How I Taught My Grandmother to Read and other stories
Transcript of How I Taught My Grandmother to Read and other stories
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SUDHAMURTY
HowITaughtMyGrandmothertoReadandOtherStories
PUFFINBOOKS
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Contents
AbouttheAuthor
Dedication
FOREWORD
HOWITAUGHTMYGRANDMOTHERTOREAD
BOOKSFOR‘ATLEASTONELIBRARY’
ABDULKALAM
HASSAN’SATTENDANCEPROBLEM
THEREDRICEGRANARY
THEREALJEWELS
AHISTORYLESSONONTEACHERS’DAY
‘APPROJ.R.D.’
HEARTOFGOLD
AWEDDINGINRUSSIA
‘AMMA,WHATISYOURDUTY?’
THESTORYOFTWODOCTORS
AJOURNEYTHROUGHDESERT
DEADMAN’SRIDDLE
‘IWILLDOIT’
THERAINYDAY
DOINGWHATYOULIKEISFREEDOM
GOWRAMMA’SLETTER
WHOISGREAT?
BALU’SSTORY
‘A’FORHONESTY
ALESSONININGRATITUDE
MYBIGGESTMISTAKE
THESECRET
CopyrightPage
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PUFFINBOOKS
HOWITAUGHTMYGRANDMOTHERTOREADANDOTHERSTORIES
SudhaMurtywasbornin1950inShiggaoninnorthKarnataka.AnM.Tech.inComputerScience,sheteachesComputerSciencetopostgraduatestudents.SheisalsotheChairpersonoftheInfosysFoundation.AprolificwriterinKannada,shehaswrittensevennovels,fourtechnicalbooks,threetraveloguesandtwocollectionsofshortstories.HerpreviousEnglishbookWiseandOtherwisehasbeentranslatedintothirteenIndianlanguages.Thisisherfirstbookforchildren.
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Dedicatedtothecitizensoftomorrow
whowillbringchangesinourcountry
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Foreword
Iwasbroughtupinavillage.Thosedaystherewerenotelevisions,musicsystemsorVCDsathome.Ouronlyluxurywasbooks.Iwasfortunatetohavegrandparents.Mygrandfatherwasaretiredschoolteacherandanavidreader.HeknewavastnumberofSanskrittextsbyheartandeverynight,underthedarkskywiththetwinklingstars,hewouldtellmemanystories.ThesewerestoriesfromthehistoryofIndia,theepicsandwhateverinterestingthingshehadreadthatdayinthepapersandmagazines.Thesetalestaughtmesomeofmyfirstlessonsinlife.TheKathaSaritsagara(theOceanofStories),ArabianNights,Panchatantra,storiesofAesop,BirbalandTenaliRamaweretoldtomeduringthosebeautifulnights.Theyearsrolledby,andsomuchchangedinIndia.Nowfamiliesarenuclearandchildrenrarely
gettolivewiththeirgrandparents.ThearrivalofTVandthedramatizationsofourancientepicsbroughtthesestoriesclosertousandhelpedusknowthem,butitalsoremovedthepowerofimagination.Storytellingisnoteasy.Itrequiresthepropermodulationofvoice,inordertocreateanatmosphereofhorror,surprise,humourorpeace.Duringthosestorytellingnights,IhavetravelledwithmygrandfathertothebattlefieldofHaldiGhatiinRajasthanandcriedforthedeadhorseChetan.IenjoyedthevictoryofShivajisittingnexttohisgreatmotherJeejabai.IhavebeenthrilledlisteningtothedescriptionofthebattlesofRajaRanjitSinghandmovedtotearswiththestoriesofhislarge-heartedness.IcriedwhenthefirstwarofIndependence,whichtheBritishcalled‘Mutiny’,waslost.Whilelisteningtomygrandfather,inmymindIbecameanArabandchangedmydresstowalkthestreetsofBaghdadandinspectthethieveswiththeWazir-e-Alam.IhavelaughedandlearntvaluablelessonsaboutknowledgeandwitfromthestoriesofAesop,TenaliRamaandBirbal.Inthiscollection,Ihavetriedtorecreatesomestoriesfrommyexperiences,allofwhichhave
taughtmesomething.InthecourseofmyworkfortheInfosysFoundationandasateacher,Imeetmanypeople,youngandold,eachofwhomhasenrichedmylifeinsomeway.Ihavealwayswantedtotellthesestoriestothenextgeneration.Ihopeyouwilllikeandenjoyreadingthem.IwanttothankSudeshnaShomeGhoshofPenguinIndia.Hadshenotinsisted,thestorieswould
haveremainedinmymindforever.
Bangalore SudhaMurtyJanuary2004
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HowITaughtMyGrandmothertoRead
WhenIwasagirlofabouttwelve,IusedtostayinavillageinnorthKarnatakawithmygrandparents.Thosedays,thetransportsystemwasnotverygood,soweusedtogetthemorningpaperonlyintheafternoon.Theweeklymagazineusedtocomeonedaylate.Allofuswouldwaiteagerlyforthebus,whichusedtocomewiththepapers,weeklymagazinesandthepost.Atthattime,TriveniwasaverypopularwriterintheKannadalanguage.Shewasawonderful
writer.Herstylewaseasytoreadandveryconvincing.Herstoriesusuallydealtwithcomplexpsychologicalproblemsinthelivesofordinarypeopleandwerealwaysveryinteresting.UnfortunatelyforKannadaliterature,shediedveryyoung.Evennow,afterfortyyears,peoplecontinuetoappreciatehernovels.Oneofhernovels,calledKashiYatre,wasappearingasaserialintheKannadaweeklyKarmaveera
then.ItisthestoryofanoldladyandherardentdesiretogotoKashiorVaranasi.MostHindusbelievethatgoingtoKashiandworshippingLordVishweshvaraistheultimatepunya.Thisoldladyalsobelievedinthis,andherstruggletogotherewasdescribedinthatnovel.Inthestorytherewasalsoayoungorphangirlwhofallsinlovebuttherewasnomoneyforthewedding.Intheend,theoldladygivesawayallhersavingswithoutgoingtoKashi.Shesays,‘ThehappinessofthisorphangirlismoreimportantthanworshippingLordVishweshwaraatKashi.’Mygrandmother,Krishtakka,neverwenttoschoolsoshecouldnotread.EveryWednesdaythe
magazinewouldcomeandIwouldreadthenextepisodeofthisstorytoher.Duringthattimeshewouldforgetallherworkandlistenwiththegreatestconcentration.Later,shecouldrepeattheentiretextbyheart.MygrandmothertooneverwenttoKashi,andsheidentifiedherselfwiththenovel’sprotagonist.SomorethananybodyelseshewastheonemostinterestedinknowingwhathappenednextinthestoryandusedtoinsistthatIreadtheserialouttoher.AfterhearingwhathappenednextinKashiYatre,shewouldjoinherfriendsatthetemplecourtyard
wherewechildrenwouldalsogathertoplayhideandseek.Shewoulddiscussthelatestepisodewithherfriends.Atthattime,Ineverunderstoodwhytherewassomuchofdebateaboutthestory.OnceIwentforaweddingwithmycousinstotheneighbouringvillage.Inthosedays,awedding
wasagreatevent.Wechildrenenjoyedourselvesthoroughly.Wewouldeatandplayendlessly,savouringthefreedombecausealltheelderswerebusy.Iwentforacoupleofdaysbutendedupstayingthereforaweek.WhenIcamebacktomyvillage,Isawmygrandmotherintears.Iwassurprised,forIhadnever
seenhercryeveninthemostdifficultsituations.Whathadhappened?Iwasworried.‘Avva,iseverythingallright?Areyouok?’
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IusedtocallherAvva,whichmeansmotherintheKannadaspokeninnorthKarnataka.Shenoddedbutdidnotreply.Ididnotunderstandandforgotaboutit.Inthenight,afterdinner,we
weresleepingintheopenterraceofthehouse.Itwasasummernightandtherewasafullmoon.Avvacameandsatnexttome.Heraffectionatehandstouchedmyforehead.Irealizedshewantedtospeak.Iaskedher,‘Whatisthematter?’‘WhenIwasayounggirlIlostmymother.Therewasnobodytolookafterandguideme.My
fatherwasabusymanandgotmarriedagain.Inthosedayspeopleneverconsiderededucationessentialforgirls,soIneverwenttoschool.Igotmarriedveryyoungandhadchildren.Ibecameverybusy.LaterIhadgrandchildrenandalwaysfeltsomuchhappinessincookingandfeedingallofyou.AttimesIusedtoregretnotgoingtoschool,soImadesurethatmychildrenandgrandchildrenstudiedwell…’Icouldnotunderstandwhymysixty-two-year-oldgrandmotherwastellingme,atwelve-year-old,
thestoryofherlifeinthemiddleofthenight.ButIknewIlovedherimmenselyandtherehadtobesomereasonwhyshewastalkingtome.Ilookedatherface.Itwasunhappyandhereyeswerefilledwithtears.Shewasagood-lookingladywhowasusuallyalwayssmiling.EventodayIcannotforgettheworriedexpressiononherface.Ileanedforwardandheldherhand.‘Avva,don’tcry.Whatisthematter?CanIhelpyouinanyway?’‘Yes,Ineedyourhelp.Youknowwhenyouwereaway,Karmaveeracameasusual.Iopenedthe
magazine.IsawthepicturethataccompaniesthestoryofKashiYatreandIcouldnotunderstandanythingthatwaswritten.ManytimesIrubbedmyhandsoverthepageswishingtheycouldunderstandwhatwaswritten.ButIknewitwasnotpossible.IfonlyIwaseducatedenough.Iwaitedeagerlyforyoutoreturn.Ifeltyouwouldcomeearlyandreadforme.Ieventhoughtofgoingtothevillageandaskingyoutoreadforme.IcouldhaveaskedsomebodyinthisvillagebutIwastooembarrassedtodoso.Ifeltsoverydependentandhelpless.Wearewell-off,butwhatuseismoneywhenIcannotbeindependent?’Ididnotknowwhattoanswer.Avvacontinued.‘IhavedecidedIwanttolearntheKannadaalphabetsfromtomorrowonwards.Iwillworkvery
hard.IwillkeepSaraswatiPoojadayduringDassaraasthedeadline.ThatdayIshouldbeabletoreadanovelonmyown.Iwanttobeindependent.’Isawthedeterminationonherface.YetIlaughedather.‘Avva,atthisageofsixty-twoyouwanttolearnalphabets?Allyourhairaregrey,yourhandsare
wrinkled,youwearspectaclesandyouworksomuchinthekitchen…’ChildishlyImadefunoftheoldlady.Butshejustsmiled.‘Foragoodcauseifyouaredetermined,youcanovercomeanyobstacle.Iwillworkharderthan
anybodybutIwilldoit.Forlearningthereisnoagebar.’ThenextdayonwardsIstartedmytuition.Avvawasawonderfulstudent.Theamountofhomework
shedidwasamazing.Shewouldread,repeat,writeandrecite.Iwasheronlyteacherandshewasmyfirststudent.LittledidIknowthenthatonedayIwouldbecomeateacherinComputerScienceandteachhundredsofstudents.TheDassarafestivalcameasusual.SecretlyIboughtKashiYatrewhichhadbeenpublishedasa
novelbythattime.Mygrandmothercalledmetothepujaplaceandmademesitdownonastool.Shegavemeagiftofafrockmaterial.Thenshedidsomethingunusual.Shebentdownandtouchedmyfeet.Iwassurprisedandtakenaback.Eldersnevertouchthefeetofyoungsters.WehavealwaystouchedthefeetofGod,eldersandteachers.Weconsiderthatasamarkofrespect.Itisagreattraditionbuttodaythereversehadhappened.Itwasnotcorrect.Shesaid,‘Iamtouchingthefeetofateacher,notmygranddaughter;ateacherwhotaughtmeso
well,withsomuchofaffectionthatIcanreadanynovelconfidentlyinsuchashortperiod.NowIam
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independent.Itismydutytorespectateacher.Isitnotwritteninourscripturesthatateachershouldberespected,irrespectiveofthegenderandage?’Ididreturnnamaskaratoherbytouchingherfeetandgavemygifttomyfirststudent.Sheopened
itandreadimmediatelythetitleKashiYatrebyTriveniandthepublisher ’sname.Iknewthenthatmystudenthadpassedwithflyingcolours.
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Booksfor‘AtLeastOneLibrary’
Icomefromamiddle-classteacher ’sfamily.Inmyfamily,aswithmanyotherfamiliesofteachers,booksandknowledgewereconsideredtobemoreimportantthanmoney.Inourvillage,Istillrememberthewaypeoplerespectedmygrandfather.Hewascertainlynotthe
richestman.Heusedtositinfrontofourhouse,onamatbelowashadybanyantree.Healwaysheldabookinhishand.Intheeveningpeoplewouldcometohimforhisadvice.Eventherichestman,whenpassingby,wouldgreethimrespectfully.Iaskedhimonce.‘Whyshouldtheteacherberespected?’Hesmiledandtoldmeastory.‘Itseems,somefriendsofArjuna,themightywarriorin
Mahabharata,askedhimwhyhegavesomuchofrespecttohisteacherDronacharya.Dronawasold,notasrichasArjuna,andneverruledanykingdom.ButArjunawouldalwayssitathisfeetrespectfully.Whenaskedwhy,itseemsArjunareplied,“Inthislifeeverythingperishesoveraperiodoftime.Whetheritbediamond,beauty,goldorevenland.Onlyonethingwithstandsthisdestruction.Itisknowledge.Themoreyougivethemoreyouget.”AteachergivesknowledgetostudentsandIconsiderhimtherichestperson.Thatisthereasonateacherisrespected;notforhisrichesbutbecauseheisthesourceofknowledge.’Asachild,thefirstexpeditionIevermadeoutsidemyhomewastothevillagelibrarybuilding
withmygrandfather.Thelibrarywassituatedinasmalltwo-storiedstructure.Therewasashoponthegroundfloorandonthefirstfloorwasthelibrary.Abigbanyantreestoodnexttothebuilding.Therewasacementplatformunderit.InKannadawecallitkatte.Intheevening,alltheeldersofthevillagewouldsithere.Mygrandfatherwasoneofthem.Iwouldaccompanyhimandhewouldgoandsitontheplatformafterdroppingmeatthefirstfloor.ItwasthefirstofthemanylibrariesIwastoenter.Therewerecupboardswithglasspanessothat
onecouldreadthetitlesofthebookseasily.Newspapersandweeklieswerepiledupneatly.Tablesandchairswerelaidforpeopletositandread.Therewasabsolutesilence.Istartedreadingchildren’sbooksthereandusedtobeabsorbedinthemuntilmygrandfatherwouldcallmetogohome.YearspassedandIbecameagirloftwelveyears.Bythattime,Ihadfinishedreadingalmostallthe
booksinthatlittlevillagelibrary.AttimesIusedtofeelboredgoingtothelibraryastherewerenotmanynewbooks.ButstillIaccompaniedmyoldgrandfathertothebanyantree.Onesuchevening,wewerecomingbackafterourouting.Iwasfeelingparticularlyboredwiththe
librarythatday.Itwasdarkandthestreetlightswereblinking.MygrandfathercouldnotseetoowellsoIwasleadinghimbyhishand.Suddenlyheaskedme,‘Iwillrecitehalfapoem,willyoucompleteit?Thisisawell-knownpoem.’
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IsaidIwouldtry.WeoftenplayedthisgameandIhadlearntmanypoemslikethis.Hesaid,‘IfIhavewings…’Iimmediatelyansweredwithoutblinkingmyeyes,‘Iwillgototheneighbouringvillagelibrary
andreadmanymorebooks.’Mygrandfatherstoppedinsurprise.Hesaid,‘Willyourepeatit?’Irepeated,‘Iwillgototheneighbouringvillagelibraryandreadmanymorebooks.’Helaughedandsaid,‘Whatanunusualwaytocompletethepoem!Doyouknowwhattheoriginal
poemis?’‘Yes,Iknow.‘IfIhavewingsIwillflyinthevastblueskyIwillseebeautifulplacesIwillmeetgreatpeopleIwillsearchforhiddentreasures.’Mygrandfatherkeptquiet.Whenwereachedhomehesatdownonamatandcalledme.Hewas
tiredbutlookedveryhappy.Hetookmylittlehandintohisandsaid,‘Doyouknow,therewasagreatmancalledAndrewCarnegieinUSA.Hewasabillionairewholivedacenturyback.Hewilledallhiswealthnottohischildren,buttobuildlibrarybuildingsinasmanyvillagesaspossible.IhavenotseenAmerica,butitseemsanylibraryyouseeinanyvillagewasinvariablybuiltusingAndrewCarnegie’smoney.‘IdonotknowhowlongIwilllive,buttodayIrealizedhowmuchyoulovebooksfromtheway
youcompletedthepoem.Promiseme,whenyougrowup,ifyouhavemoremoneythanyouneed,youwillbuybooksforatleastonelibrary.’Itwasacoldwinternight.Istillrememberthewarmthofhislargehandinmine.Hewasold,and
hishandshadbecomehardandwrinkledwritingthousandsoflinesontheblackboardwithchalkeveryday.WewerenotrichlikeCarnegie,butcertainlymygrandfatherhadtherichnessofexperienceandknowledge.Laterinmylife,Ibecamewelloff.Irememberedmypromiseofbuyingbooksforalibrary.
Today,throughInfosysFoundation,wehavegivenbookstotenthousandsuchlibraries.
