgetting the good done to us by someone is an unpardonable crime. Betraying that person is a punishable offense" said the interviewer and pressed the buzzer on his desk.

A hefty person entered the room. After the interviewer nodded his head, he gripped Varma's arm and pulled him out of his chair.

"What are you doing? Stop. I will come with you. What kind of a practice is this - pulling a person by his hand?" protested Varma.

The force with which he pulled Varma made Varma fall on the floor. He dragged Varma out of the room, without giving Varma a chance to get up and walk.

He opened the door of a room and pushed Varma inside the room. Varma got up with some difficulty. The room was semi-dark, with poor lighting. The floor was rough and stepping on the rough surface hurt his feet. Varma thought that his shoes should have fallen off his feet when he was being dragged.

'Will the shoes have fallen off from both my legs?' 

His thinking was abruptly interrupted by a strong stench that pervaded the room.

"What is this room? Why have you brought me here?" asked Varma.

"This is where you are going to live" said the man. who dragged him to that room.

"Why?" asked Varma, angrily.

At that moment, a phone in that room rang. The man took the receiver and spoke. He then handed the receiver over to Varma and told him, "You can ask your doubts to the boss."

Varma received the receiver and spoke. It was the interviewer who was at the other end of the phone.

 "Why are you putting me in this horrible place?" asked Varma.

"This is the punishment for your crime of betraying a person who did you good" replied the interviewer.

"I have done a lot of good deeds. Won't you consider them?"

"If it was some other offense, we would have considered the good deeds and condoned the offense. But, no amount of good deed can compensate for the offense of betraying a person who did something good to you." 

Varma recalled how Kasi, who got a job by producing a fake degree certificate was taken to a luxurious room, because of the good deeds done by him. Varma remembered the inscription 'Paradise - 103' outside that room.

'In that case, this place is..."

"What is this place, sir?" asked Varma, in a trembling voice.

"Your guess is right. It is HELL!" said the interviewer, laughing.

"Who are you to push me into this? What is your name?"

"Dharamaraj*."

* As per Hindu mythology, after a person dies, Dharmaraj, also called Yama, the God of death, decides whether to send the person to heaven or hell, according to the deeds done by the person, when he or she lived in the world. 

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 11
Gratitude

Verse 110 (In Tamil)

ennanRi konRArkkum uyvuNdAm uyvillai
sey nanRi konRa magaRku.

Meaning:

There is salvation to those guilty of any other sin; but there is no redemption for the sin of ingratitude.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'interview' by the same author)

Verse 111 (Soon)
Verse 109

474. Sundar's Style of Management

After Kasilingam's sudden demise, the mantle of managing his firm fell on his only son Sundar.

Sundar had just completed his bachelor's degree. He was considered a bright and intelligent student by his teachers and classmates in the school and the college he had studied. His command over the English language was also good. Therefore, Sundar felt confident of managing his father's business efficiently.

Before Sundar had assumed charge, his mother Gowri told him, "Sundar! The employees of the firm have been loyal to your father. They have good experience. Make the best use of them."

Soon after Sundar had taken over as the Proprietor of the firm, Sundar realized that the employees of the firm were not well educated and were not very brilliant, either.

Sundar summoned Gunasekaran, the Manager of the firm, to his cabin.

"Mr. Gunasekaran! Our employees are no good. None of them is proficient in English. They are unable to draft even a simple letter. I don't know how my father was running the firm, with this kind of people" said Sundar.

"Sundar! Don't mistake me for saying this..."

Sundar intercepted Gunasekaran, saying, "Mr. Gunasekaran! I am your proprietor. Call me 'sir.'" 

"Sorry, sir! People working here are well-versed in their jobs. They know what to do. They will execute the tasks given to them flawlessly. Please don't consider their inadequacy in the use of English language as a handicap. English proficiency is not so important in our business."

"If we send letters written in poor English, won't our customers, suppliers and others laugh at us?"

"Ok, sir. If you want, you can appoint a person well-versed in English as the Correspondence Clerk."

"Will it not be an additional expenditure? No need for it. You are the one who signs the letters. Send the letters to me before signing. I will correct them. You can get them typed again and then sign them" said Sundar.

