677. A New Member in the Team

"We will be the first one in India to manufacture this product" said Project Manager Aravind, with pride.

Managing Director Kumar smiled gently. 

"It is our Managing Director who has taken a bold decision to manufacture this product, for the first time in our country. He has appointed Aravind as the Project Manager. But, this man talks as if he is the one who has planned and initiated this project!" Accounts Manager Shanmugam whispered into the ears of Administration Manager Sakthivel, sitting next to him in the meeting.

"Well. Our Managing Director has appointed Aravind as the Project Manager, only because he has executed a few projects successfully. It is only natural that he feels proud" said Sakthivel. 

"At present, there are eight members in this Project Implementation Group. I have included one more member in this group. He will join our company tomorrow. He will work together with Aravind. He will participate in the future meetings of this committee" said Kumar.

Kumar's announcement caught every one by surprise. Aravind's face expression indicated that he was not only surprised, but also shocked.

"The project has been completed successfully. The trial production has come out satisfactorily. The next step is to start commercial production. My greetings and heartfelt congratulations to all the members of the Project Implementation Committee, who had worked hard with dedication and co-ordination" said Kumar.

All the members acknowledged his appreciation with joy.

Aravind entered Kumar's cabin, after tapping the door and getting his permission.

"Come in, Aravind. I should specially appreciate you, for your role in the successful completion of the project. When every one was present, I didn't want to mention your name and personally appreciate you" said Kumar.

"Thank you, sir" said Aravind. After a pause, he said, "I have a grievance, though!"

"I know what it is. After making you the Project Manager, I asked you to work along with another person. You couldn't have been happy about it!"

"Why did you do it, sir?" asked Aravind, but hastened to add. "I have no complaints about Sundar. He is very knowledgeable and well experienced. Working with him was a pleasant and useful experience. His contribution to the project is substantial. But, in my opinion, you could have completed this project, by having either of us manage it. Pardon me, if I am wrong."

"Just now, you mentioned that Sundar's contribution to the project was substantial. Both of you have contributed a lot to the project. Can you say that if only one of you had managed the project, the project would have been implemented so successfully?" asked Kumar. 

"You may have a point there, sir. But, I have a question. You didn't tell us anything about Sundar's background. You also enjoined us that we shouldn't ask Sundar anything about his background. Why, sir? Now that the project has been completed, can you tell me what his background is? How did he come to possess so much knowledge about the product we are manufacturing in this project?

"Aravind. I have often heard you mentioning proudly that we are the first in the country to manufacture this product. I have never disputed your claim, but your claim is not entirely true. Before us, some other people had tried to manufacture this project."

"Yes, sir. Many people have tried, but no one has succeeded" said Aravind. 

"When people take up a task to perform, they have the intention to complete the task. We also started with such an intention. But, only after successfully completing the task, we are able to claim that we have done it. Though many people had taken up this project in the past, about five years back, one person made strenuous efforts and came close to the stage of implementing it. But, due to some problems encountered by him towards the end, he could not complete the project. I thought I could make use of the experience of that person" said Kumar.

"You mean..."

"Your guess is correct. Sundar was that person. Since you have experience in implementing a few projects, you have mastered the skills of implementing a project. Since Sundar made efforts to implement this project, I thought his experience would complement your skills and brought him in our team" said Kumar.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 68
The Method of Executing An Action

Verse 677 (in Tamil):
seyvinai seyvAn seyan muRai avvinai
uL aRivAn uLLam koLal..

Meaning:  

One who sets out to do a task should learn the method of doing it and seek the counsel of one who is experienced in doing the task.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'kuzhuvil oru pudhiya uRuppinar' by the same author.) 

Verse 678 (Soon)
Verse 676