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AbdulKalam
Ihavebeenwritingcolumnsforanumberofnewspapersandmagazinesforawhilenow.OneofthemwasTheWeekmagazine.Writingcolumnsisnotaneasyjob.Onehastokeepcomingupwithinterestinganecdotestowriteabout.Sometimestheincidentissoniceyoufeellikewritingmorebutyouhavetobecarefulaboutthewordlimit.Sometimesyoudon’tgetanyideasatall,thoughthedeadlinemaybenearing.Onlyveryfewgiftedpeoplecanwriteregularcolumnsforalongtime.OnceIwroteacolumnforTheWeekontheroleofInformationTechnologyinpeople’slives.It
wascalled‘ITDivide’.Itwasbasedonatrueincidentthatoncehappenedtome.Soonafterthecolumnappeared,onemorningIgotacallfromDelhi.Theoperatorsaid,‘Shri
AbdulKalamwantstotalktoyou.’ThattimeAbdulKalamwasprincipalscientificsecretarytotheGovernmentofIndia.Ihadnever
methiminpersontillthen.IhadonlyreadabouthiminthepapersandseenhimonTV.OfcourseIstartedwonderingwhyapersonofhisstaturewouldwanttotalktoanordinarypersonlikeme.Wehadnothingincommon.ItwouldbelikeameetingbetweenaHimalayanpeakandthepeakofUnkalHill,whichisinthesmalltownofHubliinnorthKarnataka.WhenAbdulKalamcameonthelineIsaid,‘Sir,thereisamistakebytheoperator.Perhapsyou
wanttospeaktomyhusband,NarayanaMurthy?’IknewMurthyknewMr.Kalam.Fromtheotherendasoft,affectionatevoicereplied,‘Vanakkam,thereisabsolutelynomistake.Itoldtheoperatortoconnecttoyouonly.’Iwasthrilled.‘Sir,youdon’tknowmebutIknowalotaboutyou.IhavereadaboutyourlifeinthebookWings
ofFire.’‘ButItooknowaboutyoubyreadingyourcolumns.IreadAnandaVikatanregularlywhereyou
talkaboutyourdreamsandyourstruggles.TodaywhenIread‘ITDivide’inTheWeek,Ilaughedandlaughed.Youhavewrittenonatoughtopicinsuchahumorousway!Icalledmycolleaguesintheofficeandtoldthemtoreadthecolumn.Normallywheneveryourcolumnsappear,Ireadthelastparagraphfirstbecauseitcontainsthegist.ThenIreadtheremainingportionasandwhenIgettime.’ThatwasthebestcomplimentIhadeverreceived.WhenIwrite,Ialwaysthinkoftheendfirstand
thenthebeginning.Kalamseemedtohaveguessedthatinnotime.Ihadheardfrommanypeoplethatheisextremelysimple,wearsonlywhiteandblueshirtsand
slippers.SoonIgottoknowthatthiswasnotanexaggeration.AfterourtalkonthephoneImethimseveraltimes.Tilltoday,themoreImeethim,themoreIamconvincedabouttheessentialsimplicityoftheman.AnyinteractionwithhimisajoyandIalwayslookforwardtothat.ImethimforthefirsttimeinBangalore.Hesentmewordthathewantedtoseemethoughhehada
packedschedule.Iwaswaitingforhiminaroomwhenhecamein,lookingcoolinspiteofalong
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toughday.Forawhilewetalkedaboutliteratureandhumanqualities.HeaskedmeinchasteTamil,‘HowcomeyouknowsuchgoodTamil?’‘Nosir,’Ireplied,‘Ican’tspeakTamilwhereasIcanunderstand.Mytranslator,Mr.ArokiaVeluis
anexcellenttranslator.ThecreditforwhatappearsinAnandaVikatanshouldgotohim.’Aswechatted,amanwithoutapriorappointmentwantedtoenter.Kalam’ssecuritypersonnelwere
reluctanttolethimenter.FinallyMr.Kalamsaid,‘Pleaseallowhim.Itdoesnotmatter.Hemighthavecomefromalongdistance.’Amiddle-agedmanenteredtheroomalongwithaphotographer.Hewasholdingahugealbumand
abag.HetoldKalam,‘Sir,Iownthisinstitution,’andkeptthealbuminfrontofhim.‘Pleasecomeforourprizedistributionday.Itwillbeagreathonourforallofus.’Kalamlookedatafewpagesofthealbumandsaid,‘IamshortoftimesoIwillnotbeabletomake
it.MayGodblessthechildren.’ThenthemanrequestedforaphotographwithKalam,towhichheagreedimmediately.The
gentlemantookapink-colouredshawlfromhisbagandtoldthephotographertotakehisphotowhilehewaslayingtheshawlonKalam’sshoulder.ThephotographwasdulytakenandKalamthankedhimandcontinuedtalkingtome.Butmy
attentionwasstillontheman.Inoticedthathetookbacktheshawlandwalkedoutoftheroom.Icouldnotcontrolmyanger.‘Sir,hehastakentheshawlwhichhepresentedtoyou.’Kalamsmiledatmeandsaid,‘Itdoesnotmatter.Idon’tneedanyoneofthem.Probablyheneeds
it.’EachtimeImeethim,Iamamazedathisstraightforwardbehaviourandhissecularoutlook.Hehas
acompassionateheartwhichparticularlylovesallchildren.Afterthatmeeting,wheneverIwasinChennai,IwouldseehiminhischamberinAnnaUniversity
wherehewasteaching.Wewouldtalkaboutmanyissues,themainonebeingabouteducation,particularlyintheruralareas.Heisextremelygratefultohisteachersandholdstheminthehighestrespect.OnceIwassharingmyexperiencesinChandipur,OrissaandalessonIlearntfromayoung
fisherboycalledJaved.Hewasapoorschoolboywhohelpedhismothersellredcrabs.Foranentireday’sworkhereceivedonlyRs5.Yethewashappyandenthusiastic.WhenIaskedhimhowhecouldalwaysremainsooptimistic,hesaid,‘Itisbettertobewornoutthantoberusted.’AssoonasItoldthisstorytohim,KalamwroteJaved’swordsdownonapieceofpaperand
exclaimedwhatagreatpieceofadviceitwas.HetoldmethathelikesOrissaimmensely,ashehadspentmanyyearsinthatstatedoingmissiletests.‘IfyouaredoingsomethinginOrissaIwilldefinitelycome.Iknowyouworkthereandthatstateis
verydeartoyourhearttoo.’Once,IdecidedtovisitRameshwaram,alongwithagroupoffriends.WhenKalamgottoknow,he
wasveryeagertogowithusasitishisbirthplace.HesaidhewouldjoinusinMadurairailwaystation.HehadmadeallthearrangementswhenhisnominationforthepostofPresidentofIndiawasannounced.Hetoldme,‘WewillkeeptheplanopenforRameshwaram.’BythistimeIwassurehewasgoingtobethePresidentofIndiairrespectiveoftheelection.We
couldnotaskhimtojoinusasitcouldbemajorsecurityproblemforhim.SadlyIhadtotellhim,‘Nosir,pleasedonotcome.Wewillgoonourown.’Bythetimewereturnedfromthetrip,hehad,asIhadpredicted,beenelectedthePresident.He
invitedmetohisswearing-inceremonyinthecentralhallofParliament.WhatIsawwhenIsteppedintothehallamazedme.Itwasfilledwithchildren,teachers,hisfamilymembers,oddpeoplelikemeandFatherGeorge,whousedtobemystudentinBangaloreandthenwasdoinghisresearchunder
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KalaminAnnaUniversity.Itwasamostunusualoath-takingceremony.EveryoneseemedtobeclosetoKalam.Normallysuch
ceremoniesareattendedbyindustrialists,politiciansandotherVIPs.Butheretherewerestudents,teachers,scientists,ordinarymiddle-classpeopleandfriendsofKalam.IsawMrinaliniSarabhai,whosehusbandthelateDrVikramSarabhaiwasalsoagreatscientistandknewKalamwell.Hersister,CaptainLaxmihadcontestedagainstKalamforthepostofPresident.Shetoowaspresentintheaudience.IcameawayfromthefunctionfeelingdeeplymovedbytheloveIsaweveryoneshoweringon
Kalam.Afterafewmonths,Iaskedmyson,whoisateenager,tomeetKalam.Mysonsaid,‘Amma,heisthePresidentofourcountry.Heisalearnedandwellrespectedscientist.
Heisaverybusyman.Whatwillhetalkabouttoapersonlikeme?’‘Child,pleaseunderstand.IknewhimbeforehebecamethePresidentandIhavemethimafterhe
becamePresident.Thereisabsolutelynochange.Helovestalkingtopeopleofyourage.Thatishismission.Heinteractswithchildrenthroughemailandchat.ThatisthereasonIwantyoutomeethim.Learnfromhimthosequalitieswhichyouwillneverlearninanyuniversity.’Somehowmysonwasnotveryconvinced.‘Heistoobigamanforme,’hemuttered.Nevertheless,hewastherewhenwehaddinnerwithKalam.Forthenexttwohourstheyhijacked
theentireconversation.MurthyandIcouldonlysitandlisten.Theydiscussedthebestoperatingsystemsforcomputers,thegreatTamilsaintThiruvalvarandhisteachings,thefutureofthechildrenofIndia,teachingmethodologiesinAmerica,etc.Afterheleft,mysontoldme,‘Amma,IneverfeltthatIwastalkingtothePresidentofIndia.Rather,itwasliketalkingtomygrandfatherwhomIlovedsomuchandlostfouryearsback.Amma,whatyousaidwastrueandnotatallanexaggeration.’WhenKalamwentbytrainonatourofBihar,heinvitedmetogowithhimalongwithfiveother
friends.ThereIsawanotherfaceofKalam.Hewouldworkmorethanallofus.Hisschedulewouldstartat6.30or7a.m.andendat10.30or11p.m.Atseventy-oneyearshewastirelessandthemostenthusiasticpersonintheteamallofwhomweremuchyoungertohim.Hewouldregularlyaddresslargegroupsofstudentsfollowedbyquestion-answersessions.He
wouldtakeindividualquestionsandanswerthem.Thenhewouldmakechildrenrecitesomeoftheimportantlinesafterhim.Heremindedmeofalovingschoolteacheroradotinggrandfatheroranexcellentfriendtothesechildrenirrespectiveofthedifferenceinage.DuringBangalore’sIT.ComIwatchedhimtakinganinternetclassforthousandstudents.Heheld
theircompleteattentionandwasexcellentlyprepared.Whenwebuilta150-bedPaediatricHospitalinBhubaneshwar,Orissaforpoorchildren,Iwasvery
keenthatheshouldcomeandinaugurateit.IrememberedhispromisemadetomeinChennaithathewouldcometoOrissaifIinvitedhim.ButnowhewasthePresidentofIndia,andthereweremanypeoplelikemeinvitinghimtosimilarfunctions.HewasnolongeraprofessoratAnnaUniversitywhomIcouldapproachontelephoneorsendanemailandconveymymessage.However,rememberinghispromise,Isenthimanemailassumingitmaynotreach.Butwithinafewdays,Igotareplyfromhissecretarysayingthathehadagreedtoinauguratethehospital.Coincidentally,itwastheeveofBuddhaPoornima,May15,2003.IhaveheardmanystoriesaboutBuddhawhowasborn2,500yearsago.Iwasfortunatethatthisgreatteacherandloverofchildrencouldatleastinaugurateandappreciateoureffort.
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Hassan’sAttendanceProblem
Formanyyearsnow,IhavebeenteachingComputerSciencetostudentsstudyingfortheirMastersinComputerApplicationsatacollegeinBangalore.Ihaveinteractedwithmanystudents,andthoughitisnotpossibletorememberallofthemnow,thememoriesofsomeareetchedinmymind.Thatisnotbecausetheywereallbrilliant,butsomethinginthemwasverydifferentfromtheothers.Inmyfirstbatch,therewasaverybrightboycalledHassan.Hewastall,handsomewithavery
goodmemory.Hecamefromanaffluentfamilywherehewastheonlyson.InitiallyIdidnotcometoknowofhisexistenceatall,mainlybecausehewashardlyeverpresent.Inormallytakethefirstclassoftheday,whichisscheduledat9a.m.ortheoneafterthatat10a.m.Ipreferthistimeasthisiswhenstudentsarefreshandveryattentive.OnceinawhileHassanwouldturnup,particularlyiftherewasaclasstestorduringexaminations.
Imethimmoreoftenforattendanceshortagemeetings.Hewouldbegforattendanceinsuchamannerthatitwasverydifficultformetosay‘no’.SometimesIwouldgetupsetandtellhim,‘No,Ican’tgiveyouattendance.Thereshouldbediscipline.’‘YesMadam,’hewouldreplyapologetically,‘pardonme.FromthenextsemesteronwardsIwill
definitelyattendyourclass.Canyounotpardonmethistime?Toerrishuman,toforgiveisdivine.Youhaveonlytaughtusthis.’Icouldnotremainangryforlong.Teachersdogetupsetwithstudentswhoarenotregular,butif
theattendanceshortageaffectstheirappearanceinthefinalexamination,thenonetendstomeltlikesnowagainstthesun.Agoodteacherwillalwayswishforthebestforherstudent,thoughIdoagreedisciplineisveryimportanttoo.Ashewasverybright,Hassanwouldinvariablygetafirstclassintheexam.However,beforethe
examsstarted,everysemesterthisdramawithHassanwouldberepeated.Iwouldgetupset,threatenandultimatelygivein.EachtimeHassanwouldpromisetoimprovehisattendancerecord,andforoneweekwouldattendallclasses,thenthesameoldstorywouldfollow.Eachtimehehadadifferentreasonforhisabsences.Unfortunately,theyalwaysseemedgenuinetome.OnceIgottiredofhisstoriesandcalledhisparents.‘Yoursonisabrightboy,heisnotarrogantbutheisindisciplined.Ifonlyhecametoclass
regularlyandattendedthelabIamsurehecangetarank.Ihavefailedtoconvincehim.Iwillbehappyifyoucouldlookintothemattermoreseriously,becausethisisgoingtoaffecthislife,’Isaidtothem.Hassan’sfatherwasabusymananddidnottakemywordsveryseriously.Hesaid,‘Aslongashe
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doeswellthatisfinewithmebecauseafteracertainagechildrendonotlistentotheirparents.Onlylifewillteachthem.’Buthismotherwasintears.‘Madam,Ihavefailedasamother.Hedoesnotlistentomeatall.Hespendsallnightlisteningto
music,andchattingwithhisfriends.Hesleepsatsixinthemorning.Howcanhecometoanyclass?HedoesnotpayanyattentiontowhatIsayandtellsmeIrepeatthesamethingalways.’Themeetingendedinanargumentbetweenhisparents.Hisfathersaid,‘Youarethemother.Itis
yourdutytocorrecthim.Youspendmoretimewithhim.Iamsobusy.Youhavefailed.’Hismothersaid,‘Youarethefather.Itisdifficulttocontrolboys.Youcanspeaktohimmanto
man.Earningmoneyisnottheonlythinginlife.’Thiscontinuedforawhileandthemeetingendedfruitlessly.Hassancontinuedinhiswaystillhe
passedoutofhiscourse,asusualinfirstclass.Hewasaniceboy.Hecameandthankedme.‘Madam,thankyouforteachingmeforthelastthreeyears.BecauseofyourkindheartIcouldget
allmyattendance.Iwishallteacherswerelikeyouinthecollege.’Ilaughed.‘Godwilling,wewillmeetagain.’ButIdidnotmeetHassanforalongtimeandforgotallabouthim.Yearspassed.Itaughtmany
students.Someofthembecameverygoodhumanbeings,somebecamefamous,somebecamerichandsomeremainedordinary.AsfarasIwasconcerned,theywerelikemychildren.Someremembermestillandsendinvitationstoweddings,namingceremonies,housewarmings,etc.IfIamintownIdefinitelytryandattend,becauseformetheirimmenseloveismystrength.OneMondaymorning,mysecretarytoldmeapersonwantingtosellthelatestsoftwareinhigh
schoolteachingwantedtomeetme.Iwasextremelybusyandthepilesofunansweredletterswerelookingatmeaccusingly.Ihadnotimetotalktoasalesperson.SoItoldher,‘Hecanmeetsomeoneelse.Idon’thavetime.’Butmysecretarysaidhewasinsistinghewantedtomeetonlymeandthathewasmystudent.She
knewhowfondIwasofallmystudents,soshehadbeenunabletosay‘no’tohim.‘Inthatcaselethimseemeat2p.m.’Intheafternoon,amanofaboutthirty-fiveyears,plump,withabaldheadandmoderatelydressed
waswaitingformeintheoffice.InhishandwastheCDwiththesoftware.Icouldnotplacehimthoughheseemedfamiliar.Hesmiledatmeandsaid,‘Madam,canyourecognizeme?Youmaynot,becausehowcanyourememberallyourstudents?Fromawindowyoucanseetheoutsideworldbutfromtheoutsideyoucannotseeallthatisinside.’IlikedhisanalogyandwassurehewasmystudentbecauseIoftenusedthisphraseinmyclass.
StillIcouldnotguesswhohewas.‘Madam,Iwastheperpetuallatecomerofyourclass.’That’swhenthecoindropped.‘HiHassan.Howareyou?It’sbeenalongtimesinceIlastmetyou.’
Iwasveryhappytoseehim.‘Madam,Iamfineandremembermanyofyourlessons.’‘IsitDatabaseManagement?OrC?OrPascal?’‘NoneofthesoftwareMadam,Irememberthemorallessons.’Ididn’tknowwhatmorallessonsIhadtaught,thoughIdotellsomestoriesduringmylectureson
computersoftware.‘Hassan,whatareyoudoingnow?’Nowhisfacebecamealittlepale.‘Madam,IamsellingthissoftwarewhichisusefulinteachingMaths,PhysicsandChemistry.Itis
ofhelptobothteachersandstudents.Iknowyourfoundationhelpsalotineducationatthehigh
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schoollevel.Ithoughtitmaybeofsomeinteresttoyou.’‘Hassan,whatdidyoudoforsomanyyears?’Iknewallhisclassmatesbythistimewereinveryhighpositionsinthesoftwareindustry.Hassan
beingabrightstudent,shouldhavedefinitelydonewell.Yet,onthecontrary,heseemedtobedoingasmalljobofsellinghighschoolsoftwaredoor-to-door.‘Madam,youknowIwasveryirregularincollege.Thesamehabitcontinuedevenaftermy
graduation.Iwouldgetuplateandwasverylazy.Mymotherwouldlosehertemperandpeaceofmind.Ididnotbother.Itookherforgranted.AfteralotofpressurefrommyparentsItookupajob.ButIcontinuedwiththesamehabitsofgoinglatetooffice,notkeepingappointmentsandnotbeingresponsible.Ididnothavetheproperknowledgealso.Incollege,Ihardlystudied.Gettingafirstclassintheexaminationisnotanindexoftheamountofknowledgeonehas.Iwouldstudyjustbeforetheexams,guesstheprobablequestions,andskipthechapters.IalwaysthoughtIcouldsomehowmakeitlater.Butwithoutproperknowledgeitisdifficulttowork.Ialwayslaughedatthosepeoplewhowerehardworkers.Iusedtomakefunofthemandcalledthem“nerds”.Todaythose“nerds”havebecomemillionaires.Nobodylikedmeinmyofficebecauseofmybehaviour.Noemployerwouldkeepsuchanemployee,andIlostwhateverjobItookup.InmyfrustrationIstartedquarrellingatofficeaswellasathome.Finallymyfathergotsofeduphetoldmetostayseparately.HealwaysgavemealotoffreedombutIneverpickedupanygoodhabits.Mystatetodayistheresultofmyownhabits.’IfeltsorryforHassan,whowithallhisintelligenceandgoodnature,couldnotmakeit.‘Hassan,youknewyourfaults,youcouldhaveimprovedandmadeabetterlifeforyourself.There
isalwaysastartatanyage.Don’tgetdisappointed.Youmayhavelostabattlebutyoucanstillwinthewar.’‘Madam,oldhabitsdiehard.’‘ButHassanitispossibletochangeyourhabits.Thereisnothingwhichisimpossible.Youonly
requirewillpower.Youareyourselfnotawareofallyourpotential.Pleaserememberwhenelderssaysomethingtheydosobecausetheywantyoutoleadabetterlifethanthem.Excellencedoesnotcomebyaccidentbutbypractice.’Icouldseeatwinkleinhiseyes.IthoughtIsawaglimpseoftheyoungbrightHassan.‘Iwilltry
mybest,Madam,’hepromised,asherosetoleave.IhavenotmetHassansincethatday.Ihopetobumpintohimunexpectedlyonceagain,andthis
timefindhimhappyandsuccessful.