Suppressing the question, 'What kind of a management it is, where, the proprietor of the firm. who should be focusing on the overall management of the firm and on business growth, spends his time in correcting the grammar mistakes in the routine letters that are sent by the firm, as a part of the day to day activities of the firm?' that arose in his mind, Gunasekaran said, "Yes, sir."

Several months after Sundar had assumed the responsibility of running the firm, Gowri asked him, "How is the business going?"

"It is going on well" said Sundar.

"Don't try to hide the truth from me, Sundar. Some of the employees came to our house a couple of times and talked to me about the state of the affairs of the firm."

"Why should they come to our house and talk to you?" asked Sundar, angrily.

"Your father had been treating his employees as his family members. So, they are also interested in the firm's success and growth. Because of your inappropriate treatment of the customers, some of our longstanding customers have left us. This has resulted in our sales going down. This naturally made the employees worried about the future of the firm and their own future. So, they came to me and apprised me of how the business was being run by you. Since you won't even give them a hearing, they were forced to come to me. You have not been treating your employees with dignity. As a result of this, a couple of senior employees have left our firm. This being the state of affairs of the firm, you are telling me that the firm is doing well!" Said Gowri.

"Mom! Daddy might have been running the business in a particular way. I have been following a different approach. Therefore, there will be some glitches at the beginning. Wait for two years. Our firm would have reached new heights at that time."

"Going by what has happened so far, it appears that in two years' time, you will make our firm go out of existence. You are new to this business. You should have learnt everything about the business from people who have been involved in this business for the past several years and then thought of ways to improve the business, Just because you studied in a college and got a degree, you think you know everything. You have been unable to get along with people, whether they are employees or customers. Enough of your managing the firm! Take up a job in some other firm. You can think about managing our firm, after gaining some experience by working in other firms."

"So, Mr. Gunasekaran will manage the firm till that time!" said Sundar, mockingly.

"He can manage the firm. After all, he has been managing it for several years, under your father's guidance and supervision. But, the firm belongs to our family. So, we should also assume some responsibility. So, I will be managing the firm for the next two or three years" said Gowri.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 48
Knowing One's Strength

Verse 474 (in Tamil):

amaindhu Angu ozhugAn aLavu aRiyAn thannai
viyandhAn viraindhu kedum.

Meaning:

The world doesn’t accept what it can’t approve. Therefore, make proper assessment and act in such a way that you are not ridiculed.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'sundharin nirvAgam' the same author.)

Verse 475
Verse 473

473. A Bridge Over The River

"We have been in the construction business for so many years. We have never got such a big contract as we have got now" said Selvakumar, proudly.

"Selva! Do you think we have the resources to execute this contract?" asked his partner Balachandran.

"Why not, Bala? Constructing a bridge is also a civil work like constructing buildings. We are going to use the same materials like cement, bricks, sand, steel etc!"

"We don't have experience in this line. Taking up this project will be risky."

"Doing a business involves taking risks. Nothing is impossible with proper planning and systematic execution."

"My point, precisely. So far, we have taken up construction of houses, mostly. We have done small jobs like constructing small bridges across canals etc. To construct a big bridge like this, we need to prepare a detailed plan, by employing engineers with expertise and experience and then execute it with utmost care. The government wants this bridge to be constructed within three months, keeping in mind the ensuing election. If we take up a job of a kind in which we have no experience, with a short execution period and fail to deliver high quality construction, within the stipulated time, the reputation of our firm will be tarnished. We have got this job as a sub-contract but we have not yet accepted this work order. Let us inform the principal contractor that we are unable to accept this order, in view of the other commitments we have" said Balachandran. 

"It is not an option, Bala. This contract was obtained by a relative of the minister. He has given it to us as a sub-contract. If you don't want our firm to take up the project, I will take this order in my personal name and execute it" said Selvakumar.

"It is fine with me, Selva. After completing the jobs being executed by our firm currently, we will take a decision about continuing our partnership" said Balachandran and left.

It took two weeks for Selvakumar to search for and appoint an engineer with experience in the construction of bridges. However, even before appointing the engineer, Selvakumar started the job of laying the foundation for the bridge, under his control and supervision.

The relative of the minister who had taken the contract was putting pressure on Selvakumar to start the work immediately and complete it before the deadline.

"Before the date of election is announced, the work should be completed. Otherwise, the opposition parties and the media would brand this work as an election-oriented activity. Your work seems to be moving at snail's pace" he told Selvakumar.

