189. Vice President Vaiyapuri

"Sir! He is Arunmozhi, the Secretary of our party's Social Media Wing" Muthu, a senior leader of People's Rights Party (PRP), told Vaiyapuri, the Vice-President of the party, introducing Arunmozhi.

Arun paid obeisance to Vaiyapuri, by folding his palms in the traditional way. 

Arunmozhi was Arun, till he joined the party recently. It was the party president Vetri Vendhan, who elongated his name as Arunmozhi, saying that the longer name would sound more impressive.

"Social Media Wing! What is it?" asked Vaiyapuri. not paying attention to Arunmozhi's gesture of respect.

"Sir! This wing has just been created to spread our ideology and messages through social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter etc. We can not only carry our messages to a wide section of people through these platforms, but also reply to criticisms made by our political opponents and others" explained Muthu. "Our party president has appointed Mr. Arunmozhi as the Secretary of the Social Media Wing. He asked me to introduce him to you" he added. 

Though Veteri Vendhan would never consult Vaiyapuri, the Vice-President on any issue, he never failed to extend small courtesies like this to Vaiyapuri.

"Ok. Do your job well" said Vaiyapuri, by way of dismissing Arunmozhi. 

After Arunmozhi had left, Vaiyapuri asked Muthu, "Why do we need people like him? We have fire-emitting orators like Thunderbolt Thanikachalam!"

"Sir, in the present times, the role of social media has become very important. Only after getting convinced of the power of the social media, have our president recruited this young man, who was working in a software development firm, by offering him a huge salary" said Muthu.

'I now understand why our party president never consults you on any issue!' Muthu said to himself, mentally directing the comment to Vaiyapuri.

Within a few weeks of Arunmozhi's taking over the task of managing the Social Media Wing of the party, there was a considerable improvement in the reach of the party's messages to social media users.

Combining his technical skills and the creative talents of some young people belonging to the party, Arunmozhi was able to turn out highly impactful campaigns.

He met the party president, a couple of times. The party president appreciated Arunmozhi's work, making specific references to some of his campaigns. Arunmozhi realized that the party president had been keenly observing his work and evaluating it.

Arunmozhi also met Vice President Vaiyapuri, a few times. 

Vaiyapuri just said, "I hear that you have been doing a good job. Congratulations."

Beyond that, he made no reference to any of Arunmozhi's work. 

Arunmozhi came to know that Vaiyapuri was making slanderous comments about him to other leaders of the party. 

"We are squandering our funds by paying this man Arunmozhi a fat salary and spending money on his unproductive projects. Our party doesn't need this kind of promotion. Party workers have been telling me that this is wasteful and requesting me to put a stop to this" was his comment Vaiyapuri made to several leaders and office-bearers of the party.

Arunmozhi was pained to hear about Vaiyapuri's comments through other people. 'If he talks to me directly, I can explain to him the importance of my work and convince him how my campaign has improved the image of our party' he thought.

He met Vaiyapuri again, expecting that he would vent his criticism to him. But, Vaiyapuri didn't say anything to him.

"Sir! If you have any misgivings about my work, please tell me" Arunmozhi asked him. 

Vaiyapuri said, "I don't know anything about the field in which you have been working. I will read our party organ and give my feedback. I don't read online stuff like quitter etc" said Vaiyapuri.

Arunmozhi was not sure whether the use of the incorrect name 'quitter' was due to Vaiyapuri's ignorance or a deliberate slant by him, to express his lack of interest in social media.

Even after that meeting, Arunmozhi learned that Vaiyapuri continued to speak disparagingly of him.

Arunmozhi considered whether he should bother about Vaiyapuri's slander, when his work was recognized and commended by the party president.

However, he found that he couldn't ignore Vaiyapuri's criticism, which was pricking him like a thorn.

Once, when he had a chance to be alone with the party president, Arunmozhi told him, "Sir, please don't mistake me, for saying this. It appears that the vice president is not happy about my work. He didn't say anything to me. But, he has been belittling me and my work, while speaking to other leaders. While I am elated by your words of appreciation, I am also pained by the vice president's remarks. I don't understand what wrong I have committed."

The party president remained silent for a moment. He then said, "Don't worry about it. Keep doing your job."

After two days, Arunmozhi received a call from Sengai Singam, one of the top leaders of the party, who was considered close to the party president, asking Arunmozhi to meet him at the party office.

Arunmozhi met Sengai Singam in the latter's cabin, at the party headquarters.

"It seems you expressed some grievance about the vice president, to the party president!" said Sengai Singam.

Worried that his expressing a grievance against Vaiyapuri to the party president had been construed as complaining about a top leader of the party and taken a serious note of,  Arunmozhi said somewhat apologetically, "Sir, I didn't mean to complain..."

"Just a minute," Sengai Singam interrupted him. I didn't call you to seek an explanation from you. I called you to apprise you of a few tings."

He continued.

"Everyone in our party knows about Mr. Vaiyapuri. Since you have joined the party only recently, you don't know about him. It is the nature of Mr. Vaiyapuri, to find fault wit every one and every thing. That is his only occupation. He won't express his views to the concerned person directly. He would speak about people, behind their backs. He has even spoken ill of our president to some people. Our president knows about this. Our president has made Mr. Vaiyapuri the vice president of the party, in recognition of his stature, as a senior leader of the party. The office of the vice president being held by him is a position with no power. Mr. Vaiyapuri is of no use to the party. In fact, he is a burden. Our president has been bearing this burden, out of a sense of responsibility. It is the magnanimity of our president. Obviously, our president cannot tell you these things about the Vice President. So, he asked me to explain the situation to you.Therefore, don't bother about what Mr. Vaiyapuri says about you. Our president is very happy about your work. Get the thought of Mr. Vaiyapuri's criticism out of your mind and keep doing your job. Best wishes" said Sengai Sivam. 

       

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 19
Refraining From Backbiting

Verse 189 (In Tamil)

aRan nOkki ARRum kol vaiyam puRan nOkkip
pun sol uraippAn poRai.

Meaning:

The earth, out of its commitment to its virtue of patience, tolerates

the presence of a person, who slanders another on his back.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'thuNaith thalaivar' by the same author)

Verse 190 (Soon)
Verse 188