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TheRedRiceGranary
Everyyear,ourcountryhastofacenaturaldisastersinsomeform.ItmaybeanearthquakeinGujarat,floodsinOrissaoradroughtinKarnataka.Inapoorcountry,thesecalamitiescreatehavoc.Inthecourseofmywork,Ihavefoundthataftersuchcalamities,manypeopleliketodonate
moneyormaterialstorelieffunds.Weassumethatmostdonationscomefromrichpeople,butthatisnottrue.Onthecontrary,peoplefromthemiddleclassandlowermiddleclass,helpmore.Rarelydorichpeopleparticipatewholeheartedly.Afewyearsback,IwasinvitedtoareputedcompanyinBangaloretodeliveralectureon
CorporateSocialResponsibility.Givingaspeechiseasy.ButIwasnotsurehowmanypeopleintheaudiencewouldreallyunderstandthespeechandchangethemselves.Aftermytalkwasover,Imetmanyyounggirlsandboys.Itwasanaffluentcompanyandthe
employeeswerewell-offandwell-dressed.Theywereallveryemotionalafterthelecture.‘Madam,webuysomanyclotheseverymonth.Canwedonateouroldclothestothosepeoplewho
areaffectedbytheearthquake?Canyouco-ordinateandsendthem?’Someofthemofferedotherthings.‘Wehavegrown-upchildren,wewouldliketogivetheiroldtoysandsomevessels.’Iwasverypleasedatthereaction.ItremindedmeoftheincidentinRamayanawhereduringthe
constructionofthebridgebetweenIndiaandLanka,everysquirrelhelpedSriRamabybringingahandfulofsand.‘Pleasesendyourbagstomyoffice.Iwillseethattheyreachtherightpersons.’Withinaweek,myofficewasfloodedwithhundredsofbags.Iwasproudthatmylecturehad
provensoeffective.OneSunday,alongwithmyassistants,Iopenedthebags.Whatwesawleftusamazedandshocked.
Thebagswerebrimmingoverwithallkindsofjunk!Pilesofhigh-heeledslippers(someofthemwithoutthepair),tornundergarments,unwashedshirts,transparent,cheapsaris,toyswhichhadneithershapenorcolour,unusablebedsheets,aluminiumvessels,brokencassettesweresoonpiledinfrontofuslikeamountain.Therewereonlyafewgoodshirts,sarisandusablematerials.Itwasapparentthatinsteadofsendingthematerialtoagarbageorthekabariwala,thesepeoplehad
transferredthemtomyofficeinthenameofdonation.ThemenandwomenIhadmetthatdaywerebright,welltravelled,well-offpeople.Ifeducatedpeoplelikethembehavedlikethis,whatwoulduneducatedpeopledo?ButthenIwasremindedofanincidentfrommychildhood.Iwasbornandbroughtupinavillage
inKarnataka’sHaveriDistrict,calledShiggaon.Mygrandfatherwasaretiredschoolteacherandmy
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grandmotherKrishtakkaneverwenttoschool.BothofthemhardlytravelledandhadneversteppedoutofKarnataka.Yettheywerehardworkingpeople,whodidtheirworkwholeheartedlywithoutexpectinganythingfromanybodyintheirlife.Theirphotographsneverappearedinanypaper,nordidtheygouponastagetoreceiveaprizefortheworktheydid.Theylivedlikeflowerswithfragranceintheforest,enchantingeveryonearoundthem,buthardlynoticedbytheoutsideworld.Inthevillagewehadpaddyfieldsandweusedtostorethepaddyingranaries.Thereweretwo
granaries.Onewasinthefrontandtheotheratthebackofourhouse.Thebetterqualityricewhichwaswhite,wasalwaysstoredinthefrontgranaryandtheinferiorquality,whichwasalittlethickandred,wasstoredinthegranaryattheback.Inthosedays,therewasnocommunaldivideinthevillage.Peoplefromdifferentcommunities
livedtogetherinpeace.Manywouldcometoourhousetoaskforalms.TherewereMuslimfakirs,HinduDasaiahswhoroamedthecountrysidesingingdevotionalsongs,YellammaJogathiswhoappearedholdingtheimageofGoddessYellammaovertheirheads,poorstudentsandinvalidpeople.Weneverhadtoomuchcashinthehouseandtheonlyhelpmygrandfathercouldgivethesepeople
wasintheformofrice.Peoplewhoreceivehelpdonottalktoomuch.Theywouldreceivetherice,smileandraisetheirrighthandtoblessus.Irrespectiveoftheirreligion,theblessingwasalways‘MayGodblessyou.’Mygrandfatheralwayslookedhappyaftergivingthemalms.Iwasalittlegirlthenandnottootall.Sincetheentrancetothefrontgranarywaslow,itwas
difficultforgrown-upstoenter.SoIwouldbegivenasmallbucketandsentinside.ThereIusedtofillupthebucketwithriceandgiveittothem.Theywouldtellmehowmanymeasurestheywanted.Intheevening,mygrandmotherusedtocookforeverybody.Thattimeshewouldsendmetothe
granaryatthebackofthehousewheretheredricewasstored.Iwouldagainfillupthebucketwithasmuchriceasshewantedandgetitforhertocookourdinner.Thiswentonformanyyears.WhenIwasalittleolder,Iaskedmygrandparentsaquestionthathad
beenbotheringmeforlong.‘Whyshouldweeattheredricealwaysatnightwhenitisnotsogood,andgivethosepoorpeople
thebetterqualityrice?’MygrandmotherKrishtakkasmiledandtoldmesomethingIwillneverforgetinmylife.‘Child,wheneveryouwanttogivesomethingtosomebody,givethebestinyou,neverthesecond
best.ThatiswhatIhavelearnedfromlife.Godisnotthereinthetemple,mosqueorchurch.Heiswiththepeople.Ifyouservethemwithwhateveryouhave,youhaveservedGod.’Mygrandfatheransweredmyquestioninadifferentway.‘OurancestorshavetaughtusintheVedasthatoneshould,Donatewithkindwords.Donatewithhappiness.Donatewithsincerity.Donateonlytotheneedy.Donatewithoutexpectationbecauseitisnotagift.Itisaduty.Donatewithyourwife’sconsent.Donatetootherpeoplewithoutmakingyourdependentshelpless.Donatewithoutcaringforcaste,creedandreligion.Donatesothatthereceiverprospers.’Thislessonfrommygrandparents,toldtomewhenIwasjustalittlegirl,hasstayedwithmeever
since.IfatallIamhelpinganyonetoday,itisbecauseoftheteachingsbythosesimplesouls.Ididnotlearntheminanyschoolorcollege.
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TheRealJewels
ThedistrictofSouthCanarainKarnatakaisverydifferentfromanyother.Theliteracyratehereishigh,peopleareenterprisingandhardworking.Theyhavetravelledallovertheworldinsearchofemployment.IfyouseeanyUdupivegetarianrestaurantinIndiaoranypartoftheglobe,itissuretohavebeenstartedbyapersonfromSouthCanara.TheInfosysFoundationhasaprojectcalled‘ALibraryforEverySchool’.Inthiswedonatebooks
mainlytogovernmentschoollibraries,sothatchildrenhaveeasyaccesstoavarieyofbooks.Forthis,ItravelextensivelyinruralareasanddonatebookswritteninKannadaonvarioussubjects.Allthetravellinghashelpedmetounderstandwhatchildrenwanttoreadindifferentplaces.Duringmytravels,IfrequentlystayinthehousesofpeopleImeet,asoftentherearenohotelsinthesmalltownsandvillagesIvisit.MostofthetimeIstaywiththefamilyofateacherfromtheschoolIamvisiting.SometimesIstaywithpeopleIhadnevermetearlier.InIndia,aguestisalwaystreatedwithalotoflove,affectionandrespect.AnoldSanskritsayingis
‘AtithiDevoBhava’,meaningGodcomesintheformofaguest.Ihavefeltthistobesotrue,especiallyduringmystayinvillages.Thepoorestofthepoorhave
treatedmewithsomuchloveandaffection.TheyhavegivenmethebesthospitalitypossiblewithoutknowingwhoIamorexpectinganythinginreturn.In1998,IwenttoavillageinSouthCanaraforaschoolfunction.Itwastherainyseasonandthe
smallvillagewasonthecoastoftheArabianSea.Itwaspouringandtherewerenohotelsinthevillage.Theschoolteacherwasabachelorandlivedinarentedroom.Hetoldme,‘Madam,thechairmanofthisschoolisafinegentleman.Hehasaskedmetotellyouthatyoucouldstaytonightwithhisfamily.Youcannottraveltodaybecauseofthisrain.Eventhebridgehasgoneunderwater.’Ididnothavemuchoption.IfeltalittleuncomfortablestayingwithsomeoneIhadneverevenmet.
BythattimethechairmanMr.Aithappacamewithanumbrellatocallme.Hehadbeencaughtupinsomeimportantworkandnotbeenabletoattendthefunction.Hishousewashuge.Itwasfunctionalwithoutmuchdecoration.Therewasabiggranaryroomand
astorageplaceforcoconutsandvegetables.IthadredoxideflooringandwaslikemanytraditionalhousesofSouthCanarawheretherewasaninsidecourtyard.Waterhadtobedrawnfromawellatthesideofthekitchen.Therewereafewbedroomsonthegroundfloorandthefirstfloor.Therewasacowshedattheback,alongwithalargevegetablegarden.ThatwasallIcouldseeasitwasalreadydarkandtheraindropswerehittingmelikepebbleshardonmyfeet.AssoonasIentered,theladyofthehousecamewithawarmsmileandtowelstowipemyself.Her
smileputmeinstantlyatease.Withoutmuchceremonyshesaid,‘Pleasefeelcomfortable.Dinnerwill
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bereadyinhalfanhour.’Ichangedmydressandcametothedininghall.Inthehugehalltherewereonlyfourpeople
includingme,thecoupleandtheirelderlymother.Plantainleaveswerelaidonthefloorandthecookwasserving.TherewereinnumerablefooditemsandIdidnotknowwheretostart.Theoldladyofthehousewasverygracious.Sheremindedmeofmylarge-heartedgrandmother.AfterdinnerIwantedtochatwithher.WhenItoldher,shesaid,‘Ifyouwantyoucanstayinmyroomsothatwecantalk.’Ipreferredthat,ratherthanstayingallaloneinthefirst-floorguestroom.IhavealwayswonderedwhypeopleinSouthCanaraaresomuchmoreeducated,comparedtoany
otherdistrictofKarnataka.IaskedKuttamma,‘Didyoustudywhenyouwereyoung?’Kuttammasighedasifshewasinpain.‘No,unfortunatelyIdidnotgotoschool.WhenIwasyoungwewereextremelypoorandIwasa
coolieinthegardenofaschoolteacher.Ialwaysfelteducationisessential.Ifyoucanreadandwriteyoucansecureabetterjob.Inmycaseitwasnotpossible.SoIwasdeterminedthatmyonlysonAithappashouldstudyasmuchashecouldandIwouldworkhardforthat.Myhusbandalsofeltthesameway,buthewaskilledbyasnake-bitewhenmysonwasonlyfiveyearsold.ItwasmypromisetohimthatIwouldeducatemyson.’Itriedtoimaginelifesixdecadesback—thesocialpressures,thegreatpoverty,andnohelpfrom
thegovernment.Ihavemetmanywomenofthatagegroupwhohavetoldmemoreorlessthesamestory.Kuttammacontinued.‘Mysondidnotdisappointme.HewenttoBombayasahotelboy.Hecleanedtheplatesinthe
morning,andintheeveningswenttoMoghaveeranightschoolandstudiedthere.’‘Yes,Iknowthisschool.ItisinWorliandistheoldestKannadaschoolinBombay.Manychildren
havestudiedthere.’‘Oncehefinishedhisschoolinghebecameaclerkatthecounterofahotelandwenttonight
college.HegothisdegreeandstartedhisownhotelinBombay.Hebecameverysuccessful.’‘Thenwhyisheherenow?’Kuttammasmiled.Icouldseeshewasproud.‘HestartedmanyhotelsinBombaybutIremainedinmyvillage.Ineverfeltcomfortablein
BombayinspiteofallthemoneyhehadbecausenobodyspokemylanguagethereandIlovethisvillage.’‘Yes,IknowthereisasayinginSanskrit:JananiJanmabhoomischaSwargadapigariyasiItmeansyourmotherlandisalwaysaheaven.’‘YouarealearnedladysoyoucanreciteallthisinSanskritbutmyintuitiontoldmetostayhere
anddosomethingforourownpeople.Mysonbecameverywealthyandhandedoverhisbusinesstohisson.Heisnowsixty-fiveyearsoldandtenyearsbackhereturnedtohisvillage.’‘Howdoeshespendhistime?’IcouldunderstandtheoldladynotwantingtomoveoutofherhomebutIwasunabletounderstand
howabusysuccessfulpersonlikeAithappacouldretiretothisgodforsakensleepyvillage.‘Whenhebecamerich,mysonaskedme,“Amma,Ihaveearnedsomuchwealth.Iwanttoknow
whatyouwant.Irememberyousoldallyourjewelleryformyfeesincollege,youhadonlyonemealsothatIcouldhavetwo.NowIwanttobuylotsofjewelleryforyou.”’‘Whatdidyouanswer?’‘Itoldmysonthatinlife,therealjewelleryiseducation.TheschoolteacherforwhomIworked
whenIwasyoungusedtotelleverythingwillperishoveraperiodoftime—flowers,beauty,food.Nopersonlooksbeautifulforever.Buteducationbringsconfidencetoyourfaceandthatisthereal
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beauty.Ihavecrossedtheagetowearjewelleries.Ifyourespectmywishes,buildasmanyfreeschoolsaspossibleinasmanyvillagesinSouthCanara.Mysonunderstoodmyfeelings.Hehimselfshiftedtothisvillageandhas,tilltoday,builttensuchschools.Heremainsverybusymanagingtheseschools.’NowIunderstoodthereasonbehindthehighliteracyrateofthearea.WomenlikeKuttammahad
notstudiedbuttheyhadunderstoodtheimportanceofgoodeducation.Theyhadinsistedtheirchildrengotoschool.Itiscertainlytruethatifonemanstudies,onlyonepersoniseducatedwhereasifoneladystudies,theentirefamilyiseducated.
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AHistoryLessononTeachers’Day
ThedatewasSeptember5th2003,orTeacher ’sDay.InBangalore,onthatday,Ihaveagreattimewithmystudents.If,forsomereason,IamoutofBangalore,Imissallthecelebrations.OnTeacher ’sDay,mystudentstakemeoutandweallhavelunchtogetherandalsowatchamovie.Theypoolintheirmoneyandrefusetoletmepayforanything.Itshowsmehowclosetheyaretomeandthattheyrememberme.Itisanactofloveandaffectionfortheirteacher.Eachofthemwillgotheirdifferentwaysaftertheycompletethecourse,butlove,affectionandconcernforeachotherwillalwaysbindustogether.Lastyear,onTeacher ’sday,Iwasoutofstationonsomeworkandfeelingdepressed.Afriendof
minerealizedthatandsaid,‘Letusgowatchafilm,youwillfeelbetter.’Wewenttothetheatre.Therewasabigqueue.Iwassurprisedbecausetherewereonlystudents
fromschoolsandcollegesinthequeue.Asmyfriendwasgettingthetickets,Irememberedmystudentsandstartedchattingwiththeyoungsters.‘Howcomeyoupeoplearehere?Istherenocelebrationinyourcollegeorschool?’Theywereagroupofgirls.Oneofthemreplied.‘Whyshouldtherebeacelebrationintheschool?’‘IsitnotTeacher ’sDay?’‘Sowhat?Weknewtherewasaholiday,wedidnotevenaskforwhat.TodaybeingSaturday,we
areveryhappythatwearegettingtwodaysofholidays.’‘Why?DoesyourschoolnotcelebrateTeacher ’sDay?DoyouknowwhySeptember5thisknown
asTeacher ’sDay?’Anothergirlreplied.‘OurschoolmaybecelebratingTeacher ’sDaybutwedon’twanttogo.We
seethesameteacherseveryday.Whyseethemevenonaholiday?’Thatprovokedtheteacherinme.Iasked,‘Tellme,whatdowecelebrateonNovember14th,
October2nd,August15thandJanuary26th?’‘Weknowtheyareholidaysbutnotsureforwhat.’Oneofthemshylysaid,‘IknowOctober2ndisGandhi’sbirthday.’Atleasttheyknewoneanswer!‘Howcomeyouknowonlythatday?’‘Becauseitismybirthday.Mygrandfatherwasafreedomfighter.HenamedmeMohiniandhetold
meGandhiji’snamewasMohandas.’‘SoMohini,doyoulikeyourname?’‘No,Idon’tlikeit.Itisveryold-fashioned.Itsoundslikeitbelongstosomeonelivingacentury
ago.IhavechangedmynametoMonica.’Someothergirltoldme,‘IgetconfusedwithAugust15thandJanuary26th.Oneofthemis
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IndependenceDayandtheotheroneissomethingconnectedwithindependence.’Irefusedtogiveup.‘Tellme,whendidwegetindependence?’Thatstartedoffadiscussioninthegroup.Icouldmakeoutanumberofopinionswerebeing
debated.Onesaid1950,someothersaid1942andthethirdgroupsaid1947.Infactthe1942-groupwasverysuretheywererightastheyhadwatchedthemovie1942ALoveStory.‘DoyouknowwhowasIndia’sPresidentthen?’‘WeknowitisAbdulKalam.’‘No,Iamaskingyoubeforehim.’Theywereblank.‘HaveyouheardofDr.SarvapalliRadhakrishnan?’‘WeknowaboutRadhakrishna.Theirstatuesinmarbleareverybeautiful.IhaveseentheminHare
RamaHareKrishnatemple.Iwentwithmyparents,’oneofthemreplied.Itoldthem,‘Dr.SarvapalliRadhakrishnanwasafamousphilosopherandagreatteacher.Hetaught
inCalcutta,MysoreandBanaras.WhenheleftMysore,itseemsstudentspulledthecarriagetothestationthemselvesandnothorses.Forhislectures,studentsfromothercollegeswouldcomeandlisten,irrespectiveofthesubjectstheywerestudying.Hewasacknowledgedasthebestteacherwhereverhetaught.LaterhebecamethePresidentofIndia.HencehisbirthdaywasdeclaredasTeacher ’sDay.Therearemanystoriesabouthim.Pleasereadanybookorseeontheinternet.’Thegrouplookedashamednow.Ifeltbadandrealizeditwasnottheirfaultalone.Wegive
holidaystochildrenbutdonottellthemthereasonbehindtheholiday.Everyyearwepreparethesameboringspeechanddeliverittoahandfulofchildren.Mostofustakethedayoffanddonotmakeanyeffortsothatchildrenlookforwardtotheday.Wecouldmakethemplanttreesandteachthemabouttheenvironment;orwecouldtakethemoutforapicnicandgetclosetothemoutsidetheclassroom.ItisourdutytomakesurethatdayslikeTeacher ’sDayareutilizedproperly.Wehavetoworkhardforthat,whichwedon’tdo.Childrenshouldbeledbyexampleandteachersarethebestexamples.Whatwepreach,weshouldpractise.