"Don't worry. We will complete the work within three months" Selvakumar assured the contractor. However, inwardly, he was worried whether he would be able to complete the work before the deadline stipulated.

After the engineer took over, he found fault with some aspects of the foundation laying work and got them redone. As a result of this, some more days were lost.

"It is not possible to construct a bridge like this in such a short period. You shouldn't have accepted such a short deadline" the engineer told Selvakumar.

"I have already signed an agreement accepting the deadline. Nothing can be done about it now. The work has to be completed before the deadline accepted by me. Think how the work can be done quickly and effectively within the time given, prepare a plan accordingly and execute it" said Selvakumar.

"I will do my best. Bur some parts of the work require a minimum period of time for completion. There is no way those jobs can be done faster" said the engineer.

After the supporting pillars were constructed, the engineer told Selvakumar, "We can start the work of constructing the floor on the pillars only after five days. The pillars need a few more days of curing."

"The curing given till now is enough. We don't have time. We have to construct the floor over the pillars, erect handrails over the floor and complete the job quickly. Start the work of laying the floor on the pillars immediately" said Selvakumar.

"We cannot do it in a hurry. There can't be any compromise on the minimum curing period required" said the engineer.

"You might have studied Engineering in a college. But I am a contractor with experience. Do as I say" commanded Selvakumar.

"Sorry, sir. I can't do it. I will resign my job" said the engineer.

"Get lost! Your only contribution to this project has been delaying everything. Appointing you was a blunder committed by me. If I had got the work done under my own guidance and control, the job would have been completed by this time" yelled Selvakumar, angrily.

The engineer left, without saying anything.

Selvakumar continued the job under his control.

When the handrails of the bridge were being constructed, a crack appeared on the surface of one of the pillars. Some people captured the image of the crack in their mobile phone and shared it with their friends. The photos also appeared in the print, electronic and social media. This became a point of discussion and debate, leading to criticism of the government.

The minister's relative - the principal contractor - called up Selvakumar.

"I entrusted this job to you, expecting that you would execute the job well. But you have created an ugly situation like this. The minister is blasting me for the embarrassment caused to the government" he said bitterly.

"It is a small thing, sir. It can be rectified" said Selvakumar.

"Rectify it? If the pillar supporting the bridge develops a crack, even before the construction is over, will people have trust on the safety of the bridge? Since the election is approaching, the government wants to create an impression that it will be strict against faults and violations. So, the government has cancelled the contract given to me. You have to stop the work immediately. You or your people should not go to the work site" said the contractor.

"Sir! What about the investment I have made in this project, the amount spent by me so far and the payment for the bills submitted by me?"

"I don't owe you anything. On the other hand, you will have to pay me a substantial sum as compensation" said the contractor and ended the conversation.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 48
Knowing One's Strength

Verse 473 (in Tamil):

udaiththam vali aRiyAr Ukkaththin Ukki
idaikkaN murindhAr palar.

Meaning:

Many have broken down midway, having started a task, with fervour,

without assessing their capabilities.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'ARRup pAlam' the same author.)

Verse 474
Verse 472

1120. Flower Becomes A Thorn!

"You see the beautiful garden there. Can we go there?" asked Malarkkodi.

"We can. But the problem is, if we go there, people who have been enjoying the beauty of the garden will be distracted by your beauty!" said Manivannan.

"If you are going to talk like this, I won't come with you to any place. I will go home right away" said Malarkkodi, in feigned anger.

"Pardon me, Your Majesty. Hereafter, I won't say things that will anger you. That garden is at a distance of a couple of hundred feet from here. If you walk that distance, your feet will get inflamed. Will you allow me to carry you?"

"Just now you said that you won't say things that will annoy me. It seems that you want me to leave this place and go home."

"No, no. Please don't go away. I will be more careful in my speech. If you want, you can close my mouth with your petal-like palm when we are walking to the garden."

Malarkkodi burst out laughing. "You are corrigible."

She then walked to the garden, holding his hand.

Manivannan and Malarkkodi walked in the garden, holding each other's hand.

"See how beautiful these Anichcham flowers are!" said Malarkkodi.

"Yes. They are like you. So beautiful, but so sensitive to touch."

