SAY ‘NO’ TO HARTALS AND BANDHS

Though not directly fit to my blog’s purpose, I am prompted to write this post. Mr. Pannyan Ravindran, the Central Committee member of the CPI wrote in the Malayala Manaorama of April 28^th 2015 about the ‘disturbing’ experience he and the co-passengers of the train he planned to travel had – being held up due to the strike by the loco pilots. He writes that the strikes should not become ‘emotional’ (if there is no ‘emotional’ reason for any strike or hartal, will there be one?) Has he thought about thousands of passengers who alight on the days of hartal and strikes called by the trade unions and parties, about the people who plan various personal functions such as marriages, baptisms etc., the loss of businesses, thousands of laborers who lose a day’s wage? No one may have forgotten the incident of his travelling on a hartal day and his men manhandling a person who questions the integrity of him using a car on that day.

I alighted at Bangalore on a day of ‘hartal’ (18^th April, 2015) called for the dispute on sharing water of Cauvery river with Tamil Nadu which is one of greatest ‘emotional’ and vital issues as far the people of Karnataka are concerned.  I have seen all kinds of vehicles including taxis and auto rickshaws plying everywhere.  Those who called for the hartal while observing it did not disturb the freedom of others who wanted to travel. We have gone through another national hartal yesterday and from the visuals in the various channels, we see that Kerala came to a stand-still whereas; public transport system in other cities went as smooth as any other day!

If we look at the results of the recent hartals and strikes in Kerala that has made the whole society to a stand-still, we will see that it has not changed an iota of the things that they called the hartals for. I think the name of Kerala should be changed to ‘Hartalistan’ because coconut has given way to hartals.  

I feel it is high time that the people who are suffering the ill effects of hartals should declare a hartal against all the leaders of political parties and unions. No leader of political parties and trade unions, including ministers, regional and local ‘leaders’ should be permitted to go out of their houses for 24 hours and let them ‘taste’ what hartal is. I know it is only a wishful thinking, but if it goes this way, we may see it the near future.

On this May Day, I wish that the world be pervaded by justice and peace; every laborer have dignity of life and all the ‘haves’ have concern for the ‘have-nots’!

THE GOOD DEED RETURNS THOUSAND-FOLD

I share a beautiful story for us to ponder and change our attitudes and actions! Who knows when and where the deeds – good or bad – return?

The man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life. His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before.

"Leave me alone," he growled... To his amazement, the woman continued standing. She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows.

"Are you hungry?" she asked.

"No," he answered sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with the president.. Now go away."

The woman's smile became even broader.

Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm. "What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone.

Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked.

"No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?"

The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?"

"See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile."

"Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go in there!"

Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up.

"Let me go, officer. I didn't d o anything."

"This is a good deal for you, Jack," the officer answered. "Don't blow it."

Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived.

The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table. "What's going on here, officer?" he asked."What is all this, is this man in trouble?"

"This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered.

"Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business."

Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See  lady, I told you so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place."

The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled. "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?"

"Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms."

"And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?"

"What business is that of yours?"

I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company."  The woman smiled again, "I thought that might make a difference."

She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a laugh. "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?"

"No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty."

"Then,  perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?"

"Yes, ma'am. That would be very nice."

The cafeteria manager turned on his heel. "I'll get your coffee for you right away, officer."

The officer watched him walk away... "You certainly put him in his place," he said.

"That was not my intent... Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this."

She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently.

"Jack, do you remember me?"

Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes. "I think so -- I mean you do look familiar."

"I'm a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry."

"Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry..

"I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment.. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat."

Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy."

"I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble. Then, when I looked over and saw you put the price of my food in the cash register, I knew then that everything would be all right..."

"So you started your own business?" Old Jack said.

"I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered..." She opened her purse and pulled out a business card. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons. He's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the office."

She smiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet. If you ever need anything, my door is always open to you."

There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you?" he asked.

"Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. He led me to you."

Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways. "Thank you for your help officer," she said.

"On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you.  I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget, and thank you for the coffee."

You sow a good deed and you shall reap it thousand-fold - when and where is unknown.  So also, you sow a bad deed and you shall reap it thousand-fold - again, when and where is unknown.  Do good always!

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE OTHERS

It is a human tendency to estimate others by their looks. As people are high in the social, educational or political ladder, this tendency increases – may be due to positional arrogance, lack of time to attend to others or prejudice created by the sight of the other.  Many a times it can be misleading and abusive. 

There is a famous story about a couple who, dressed in ordinary, faded dress, went to see the president of Harvard University without prior appointment (I have not checked the authenticity of the story).  

When the couple approached the secretary of the president, she could very well ‘guess’ from their outside appearance that they are just ordinary people and there can be no business for them to do in this prestigious, classy university.  "We want to see the president," the man said softly. "He'll be busy all day," the secretary snapped. "We'll wait," the lady replied. For hours, the secretary ignored them, hoping that the couple would finally become discouraged and go away.  They didn't. And the secretary grew frustrated and finally decided to disturb the president, even though it was a chore she always regretted to do. "Maybe if they just see you for a few minutes, they'll leave," she told him.  Without any other choice, the president had to finally yield to their persistence.

The lady told him that they wanted to establish a memorial to their son who had studied in Harvard for one year and died of an accident.  The president underestimated them and said,  "Madam, we can't put up a statue for every person who attended Harvard and died. If we did, this place would look like a cemetery". "Oh, no," the lady explained quickly. "We don't want to erect a statue. We thought we would like to give a building to Harvard."  The president who could not believe what they said then exclaimed, "A building! Do you have any earthly idea how much a building costs? We have over seven and a half million dollars in the physical plant at Harvard." For a moment the lady was silent.