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‘ApproJ.R.D.’
Therearetwophotographsthathangonmyofficewall.EverydaywhenIentermyofficeIlookatthemandstartmyday.Theyarepicturesoftwooldpeople.Oneisofagentlemaninabluesuitandtheotheroneisablackandwhitephotographofanoldmanwithdreamyeyesandawhitebeard.Manypeoplehaveaskedmeiftheyarerelatedtome.Somepeoplehaveevenaskedme,‘Isthis
blackandwhitephotothatofaSufisaintorareligiousGuru?’Ismileandreply‘No,noraretheyrelatedtome.’‘Thenwhydoyoulookatthemandstarttheday?’‘Thesepeoplemadeanimpactonmylife.Iamgratefultothem.’‘Whoarethesepeople?’‘ThemaninthebluesuitisBharatRatnaJ.R.D.TataandtheblackandwhitephotoisofSir
JamshedjiTata.’‘Butwhydoyouhavetheirphotosinyouroffice?’‘Youcancallitgratitude.’Then,invariably,Ihavetotellthepersonthefollowingstory.Ithappenedalongtimeago.Iwas
youngandbright,boldandidealistic.IwasstudyinginthefinalyearformyMaster ’sdegreeinComputerScienceatIndianInstituteofScience,Bangalore,whichwasthenknownastheTataInstitute.Forme,lifewasfulloffunandjoy.Ididnotknowwhathelplessnessorinjusticemeant.ItwasprobablytheAprilof1974.Bangalorewasjustbecomingwarm.RedGulmoharswere
bloomingattheIISccampus.Iwastheonlygirlinmypost-graduatedepartmentinEngineering,andwasstayingintheladies’hostel.Othergirlswerepursuingtheirresearchindifferentdepartmentsofscience.Aftercompletingmypost-graduation,IwaskeentogoabroadtodomydoctorateinComputer
ScienceandhadalreadybeenofferedscholarshipsfromuniversitiesinUSA.IhadnotthoughtoftakingupajobinIndia.Oneday,whileonthewaytomyhostelfromthelecturehall,Isawanadvertisementonthenotice
board.ItwasastandardjobrequirementnoticefromthefamousautomobilecompanyTELCO.Itstated
thatthecompanyrequiredyoung,brightengineers,hardworkingwithexcellentacademicbackground,etc.Atthebottomtherewasasmallline:‘Ladycandidatesneednotapply’.Ireaditandwasveryupset.Forthefirsttime,Iwasfacedwithgenderdiscrimination.
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ThoughIwasnotkeenontakingupajob,Itookitasachallengeanddecidedtoapply.Ihaddoneextremelywellinmystudies,probablybetterthanmostoftheboys.LittledidIknowthenthatinreallife,tobesuccessful,academicexcellenceisnotanecessarycondition.Afterreadingthenotice,Iwentfumingtomyroom.ThereIdecidednotonlytoapplyforthejob,
butalsotoinformthetop-mostpersonofthemanagementofTELCOabouttheinjustice.Igotapostcardandstartedtowrite.Buttherewasaproblem.WhowastheheadofTELCO?Ididnotknow.IwassoignorantthatIthoughtitmustbeoneoftheTatas.IknewJRDTatawastheheadoftheTataGroup.Ihadseenhispicturesinnewspapers.Actually,SumantMulgoankarwasthenitsChairman,whichIwasnotaware.Itookthepostcardandstartedwriting.EvennowIclearlyrememberwhatIhadwrittentoJRD.‘Tatashavealwaysbeenpioneers.Theyarethepeoplewhostartedthebasicinfrastructure
industriesinIndialikeironandsteel,chemicals,textiles,locomotives,etc.TheyhavecaredforhighereducationinIndiasince1900,andareresponsiblefortheestablishmentoftheIndianInstituteofScience!FortunatelyIstudythere.ButIamsurprisedthatinsuchacompanyyoucanmakeadistinctionbetweenmenandwomen?’Ipostedtheletterthatwaswritteninanger,andafterafewdaysforgotaboutit.Withintendays,IreceivedatelegramstatingthatIhadtoappearforaninterviewatTELCOPune,
attheirexpense.Iwastakenaback.Butmyhostel-matestoldmeIhadtousetheopportunitytogotoPunefreeofcost.Andthereason?Punesariswerecheap!Iwastoldtobuysarisforthem.Ievencollectedthirtyrupeesperheadforeachoftheirsaris.Now,whenIlookback,Ifeellikelaughingatthereasonsbutthentheyseemedgoodonestomakeatrip.ThiswasmyfirstvisittoPune.Ifellinlovewiththecityandeventothisdateitisverydeartomy
heart.IfeelasmuchathomeinPuneasIdoatHubli.Thecitychangedmylifeinsomanyways.Asdirected,IwenttoTELCO’sPimpriofficefortheinterview.Thereweresixpeopleonthepanel
anditwasonlythenthatIrealizedthiswasseriousbusiness.‘ThisisthegirlwhowrotetoJRD,’IheardthemwhispertoeachotherassoonasIentered.Bythen
IknewforsurethatIwouldnotgetajob.AndwhenIwouldn’tgetajob,whyshouldIbescared?SoIwasrathercoolfortheinterview.EvenbeforetheystartedtheinterviewIknewtheywerebiasedsoItoldthem,ratherrudely,‘Ihope
thisisonlyatechnicalinterview.’Theyweretakenabackbymyrudeness,andeventodayIamashamedatmyattitude.DuringtheinterviewtheyaskedmanytechnicalquestionsandIansweredallofthem.Thenone
elderlygentlemanwithanaffectionatevoicetoldme,‘Doyouknowwhywesaidthatladycandidatesneednotapply?Thereasonisthattothisdaywehavenotemployedanyladiesontheshopfloorofthefactory.Thisisanautomobileindustry.Traineesmayhavetoworkinshifts.Fortraining,wemayhavetosendthemtoJamshedpurinBihar.Allourplantshavemenandmachinery.Ourtraineesmayhavetodrive.Wehaveatrainee’shostelandaguesthouseforthem.Ifaladyenters,thenhowwecanweaccommodateher?Wedonotknowhowmenontheshopfloorwillaccepther.Howwillshecomeforshifts?Wecareforouremployees,particularlyifsheisalady.Itisnotacollegewherethereisnogenderdifference.Thisisafactory.Whenitcomestoacademics,youareafirstrankerthroughout.Weappreciatethat.Peoplelikeyoushouldworkmoreinresearchlaboratories.’Iwasayounggirlfromsmall-townHubli.Myworldwasverysmall.Ididnotknowthewaysof
largecorporatehousesandtheirdifficulties.SoIanswered,‘Butsomewhereyoumuststart.Otherwisealadywillneverbeabletoworkinthefactories.Youarepioneersinmanyaspectsoflife.WhenIlookatyourindustries,youarefaraheadofotherpeople.Ifyouthinkthisway,thenhowwillanyladyeverenterthisso-calledman’sdomain?’‘Trainingacandidatecostsalottoourcompany.Youareofamarriageableage.Afteryour
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trainingyouwillleavethiscompanyandshifttowhereveryourhusbandworks.Isitnotawasteofmoneyforus?’Ithoughtforamomentandreplied,‘Idefinitelyagreewithwhatyousay.Iamsurewhenmanyof
youmarried,yourwivescamealongwithyou.Thathasbeenourtradition.Butisitalsonottruethatmanymenundergotraining,andjustforafewmorehundredrupees,theyshifttheirjobs.Youdon’thaveanyruleforthem.Youcan’tstopthem.’Finally,afteralonginterview,IwastoldIhadbeensuccessfulinsecuringajobatTELCO.Onthe
wayback,IgotdownatHubli,myhometown.Iwaseagertomeetmyfather,alwaysmybestfriend,andtellhimmyadventure.Iwassurehewouldbehappyandpraiseme.ButIwasinforashock.Hewasveryupset.Hesaid,‘Youshouldhavebasicmannerswhen
addressingelderlypeoplelikeJRDTata.Youshouldhavewrittenthelettermorepolitelyandputitinanenvelope,insteadofsendingapostcard.Nowyouhavetotakeupthisjobbecauseyouaremorallyresponsible.’Thatiswhatmyfuturehadinstoreforme.NevereverhadIthoughtIwouldtakeupajobatPune.
ThereImetashyyoungmanfromKarnataka,webecamegoodfriendsandmarried.TheelderlygentlemanwhointerviewedmewasDr.SathyaMurty,whowasanexcellenttechnocrat
andhumanbeing.Iworkedwithhimforsomeyears.AfterjoiningTELCOIrealizedwhoJRDwas.HewastheuncrownedkingofIndianindustry.IdidnotgettomeethimuntilIwastransferredtoBombay.JRDhadanofficeatBombayHouse,theheadquartersofTataIndustries.Oneday,IwassupposedtoshowsomereportstoourChairmanMr.Mulgoankar,whomeveryone
alwaysreferredtoasSM.SoIwenttohisofficeonthefirstfloorofBombayHouse.WhileIwasinSM’sroom,JRDwalkedin.ThatwasthefirsttimeIsaw‘ApproJRD’.‘Appro’
means‘ours’inGujarati.InBombayHousepeopleusedtoaffectionatelycallhim‘ApproJRD’.Bythistime,Iknewwhohewasandwasfeelingverynervous,rememberingmyrudepostcardto
him.SMintroducedmeverynicely,‘Jehlook,thisyounggirlisanengineerandthattooapost-
graduate.Shehasworkedontheshop-flooratTELCO.Isitnotunusual?ShewasthefirstgirlinourTELCOshop-floor.’JRDlookedatme.Iwasprayinghewouldnotaskmeanyquestionsregardingmyintervieworthe
postcard.Thankfullyhedidn’taskmeanythingaboutthat.Insteadheremarked,‘Itisnicethatinourcountrygirlsaregettingintoengineering.Bytheway,whatisyourname?’‘WhenIjoinedTELCOIwasSudhaKulkarni,Sir.NowIamSudhaMurty.’‘Wheredoyouwork?’‘AtNanavatiMahalaya,’Ireplied.Hesmiledatmenoddinghisheadandthetwomenstartedtheirdiscussion.Ijustranoutofthe
room.AfterthatIusedtoseeJRDonandoff.HewastheChairmanofalargegroupofcompaniesandI
wasonlyanengineerinoneofthosecompanies.Therewasnothingwehadincommon.Iusedtolookathimwithawe.OnedayIwaswaitingforMurthytocomeandpickmeupafterofficehours.Tomysurprise,Isaw
JRDstandingnexttome.Ididnotknowhowtoreact.Iwasfeelinguneasy.AgainIstartedworryingaboutthepostcard.NowwhenIlookback,IrealizeJRDmusthaveforgottenaboutit.Itmusthavebeenaverysmallincidenttohimbutnotsoforme.Heaskedme,‘Younglady,whyareyouhere?Officetimeisover.’Isaid,‘Sir,Iamwaitingformy
husbandtocomeandpickmeup’.JRDsaid,‘Itisgettingdark.There’snooneinthecorridor.Iwillwaitwithyouuntilyourhusband
comes.’
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IwasquiteusedtowaitingforMurthysoIwasnotbotheredmuchbyhavingtowaitinthedark.ButhavingJRDwaitingalongwithmemademeveryuncomfortable.OutofthecornerofmyeyeIlookedathim.Heworeasimplewhitepantandshirt.Hewasoldyethisfacewasglowing,withoutanyairof
superiority.Iwasthinking,‘Lookatthisperson.HeistheChairman,awell-respectedmaninourcountryand
heiswaitingforthesakeofanordinaryladyemployee.’AssoonasIsawMurthyIrushedout.JRDcalledandsaid,‘Younglady,tellyourhusbandnevertobelateandmakehiswifewait.’In1982IhadtoresignfrommyjobatTELCO.Iwasveryreluctanttoresignbutdidnothavea
choice.Evennow,myloveandrespectfortheHouseofTatasisthesame.IalwayslookeduptoJRDasmyrolemodelforhissimplicity,generosity,kindnessandthecarehetookofhisemployees.AfterIhadmademyfinalsettlementswiththecompany,IwascomingdownthestepsofBombay
HousewhenIsawJRDcomingup.Hewasabsorbedinsomethought.Iwantedtosaygoodbyetohim.SoIstopped.Hesawmeandhealsostopped.Gentlyhesaid,‘SowhatareyoudoingMs.Kulkarni?’(Thatwasthewayhealwaysaddressedme.)‘SirIamleavingTELCO.’‘Whereareyougoing?’‘Pune,Sir.MyhusbandisstartingacompanycalledInfosys.SoIhavetoshifttoPune.’‘Oh!Whatwillyoudowhenyouaresuccessful?’‘SirIdonotknowwhetherwewillbesuccessfulornot.’‘Neverstartwithdiffidence.Alwaysstartwithconfidence.Whenyouaresuccessful,youmustgive
backtosociety.Societygivesussomuch,wemustreturnitback.Iwishyouallthebest.’ThenJRDcontinuedwalkingupthestairs.Istoodforawhile,watchinghim.Thatwasthelasttime
Isawhimalive.Manyyearslater,ImetRatanTatainthesameBombayofficeoccupyingthesamechairasJRD.I
toldhimmanyofmysweetmemoriesofworkingwithTELCO.Isaid,‘IcannotcallyouMr.TatalikeMurthycallsyou.Youareoccupying“ApproJRD’s”seat.Youwillalwaysbe“ChairmanSir”tome.’Later,hewrotetome,‘ItwasnicelisteningaboutJehfromyou.Thesadpartisthatheisnotalive
todaytoseeyou.’IconsiderJRDagreatmanbecause,inspiteofbeinganextremelybusyperson,hevaluedone
postcardwrittenbyayounggirl,whowasaskingforjusticeandquestioninghim.Hemusthavereceivedthousandsofletterseveryday.Hecouldhavethrownmineawayinadustbin.Buthedidn’tdothat.Herespectedtheintentionsofthatunknowngirl,whohadneitherinfluencenormoneyandgaveheranopportunitytoworkinhiscompany.Hedidnotmerelygiveherajob,butalsochangedherlifeandmindsetforever.Today,inanyengineeringcollegeIseethatfortytofiftypercentofthestudentsaregirls.Onthe
shopfloorofmanymechanicalindustriesweseesomanyladiesworking.ThattimeIthinkofJRDfondly.IfatalltimestopsandasksmewhatIwantfromlife,IwouldsayIwishJRDwerealivetodayto
seehowthecompanywestartedhasgrown.Hewouldhaveenjoyeditwholeheartedly.
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HeartofGold
Thisisatruestory.IhearditontheradioduringoneofmyvisitstotheUS.Ithappenedinoneofthebiggestcitiesintheworld,NewYork.Itwaswinter.Oneevening,aworriedmotherstoodshiveringbytheroad,wearinganoldcoat.
Withherwasalittlegirl,thin,sick-lookingwithashavenhead.Shewaswearinganoversizedresswhichsomebodyhadprobablygiventoheroutofmercy.Itwasapparentthattheywerehomelessandpoor.Thechildhadacardboardplacardinherhandwhichsaid,‘Iamsufferingfromcancer.Pleasehelpme.’Themotherwascarryingabeggingbowl.Wheneverthetrafficlightsturnedredtheywould
approachpeople,stoppingthemontheroadandaskingforhelp.Americaisarichcountry,butifyouaresickanddon’thaveinsurance,thenyouarelost.Nobody
cansupportyou.Peoplegivesmallamountsofmoneywhentheyseesuchpleasforhelp.ThiskindofasceneisnotuncommoninIndia.Weseelotsofbeggarswithsmallinfantsinonehandandabeggingbowlinanother.ButinAmericaitisnotsocommon.Peoplefeltbadforthisunfortunatemotherandchild.Oneday,apolicemanwaspassingbyandsawthem.Heaskedthemafewquestionsandnoticedthat
thechildindeedlookedverysickwithherswolleneyesandshavenhead.Hewantedtohelp,soheopenedhispurse.Hesawabundleofnoteswhichhehadjustdrawnfromthebank.Hehadreceivedagoodbonusfortheexcellentworkhehaddone.Hethought,‘Ihaveawarmhome,acaringwifeandalovingson.Godhasbeenverykindtome.Buttheseunfortunatepeopledon’thaveanyoneofthesethings.ItisnottheirmistakethatGodhasnotbeenkindtothem.’Herememberedthemanythingshehadpromisedhiswifeandsonhewouldbuywhenhegothisbonus.Forawhilehewasintwominds.Thenhedecidedandgaveallthecashwhichhehaddrawnfromthebanktothewomanandsaid,‘Pleasetakegoodcareofthechild.’Whenhereachedhomehissonmethimatthedoorstepasusualandhuggedhim.Thehousewas
warmandnice.Hesatinfrontofhiswife,andlookingatthesnowfallingoutside,henarratedthewholeincident.Afterlisteningtohimforawhilehiswifewassilent,thenshesmiled.Butthesonwasangry.Hesaid,‘Dad,howareyousurethattheyhavenotcheatedyou?Andeventhoughyouwantedtogivesomemoneyyoucouldhavegivensomeportion.Whydidyougiveeverything?’Thepolicemanlaughedathissonandsaid,‘Son,youdonotknowwhatpovertyis.Icomeacross
suchunfortunatepeopleinmywork.’Thedayspassedandeverybodyforgotaboutit.Onedayanewsiteminthepapercaughttheson’sattention:‘Motherandchildcaughtcheating.’