Malarkkodi ignored his observation and said, "So many swans are walking in the garden. What a delightful sight!"

"If I make a truthful statement that the swans are practicing to walk gracefully, by observing you, you will get angry with me!"

Malarkkodi was about to respond to his observation, but gave out a mild cry and sat on the ground.

"What happened" asked Manivannan, with anxiety.

"I seemed to have stepped on some hard object and my foot is strained" said Malarkkodi, caressing her foot with her fingers.

"Be gentle! Your foot which was like a white lotus has inflamed and become like a red lotus now. Thank God, there is no bleeding. The doctor's house is nearby. Let us go there" said Manikandan, trying to make her get up, by pulling her arm up.

Malarkkodi shrugged off his hand and said, "I am not sure whether I can walk up the distance."

"If I offer to carry you, you will get angry."

Malarkkodi frowned at him and said, "If I sit down for a while, I will become alright."

"What you say makes sense. After all, if we go to the doctor's house, he will laugh at us."

"Why should he laugh at us?"

"Will he not be amused by your foot having got inflamed by your stepping on the petals of Anichcham flowers and the feathers of swans?"

Annoyed by Manikandan's remarks, Malarkkodi got up and began to walk away fast.

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 112
In Praise of Her Charms

Verse 1120 (in Tamil):
anichchamum annaththin thUviyum mAdhar
adikku nerunjip paZham.

Meaning:

The anicham and the feathers of the swan are, to the feet of this woman, like the fruit of the (thorny) Nerunji.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'malarum muLLAgum' by the same author.)

Verse 1121
Verse 1119 

472. Fighting A Giant

"What is this sir? You have nominated a novice called Shankar to contest against the powerful Namasivayam! Should we not put up a strong candidate to fight Namasivayam?"

Though several senior leaders of the party posed this question, Kumaravel, the President of the party, did not change his decision.

"If we do our campaigning effectively, we can make Shankar win" said Kumaravel.

Namasivayam has been a minister for fifteen years. It was Kumaravel, who, when he was the Chief Minister, first made Namasivayam a minister. But, at the time of the next election, Namasivayam quit Kumaravel's party and contested the election as a candidate of the rival political party. With the rival political party winning the election, Namasivayam became a minister in the government formed by that party. With that party winning the next election too, Namasivayam continued to remain a minister.

Though it was widely expected that Kumaravel's party would win the next election, it was also perceived that Namasivayam would win in his constituency, by virtue of his political power, built over fifteen years.

Kumaravel's party putting up an inexperienced young person as the candidate to fight Namasivayam, belying everyone's expectation that the party would put up a strong candidate against Namasivayam and make all out efforts to defeat him, surprised not only Kumaravel's partymen, but also political observers, the media and the public.

When the election campaign was at the peak, a report that Kumaravel's partymen were distributing money to the voters in Namasivayam's constituency, with a view to defeat Namasivayam, appeared in a section of the media.

Kumaravel issued a statement stoutly denying these allegations and warning that his party would take legal action against those who spread such false news. However, such reports continued to appear in some sections of the media.

A couple of days prior to the polling day, reports began to appear in the media that Namasivayam was distributing money to the voters. During a search by election officials, huge amounts of cash were seized from people belonging to Namasivayam's party.

The Election Commission announced that it was countermanding the election in Namasivayam's constituency, since huge amounts of cash were seized and on investigation, it was found that distribution of money to the voters took place on a large scale.

Kumaravel's party won a majority of the seats in the election and came to power.

Kumaravel and Paramasivam, a senior leader of the party, who was close to Kumaravel, were discussing the election results.

"Fortunately, the election was countermanded in Namasivayam's constituency. Otherwise, he would have won. Now that we have come to power, in the by-election to be held after some time, people will vote for us, the ruling party. Namasivayam can't win" said Paramasivam.

"How do you think that this has happened?" asked Kumaravel, smiling.

"Due to Namasivayam's getting caught, when his partymen tried to bribe the voters."

"But before that, there were reports that our partymen had bribed the voters!"

"Yes. What an outrageous allegation! We have, since a long time, been scrupulously following the policy of not paying money for getting votes. Is the media not aware of this? Yet, the media published such scandalous reports about our party. I was pained by such reports."

"Paramasivam! It was me who got such reports published, using my contacts in the media" said Kumaravel.

