641. The Reluctant Negotiator

"I don't have the means to send my son to the college. After completing his school education, he is sitting at home. There is a saying, 'one who has the gift of the gab will be able to survive.' My son won't even speak loud. He has no capacity to talk to the other person and get his need fulfilled" Sengamalam lamented about her son Raju.

After making several attempts at getting a job, Raju got a job as an assistant in the Personnel department of a company, in Chennai.

Since Sengamalam did not want to leave the village where she had been living for many years, Raju took up residence in Chennai and lived alone.

There were discussions between the management of the company and the leaders of the employees' union on the demands made by the union. The Personnel Manager participated in the discussions on behalf of the management. Raju was sitting with him with the relevant files, to provide the details that may be needed by the Personnel Manager, in the course of the discussion. 

When a union representative raised an issue, the Personnel Manager asked Raju to read out specific details from a file.

After Raju had read out the details, the union representative asked a question about the point being discussed.

The Personnel Manager did not reply. Seeing that he was quiet for several seconds, Raju reluctantly ventured to answer the question raised by the union representative. 

Following that, the union representative asked for a clarification and Raju responded.

For the next few minutes, Raju, without being consciously aware of what he was doing, was debating with the union representative, countering the points raised by the union representative, through facts and figures as well as logical arguments. 

The Personnel Manager was observing this scene, with interest. 

The union representative kept talking to Raju, as if he was the sole spokesperson on the other side.

 After a few minutes, the union representative accepted the point made by Raju. He looked at Raju, with a sense of respect and admiration 

When the leader of the union representatives' team had a chance to speak to the Personnel Manager in private, he told him, "You brought the right man along, for the negotiations. When I saw him articulating his views with so much clarity and cogency, I wished that I had a person like him on our side!" 

The Personnel Manager accepted his remarks, with a smile. 

The Personnel Manager spoke to the General Manager about Raju.

"This young man possesses the skill of making his points smoothly, yet forcefully. He speaks softly, but in a way to make the other person accept his views. He is articulate, clear, gentle, logical, patient and empathetic. When he speaks, the other person finds it compelling to listen. And after listening to him, the other person will find it difficult to counter his arguments. He is an asset to our company. Though he is only an assistant, we should make the best use of his talents. I would like to include him in my team, for all negotiations in future."

"Hearing what you say, it appears to me that he won't remain an assistant for long!" said the General Manager.

"I only hope that you won't replace me with him!" said the Personnel Manager, laughing.

Sengamalam called up Raju and asked him to come to the village next week to attend the marriage of one of their relatives, Raju said, "I can't make it, mom. I have to be here for a discussion with the union on the marriage day" said Raju. 

'What is this boy, who can't even ask for something he needs, going to do, sitting through some serious discussion?' wondered Sengamalam.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 65
The Power of Speech

Verse 641 (in Tamil):
nAnalam ennum nalan udaimai annalam
yAnalaththu uLLadhUm anRu.

Meaning:

The benefits the power of speech can offer can't be found in any other asset.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'vAyuLLa piLlai' by the same author.) 

Verse 642 (Soon)
Verse 640