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Withgreatinterestheread:‘Agreedymotherusedherhealthychildtoposeasacancerpatient.Sheshavedthechild’shead,
starvedheranddressedhershabbilysothatanybodywouldfeelthechildwassufferingfromcancer.Usingthistacticshedupedmanypeople.Themotherhasbeenarrested.’Thesonrealizedwhothesepeoplewereandwasveryupset.Whenhisfathercamehome,hetold
himassoonasheenteredthehouse,‘Dad,youwerecheatedbythatladyandherchildwhoyouthoughtwasacancerpatient.Thechildishealthyandyougaveawayyourentirebonustothatchild.’Hisfatherdidnotreply.Hesatdown,andlookedoutofthewindow.Therewerechildrenplaying
outside.Winterwasoverandsummerwassettingin.Inacalmvoicehesaid,‘Son,Iamveryhappy.Thechildishealthy.’Theboywassurprised.Hethoughtbeingapoliceman,hisfatherwouldpickupthephoneandtalk
tothepolicestationorhewouldbedepressedthathehadbeencheatedandgivenawaysomuchofmoneytoahealthychild.Buttherewerenotracesofsuchemotions.Heasked,‘Dad,tellme,areyounotupset?’Hisfatheragaingavehimthesameanswer,‘Iamhappythatthechildishealthy.’Bythattimehiswifecamewithamugofcoffeeinherhand.Shehadheardtheentireconversation.
Withhappinessinhervoiceshetoldherson.‘Son,youareveryfortunate.Youhaveanextraordinaryfather,whoisnotangryeventhoughhehaslostalotofmoney.Youshouldbeproudthatyourfatherishappythinkingsomebody’schildishealthy,ratherthanworryingabouthisownbigbonus.Learnfromhim.Helppeoplewithoutexpectinganythinginreturn.’
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AWeddinginRussia
Aweddingisagreateventineveryone’slife.InIndia,itisdonewithagreatdealofceremony.Inourfilms,alargenumberofstoriesarebaseduponweddings.IfyoulookatIndianhistory,youwillseemanywarshavebeenfoughtforthesakeofamarriage.
Peoplehavealwaysspentalotofmoneyandeffortonthese.Inoldendaystheweddingcelebrationsusedtocarryonforaweek.Lateritcamedowntothreedays,thentwodaysandnowitisforaday.Theamountofmoneyspentsometimesconstitutestheentirelife’ssavingsofaperson.Attimespeopletakesuchhugeloansforthiscelebrationthattheyhavetogoonrepayingthroughouttheirlives.Inmyexperience,wheneverIhavetalkedtobondedlabourers,Ihavefoundthatamajorityofthemhavegotintothatstatebecauseoftheweddingexpensestheyhadincurred.Inamarriage,thecoupleandtheirparentsareworriedaboutvariousthings.Isshelookingpretty?
Aretheguestsbeinglookedafter?Willhekeepherhappy?Peoplelikeyouandmeareworriedabouttheweddinglunch.Itisanoccasionwhereyoungboysgettomeetyounggirls,oldpeopletalkabouttheirailmentsandwomenexhibittheirfinestjewelleriesandsilksaris.RecentlyIwasinMoscow,Russia.Moscowcityhasmanywarmemorials.Russiahaswonthree
greatwarsinitshistory,whichareasourceofprideforthem.TheyhavebuiltwarmemorialsanderectedmanystatuesoftheGeneralswhowereresponsibleforthevictories.ThefirstwarwasbetweenPetertheGreatandSweden.ThesecondwasbetweenTsarAlexanderIandNapoleonofFrance.ThethirdonewasagainstHitlerintheWorldWarIIin1945.ThereisahugeparkinMoscow,knownasPeacePark.InthemiddleofthisPeaceParkthereisa
largemonument.Thereisapillar,andonthepillarthedifferentbattlesfoughtbyRussiahavebeenmentionedalongwithdatesandplaces.Theparkhasbeautifulfountains.Inthesummer,flowersofmanycoloursbloomandtheplaceisafeasttotheeyes.Inthenightitisdecoratedwithlights.EveryRussianisproudofthisparkanditisaspotvisitedbyalltourists.ThedayIwenttotheparkwasSunday.Itwasdrizzlingandcold,thoughitwassummer.Iwas
standingunderanumbrellaandenjoyingthebeauty.Suddenly,myeyesfellonayoungcouple.Itwasapparentthattheyhadjustgotmarried.Thegirlwasinhermid-twenties,slimwithblondhairandblueeyes.Shewasverybeautiful.Theboywasalmostofthesameageandveryhandsome.Hewasinamilitaryuniform.Thebridewaswearingawhitesatindress,decoratedwithpearlsandprettylaces.Itwasverylongsotwoyounggirlswerestandingbehindherholdinguptheendsofthegown,soitshouldnotbedirtied.Oneyoungboywasholdinganumbrellaovertheirheadssothattheyshouldnotgetdrenched.Thegirlwasholdingabouquetandthetwowerestandingwiththeirarmslinked.Itwasabeautifulsight.Istartedwonderingwhytheyhadcometothisparkinthisrainsoonafter
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gettingmarried.Theycouldhavesurelygonetoamerrierplace.Iwatchedastheywalkedtogethertothedaisnearthememorial,keptthebouquet,bowedtheirheadsinsilenceandslowlywalkedback.BynowIwasverycurioustoknowwhatwasgoingon.Icouldnotaskthecouplebecausethey
probablycouldnotspeakEnglishandIdidn’tknowtheRussianlanguage.Therewasanoldmanstandingwiththem.Helookedatme,mysariandasked,‘AreyouanIndian?’Ireplied,‘Yes,IamanIndian.’‘IhaveseenRajKapoor ’smovies.Theyweregreat.RajKapoorhadvisitedRussia.Iknowone
Hindisong‘Mainawarahoon’.DoyouknowMoscowcityhasstatuesofthreegreatIndians?’‘Whoarethey?’‘JawaharlalNehru,MahatmaGandhiandIndiraGandhi.’Sincewewerechattingquiteamicablynow,Idecidedtousetheopportunitytoasksomequestions.‘HowcomeyouknowEnglish?’‘Oh,Iworkedabroad.’‘Willyoutellmewhythatyoungcouplevisitedthewarmemorialontheirweddingday?’‘Oh,thatisthecustominRussia.TheweddingtakesplacenormallyonaSaturdayoraSunday.
Irrespectiveoftheseason,aftersigningtheregisteratthemarriageoffice,marriedcouplesmustvisittheimportantnationalmonumentsnearby.Everyboyinthiscountryhastoserveinthemilitaryforacoupleofyearsatleast.Regardlessofhisposition,hemustwearhisserviceuniformforthewedding.’‘Whyisthat?’‘Thisisamarkofgratitude.OurforefathershavegiventheirlivesinthevariouswarsRussiahas
fought.Someofthemwewon,andsomewelost,buttheirsacrificewasalwaysforthecountry.Thenewlymarriedcoupleneedstoremembertheyarelivinginapeaceful,independentRussiabecauseoftheirancestors’sacrifices.Theymustaskfortheirblessings.Loveforcountryismoreimportantthanweddingcelebrations.WeeldersinsistoncontinuingwiththistraditionwhetheritbeinMoscow,St.PetersburgoranyotherpartofRussia.Ontheweddingdaytheyhavetovisitthenearestwarmemorial.’Thissetmewonderingaboutwhatweteachourchildren.Dowetellthemaboutthesacrificesofthe
1857WarofIndependence?Dowetalkaboutthe1942QuitIndiamovement,orasknewly-wedstovisittheAndamanCellularJailwherethousandslivedinsolitudeandweresenttothegallows?DowerememberBhagatSingh,ChandrashekharAzad,Shivaji,RanaPratap,JhansiLakshmiBaiwhogavetheirlivestosaveourcountry?ThesemenandwomenneverlivedtoseeanindependentIndia.Butdowehavethecourtesyto
rememberthemonthemostimportantdayofourlives?Wearebusyshoppingforsaris,buyingjewelleriesandpreparingelaboratemenusandpartyingindiscos.MyeyesfilledwithtearsatthethoughtandIwishedwecouldlearnalessonfromtheRussians.
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‘Amma,WhatIsYourDuty?’
Atthattime,mydaughterAkshatawasateenager.Bynatureshewasverysensitive.Onherown,shestartedreadingforblindchildrenatRamanaMaharshiAcademyforBlindsatBangalore.Shewasascribertoo.Sheusedtocomehomeandtellmeabouttheworldofblindpeople.Latershewroteanessayonthem,called‘ISawtheWorldthroughtheBlindEyesofMary’.Marywasastudentattheacademywhowasabouttoappearforthepre-universityexam.OnceAkshatatookMarytoLalbaghforachange.Theconversationbetweenthemwasquiteunusual.‘Mary,therearedifferenttypesofredrosesinthispark,’Akshatatoldher.Marywassurprised.‘Akshata,whatdoyoumeanbyred?’Akshatadidnotknowhowtoexplainwhatwasred.Shetookaroseandajasmine,andgavethemto
Mary.‘Mary,smellthesetwoflowersinyourhand.Theyhavedifferentsmells.Thefirstoneisarose.It
isredincolour.Thesecondoneisjasmine.Itiswhite.Mary,itisdifficulttoexplainwhatisredandwhatiswhite.ButIcantellyouthatinthisworldtherearemanycolours,whichcanbeseenanddifferentiatedonlythroughtheeyesandnotbytouch.Iamsorry.’AfterthatincidentAkshatatoldme,‘Amma,nevertalkaboutcolourswhenyoutalktoblindpeople.
Theyfeelfrustrated.IfeltsohelplesswhenIwastryingtoexplaintoMary.NowIalwaysdescribetheworldtothembydescribingsmellsandsoundswhichtheyunderstandeasily.’AkshataalsousedtohelpabrightblindboycalledAnandSharmaatthisschool.Hewastheonly
childofaschoolteacherfromBihar.Hewasbrightandjolly.Hewasabouttoappearforhissecondpre-universityexam.Oneday,Iwasheadingforanexaminationcommitteemeeting.Atthattime,Iwasheadofthe
departmentofComputerScienceatalocalcollege.ItwasalmosttheendofFebruary.Winterwasslowlyendingandtherewasatraceofsummersettingin.Bangaloreisblessedwithbeautifulweather.Themanytreesliningtheroadswerefloweringandthecitywasswathedindifferentshadesofviolet,yellowandred.Iwasbusygettingreadytoattendthemeeting,henceIwascollectingoldsyllabi,questionpapers
andreferencebooks.Akshatacameupstairstomyroom.Shelookedworriedandtired.Shewasstudyinginclassten.Ithoughtshewastiredpreparingforherexams.AsamotherIhaveneverinsistedtheystudytoomuch.Myparentsneverdidthat.Theyalwaysbelievedthechildhastoberesponsible.Aresponsiblechildwillsitdowntostudyonherown.ItoldAkshata,‘Don’tworryabouttheexams.Tryingisinyourhands.Theresultsarenotwith
you.’Shewasannoyedandirritatedbymyadvice.‘Amma,Ididn’ttalkaboutanyexamination.Why
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areyouremindingmeofthat?’Iwassurprisedatherirritation.ButIwasalsobusygatheringoldquestionpaperssodidnotsay
anything.Absently,Ilookedatherface.Wasthereatraceofsadnessonit?Orwasitmyimagination?‘Amma,youknowAnandSharma.Hecametoourhouseonce.Heisabrightboy.Iamconfident
thathewilldoverywellinhisfinalexamination.Heisalsoconfidentaboutit.Hewantstostudyfurther.’Shestopped.BythistimeIhadfoundtheoldquestionpapersIhadbeenlookingfor,butnotthe
syllabus.Mysearchwason.Akshatastoodfacingmeandcontinued,‘Amma,hewantstostudyatSt.StephensinDelhi.Hedoesnothaveanybody.Heispoor.Itisanexpensiveplace.Whatshouldhedo?Whowillsupporthim?Iamworried.’ItwasgettinglateformymeetingsocasuallyIremarked,‘Akshata,whydon’tyousupporthim?’‘Amma,wheredoIhavethemoneytosupportaboyinaDelhihostel?’Mysearchwasstillon.‘Youcanforfeityourbirthdaypartyandsavemoneyandsponsorhim.’Athome,evennowbothourchildrendonotgetpocketmoney.Whenevertheywanttobuy
anythingtheyaskmeandIgivethemoney.Wedon’thavebigbirthdayparties.Akshata’sbirthdaypartywouldmeancallingafewofherfriendstothehouseandorderingfoodfromthenearbyfastfoodjointShanthiSagar.‘Amma,whenaneducatedpersonlikeyou,well-travelled,well-readandwithoutloveformoney
doesnothelppoorpeople,thendon’texpectanyoneelsetodo.Isitnotyourdutytogivebacktothoseunfortunatepeople?Whatareyoulookingforinlife?Areyoulookingforglamourorfame?Youarethedaughterofadoctor,granddaughterofaschoolteacherandcomefromadistinguishedteachingfamily.Ifyoucannothelppoorpeoplethendon’texpectanyoneelsetodoit.’Herwordsmademeabandonmysearch.Iturnedaroundandlookedatmydaughter.Isawayoung
sensitivegirlpleadingforthefutureofapoorblindboy.Orwasshesomeoneremindingmeofmydutytowardssociety?IhadreceivedsomuchfromthatsocietyandcountrybutinwhatwaywasIreturningit?ForaminuteIwasfrozen.ThenIrealizedIwasholdingthesyllabusIwaslookingforinmyhandanditwasgettinglateforthemeeting.Akshatawentawaywithangerandsadnessinhereyes.Itooleftforcollegeinaconfusedstateof
mind.WhenIreached,Isawthatasusualthemeetingwasdelayed.NowIwasallalone.Isettleddownin
mychairinoneoftheloftyroomsofthecollege.Thereisadifferencebetweenlonelinessandsolitude.Lonelinessisboring,whereasinsolitudeyoucaninspectandexamineyourdeedsandyourthoughts.Isatandrecollectedwhathadhappenedthatafternoon.Akshata’swordswerestillringinginmy
mind.Iwasforty-fiveyearsold.Whatwasmydutyatthisage?WhatwasIlookingforinlife?Ididnotstartoutinlifewithalotofmoney.Agreatdealofhardworkhadbeenputintogetwhere
weweretoday.WhathadIlearntfromthehardjourneythatwasmylife?DidIworkformoney,fameorglamour?No,Ididnotworkforthose;theycameaccidentallytome.InitiallyIworkedformyself,excellinginstudies.AfterthatIwasdevotedtoInfosysandmyfamily.Shouldnottheremainingpartofmylifebeusedtohelpthosepeoplewhoweresufferingfornofaultoftheirs?Wasthatnotmyduty?SuddenlyIrememberedJRD’spartingadvicetome:‘Givebacktosociety.’IdecidedthatwaswhatIwasgoingtodofortherestofmylife.Ifeltrelievedandyearsyounger.Ifirmlybelievenodecisionshouldbetakenemotionally.Itshouldbetakenwithacoolmindand
whenyouareawareoftheconsequences.AfteraweekIwrotemyresignationletterasheadofthedepartmentandoptedonlyforateacher ’spost.
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IamevergratefultoAkshataforhelpingbringthishappinessandsatisfactioninmyworkandlife.ItmeansmoretomethanthegoodranksIgotinschool,andmywealth.WhenIseehopeintheeyesofadestitute,seethewarmsmileonthefacesofoncehelplesspeople,
Ifeelsosatisfied.TheytellmethatIammakingadifference.IjoinedInfosysFoundationasaFounderTrustee.TheFoundationtookupanumberof
philanthropicprojectsforthebenefitofthepoorindifferentstatesofIndia.Ireceivedmanyawardsonvariousoccasions.OneofthemwastheEconomicTimesawardgivento
InfosysFoundation.AsatrusteeIwasinvitedtoreceivethisaward.AtthattimeIrememberedmyguru.NowshewasastudentinUSA.Itoldher,‘AtleastforonedayyoumustcomeforthisawardceremonyinBombay.Ifyouhadnotwokenmeupattherighttime,Iwouldnothavebeenreceivingittoday.Iwantyoutobepresent.’IwillremainindebtedtoAkshataforeverforthewayshemademechangemylifeandthelesson
shetaughtme.
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TheStoryofTwoDoctors
Mysisterisadoctorinagovernmenthospital.Sheworksverylonghours.Oftenshehastodonightdutywhichcanbeveryexhausting.Ourgovernmenthospitalsmaynothavetoomanyfacilities,butatleastthepoorcangettreatmenthereforalmostfree.Once,duringoneofhernightduties,shehadtoperformmanyoperationsandcamehomevery
late.Justasshereachedhometherewasacallfromthehospitalforhertocomeandperformanotheremergencyoperation.Shewasabouttoleaveimmediately.SeeinghertiredfaceImadeacomment.‘Iagreepatientsareveryimportanttodoctors.Butforthelasttwenty-fourhoursyouwereinthehospital.Youarealsoahumanbeing;youtoorequirerest.Youcantellsomebodyelsetodothisoperation.Whydon’tyourestnow?’Shesmiledatmeandsaid,‘Itisnotmealone.Therearemanydoctorsalongwithmewhoare
workingequallyhard.Theyalsorequirerest.Iamthesenior-mostdoctor,soImustleadtheteam.Inthelargerinterestofthepeopleyoumustsacrificeyourpersonalpain.Don’tyourememberthestoryofanaesthesia?’Sayingthisshewentaway.Ithenrememberedthestoryshehadmentioned.Mysisterhadnarratedittomesomeyearsago.To
whatextentthisstoryistrueIdon’tknow.Butitisaremarkableone.Manyyearsago,inEngland,therewasafather-and-sonpairwhoweredoctors.Thefatherwas
veryfamousandinnovative,andthesonwasyoungandenthusiastic.Inthosedaystherewasnoconceptofanaesthesiaandwheneverapatientwastobeoperatedon,chloroformwasgiven.Theseniordoctordidmanyexperimentsinthisfieldanddevelopedamedicine,whichwhen
injectedintheareawheretheoperationwastobedone,madeonlythatpartnumb.Therewasnoneedtomakethepatientunconscious.Todaywecallthislocalanaesthesia.Heperformedseveralexperimentsandwasconvincedbyaddingdifferentchemicalsthathis
medicinewaseffective.Buttherewasoneproblem.Noonewouldofferhimselffortheexperiment.Withoutexperimentingonahumanbeingthismedicinecouldnotbeofficiallyreleasedinthemarket.Now,thedoctor ’ssonhadsixfingersonhislefthand.Oneday,hesuggestedtohisfather,‘Father,I
knowyourmedicineisverygood.Youinjectittomysixthfingerandoperateandremovethefinger.AnywayIwantedtogetridofthatfinger.Letusperformthisoperationinfrontofotherdoctors.Nomancanstandthepainofsurgerywithoutanaesthesia.WhentheylookatmyfacetheywillcometoknowthatyourmedicinehasmadetheareanumbandIamnotexperiencinganypain.’Thesuggestionwasverygood.ThefatherconveyedamessagetothemembersoftheAcademyof
MedicalScience,whowerethefinalauthorityforallowingthismedicinetobeusedinpublic.
