599. The Man Who Came From Nowhere

Murugan started his campaign in that small village.

He landed at the nearby town and stayed in a small hotel in that town. He travelled by a bus and reached the village.

After alighting from the bus, Murugan went to a tea shop near the bus. Sipping a glass of tea, he began conversing with the people dining at that restaurant.

They listened to his talk with amazement. The owner of the tea shop also listened to him with interest.

While paying for the tea, Murugan spoke a few words to the owner of the tea shop. The tea shop owner listened to him and nodded his head, somewhat reluctantly.

Murugan then got into a bus and went back to the town, where he had taken a hotel room.

When Murugan came to the village again at 6 o' clock in the evening, about twenty people were standing near the bus stop, waiting for his arrival.

Murugan exchanged a few words with them and went along with them. 

They led Murugan to a broad street in that village. About fifty people had assembled there already.

Murugan stood before them and began to address them. A person, sitting on the pial of a house nearby, told him, "Please sit on this pial and speak. Then only, people will be able to look at you."

Accepting his invitation, Murugan sat on the pial and began to speak.

"Good evening! My name is Murugan. I don't belong to this village, but I am a citizen of this country. I have taken the liberty of visiting this village, considering that you are also citizens of this country and that the issues I am about to discuss with you are also issues of concern to you.

"The person who won from this constituency was elected by legislators belonging to his part, to lead this country. He has been holding the top office for the past four and a half years. He has not done any good to people, but has been successfully deceiving people. 

"If someone questions him about his commissions and omissions, he and his supporters pounce on that person like a ton of brick, attack him and spin a web of false allegations against him. The man elected to lead this country uses his authority to imprison his critics on the basis of flimsy or fabricated charges. He has made it a habit to characterize his critics as anti-national elements.

"Whenever he faces strong opposition from people, he creates divisions among people, by spreading hatred through false propaganda. He eventually overcomes such opposition, by diverting people's attention to issues created by his false propaganda.

"The opposition parties, who have the duty to oppose his tyrannical ways, for some reason, act timidly and often waver in their stands. As a result, the leader is becoming stronger and stronger. It is widely believed that he is going to win the next election too!

"Some sections of the media purchased by him and other sections intimidated by him have been covering up his failures and wrongdoings and singing his praise, extolling his imaginary achievements.

"When unjust things happen in a society and we allow such things to continue, great harm will be caused to the society. The society also has to carry the shame for silently suffering the atrocities, without displaying the courage and wisdom to resist them.

"I believe that our society should not suffer such a shame. I am sure that there are many among you, who feel the same way as me. I think it is my duty to make people, who don't feel this way, understand what is happening around them and what its consequences are going to be. Once they understand this, they will also join the ranks of people who want to put an end to this disgraceful situation. 

"This man made an entry into the public sphere quietly like a cat. Today, he has morphed himself into an elephant that has turned rogue The wild elephant is now pushing people around and crushing people who resist its arrogance, under its feet 

"There is an eternal question as to who should bell the cat. Rats not having the courage to bell the cat, foe fear of being caught and killed by the cat is understandable. Bur a lion or tiger should not fear the elephant. Many people amongst us have been living in fear, like rats. We are not rats, we are tigers. We have the strength to take on the rogue elephant.

"In the next election, I am going to contest against the leader, who has been cheating all of us. I am an individual. Since the opposition parties that have the power, the strength and the responsibility to take on the tyrant ruling us are inactive, clueless about how to devise a strategy to fight him, I have begun the effort of subduing the rogue elephant, by mobilizing the power of people.

"Today, I may be a nobody. There are six months for the election. During this period, I will be meeting people, telling them the truth about the state of affairs and mobilizing them against the tyrant. I am confident that I will succeed in my efforts."

"The reason for my stating my campaign in your village, situated in his constituency, is the name of your village, Satyapuri - meaning the abode of Truth. What I am launching is a struggle for justice and truth. It is only appropriate that it begins at the abode of Truth.

"As of now, I am a single person. Swami Vivekananda said, 'Give me hundred young people. I will transform this country.' I also need just hundred people. With their help, I will be able to achieve success in my efforts. If I get one person from this village to work with me, I will consider it a beginning for success."

After Murugan had completed his speech, five people from the crowd raised their hands. 

"You will definitely succeed in your mission, young man" a voice from the crowd proclaimed loudly.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 61

Possessing Zeal

Verse 599 (in Tamil):
pariyadhu kUrngOttadhu Ayinum yAnai
verUm puli thAkkuRin.

Meaning:

It is huge; it has sharp tusks; yet, the tusker

is frightened when the tiger attacks.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'murugan enRu oruvan' by the same author.) 

Verse 600 (Soon)
Verse 598