"Why did you do this?" asked Paramasivam, stunned by Kumaravel's revelation.

"Paramasivam! I knew that defeating Paramasivam won't be easy. Though the opinion polls had predicted that we would win the elections, people couldn't have been sure about who would win. Therefore, people in his constituency would have voted for him, anticipating that he would become the minister, if his party won the election. The Chief Election Officer of our state is a strict person. I was sure that if he came to know about distribution of money to the voters, he would countermand the election. Since Namasivayam knew that our party won't bribe the voters, he, at the beginning, didn't distribute money to the voters. But, after seeing the media reports about our party bribing the voters, Namasivayam panicked and resorted to distribution of money to the voters. I asked our partymen to watch how and from where the money was getting distributed and report the source of money to the election officials. Acting on the information given by our partymen, the election officials conducted raids and seized huge amounts of cash from people belonging to Namasivayam's party. As expected by me, the Chief Election Officer of the state recommended countermanding the election and accepting his recommendation, the Election Commission countermanded the election. As you say, people would vote for us in the by-election that will be held after a few weeks." said Kumaravel, with excitement.

"You have done what everyone considered impossible" said Paramasivam, sharing the excitement of Kumaravel.

Thirukkural

Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 48
Knowing One's Strength

Verse 471 (in Tamil):

olvadhu aRivadhu aRindhadhan kaN thangich
cheLvArkkuch chellAdhadhu il.

Meaning:

Nothing is impossible for those who have a thorough understanding of their task and throw themselves heart and soul into it. 

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'thaLLi vaikkappatta thErdhal' the same author.)

Verse 473
Verse 471

109. When Expectations Were Belied...

From the time he could remember, Umapathy had only two relatives. One was his mother Vadivu and the other his uncle - his mother's brother - Kasilingam. Kasilingam had a daughter, Valli.

Vadivu's father passed away, one year after she had got married. The next year, her husband Sundaram also passed away.

Umapathy was a child of six months, when his father had died. Vadivu's elder brother Kasilingam was the only support Vadivu had in her life.

Sundaram had a house and some agricultural lands in his village. Since Kasilingam lived in a village near Sundaram's village, he visited his sister frequently and took care of family. He also managed the agricultural lands of Vadivu.

Kasilingam was paying a fixed sum every month to Vadivu, for her family expenses. He also paid for the educational expenses of Umapathy. Whenever, Vadivu asked for more money to meet some additional expenses, Kasilingam would give her the amount she asked for. She didn't know whether what Kasilingam had been paying her was more or less than the income generated from her lands. She didn't ask him; he didn't tell her either.

After completing his school education, Umapathy wanted to join a college. When he expressed his desire to his uncle, Kasilingam told him, "Why should you go for higher studies? You are going to marry my only daughter and live happily here, managing your lands as well as mine!"

It was then that Vadivu realized that Kasilingam had been nurturing such an idea in his mind. The proposal was acceptable to Vadivu. But Umapathy was particular about pursuing college education. At that time, he had no thoughts about his marriage.

Kasilingam gave his consent for Umapathy joining the college in a nearby town. He gave the money required for college fees and other expenses.

When Umapathy was about to complete his college education, Kumar, belonging to his village, who was working in Ghaziabad, near Delhi, came to the village on leave. Umapathy got acquainted with him. Kumar took a liking for Umapathy.

Kumar told Umapathy, "After completing your studies, come to Ghaziabad. I will get you a job in my company. I will get you accommodation too. Our company management rewards people who perform well. So, you will have very good career growth. I have had my education only up to the school level. Joining in a junior position, I have come up to a senior position now. I have my own house and a car. With a bachelor's degree, you can come up faster. After some time, you can take your mother also there. You can settle down in that place."

When Umapathy told his uncle about this, Kasilingam was not happy. "This is the reason I didn't want you to have college education. We have properties here. You can live a comfortable life here" he told Umapathy.

But Umapathy persisted with his proposal and succeeded in getting Kasilingam's consent. Vadivu had no opinion about this. If the proposal was acceptable to her brother, she was fine with it. But she felt sorry that Umapathy was leaving her and going to a far off place.

Umapathy comforted her saying, "I will come here every six months on leave and stay with you for a few days. In two years, I will take you there." 