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Thedayoftheoperationcameandseveralscientists,doctorsandotherpublicfiguresassembledtowatchtheeffectofthismiracleinjection.Thefatherexhibitedhisson’ssixthfinger,andinjectedthemedicine.Hesaid,‘NowIwillstarttheoperation.Youcanobservethepatient’sface.’Therewasasmileontheyoungman’sface.Theoperationwasperformedandwasasuccess.
Throughout,thesmileremainedontheson’sface.Everybodywasamazedbywhattheysawandcongratulatedtheseniordoctorforhiswork.Aftertheyleft,theyoungdoctorwasdressinghiswound.Hisfatherhadtearsinhiseyes.He
embracedhissonandstartedsobbinguncontrollably.‘Sorry,myson,Iknewwhatpainyouwereundergoingduringtheoperation,younevershowedit
tothepublic.’Theinjectionhadtobepreparedbyaddingfourchemicals,butinhishurryandtensionbeforethe
operation,thefatherforgottoaddthefourth.Becauseofthattheinjectionwasnotatalleffective.Therewasuncontrollablepainduringtheoperation.Howeverthesonrealizedtherewassomethinghisfatherhadforgotten.Ifheshowedhispainhisfather ’sexperimentwouldfail.Heknewhowhardhisfatherhadworkedtodevelopthismedicine.Hehimselfwasawarethatitwaseffective.Itwasunfortunatethatsomethingwasnotmakingitworknow.Inthemiddleoftheoperationthefathertoorealizedthefourthchemicalwasmissingandthemedicinewasnotworking.Buthewasunabletotellthisinpublic.Heknewwhatagonyhissonwasundergoinginspiteofthesmileonhisface.Thatwaswhy,wheneveryoneleft,hebrokedowncrying.Thesonconsoledhisfather.‘Father,don’tworry.Forthewelfareofothers,Icontrolledmyown
pain.’Idon’tknowhowtruethisstoryis,butinmysister ’sandhercolleagues’dedicationtotheirwork,I
thoughtIsawaglimpseofthesacrificespeopleinthemedicalprofessionmake.
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AJourneyThroughDesert
Tillafewyearsback,Ididnothaveadriver,andusedtodriveeverywheremyself.ThepetrolbunkwhereIfilledpetrolfromhadaservicestationbesideit.SomeSaturdaysIwouldtakemycartothatservicestationandstaythereuntilitwasserviced.Thereweretwoboys,perhapsfourteenyearsofage,whoworkedthere.Theywereidenticaltwins.OnewascalledRamandtheotheronewasGopal.Theywereverypooranddidnotgotoschool,yettheycouldspeakmanylanguages.ThoughBangaloreisthecapitalofKarnataka,Kannadaisnottheonlylanguagespokenhere.
Therearemanypeoplewhohavecomefromoutsidethestateandsettledinthisbeautifulcity,henceBangalorehasbecomeverycosmopolitan.TheseboyshadmetmanypeopleduringtheirworkinthestationandsocouldspeakKannada,whichwastheirmothertongue,andalsoTamil,TeluguandHindi.RamandGopalworkedaserrandboys.Theywerealwaysverycheerfulandeveryonelikedthem.Theservicingofmycarusedtotakeabouttwohours.TheboyswouldbringachairformeandI
wouldsitundertheshadeofatreeandreadsomebooks.OveraperiodoftimeIbecamefriendlywiththemandtheytoldmeabouttheirlife.Theydidnot
haveafather.Theirmotherworkedasalabourer.Theystayedinanearbyslumwiththeiruncle.Theyhadstudieduptoclassfourbutthenhadtodropoutastheyweretoopoor.Therewasnobodywhocouldguideandteachthemathome.Thoughthesalaryattheservicestationwasnotmuch,theygotfreebreakfastandlunchandsometimessomesmalltipsfromthecarowners.Theyhadnofixedworkinghours.Theycamearoundeightinthemorningandwenthomeonlyby8p.m.Sundayswastheonlyholidaytheygot.Inspiteofallthedifficultiestheyfaced,thesekidswerealwayssmiling.Theyneversaidnoor
grumbledtoanyworktheyweretoldtodo.Ihaveseenchildreninmanywell-offfamilieswithgrumpyfacesandnohappiness.Ifyouaskthemtodoanyworktheygivehundredreasonstoavoidit.Isupposehappinessdoesnotdependontheamountofmoneyinthebank.Iusedtoreallylikethesetwoboysfortheirenthusiasm.OnceinawhileItooksnacksandsome
oldshirtsforthem.Theytooktheclotheswithgreatjoy,asiftheyweremadeofsilk.ButIneversawthemwearthoseclothes.IfIasked,theysaid,‘Madam,wealwaysweardirtyclothestowork,becauseatthestationtheybecomegreasy.’OnceItooksomestorybooksforthem,thinkingtheycouldreadthematnight.Afterall,while
otherchildrenoftheiragewerestudyinginschoolsandattendinghockeyandchesstournaments,theseboysweresloggingtomakebothendsmeet.ButwhenIgavethemthestorybooks,theirfacesbecamepaleandforthefirsttimeeverIsawatraceofunhappinessontheirfaces.Theysaid,‘Madam,ittakesalotoftimeforustoreadaswearenotusedtoreading.Willyoutellusthestory?’‘HowcanItellthestoryhere,whenyouareworkingallthetime?’
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‘Wegetsomefreetimeataboutfouro’clock.Ifyoucometoserviceyourcarthenwecansitwithyouandlistentothestory.’TheirtwopairsofeyeswerebeggingmeforthestoriesandIcouldnotsayno.IrememberedhowmyownchildrenalwaysinsistedItellthemstoriesinthenight.Iagreed.SoitbecamearoutineformetotellstoriesonSaturdayevenings.Iwentthereevenifmycardid
notneedtobeserviced.TheywereveryattentivewhenItoldmystoriesandwaitedeagerlyformore.Thiswentonformanymonths.ThenIdecidedtogetadriverandstoppeddrivingmyself.MydrivertookthecarforservicingafterthatandIdidnotmeetRamandGopalforalongtime.Timeflowslikewater.Afteralmostadecade,onedaymydriverwascomplainingaboutsome
problemthecarwasgivinghim.Itoldhimtogetitrepaired.Myoldcarhadoutliveditslifebutwasstillworking.Whenmydrivercamebackfromthegaragehesaid,‘Afterlookingatthecar,thecarmechanicaskedaboutyou.DoyouknowtheowneroftheGoodLuckGarage?’‘Ihavenotheardthisname.Isitanewgarage?’‘Itisrelativelynew.Ialwaysprefertogotogaragesownedbyyoungsters.Thisyoungmanisvery
sincere.Itseemshehasknownyouforalongtime.Heaskedifyouarestillteachinginthecollege.’IcouldnotthinkofanyoneIknewwhocouldbeowningagaragenow.Sincemydriverdidnot
evenknowhisname,Iwasunabletoplacehimandassumeditwassomeoldstudentofmine,thoughsinceIteachComputerScience,IcouldnotfigureouthowthispersonhadshiftedtoAutomobileEngineering.Whenmydrivertoldmeasecondtimethattheownerofthegaragehadaskedaboutme,IfeltIshouldgoandmeetthismanwhowassoconcernedaboutme.ThenextdayIwenttotheGoodLuckGarage.Itwasafairlymoderngarageandwellequipped.
TherewasaglasscabinwhereIassumedtheownerwassitting.AssoonasIentered,ahandsomeyoungmaninablueoverallgreetedme.Hewasholdingaspannerandascrewdriverinhishand.‘Madam,pleasecomeandsitdowninthecabin.Iwillwashmyhandsandcomeinaminute.’Isatinthesofainhisoffice.Itwasanicefunctionaloffice.Theyoungmanlookedvaguely
familiartome.IknewIhadmethimsomewherebutcouldnotplacewhere.Iwondered,didIteachthisboyinpre-university?Thattime,boysaresixteenorseventeenyearsold,adolescentswithalotofenergy.WhenImeetthemaftertheyhavegrownupIoftenfailtorecollectthem.Theylooksodifferentandmature.Bythattimethemanhadreturnedwithacoffeemugandaglassofwater.‘Madam,youhavechangedalot.Youlookoldandtired.’‘Iamsorry,Iamunabletorecollectyourname.Youshouldexcusemeandtellmeyourname.As
yousaid,Iamgrowingold.’Hesmiledatme.Therewasadimpleonhischeek.AndthenIknewwhohewas.Hewasoneof
thosekidswhousedtoworkinthegarageadecadeback.WasheRamorGopal?EveninthosedaysIusedtogetconfused.Iaskedhim,‘AreyouRamorGopal?’‘IamRam,Madam.’‘Pleasesitdown.Iamveryhappytoseeyoulikethis.’NowIcouldunderstandwhyRamhadenquiredaboutmeafterrecognizingthecar.‘Madam,Iamverygratefultoyouforyourhelpinthosedays.’‘WhathelpdidIgive?Iusedtogivesomeoldshirtsandeatablesandtoldsomestories.’‘Madam,youdonotknowhowyourstorieschangedmylife.Doyourememberthestoriesyou
toldus?’Ididn’t.FromtheoceanofstoriesinmyheadIhadtoldthemafew.‘No,Idon’tremember.’Hesatdownoppositeme,closedhiseyesandstartedtellinghisownstory.‘Madam,ourlifewasverydifficult.Youwereawareofit.Theonlythingwelookedforwardto
wasyourvisiteverySaturdaywhenwelistenedtoyourstories.Weusedtostaywithouruncle,andwhateverweearnedhewouldtake.Thestoriesyoutolduswereouronlyescapefromthedrudgery
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ofourlives.Ourworkinghourswerelong.IfeltIshouldgotoschoolandcontinuemystudies.Butthenightschoolswereallquitefarfromwherewestayed.Withnofinancialhelporsupportfromhome,itseemedstudyingwouldalwaysremainadream,tillweheardoneofyourstories.Itmadeabigdifferenceinourlives.’NowIwaskeentoknowwhathappenednext.‘Tellmewhichstorywasthat?’Theroleshadgotreversed.Iwasthelistenerandhethestoryteller.‘Once,inavillagethereweremanypoorpeople.Theyallwantedtocrossadeserttogotothenext
villagewherelifewasbetterandthefuturemorepromising.‘Manyboyswantedtogo.Theeldersinthevillagehadsaidtothem“Ifyouwanttodosomething
inlifeyoumustgotothattown.Youpickupstonesfromthedesertandcarrytothattown.Somebuyerwillpaymoneyforthoserarestones.”‘Onemorning,twoboysstartedtheirjourney.Theycarriedfoodandwaterwiththem.Inthe
beginning,thesandwasstillcoldandthesunnotyethot.Theirjourneywasgreat.Theydidnotfeeltiredandstrodeon.Aftersometimethesunroseovertheirheadsandthesandstartedgettinghot.Afterwalkingforalongtimetheythoughttheymusthavereachedtheedgeofthedesert.Sotheyatealltheirfoodanddrankthewater.Butsoontheyrealizedtheyhadwalkedonlyhalftheway.‘Theyalsostartedcollectingstonestosellinthetown.Aftersometimetheirbagswerefullof
stonesandveryheavy.Oneboyfeltitwastoomuchtocarrysohethrewthestonesanddecidedtogoback.Theotherboysaid,“Letuslistentoourelders.Comewhatmay,letuscrossthisdesertandgotothenexttown.”‘Thefirstboydidnotlistenandwentback.Thesecondboycontinuedtowalktowardstheother
town.Itwasadifficultjourney,collectingthestonesandtravellingallalone,withnowatertodrink.Sometimeshefelthisfriendwasright.Therewasnoguaranteewhatwasinthattown.Itwasbettertostopandgobacktothevillage.Butfaithandhopekepthimgoing.Afterwalkingforalonglongtimehereachedthetown.Muchtohisdisappointment,hesawitwaslikeanyothertown.Therewasadharamshalanearby.Itwasgettingdarkandhewastired.Sohedecidedtospendthenightthere.‘Nextmorning,whenhegotuphewantedtothrowawaytheheavystoneshehadcollectedand
returntohisvillage.Heopenedhisbag.Whathesawsurprisedhim.Allthestoneshadbecomebigdiamonds!Inaminute’stimehehadbecomeamillionaire.‘DoyourememberMadam,youalsotoldusthemeaningofthestory?Astudent’slifeislikethe
desert,examinationsarethehotsun,difficultiesarelikethewarmsandandstudyislikehungerandthirst.Asastudentyouhavetotravelallalonecollectingknowledgeandskillthewaytheboyinthestorycollectedstones.Themoreyoucollectthebetteristhelifeyouleadlater.‘AfterhearingthestoryIdecidedtostudyinspiteofalltheoddsIhadtoface.Withalotof
determinationandafterfacingmanydifficultiesImanagedtofinishschool.Theservicestationownerwasalsohelpful.WhenIgotgoodmarkshehelpedmepaymyfeesforanAutomobileDiploma.IcontinuedtoworkwhileIlearnt.LaterItookaloanfromthebankandstartedthiswork.BythegraceofGodIamsuccessfulandhaverepaidmyloan.Iamafreepersonnow.‘Madam,richpeopleareusuallyscaredtostartanewventure.Theyfeeliftheventurefailsthey
willlosetheirmoney.Ineverhadanythingtolose.’Ihadlearntthisfrommyownexperiencetoo.‘WhereisGopalnow?’‘Hefollowedanotherstoryofyours.’Ramlookedsad.‘Whathappened?’‘Gopal’sstatecanalsobeexplainedbyanotherstoryyoutoldus.Itseemstherewasajackalinthe
desert.Onemorninghewalkedoutandfacedthesun.Hesawhisshadowwaslargerthanhim.Itwas
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sohugethathedecidedhewouldhuntacamelforhisafternoonmeal.Hespentthewholedaysearchingforacamelanddidnotpayattentiontothesmalleranimalshecouldhavecaught.Hedidnotfindonetilltheevening.Bythenhisshadowwasevensmallerthanhim.Sohestartedhuntingforamouse.‘Gopalwasthesame.Healwaystriedtodothingsbeyondhiscapacityandfailedmiserably.He
doesn’tevenwanttoworkwithme.Nowheisapeoninanoffice.’IwasdumbstrucktohearhowasmallstoryIhadtoldbroughtaboutsomuchofchange.Ihad
neverimaginedwhiletellingthemthatsuchathingwaspossible.Iamnoteventheoriginalwriterofthesestories.Icouldonlysilentlysalutethepersonwhothoughtofthesestoriesfirst.Didheorsherealizetheeffecttheywouldhaveontwochildrenaftersomanyyears?
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DeadMan’sRiddle
Often,whentherearetwoormorebrothersinafamily,theywanttodividetheirparents’propertybetweenthemandgetintoargumentsandcourtcasesoverthis.Inthevillages,thepanchayatdecideshowthepropertyshouldbedivided.Inmychildhood,Iused
toattendmeetingsofthepanchayatwithmygrandfatherwherethedivisionofsomevillager ’spropertywouldbediscussed.Theelderswouldassembleandcallthebrotherswhowerefightingfortheproperty.Iftherewerethreebrothers,theywouldmakethreedivisionsoftheproperty,eachofapproximatelythesamevalue.Forexample,eachpartwouldcontainalittlebitofgold,somesilverandvessels.Thevaluesofallthearticlesineachgroupwouldbeapproximatelyfixedbytheeldersofthevillages.Itwasdifficulttoalwaysmakethevalueofeachpartequaltotheothers.Insuchasituation,theyoungestbrotherwouldgettochoosehispartfirst.Thelogicbehinditwasthathehadstayedtheleastnumberofdayswithhisparents.Inthosedays,invillages,stayingwithparentswasalsoconsideredanasset.Thevillageelderswereallwell-respectedandeveryoneknewtheywereimpartial.Theirdecisions
werefinalandnoonewenttocourtagainstthem.Goingtocourtforsuchmatterswasconsideredawasteoftimeandenergy.Thereisasayinginthevillagethatiftwofeudingpartiesapproachthecourt,bothpartieslosemoney,onlytheadvocatebecomesrich.Once,therewassuchadisagreementinthedivisionofpropertyofacertainfamily.TheSarpanch
triedhisbesttomakethebrothersagreetoacertaindivisionbuttheyjustwouldnotacceptthedecision.Finally,SarpanchSomGowdatoldastorywhicheveryonelistenedtocarefully.Itseems,alongtimeback,inourvillageitself,therelivedarichman.Hehadthreesonswhonever
agreedwiththeirfatheraboutanything.TherichmanhadafriendcalledSumanth,whowaswelleducatedandverywise.Hewouldsay,timewillteachthemeverything,don’tbeinahurry.Oneday,theoldmandied.Heleftseventeenhorses,lotsofgoldandlandforhissons.Hewrotea
willwhichwasverystrange.Hedividedthelandandgoldintothreepartsbutforthedivisionofhorsestherewasariddle.Nobodycouldunderstandtheriddle.Itsaid,‘Thehalfofthetotalhorsesshouldbegiventotheelderson,intheremaininghalftwo-thirdshouldbegiventothesecondsonandwhatremainsoutofthattwo-thirdshouldbegiventothethirdson.’Seventeenwasthetotalnumberofhorses.Halfofitmeanteightandahalfhorsestotheelderson.