Then the lady turned to her husband and said quietly, "Is that all it costs to start a University? Why don't we just start our own?" Her husband nodded.  The president's face wilted in confusion and bewilderment. And Mr. and Mrs. Leland Stanford walked away, traveling to Palo Alto, California where they established the University that bears their name, a memorial to a son that Harvard no longer cared about.

“You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who can do nothing for them or to them,” says Malcom Forbes. It is not the outside that matters; hence be cautious in judging others with your prejudices. 

Judge less; love more.

Judge less and love more for none is perfect.

It is a general human tendency to judge others. Everyone seems to be the best judge for others; but the worst in their own case. So also each person is the best advocate for themselves; but the worst in other’s case.  We tend not to see our faults, but to judge others for their mistakes.  

We have to start learning to love others. Real love shall enable us to correct the ones we love. What we usually do is we speak out the ‘truth’ (you might have come across people who always claim that they cannot keep quiet when they see others’ faults; that they are straight forward that they cannot close the eye towards those who make mistakes. The strange fact is that they are the most intolerant when someone else points their mistakes).

It is said of a Bishop of Boston: Once while he was standing in his residence with a highly respected man of his diocese; a known drunkard was shouting abusive words. To this, the man standing near the bishop became very judgmental. Then the bishop responded: “I am the one that goes without God’s grace.” We have to remember that however just we are, it is because of God’s grace. We receive His grace because He is empathetic to us. Hence, we have to be empathetic to others.  Empathy can make wonders in others’ lives.

 Ignore the mistakes of others and love them instead.  If you avoid others for their mistakes and if people avoid you for your mistakes, where shall you stand? You will be alone in this world.

THE JOY OF SERVICE

There is none in the world who does not look for ways of joy in life. (May I call your attention to a post on 14^th April 2014. There I have noted about the difference between happiness and joy.)  In fact, whatever we do is to find joy in life. Different people use different means to achieve this but for many it ends with sleepless nights and peace less days.  I had a friend who had a reputable job in a Central Government firm. His educational qualification was such that if he had stuck to it, he would have had all the worldly facilities within a few years. But he left the job and started serving the slums of Mumbai. When I asked him why, he said, “The other job might have given me a fully furnished quarters, chauffeur driven car and a heavy pay; but this gives me satisfaction, sense of fulfillment and joy.”

Albert Schweitzer a theologian, organist, philosopher and physician was a person who found joy in his work in Africa. Many of his friends asked him why he left the lucrative position in the affluent community he was living. His reply was, “We desire happiness and peace and work to achieve it the best way possible.  I derive joy and sense of satisfaction in serving these helpless and hapless people.” It is said that his own brother ridiculed him saying that he shall regret about the decision to go to the primitive culture and he shall be a zero in life; but his persistence made him go to Africa. He received the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize for his philosophy of "Reverence for Life" expressed in many ways.  The paradox is that Albert’s name and fame has gone across the ages and his brother’s name is forgotten by the next generations.

Whatever we earn in the material world cannot be taken from here and the fate of those is that their name shall be forgotten along with their death. Whatever we give shall be remembered even after our death. Hence let us ask, “What is the legacy I am leaving when I die?” ” 

THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX (Cont.......)

(If you are new to my blog, please refer to my previous post: “Think Outside of the box”)

What are the logical answers and what is the answer as per lateral thinking?

Logical thinking can give us three answers:

1.   The girl should refuse to take a pebble. The result is her father              shall be thrown into jail.

2.  The girl should show that there were two black pebbles in the bag       and expose the moneylender as a cheat. The result shall be the             moneylender shall look for ways to destroy them.

    3.  The girl should pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself in order to       save her father from his debt and imprisonment.

The lateral thinking found a solution: The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles. “Oh, how clumsy of me,” she said. “But never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked.” Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed that she had picked the white one. And since the moneylender dared not admit his dishonesty, the girl changed what seemed an impossible situation into an advantageous one.

Most complex problems do have a solution, sometimes we have to think about them in a different way.

THINK ‘OUTSIDE OF THE BOX’

There is no problem without a solution.  Many of the problems can be solved thinking logically and doing it step by step. But there are certain problems which cannot be solved logically and they can be solved only by thinking outside of the box.  The story below is used to prove the importance of lateral thinking.   Lateral thinking which is thinking outside the box, requires a lot more creativity.  Lateral thinking is generative, logical thinking is selective.

Many years ago in a small Italian town, a merchant had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to the moneylender. The moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the merchant’s beautiful daughter so he proposed a bargain. He said he would forgo the merchant’s debt if he could marry the daughter. Both the merchant and his daughter were horrified by the proposal.

The moneylender told them that he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty bag. The girl would then have to pick one pebble from the bag. If she picked the black pebble, she would become the moneylender’s wife and her father’s debt would be forgiven. If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her father’s debt would still be forgiven. But if she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into jail.

They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the merchant’s garden.  As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two black pebbles and put them into the bag. He then asked the girl to pick her pebble from the bag.

What would you have done if you were the girl? If you had to advise her, what would you have told her? How can you save her from not marrying the ugly money lender and at the same time save her father from jail?

What are the logical answers and what is the answer as per lateral thinking?

You may leave your answers in the comment box or send it to gvkallumpuram@gmail.com