 

When Umapathy came home after two years, he told Kasilingam, "Uncle! My company will be giving me quarters in two months' time. After getting the quarters, I want to take my mother with me."

"Marry my daughter and take her along, too" said Kasilingam.

Umapathy hesitated for a while and said, "Pardon me, uncle! I love a girl who is working in my company. I want to marry her."

"You had given me false hopes and betrayed me. I would have got Valli married to someone else, instead of waiting with the hope that you would marry her" said Kasilingam, angrily.

"Uncle! Valli is only eighteen years old. I think she may not like to marry me, either. You will be able to find a good match for her."

"Ok. After both of you leave this place, who will take care of your house and lands?"

"Please arrange to get them sold, uncle. It will be better if you can finalize the sale, before I take my mother with me."

"Selling the lands is not that easy. I will let you know, if I find a buyer. At that time, you may come here with your mother, register the sale and receive the sale proceeds."

Even six months after Umapathy had brought his mother to Ghaziabad, there was no communication from Kasilingam. He wrote a letter to his uncle.

After a week, there was a reply from Kasilingam.

"After your father had passed away, I took care of you and your mother. I have spent a lot of money providing for your family expenses every month, your educational expenses etc. The income received from your lands was hardly sufficient even to provide one meal a day to your family. I calculated the total income received from your lands and the total amount spent by me for your family and arrived at the sum you owe me. Your mother has sold your house and lands to me towards the money you owe me. The sale deed was registered by her, before she left for Ghaziabad. After final settlement, I had to pay you nine hundred rupees. I paid your mother one thousand rupees, before she had left this place. Check with her."

Shocked by the contents of the letter, Umapathy asked his mother, "Mom, did you go to the Registration office with uncle and sign any papers?"

"Yes. He told me that before selling our house and lands, the title which was in your father's name had to be transferred in my name. He said that after though the Village Officer had transferred the title in my name, after your father's death, the properties had to be registered in my name, before they could be sold. He took me to the Registration office for this purpose. Why are you asking me about this now?" asked Vadivu.

"No particular reason. I just wanted to know" said Umapathy.

Umapathy comprehended what had happened. He had already made discreet enquiries with people in his village about how much income would have been received from his lands and knew that the income generated from the lands would have been more than what his uncle spent for his family He also had a fair idea about the market value of his properties.

It was clear that driven by his anger at Umapathy not marrying his daughter, his uncle had taken revenge on him, by taking away his properties, by hoodwinking his mother. He had betrayed the trust placed in him by his sister. If Umapathy took legal action, he might be able to retrieve his properties.

But Umapathy thought of another thing. When his father died, his mother was a gullible village woman with no worldly wisdom or knowledge. He was a baby. His uncle's taking care of him and his mother, supporting them for many years and fulfilling all his desires was a graceful act.

Umapathy decided to overlook his uncle's betrayal, considering the good deeds he had rendered to Umapathy and his mother.

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 11
Gratitude

Verse 109 (In Tamil)

konRanna innA seyinum avar seydha
onRu nanRu uLLak kedum.

Meaning:

Even if a person inflicts a deadly injury on us, it will be overlooked

if he has done one good deed earlier.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'edhirpArppum EmARRamum' by the same author)

Verse 110
Verse 108

471. Are We Ready for the War?

"All of you are aware of the purpose of this meeting. It is to discuss our proposed invasion of Vikasa, our neighbouring country. General! Are our troops ready to launch the attack?" asked the King.

"They are, Your Majesty! Our soldiers are ready to act anytime" said the General.

"What is the numerical strength of our army?"

The General narrated the strength of each of the four regiments, viz. the infantry, the horse regiment, the elephant regiment and the chariot regiment.

"Your Majesty! As per the information gathered by our spies, the numerical strength of each of the regiments of Vikasa country is much smaller than ours" said the Minister.

"That means we can launch our attack immediately" said the King, with excitement.

"But, we need to consider some other factors too" said the Minister.

"What factors?"

"If we invade Viskasa country, their ally Kondrai country will join the war on the side of Vikasa."

"Will they dare? After all, only last year, they tried to attack us but tasted defeat at our hands."

"Yes, Your Majesty. They are craving to avenge their defeat. They may make use of this opportunity, expecting to settle the scores with us, using the combined strength of the troops of both the countries." 

