160. Who Will Win the Endurance Test?

When Mukundan joined that firm, he had high expectations about the job.

It was a small firm engaged in shipping and forwarding business. Mukundan expected that working in such a firm would be both challenging and exciting.

But, within a few days of joining the firm, he began to sense disappointment. The main factor that caused the disappointment was the attitude and actions of the Managing Director of the company. 

The company had a turnover of a few million rupees and was considered one of the best companies in its line of business. But, the Managing Director Marthandam was running it like a farm. 

The employees had no authority to take decisions even on routine matters. They had to seek the approval of the Managing Director at every step. Marthandam had the habit of finding fault with the actions of the employees and severely reprimanding them, without bothering to hear their side.

Only after joining the company did Mukundan realize that Marthandam's abrasive style of functioning made many employees leave the firm within a short time, in spite of the attractive salary package and perquisites offered to the employees.

The only source of solace for the employees was General Manager Kannan. In striking contrast to the Managing Director who acted with arrogance and treated the employees with contempt, Kannan was an embodiment of patience and dignity.

Marthandam treated Kannan also with the same contempt with which he treated the other employees. In fact, he treated Kannan even worse than he did the other employees.

Marthandam acted as if he wanted to humiliate Kannan in the presence of other employees. He would reprimand Kannan in office meetings, in which other employees participated. Sometimes, he would come out of his cabin, come and stand outside Kannan's cubicle and shout at him, unmindful of the fact that this would be witnessed by the entire office. Additionally, he would summon Kannan to his cabin and criticize him for his alleged lapses.

But Kannan was attending to his work, unmindful of the humiliations harped on him by Marthandam. 

If any mistake was committed by an employee, Kannan would talk to him about his mistake calmly and advise him to exercise care to avoid such mistakes in future. 

In fact, on many occasions, Kannan protected the erring employees from the rage of the Managing Director, by dealing with the problem at his level and resolving it, obviating the need for the matter to come to the attention of the Managing Director.

When Mukundan went to the lunch room, he saw Kannan sitting there alone. When Mukundan was about to start a conversation with Kannan, Assistant Manager Kasi entered the room.

"What Mr. Kasi, you are not fasting today?" Kannan asked Kasi, smiling.

"Why, sir? Will Mr. Kasi observe fasting often?" asked Mukundan.

"Yes. He observes fasting five or six days a month, on some count or other" said Kannan. 

"Fortunately, I am not fasting today. If I were, I wouldn't have had the stamina to withstand the verbal thrashing given to me by the Managing Director this morning!" said Kasi. 

"I am amazed that you are able to endure hunger five or six days a month, by observing total fasting" said Kannan. 

"I endure suffering only for a few days a month. But my endurance is no match to yours" said Kasi.

"What do you mean?"

"You listen to the harsh words spoken by the Managing Director every day but remain calm and unperturbed. The endurance I practice is not superior to your endurance" said Kasi.  

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 16
Forbearance 

Verse 160 (In Tamil)

uNNAdhu nORpAr periyar piRar sollum
innAchchol nORpArin pin.

Meaning:

Those who endure abstinence from food are great. But, they rank below those who patiently endure the harsh words of others.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'nALum oru nOnbu' by the same author)

Verse 161 (Soon)
Verse 159