112. A Man of Justice

"The lizard will make predictions for every one, but it will fall into a pot of stale gruel" 

Murugaiyan had heard his mother Dhanabhagyam quoting this adage quite often.

Murugaiyan's father Sundaralingam was a person of average means in his village.  He had a small extent of cultivable land. He was leading his life from the limited income he was getting from the land,

But in the village, Sundaralingam was respected as a man of justice People from his village as well as those from nearby villages would approach him for resolving disputes relating to various matters like family issues, borrowings, property disputes, disputes about drawing the border between the lands, sharing of water from the village canal etc.

Sundaralingam would patiently listen to the arguments from both the sides, ask questions to get more details and clarity and give his verdict, explaining the principles of justice based on which he was pronouncing the judgement. Most of the people would accept his verdict. They had such great faith in his objectivity and sense of fairness. The instances of people not accepting his judgement and approaching the courts were rare.

Dhanabhagyam's grievance was that her husband, who had been helping other people get justice, allowed his elder brother to cheat him and grab his property.

Sundaralingam was the second son of his parents. When he was ten years old, a distant relative of him, who had no sons wanted to adopt Sundaralingam as his son for the purpose of performing the last rites of the relative on his death. Sundaralingam's father agreed to the request, since the relative was on the verge of death, due to old age and sickness.

It was understood by all concerned that the adoption was only a token act. Sundaralingam continued to live with his parents, even after he was adopted by the relative. Once Sundaralingam performed the last rites of the relative after his death, that relationship came to an end.

The relative had a small piece of land and a small house in the village. These two properties devolved on Sundaralingam, after the relative's death. This was the only benefit of Sundaralingam becoming the adopted son of the relative.

Sundaralingam's elder brother got a government job, a couple of years after he had completed his school final examination. He had his posting in Thanjavur. So, he took up residence in Thanjavur. He got married soon after getting the job.

Sundaralingam stayed in the village with his father and looked after the land along with his father. He also got married. 

After a few years, Sundaralingam's parents passed away, one after the other..

Sundaralingam resolved a few disputes between some people living in his village.This earned him a reputation as a man who could resolve disputes fairly and amicably. He became popular in the surrounding villages also. People from many places approached him for getting their disputes resolved.

Sundaralingam didn't accept any fee for his services. He suggested that that both the parties donate a sum to one of the temples in the village. Accordingly, people who availed of his services began to make donations to the temples in the villages. The temples received substantial amounts as donations. The funds were utilized for renovating the temples, conducting festivals, special rituals of worship etc.

Gunasekaran who had taken permanent residence at Thanjavur, on the advice of someone, sent a legal notice to his brother claiming that since Sundaralingam was adopted by a relative, he had no claim on their father's properties.

Some people of the village, well versed in legal matters told Sundaralingam, "This claim may not be legally sustainable. Even if Gunasekaran were to go to the court, it will take several years for the judgement to be delivered. If the judgement were to be against you, at that stage, you can decide how to overcome the situation."

But Sundaralingam didn't listen to them. He said, "When my brother thinks this way, I don't want this property."

Sundaralingam sent a reply to his brother accepting his stand. He subsequently made a declaration, in a sworn affidavit, that he had no claims on his father's properties.

Gunasekaran came to the village, got all the properties transferred in his name, gave the lands on lease to a person in the village and went back.

Sundaralingam was left with only the small parcel of land and the tiny house he had inherited from the relative who had adopted him. He vacated the large house of his father and moved to the tiny, dilapidated house inherited by him.

The income Sundaralingam was getting from his lands was barely sufficient to run his family. With great difficulty, he performed the marriage of his daughter, by resorting to borrowings. The future of his son Murugaiyan studying in the high school remained a question mark.

"Your father earns a lot of money for the Gods in the village temples. But those Gods have been keeping your father poor" Dhnabhagyam lamented, talking to her son.

"My elder brother has been afflicted by T.B. He has been admitted in the T.B. Hospital at Chengippatti. I have to go to the hospital and see him" said Sundaralingam.

"Of course, you should, for all the good he has done to you!" said Dhanabhagyam, sarcastically.

Since some people from nearby villages had already sent word to Sundaralingam that they would be meeting him during the next two days for getting their disputes resolved, Sundaralingam could not leave his village immediately. He had planned to go to the hospital after two days.

But, unexpectedly, Gunasekaran's son Shanmugam came to the village the next day, to meet Sundaralingam.

Sundaralingam's first thought on seeing his brother's son was that something had happened to his brother.

But Shanmugam told him that his father was still in the hospital, getting treatment.

"I came to see you on a different matter" Shanmugam began reluctantly. "It was my father who had sent me here. Only when my father was lying in the hospital, facing the prospect of death, did he realize the wrong he had done to you. He has been talking about the injustice done to you and crying. He has sent me here with the power of attorney, for legally transferring your properties back to you. I have got the deed ready. I will go to the Registrar's office tomorrow and register the deed transferring your properties back to you. My father will die peacefully, only if you forgive him."

"Don't say things like that. I never thought bad of my brother" said Sundaralingam.

'God has saved us and our children from sinking into the quagmire of poverty" thought Dhanabagyam.

* There is a superstitious belief that the lizard through its cries gives predictions.

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 12
Neutrality

Verse 112 (In Tamil)

seppam udaiyavan Akkam sidhaivinRi
echchaththiRku EmAppu udaiththu.

Meaning:

The wealth of a person who acts impartially will remain intact and get passed on to his heirs.

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

Verse 113
Verse 112