"We also have allies, who would join the fight on our side!"

"We have, Your Majesty. But, we can't take them for granted. We should first send our emissaries to those countries and confirm that they would send their troops in support of us, if we launch an attack on Vikasa."

"Does it mean that we cannot launch an attack on Vikasa immediately?" asked the King, feeling frustrated and irritated.

"Your Majesty! It is my humble opinion that we should first ensure that we would get the support from our allies. We also need to make some other arrangements."

"What are those arrangements?"

The Minister looked at the General, then turned to the King and said, "The General is reluctant to talk about an important issue. It has just been a year since we fought a war with Kondrai country. In the war, we lost some weapons and some weapons were damaged. The task of repairing the damaged weapons and replacing the weapons lost with new weapons has not yet been completed. The soldiers who were injured in the war have not fully recovered their strength. The process of recruiting new soldiers in place of those killed in the war is still going on. It may take a few more months for these tasks to be completed."

"If we have to wait for a few months, a situation may also develop when the need for going to war with Vikasaa may no longer be necessary."

"What you say is correct, Your Majesty. It is quite possible that the need for this war may not be there!"

"What are you trying to say, Minister?"

"As you know, in the Mahabharata, though a war with Duryodhana appeared inevitable, Yudhishtira made an attempt to avert the war, by sending Krishna as a messenger of peace. We can send an emissary to Vikasa and try to settle our dispute through peaceful means. If the mission succeeds, there will be no need for a war. If it doesn't, we can launch a war, after ensuring the support from our allies and strengthening our troops and weapons. By buying some time, we will be able to launch the attack, from a stronger position."

The King became thoughtful.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 48
Knowing One's Strength

Verse 471 (in Tamil):

vinai valiyum than viliyum mARRAn valiyum
thuNai valiyum thUkkich cheyal.

Meaning:

Before taking up a task, consider the difficulty of the task, your own strength, the strength of the opponent and the strength of (your and the opponent's) allies.

 

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'pOrukkuth thayArA' the same author.)

Verse 472
Verse 470

470. Plunging Into Politics

"Sir, people like you should enter politics" said Karmegam.

"I have been running a business and a few educational institutions. Why should I enter politics?" said Kaliyamurthy.

"It is because people like you have been keeping away from politics that politics is getting rotten."

"You are a political leader and you are saying this!"

"I have never hesitated to speak the truth. I am forced to give tickets to many worthless people for contesting in elections, since I have not been able to get enough number of deserving candidates" said Karmegam. "This time, you will be contesting in this constituency, as our party candidate" he added.

"No, sir. Leave me out of this. I don't know anything about politics" said Kaliyamurthy.

"It doesn't matter. You don't have to do anything. Right from filing the nomination, through conducting the campaign, to canvassing for votes, we will do everything. It is enough if you just stand there, with folded hands, showing a gesture of seeking votes politely!"

Kaliyamurthy filed his nomination and launched his campaign with the help of the partymen.

Initially, Kaliyamurthy felt a little embarrassed that despite being a person with a high status in society, gained by being a leading businessman and an educationist, he had to bow to people and seek their votes. But, he consoled himself that he was doing it only as a social service.

However, he felt uncomfortable listening to the party leaders' undignified speeches, containing slanderous remarks about leaders of other political parties and about leaders belonging to certain castes.

When Kaliyamurthy conveyed his displeasure about these remarks to the speakers, they dismissed his concerns saying, "Sir! Only if we say such things, our supporters will feel enthused to vote for us."

Kaliyamurthy conveyed his concerns to Karmegam. 

"This the norm in politics. You will get accustomed to this, soon enough" said Karmegam, nonchalantly.

Kaliyamurthy was shocked by Karmegam's reply.

The voting was over. Counting of the votes was scheduled to take place after two days.

Kaliyamurthy's long-time friend Subbiah came to see him.

"What is this, Kaliyamurthy? Why are you doing this?" asked Subbiah, in an accusing tone

Though Kaliyamurthy himself had been reflecting on whether he had committed a mistake by contesting the elections, he didn't want to share his misgivings with his friend.

"Are you saying that I shouldn't contest the elections?" asked Kaliyamurthy.

"Anyone can contest the election. But you are contesting as a candidate of a caste-based party."