Thatmeantonehadtokillahorsetodivideit.Subsequently,two-thirdofeightwouldmeanonemorehorsehadtobekilled.Theoldmanlovedhishorsesimmenselyandwouldneverhavewantedanyofthemkilled.Sowhatdidhemean?Thebrothersscratchedtheirheadsforafewdaysoverthewill.Whentheycouldnotcomeupwithasolution,theyshowedthewilltotheirfather ’sfriend.Sumanth
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readitandsmiled.Hereplied,‘Itisveryeasy.TomorrowmorningIwillcomeanddividethehorses.’Thenextday,everybodyassembledintheground.Allseventeenhorseswerestandinginarow.
Sumanthcameonhisownhorse.Hemadehishorsestandalongwiththeotherhorses.Hesaid,‘Nowthereareeighteenhorses.Iamasgoodasyourfather.Letusdividethehorsesasper
thewill.’Butthesonsobjected.‘Youhaveaddedyourhorsetoourhorses,thatwasnotourfather ’swish.’Sumanthsaid,‘Don’tworry,waituntilthedivisionisover.Iwilltakemyhorseback.Outofthese
eighteenhorsesasperthewill,halfwillgotheelderson.Halfofeighteenisnine,sotheelderonegetsninehorses.Nowtherearenineremaining,outofninetwo-thirdmeanssixhorseswillgothesecondson.Nowtherearethreeremaining.Two-thirdofthreemeanstwohorsesoutofthree,willgotothethirdson.Onehorseisleft,whichwasanywaynotyours.ItismineandIamtakingitandgoinghome.’Allthepeoplewhohadassembledwerepuzzled.Thethreesonsdidnotknowhowthedivisiontook
placewithoutkillingahorse.TheywenttoSumanthandasked,‘Uncle,howdidyoumanagewithoutkillinganyhorse?’Sumanthsmiledandsaid,‘Experiencehastaughtmemanythingsinlife.Yourfatheralsoknewit.
Manyatimes,aworkmaylookimpossible.Butifsomeonegivesthesmallestsuggestion,youcanworkonit.Thatisthereasonyourfatherwrotehiswillinsuchawaythatyouwereforcedtotakesomebody’sadvice.Youmaythinkyouknoweverything,butpleaserememberyouarestillastudent.Lifeisaneternalteacher,providedyouhaveanopenmind.’SomGowdaconcluded,‘That’sthewayeldershavetaughtuslessons.Experienceisthebest
teacherinlife.Eldershaveseenmanyupsanddownsintheirlivesandinteractedwithmanypeople.Duringtheprocesstheyhaveacquiredknowledgewhichcan’tbetaughtinaschoolorcollege.Ithastobelearntoveraperiodoftime.Nowitislefttoyoupeopletomakethedecision.’Thethreebrothers,afterlisteningtothestory,agreedtothepanchayat’sdivisionoftheirproperty.
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‘IWillDoIt’
Hewasshort.Hewassharp.Hewasthebrightestboyinhisclass.Hisseniorsusedtoaskhimtosolvetheirdifficultiesinscience.Hecouldhavegoneunnoticedinacrowd,butonceyouaskedhimaquestionrelatedtoPhysicsorMaths,therewasasparkinhiseyes.Hecouldgrasptheoriesofsciencefasterthanthespeedoflight.Hecamefromapoorbuteducatedfamily.Hisfatherwasahigh-schoolteacherandanavidreader
ofEnglishliterature.He,likealltheboysinhisclass,wastryingtogetadmissionintosomeengineeringcollege.ThebrighteroneswantedtostudyintheIndianInstitutesofTechnology,ortheIITs.TherewasanentrancetestforIIT.Thisboy,alongwithhisfriends,appliedtoappearforthetest.Theydidnothaveanyspecialbooksorcoaching.AlltheseIITaspirantswouldsitbelowtheshadeofastonemandapclosetoChamundiHillsinthesleepytownofMysore.Hewastheguidefortheothers.Whiletheothersstruggledtosolvetheproblemsinthequestionpaper,hewouldsmileshylyandsolvetheminnotime.HesatalonebelowatreeanddreamtofstudyingatIIT.Itwastheultimateaimforanybrightboyatthatage,asitstillistoday.Hewasthenonlysixteenyearsold.D-daycame.HecametoBangalore,stayedwithsomerelativesandappearedfortheentrancetest.
Hedidverywellbutwouldonlysay‘ok’whenasked.Itwastheoppositewhenitcametofood.Whenhesaid‘ok’itimplied‘bad’,whenhesaid‘good’itimplied‘ok’,whenhesaid‘excellent’itimplied‘good’.Hisprinciplewasnevertohurtanyone.TheIITentranceresultscame.Hehadpassedwithahighrank.Whatadelightforanystudent!He
wasthrilled.Hewenttohisfatherwhowasreadinganewspaper.‘AnnaIpassedtheexam.’‘Welldone,myboy.’‘IwanttojoinIIT.’Hisfatherstoppedreadingthepaper.Heliftedhishead,lookedattheboyandsaidwithaheavy
voice,‘Myson,youareabrightboy.Youknowourfinancialposition.Ihavefivedaughterstobemarriedoffandthreesonstoeducate.Iamasalariedperson.IcannotaffordyourexpensesatIIT.YoucanstayinMysoreandstudyasmuchasyouwant.’Indeeditwasadifficultsituationforanyfathertosay‘no’tohisbrightson.Butcircumstances
werelikethat.Itwascommonthenforthemantobethesingleearningmemberwithalargefamilydependentonhim.Hisfatherwassadthathehadtotellthebittertruthtohisson.Butitcouldnotbehelped.Theboy
hadtounderstandreality.Theteenagerwasdisappointed.Itseemedhisdreamshadburnttoashes.Hewassonearto
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fulfillinghisfondesthope,yetsofar.Hisheartsankinsorrow.Hedidnotreply.Heneversharedhisunhappinessorhelplessnesswithanybody.Hewasan
introvertbynature.Hisheartwasbleedingbuthedidnotgetangrywithanybody.Thedaycame.HisclassmateswereleavingforMadras,(nowChennai).Theyweretakingatrain
fromMysoretoMadras.Theyhadsharedgoodyearsinschoolandcollegetogether.Hewenttothestationtosaygoodbyeandgoodlucktothemfortheirfuturelife.Atthestation,hisfriendswerealreadythere.Theywereexcitedandtalkingloudly.Thenoisewas
likethechirpingofbirds.Theywereallexcitedanddiscussingtheirnewhostels,newcoursesetc.Hewasnotpartofit.Sohestoodtheresilently.Oneofthemnoticedandsaid,‘Youshouldhavemadeit.’Hedidnotreply.Heonlywishedallofthem.Theywavedathimasthetrainslowlyleftthe
platform.Hestoodthereevenafterhecouldnolongerseethetrainorthewavinghands.ItwastheJuneof
1962inMysorecity.Monsoonhadsetinanditwasgettingdark.Ithadstartedtodrizzle.Yethestoodtheremotionless.Hesaidtohimself,withoutangerorjealousy,‘AllstudentsfromtheIITsstudywellanddobig
thingsinlife.Butitisnottheinstitution,ultimatelyitisyouandyoualonewhocanchangeyourlifebyhardwork.’ProbablyhewasnotawarethathewasfollowingthephilosophyoftheBhagavadGita:‘Yourbest
friendisyourselfandyourworstenemyisyourself.’Laterheworkedveryhard,andfocusedononething,neverbotheringabouthispersonallifeor
comforts.Hesharedhiswealthwithothers.Heneverusedthehelpofanycaste,communityorpoliticalconnectionstogoupinlife.AsonofaschoolteachershowedotherIndiansitwaspossibletoearnwealthlegallyandethically.
Hebuiltateamofpeoplewhowereequallygood.HebecameapioneerofIndia’ssoftwareindustryandstartedtheInformationTechnologywave.
Todayhehasbecomeaniconofsimplicity,uncompromisingqualityandfairness,apartfrombeingaphilanthropist.Hereallybelievesinthemotto,‘Poweredbyintellectanddrivenbyvalues’.HeisnoneotherthanInfosysfounderandpresentChairman,NagavaraRamaraoNarayanaMurthy.
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TheRainyDay
WhenIwasyoung,beforeagirlgotmarried,hermotherwouldgivehersomewordsofadvice.Theywereusuallylike:‘Youmustadjusttoyournewhouseandin-laws,trytolearnhowtheyeatandcooktheirfood,gooutofyourwaytobefriendlyandhelpfultoeverybody,’etc.Mymother,VimalaKulkarni,toldmesimilarwordswhenIgotmarried.Butalongwiththis,she
saidsomethingwhichhelpedmeimmenselyinlaterlife.Shesaid,‘Inlifeweneverknowwhenarainydaywillcomeandyoumightfallshortofmoney.Inordertobepreparedforsuchasituation,youshouldalwayssavesomemoneyfromyoursalary,andifyouarenotearning,thenfromyourhusband’ssalary.Ifyoursalaryisonethousandrupeestakefiftyorhundredrupeesandkeepitseparately.Thismoneyshouldnotbeusedforbuyingornamentsorsilksaris.Whenyouareyoung,youwanttospendmoneyandbuymanythingsbutremember,whenyouareindifficultyonlyfewthingswillcometoyourhelp.Yourcourage,yourabilitytoadjusttonewsituationsandthemoneywhichyouhavesaved.Nobodywillcomeandhelpyou.’WhenIheardheradviceIlaughed.Ifeltitwasimpossiblethatsucha‘rainyday’wouldevercome
inmylife.Iwasyoungandthoughteverydaywasasunnyday.ButIalwayslistenedtomymother,soIstartedsavingslowly.ThemoneywaskeptinasafeplaceinmykitchencupboardandInevercountedit.Aftermymarriage,forawhilelifewassmoothinBombay.Wehadadaughterandwerehappylike
anyothermiddleclassfamily.WeusedtostayinaflatinBandra.IusedtoworkforTELCOatFortandMurthyforPCSatNarimanPoint.Oneday,myhusbandreturnedfromofficelookingveryworried.Bynatureheisnottalkativeand
isreluctanttosharehisemotions,butthatdayhewasdifferent.Iwasmakingsomechapattisinthekitchen.‘Whyareyoulookingsoworried?’Iaskedhim.Hereplied,‘Softwareisgoingtobethebiggestnewbusinessintheyearstocome.Wehaveno
dearthofintelligentpeopleinourcountry.Writingsoftwarerequiresalogicalmindandhardwork,whichwecanfindplentyofinIndia.IfeelIshouldharnessthistalent.Iwanttostartasoftwarecompany.’Iwasshocked.Ihadneverimaginedwewouldeverthinkofstartingourowncompany.Bothinmy
familyandMurthy’stherewasnotasinglepersonwhowasanentrepreneur.IhadthoughtMurthywillworkinPCSandIwillworkinTELCOforeverandwewillleadaquietandcontentedlife.Myimmediatereactionwas‘No’.Murthystartedexplaininghisplansandvisionforthebusinesstome.‘Youarefondofhistory.You
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mustappreciatemyreasoning.YouknowweIndiansmissedtheIndustrialRevolution.Thattimewewereruledbyforeigners.Nowtheworldisonthethresholdofanintellectualrevolution.Wemustmakefulluseofthis.Wehavetobringthisrevolutiontoourcountry.Ifwemissthisweshallnevergetachancetodowellinlife.Iwanttotakethisstepnotformoneyalone.ThisisonedesirethatIhavehadforawhilenow.Letmedoitnow.Itisnowornever.’Mymindwentbacktomychildhooddays.Oneofourrelativeshadstartedsomethingonhis‘own’.
Heendedupincurringheavylosses.Finallyhehadtosellhisfamilyproperty.Soforme,startingourownbusinesswassynonymouswithloss.Iwasafraidthesamethingwouldhappentous.Wedidnotevenhaveanypropertytosellinordertocoverourloss.Apartfromthat,wehadadaughternow.Iwasconfused.ProbablyMurthyreadmymind.Hesaid,‘Thisisanewkindofindustry.Itisdrivenbyintellectand
doesnotrequirelargecapital.Ineedyourwholeheartedsupport.’Therewassincerityandhonestyinhisvoice.Ihavealwaysrespectedandappreciatedhishonesty.AsIsattherewonderingwhatwasright,Ismeltthechapattisburninginthekitchen.Thesmell
remindedmethatwewouldhavetohaveourdinnerwithoutchapattithatday.StillIsatandmeasuredtheoddsandconsequencesoftheproblem.Murthyhadalargefamilyand
theyweredependentonhim.Hehadunmarriedsisters.Insuchasituation,ifhestartedanewcompanyourfinancialstabilitywouldbeseverelyaffected.Iwasworried,butIalsohadalotoffaithinhim.IfeltthatunlessIsupportedhimwholeheartedly,hewouldfeeluncomfortablestartinganewventurelikethis.Inbusinessthereisalwaysprofitandloss.Ifwewentintoaloss,wewouldloseourprecioussavingsofmanyyears.Yet,whenIthoughtaboutit,inmyheart,Iwasalsosurethatwewouldsurvivesomehow.Iaskedhim,‘Areyoualoneinthis?’Murthyrarelysmiles.Thistimehesmiledandreplied,‘No,sixofmyyoungcolleaguesare
joiningme.Thisisouronechancetoearnmoneylegallyandethically.IhaveadreamthatIndiashouldbealeaderinthisindustrywhichwillbringprideandrevenuetoourcountry.Youhavetohelpme.Canyougivemesomemoney?Ifyoudon’thelpmenowmydreamwillremainunfulfilled.’IknewthatifIdidnotgivehimthemoneyhewouldnotbeabletostarthiscompany.Atthat
momentIrememberedmymother ’swords.‘Savesomemoneyanduseitonlyinextremelyessentialsituations.’Thiswasoneofthosesituations.FinallyIcametoadecision.Iwentinsidethekitchenandopenedmyrainydaysavingbox.ItookoutthemoneyIhaddepositediniteverymonthandcounted.Thereweretenthousandrupees.Itookit,offeredupabriefprayertoGodandgaveittoMurthy.‘AllthebestMurthy,that’sallIcangiveyou.WithhappinessIwillbearalltheresponsibilitiesof
thisnewenterprise.Bytheway,whatareyougoingtonamethiscompany?’‘Infosys,andthankyouforyoursupportandtheseedmoney.Bereadyforthemostbumpyridein
yourlifeforthenextfewyears.’WhenIlookbacknow,IrealizethatourliveschangedcompletelybecauseIhadlistenedtomy
mother ’svaluablelesson.Ioftentellthisstorytomychildrenandstudents.Oneneverknowswhenarainydaywillcome.
Andwhenitdoes,mymother ’swordswillalwaysstaytrue.
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DoingWhatYouLikeIsFreedom
Oneday,IwastravellingbytrainfromBangaloretoBelgaum.ItisanovernighttrainandtheonlyraillinkbetweenBangaloreandnorthKarnataka.Iwastravellingbysecondclassasthat’swhereonecanmeetlotsofpeoplewhoareeagertotalk.Ihavenoticed,themoreexpensivetheticket,thelessertheco-travellersspeak.AsIsettleddowninmyseat,Iglancedattheoppositeberth.Therewasasmallfamilyofhusband,
wifeandson.Thesonwasabouteighteenornineteenyearsoldandprobablygoingtocollege.Thefamilywasobviouslyquitewell-off.Isatandwatchedthem.Theparentsweregivingnumerousinstructionstotheirson.‘Itisverycold,whydon’tyouwearasweater?’‘Areyouhungry?ShallIservefood?’‘Wehavegotthreeberths,lower,middleandupper,whichonewouldyouwanttotake?’‘Haveyoubroughtyourbathroomslippers?Ifyouaregoingtothebathroompleaseusethem…’
andsoon.Theyoungboylookedillateaseatalltheirattention,particularlyinfrontofastranger,butwas
obeyingandansweringthemreluctantly.Thenthefatheraskedthemother,‘Didyoubringsomeoldcloth?Iwanttocleantheseseats.They
lookdirty.’Themotheranswered,‘HowmanytimeshaveItoldyoutomakereservationsearly.Butyounever
listentome.Ifyouhadbookedtheticketsearlier,wecouldhavegonebyfirstclassorsecondAC.Peoplelikeustravelinthosecompartmentsandtheyaremaintainedbetter,notlikethissecondclasswhereeveryTom,DickandHarrytravels.’Thefatherbowedhisheadandanswered,‘Nowadaysthere’ssomuchrushforticketsforthehigher
classes.Ididnotrealizethat.NormallywetravelbyairsoIunderestimatedthesituation.UnfortunatelythisBelgaumdoesnothaveanairconnection.’Bynow,sinceIknewtheywerealsotravellinguptoBelgaumandweweregoingtobetogethertill
eighto’clockthenextmorning,Istruckupaconversationwiththem.‘AreyougoingtoBelgaumforthefirsttime?’Theylookedatmewithsomesurprise,butthewomanwaseagertotalk.‘Yes,wehavenevergonetherebefore.MysonhasgotadmissionintheBelgaumMedicalCollege.
Wehavehearditisagoodcollege.Doyouknowanythingaboutit?’‘Yes,itisagoodcollege.’‘Howdoyouknow?’‘BecauseIbelongtothatarea.’Afterthistheywereeagertotalktomeastheywantedtoknowmoreaboutthetown.
