613. Helping A Friend

"With the scores obtained by my son in his higher secondary examination, he will be able to get a seat in AK College, under the management quota. But they will demand a sizeable sum as donation. I won't be able to afford it. This is disappointing!" Santhamurthy told his friend Pushpavanam.

"Can he not get admission in some other good college?" asked Pushpavanam.

"Maybe he can. But, as you know, AK College is the dream of many an aspiring student. They coach very well. If a student studies well and gets good scores in the tests, he will get a scholarship. Their campus placement system is also very efficient. Many reputed companies come to their college and recruit the students, during the final year. Thus one will get a job, that too in a good company, immediately after completing his education. If my son had scored one or two percent more, he would have got admission in that college, even under the government quota. But, my son doesn't seem to be having the luck to get an admission in AK College" said Santhamurthy, with a sigh. 

"If you were t admit your son in some other college, by which date you have to do so?"

"Admissions will take place only after counseling. The counseling dates have not yet been announced. Based on my son's scores, I can only make a guess about in which colleges he will be able to get admission. Why are you asking this? Do you have any suggestions?"

"I have no idea about college admissions. My daughter is studying in eighth grade. I still have four more years to be concerned about college admission" said Pushpavanam, laughing.

After a week, Santhamurthy received a call from Pushpavanam.

"Hey, Santhamurthy! Your son has got admission in AK College. You don't have to pay any donation" said Pushpavanam, in an excited tone.

"What do you mean? How is it possible?" asked Santhamurthy, perplexed.

"After you had told me about your desire to secure an admission for your son in AK College, I gathered information about that college. I learnt an MP (Member of Parliament) has a close connection with the Chairman of that college and that every year, the Chairman has been giving admission to one or two candidates recommended by the MP, without demanding any donation.

"Then, I inquired about the MP's background. When I heard the name of the village he hailed from, I remembered that one Krishnakumar, who studied with me in the college, also hailed from that village. After completing my college education, I was not in touch with him. In fact, we were not close friends, but I was acquainted with him.

"I got the contact details of Krishnakumar, through a friend of mine, who himself tapped his friends to trace Krishnakumar. I spoke to Krishnakumar over phone. He was surprised at my contacting him, after a gap of several years. Even at the outset, I told Krishnakumar that I was contacting him only for seeking his help, since I believed a straightforward approach would get a better reception. 

When I told him about getting admission into AK College, using the influence of the MP from his place, he told me that he was well acquainted wit the MP.

"He said that he should talk to the MP in person but that the MP was in Delhi. I suggested that both of us go to Delhi and meet him. He readily agreed. Since traveling by flight would be expensive, we two travelled to Delhi by train, after booking the tickets through 'tatkal'* and met the MP. He agreed to recommend the seat to your son. I understand that normally he does it for money. But, since Krishnakumar was close to him, he didn't ask for money. We should thank Krishnakumar, who, accepting my request, came to Delhi, by sparing his valuable time. Right now, I am calling you from Delhi."

Santhamurthy remained silent, not knowing what to say.

"What is it? There is no response from you!" prodded Pushpavanam.

"What can I say? On learning my desire to get my son admitted in AK College, you had taken herculean efforts, as if you were doing it for your son, from gathering information about the admission process of the college, through thinking of approaching the MP through a classmate of yours, tracing your classmate, talking to him, persuading him to go to Delhi to meet the MP, to going to Delhi with him, meeting the MP and getting the admission! But, I am not surprised, because I know that once you decide to do something, you will have the determination to make all possible efforts to get it done, however difficult the task may appear to be. Whether you are doing something for you, or for someone else, you work with the same zeal and perseverance. Helping other people has always been your second nature. I can never thank you enough for what you have done" said Santhamurthy, overwhelmed by the feelings of joy and gratitude.

"You cannot evade your liability by saying that helping others is my second nature. You have to reimburse me the travel expenses and board and lodging expenses incurred by the two of us!" said Pushpavanam, laughing.

*tatkal - a system of booking train tickets, a day before the journey by paying a higher price for the ticket (followed in India)

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 62
Perseverance

Verse 613 (in Tamil):
thALANmai ennum thagaimaikkaN thangiRRE
vELANmai ennum serukku.

Meaning:

The greatness of benevolence rests on the dignity of laboriousness or perseverance.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'seat kidaikkumA?' by the same author.) 

Verse 614
Verse 612