"Karmegam is well known to me. When he requested me to contest as a candidate of his party, I agreed. I didn't choose this party, on caste considerations."

"You and I belong to the same caste. But we have never had caste feelings. You have a good reputation as an industrialist and as a person running educational institutes. All along, people would not even have given a thought to which caste you belong to. But, by getting you projected as a candidate belonging to a particular caste, you have diminished your image. When the leaders of your party, sitting by your side in the campaign meetings, made scathing attacks on leaders belonging to other castes, would it not have created a bad impression about you in the minds of people belonging to those castes? The good impression people had about you would have been tarnished at least to some extent. Won't some people look at you as a caste leader now?" asked Subbiah.

Kaliyamurthy remained silent.

The election results were announced. Kaliyamurthy lost the election. But, his defeat, rather than making him feel sad or disappointed, made him feel relieved and even happy.

Kaliyamurthy resolved that he should never commit a mistake like this again, but would focus only on running his business and his educational institutions and strive to get back the goodwill and reputation he had lost, as a result of his bad decision. 

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 47
Acting After Due Consideration

Verse 470 (in Tamil):

eLLAdha eNNich cheyal vENdum thammOdu
koLLAdha koLLAdhu ulagu.

Meaning:

The world doesn’t accept what it can’t approve. Therefore, make proper assessment and act in such a way that you are not ridiculed.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'thErdhal mudivu' the same author.)

Verse 471
Verse 469

1119. A Reward To the Lover

"Our court poet always thinks differently. Usually, poets will compare the face of a woman to the moon. But our poet has broken from this tradition and has written that the moon resembles his lover's face!" said the minister

"Bard! Do you really have a lover? Or, is your having a lover also an imagination like your poetry?" asked the king, smiling.

"No, Your Majesty. I do have a lover. Since it appears to me that the beauty of her face surpasses the beauty of the moon, I wrote that way" said the poet.

"What you have written may be right in your view. But, I will never compare the moon to my lover's face" said the king.

"Why, Your Majesty?"

"Think and find the answer. If you come out with the right answer by tomorrow, I will double the reward for your poem" said the king.

The entire night, the poet thought about what the king had said. But he couldn't decipher the reason for the king's conclusion.

The next morning, the poet went to meet his lover. He narrated what happened in the king's court to his lover and told her that he was unable to find the reason for the king's conclusion.

"Why are you telling this to me?" asked her lover.

"I wanted to find out whether you can think of an answer."

"How can I, a girl learning Tamil literature, think of an answer to a question, when you, a scholar in Tamil literature, couldn't find it?"

"You have been learning Tamil literature. Can you recall an idea like this, in any of the literary works studied by you?"

"Does it mean that you think the king's statement was based on something he had read somewhere?" asked the lover, laughing.

"Your laughter appears mischievous. So, you should be knowing the answer to this question!"

"If I have read something the king had read, then, you, being an erudite scholar, should have read that too!"

Struck by a thought, the poet snapped his fingers and told his lover, "My talking to you about this has not been futile. You have shown me the way."

He immediately took leave of her.

"Have you found the answer to my question, Bard?" asked the king.

"Yes, Your Majesty. My comparing the moon to my lover's face was inappropriate. The moon wanders on the sky, showing its face to every one. But only I can see my lover's face. I could compare the moon to my lover's face, only if the moon was not visible to every one."

"Rightly said, Bard! As promised by me, I will double my reward for your poem" said the king and took out a purse containing gold coins.

"No, Your Majesty. I don't deserve the reward. I didn't find the answer myself. This point has been made by Thiruvalluvar, in his Thirukkural, already.  And it was my lover who had led me to read Thirukkural and find the answer" said the poet.

"It is fine. Whatever idea we arrive at by thinking would have already been stated by Thiruvalluvar! You can pass on the reward to your lover, who helped you to find the answer" said the king, handing over the purse of gold coins to the poet. 

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 112
In Praise of Her Charms

Verse 1119 (in Tamil):
malaranna kaNNAL mugam oththi Ayin
palar kANath thOnRal madhi.

Meaning:

O moon, if you wish to be compared to the face of my lover who has eyes like flowers, then, do not appear so as to be seen by all.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'kAdhalikkuk kidaiththa parisu' by the same author.)

Verse 1120
Verse 1118