536. The Chief Minister's Diary

"The Chief Minister's morning programs are over. During the afternoon, he will take rest in the government guest house. In the evening, he will address a public meeting. From there, he will proceed to the airport. This is his schedule" said Shanmugam, the personal assistant of the Chief Minister. 

The Chief Minister's security officer nodded his head and said, "That means we will have a break for two hours in the afternoon!" and smiled.

"Working under a Chief Minister, who works without taking a break, we too seldom get a break" said Shanmugam.

But they didn't get the break they had expected to get. After lunch, the Chief Minister set out to meet an old friend of him. 

Since the security officer had no prior information about the locality to be visited by the Chief Minister, he hurriedly sent a couple of security guards to the locality to make an assessment of the place and make appropriate arrangements for providing security to the Chief Minister during his visit to that area.

Having not expected a visit from the Chief Minister, the Chief Minister's childhood friend was overwhelmed by his friend's gesture. The Chief Minister chatted with him for a few minutes and then took leave of him.

When Shanmugam got a chance to be alone with the Chief Minister in the guest house, he asked the Chief Minister, "Sir, may I know about your friend you visited today?"

"I had my first job in this town. I got a job in a small firm situated here. I found it difficult to find a place to stay. This friend, Karunakaran, was working in that firm. Seeing my plight, he asked me to stay in his house, till I got a suitable accommodation. It was a noble gesture from him, considering that I was a total stranger to him. It was only after two months that I got a place to stay and till that time, I had stayed in his house. Even at that time, I had decided that once I came to a good position in life, I would do something to Karunakaran, in return for his help. I got such an opportunity only now. I ascertained from him what help he needed. I will do whatever is possible as per rules" said the Chief Minister.

 "I have noticed that you met some people in other places you visited also."

"They are also my benefactors. I have been trying to meet all those who had helped me in someway and trying to render them whatever help I could."

"It is surprising that you remember people who helped you some time in the past and show your gratitude to them and render them the help they need now."

"If I relied only on my memory, some people would be left out. Therefore, whenever someone helped me, I would make a note of it in this notebook. I go through the notebook quite often. When I get an opportunity to help them, I will. When I visit the place where they are residing, I meet them, find out what their needs are and fulfill them to the extent I can."

The Chief Minister took out a notebook from his handbag and showed it to Shanmugam.

"Sir! I have seen you handling this notebook quite often. But I thought it was your diary" said the assistant.

The Chief Minister laughed aloud and said, "It is not surprising that you thought so. A few years back, income tax officials conducted a raid at my house. You were not working with me at that time, so you wouldn't be aware of it. They didn't get anything worthwhile. But, they found this notebook. Suspecting that it was a secret diary of mine, in which I would have entered details that would incriminate me, they took it away. After going through it and realizing that it didn't contain anything of value to them, they returned it to me after a few days!".

Thirukkural

Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 54

Avoiding Forgetfulness and Complacency

Verse 536 (in Tamil):

izhukkAmai yAr mAttum enRum vazhukkAmai
vAyin adhu oppadhu il.

Meaning:

Never be complacent about any task or deride anyone : nothing is better than following this unswervingly.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'mudhalvarin dayari' by the same author.)

Verse 537
Verse 535