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Themanintroducedhimself.‘IamRao.IamaCAinBangalore.ThisismywifeRagini.SheisanMAinHomeScience.That’smysonPuneet,whoisgoingtobeamedicalstudent.’Hegavemehiscard.Bynowthetrainhadstartedmoving.EvenbeforeitleftBangalorecity,theyhadopenedtheir
dinnerbox.Itwasahugetiffincarrierandmanyitemswereplacedinit.Themotherlaidtablematsontheberthandplacedsteelplates.Itwasasifshewasservingdinnerathome.Thereweretwosubjis,twokindsofdal,roti,riceandadessert.Itwasaneight-coursemeal!Iwatchedtheminamazement.Thesonsatdownquietlyforhismealbutbeforehecouldtouchhisplatehismothersaid,‘TaketheDettolsoap,wearyourbathroomslippers,carrythistowel,washyourhandsandcomefordinner.’Whenheleft,hisfatherexplainedtome,‘Puneetisouronlyson.Wehavebroughthimupvery
well.WewantedhimtostudymedicineinsomecollegeinBangalorebutunfortunatelyhegotadmissioninBelgaum.Wehaveneversenthimaloneanywhere.Thisisthefirsttimeweareleavinghim.WewerethinkingifthehosteldoesnotsuithimmywifewillshifttoBelgaumandwewillrentasmallhousethereforthenextfiveyears.IwillstayinBangaloreandmeetthemonceaweek.Forchildren’ssakeparentshavetomakesacrifices.’HisvoicebrokeandIcouldseetearsinthelady’seyes.Icouldunderstandtheirpainattheironlysonleavinghome.Itisalwaysadifficulttimeforparents,
butitisalsoinevitable.Howlongcanyoukeepbirdsincageswhentheirwingsarestrongandtheyarereadytofly?Wecangiveourchildrenonlytwothingsinlifewhichareessential.Strongrootsandpowerfulwings.Thentheymayflyanywhereandliveindependently.Ofalltheluxuriesinlife,thegreatestluxuryisgettingfreedomoftherightkind.Nowthemotherjoinedin.Theywereclearlyveryupsetandworried.Theywantedtosharetheir
griefwithsomebody,eventhoughIwasunknowntothem.‘Oursonisverydeartous.Iwasalecturerinacollege,butIleftmyjobafterhisbirth.Manyof
mycolleagueshavebecomePrincipalsinothercollegesbutIwasdeterminedtobringupmysonverywell.’Thehusbandsaid,‘IhadagoodpracticeinTumkurdistrictandIownplentyoflandtherebutI
decidedtoshifttoBangaloreforPuneet’sstudies.Ivisitmyfarmonceinawhile.Iboughtanapartmentnexttohisschool.Idon’tgoanywherewithoutmyfamily.’‘Itakehislunchtoschooleveryday.ThenItalktohisteacherregardinghisperformance.Ihave
alsoenrolledhimindifferenteveningclasses.Helearnschessasitisgoodforthebrain,karatetoprotecthimselfandcricketwhichisawell-respectedgame.’Icouldnotcontrolmylaughter.Ifeltpityforthechild.Iasked,‘Whataboutmusic,general
knowledge,debating?’‘Oh,wedon’trequireallthese.Whenhewasbornwedecidedheshouldbecomeadoctor.’‘Whatishischoice?’‘Ourchoiceishischoice.Heisonlyachild.Whatdoesheknowabouttheoutsideworld?’Bythattimethe‘child’cameandtheystartedeatingtheirdinner.Afterfinishing,theparents
decidedheshouldsleeponthelowerberth.Immediatelyabedwasmadebythefather.Hespreadasnowwhitebedsheet,anairpillowandtheboywasmadetoliedownandcoveredwithaKashmirishawl.‘Ihopeyoudon’tmind,wewanttoswitchoffthelights.Mysoncannotsleepwiththelightson.’Thegentlemanswitchedoffthelightwithoutevenwaitingformyreply.Iwasleftsittingalone
withoutdinnerandnotfeelingintheleastsleepy.IwaswonderingwhatPuneet’smotherwilldowhenhegetsmarried.Theyseemedtohave
forgottenthathewasanindependentpersonwhocouldtakehisowndecisionswithsomeloveand
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guidance.Instead,theywerebombardinghimwiththeirownideasandopinions.Toomuchofaffectioncanbecomeagoldennoosearoundtheneck.Puneetwillneverbeaconfidentperson.Itwasonlyteninthenight.Ineversleepthatearly.EveninthepartialdarknessIspottedanold
friendwalkingdownthepassage.Weweredelightedtomeeteachothersounexpectedly.‘Comeon,whyareyousittinginthedark?’sheasked.‘Areyouplanningtostealsomebody’s
purse?Howcanyousleepatteno’clock?Cometomycompartment.Itisthenextone.Letustalkforsometime.ItisveryhardtocatchyouinBangalore.’Shestartedlaughingloudlyatherownjoke.AquietconversationinnorthKarnatakawouldmeanahigh-pitchedtalkinsophisticatedsociety.‘Ihavereservationonlyforthiscompartment.’‘Don’tworry,wewilltelltheticketcollector.Inmycompartmentoneberthisvacant.’Myloyalty
switchedimmediatelyandIfollowedher.Therewasloudlaughterandjokinggoingonintheothercompartment.Myotherfriendswerealso
there.Wesatandrememberedourcollegedaysandmadefunofeachother.Inthemidstofusmiddle-agedpeopletherewasayoungboysitting.Hetoowasveryjollywith
enormousenergy.Whenallofusopenedourtiffinboxes,theboyofferedeveryonebananasfromhisbag.Thoughhedidnotknowanyofushelookedconfidentandhappy.Iaskedhim,‘Whatisyourname?Whereareyougoing?’‘MynameisSharad.IamgoingtoBelgaum.’‘Whyareyougoingthere?’‘IhavegotaseatinthemedicalcollegethereandIamgoingtojoinmyclass.’‘Areyougoingforthefirsttime?Doyouhaveanybodywithyou?’‘Yes,IamgoingforthefirsttimeandIamalone.’Iforgotmytiffinbox.SuddenlyIthoughtofPuneetwhowasofthesameageasthisboy.‘Whereareyourparents?’‘Myfatherisapostmanandmymotherisaschoolteacher.IcomefromavillagenearKolar.’‘Howmanysiblingsdoyouhave?’‘Iamtheonlychild.’‘Didyounevergetlonely?’‘No.SincebothmyparentswereworkingIknewalltheneighbours.AfterschoolIwouldvisitone
houseeveryday.AllthosechildrenIusedtovisitbecamelikemybrothersandsisters.’Iwantedtoknowwhatallsubjectshestudiedinschool.‘Myfatherbeingapostman,Ilearntcyclingataveryyoungage.IntheeveningsIdidsomeextra
curricularactivities.Myfatheralwaystoldme“inlifeextremesarebad”.Itisbetterifonetakesthemiddlepathsooneshouldknowalittlebitofmusic,sports,socialactivities.Thishelpedmealot.NowIcantravelanywherewithoutaproblembecauseIknowfourlanguages:English,Kannada,HindiandTelugu.Icanswim,sing.IwasinNCCsoItravelledtomanyplaceswithmybatch.’‘Howdidyoudoinyourexam?’‘IthinkIdidfairlywell.IgotaseatinBelgaumMedicalCollegedidn’tI.’‘Isitnotveryexpensive?’‘Itisexpensive.MyparentshavesacrificedalotandIhavetakenabankloan.IamconfidentIwill
repaytheloanonceIstartworking.’‘Tellme,forayoungperson,whatdoyouthinkisthemostimportantthing?’‘Itisfreedom.Freedomtochooseyourownlife;freedomtopursueyourowninterest;freedomto
enjoyyourownlikes,providedtheyarenotharmfultoyouandthesociety.IfeelIwasveryfortunatetogrowupwithsomuchoffreedom,likeatreeintheforest.’Somehow,IfeltIhadseenastuntedbonsaiplantinthepreviouscompartment.
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Gowramma’sLetter
InIndia,particularlyinvillages,evenafewdecadesback,womenwithoutchildrenwerelookeddownupon.Suchwomenwerenotinvitedfornamingceremonies,andweretauntedasbarrenwomen.Nobodyunderstoodthehurtandtraumatheyunderwent.WhenIwasachild,IhadateachercalledGowramma.Shewaskindandwarm.Shewasalsotall,
beautifulandalwayscheerful.SheusedtoteachusSanskrit.Shewasagreatteacherandwouldtelllotsofstoriesintheclass.StudentsusuallytookSanskritasanoptionallanguage,inordertoscoremarkslikeMaths.Theywerenotinterestedinthestory.TheyonlywantedtogetgoodgradesandwerenotinterestedinGowramma’soldepics.Assoonastheclasswasover,studentsusedtoruntoescapefromherelaboratestories.ButIalwayslovedlisteningtostories,soIwouldsitwithherforhours.Storytellingisanartwhichnoteveryoneisgoodat.Therearemanywaystotellastory.Youhave
tochangeyourvoicedependingonthecircumstance,anddescribepeopleyouhaveneverseen.GowrammadescribedLordKrishnaasatall,handsomepersonwithadarkcomplexion,a
mischievoussmileandakindheart.LaterwhenIsawMahabharataonTV,theactorwhowasplayingKrishna’srolewasexactlyhowshehaddescribed.WhereaswhenIsawRamayanaonTV,theactorlookedverydifferentfromwhatIhadimaginedLordRamatobelike.Thestorytellerinfluencesyourimaginationofwhatthecharactersinthestorylookedlike.GowrammawouldpickupmanystoriesfromKathaSarithsagara,literallymeaningtheoceanof
stories,andrecreatethescenesforme.Forustimewouldstopandwewouldbeimmersedinthestoryuntilthepeonoftheschoolwouldcomeandharshlytellus,‘Timeisup.Exceptyoutwoonlytheschoolghostishere.YoumaynotbescaredoftheghostbutIam.Kindlyvacatetheroom.’ThenGowrammaandIwouldgetupanddepartwithaheavyheart.ThiswentontillIwasinclassseven.ThenIjoinedanotherschool.ForafewdaysImissed
Gowramma,butsoonIforgotherinmynewactivities.OnceinawhileImetheratthemarketplaceandshewouldaffectionatelyaskaboutmystudies.Athome,wheneverIgotlostinastorybook,IwouldbeteasedasGowramma’sonlytruestudent.
Mymotherwouldtellmesadly,‘PoorGowramma,sheissobeautiful,sogood-naturedbutluckisnotonherside.Herhusbandhasleftherbecauseshecannotbearachild.Hehasmarriedanotherwoman.ThatwomanhasproducedchildrenbutinnootherwayissheamatchtoGowramma.’ThenIwouldunderstandthereasonbehindthesadnessinGowramma’seyes.Timeflewbyasswiftandlightasstraw.IdidmyEngineering,gotmarried,hadchildrenandlater
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becametheChairpersonofInfosysFoundation.Itouredthelengthandbreadthofthecountry,metmanycelebritiesandmanypoorpeople.Mylifebecamepublic.Iwasofteninvitedtocollegesanduniversitiestodeliverlectures.Once,Iwenttoauniversityto
deliveralecture.Afteritwasover,studentsgatheredtoasksomequestions.Thoughitwasgettinglateformynextprogramme,sinceIlovetalkingtostudents,Iremainedthereansweringtheirquestions.Ifeelstudentsarelikemyyoungfriends,brighterthanmebutwithlessexperience.Studentsalsoaskmealotofquestionsaboutmyyoungdayssothattheycanrelatetomylife.Onebrightgirlinthecrowdaskedmeaquestionwhichleftmedazed.Itwasamostdifficult
question.‘Whenyouarefacedwithsomedifficulty,howdoyousolveit?Doyouavoidit?’Ididnotknowhowtoanswerherandwastemptedtoignoreherbutmyheartwouldnotletmedo
that.Shewasagirloftwentyyears,brightandsimple,directandboldwithnohesitationorshyness.Whenshesawmelookingatherblankly,sherepeatedthesamequestion.Somehow,lookingather,IfeltIwaslookingatmyselfwhenIwastwentyyearsold.Inafractionofasecondananswercametomymind.‘Children,inanswertothisquestion,Iwill
tellyouastory.ItisastoryfromtheRamayana.InthebattlefieldatLanka,duringthebattlebetweenRama,LakshmanaandRavana,Lakshmanabecameunconscious.HeneededthemedicineplantSanjeevinitorevive.SanjeeviniwasonlyavailableintheDhronamountains.Thesemountainswerehugeandfaraway.TheonlypersonwhocoulddothisjobwasHanumana.HanumanaflewtoDhronamountains,butalas,hewasunabletorecognizewhichwastheSanjeeviniplant.Timewasrunningshort.TheonlywayoutwastotaketheentiremountainalongwiththeplantstoRama.Themountainwashuge,howcouldheliftit?ButHanumanahadthegifttoincreasehisbodysize.Hebecamehigherthanthemountain,tillitwaslikeapebbleforhim.ThenheputthemountainonhispalmandflewbacktoLanka.Therestofthestoryallofyouknow.’Thegirlwasimpatientandrestless.Shesaid,‘Iaskedyouadifferentquestionbutyoutoldmeanoldstorywhicheveryoneknows.’Ismiledatherandsaid,‘Havepatience.Ihavenotyetcompletedmyanswer.Whenyoucome
acrossdifficulties,youhavetogrowbiggerthantheproblem.Youhavethatcapacitywithinyou,butyouarenotawareofit.Ifyoubecomebigger,difficultieswilllooksmallerthanyou,andyoucansolvethemeasily.Ifyoubecomesmallerthanthedifficulties,theywilllooklikemountainsandcrushyou.ThisisthetheoryIhavefollowedinlife.’Thestudentswerepleasedwithmyanswerandtherewasalotofapplause.Istoppedtheminthe
middleoftheclapping,withmoisteyesandaheavyvoice,‘ThecreditforthisanswershouldgotomyteacherGowramma.WhenIwasyoungshetaughtmethislesson.Sheusedtotellmemanyancientstorieswhicharepricelessintheirwisdom.TounderstandthemweneedgreatstorytellerslikeGowramma.ItwasshewhotaughtmetolovestorieswhenIwasyoung.’ThefunctiongotoverandIreturnedtoBangalore.AsusualIbecamebusierthanever.Iforgot
aboutthewholething.Onedaytherewasaletter.Mysecretarycameuptomeandsaid,‘Madam,itseemstobefrom
somebodywhoknowsyouwell.Probablythisisapersonalletter,soIdidnotreadit.’Sheplacedtheletterinfrontofmeandleft.Iwaswonderingwhoitcouldbefrom.Itwaswritteninashakyhandwriting.Ilookedcloselyatthenameatthebottomandwassurprised.ItwasfromGowramma.Itsaid,‘Ithinkyouknowmyhusbandleftmelongbackandeveryoneusedtomakefunofmeand
callmea“barrenwoman”.EveryonelookeddownonmeandcalledmestoryteacherratherthanSanskritteacher.SometimespeopleusedtotellmethatinsteadoftellingstoriestochildrenIshouldmakemoneybygivingprivatetuitionclasses.Ididnot,becauseIbelievedinmywork.IwasalwayshumiliatedbecauseIcouldnotbearanychildren.Youknowmyhusbandmarriedasecondtimeandhadhisownchildren.Thesechildrengotintobadhabitsandbroughtshameanddebttohim.Heused
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tocomeandcryatmydoorsteps.AtthattimeIhelpedhimwithmysavings…’IcouldnotunderstandwhyGowrammahadwrittenthispersonalstorytome.Iwasawareofher
situation.Butwhyhadshewrittenitalltomenow?ButpatienceisonequalityIhaveacquiredalongwithmygreyhairs.Ittoldmetocompletereadingtheletter.‘Todaymyhusbandbroughtmethenewspaperandshowedme.Hesaidthatyoumentionedmy
nameinpublicandcontributedyoursuccesstomystorytelling.ForaminuteIwasfrozen.Iamnotyourbiologicalmotherbutyoubehavedasifyouaremychild.Peoplehavechildren,buttheyfightandbringdisgraceandshametotheirparents.Myhusbandfeltashamedabouthisownchildren,whereasIfeltproudaboutmychildwhomItaughtselflesslyandwholistenedwholeheartedly.Youmademeproud.NowIdon’thaveanycomplainttoGod.’Tearswelledupinmyeyesandfellontheletterminglingwiththeink.Iwasunabletoreadfurther.
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WhoIsGreat?
WheneverIteachmyclass,Imakesurethateveryoneparticipatesinthequestion-answersession.InormallyteachforfortyminutesandthelasttwentyminutesIkeepopenfordebates,questionsandanswers.Thisway,studentslearntoexpresstheiropinionsinfrontofothersandtheteacheralsounderstandshowmuchthestudentshavelearnt.ManytimesIhavelearntalotfrommystudentsduringthesesessions.SometimestheirquestionsaresodifficultIamnotabletoanswer.ThenItellthemthatIwillrefertomybooksandanswerthenextday.Frequently,aftertheclassItellastorywhichleadstodebates.Once,Imadeastatement,‘Manya
timesthereisnoperfectsolutionforagivenproblem.Nosolutionisalsoasolution.Everythingdependsuponhowyoulookatit.Wemakejudgementsonothersdependinguponwhatwethinkofthem.’Mystudentsimmediatelyobjectedtothisstatement.‘Convinceus,’theysaid.‘Okay,Iwilltellyouasimplestory.Thishappenedmanycenturiesback.Therewasabeautifulgirl
calledRathnaprabhawhowasrichandbright.Shecompletedherstudiesandaskedherteacher,“WhatshallIpayyouasgurudakshina?”’‘Herteacherreplied,“Yourfatherhasalreadypaidme.Youdon’thavetoworry.”‘Rathnaprabhainsistedandtheteacherwasupset.Hesaidtohimself,“Iwanttotestthecourageof
thisgirl.Letmeputadifficultconditionwhichshewillnotbeabletofulfil.Thenshewillnottroublemeanymore.”‘Sohesaid,“Rathnaprabha,onamoonlessnightyoushoulddeckyourselfwithlotsofjewelleries
andcometomyhouseallalone.”‘TherewasaforestbetweenRathnaprabha’shouseandtheteacher ’s.Theroadwasverybad.There
weremanyanimalsintheforestandarivertoo.Rathnaprabhathoughtforaminuteandwentaway.Theteacherwasveryhappythathehadsilencedhisstudent.‘Finallyitwasamoonlessnight.Rathnaprabhadeckedherselfwithexpensivejewelleriesandwas
abouttosetouttoherteacher ’shouse.Herfathersawthisandwasveryupset.Heaskedherwhereshewasgoing,soRathnaprabhanarratedthestory.Herfatherwastakenaback.‘Hesaid,“Yourteacherisaniceperson,youmusthavetroubledhim,whichiswhyhetoldyouto
dothis,justtoteachyoualesson.Iknowhimwell,Iwillexplaintohimtomorrow.Don’tgo.Hewillunderstandandhewillpardonyou.Youarelikeadaughtertohim.”‘Rathnaprabhadidnotlisten.Sheinsistedongoingallaloneasshehadpromisedshewould.There
weremanyanimalsintheforestbutshehadmadeuphermindandkeptwalking.‘Suddenly,shewasstoppedbyayoungthief.Hehadneverseensomanyexpensiveornamentsand
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wasdelightedbytheamountofmoneyhewouldmakethatnight.Hestoppedherandtoldherhisintentions.‘Rathnaprabhawasunperturbed.Shesaid,“IpromisedmyteacherIwouldgotohimwearingall
theseornaments.IwillgivethemtoyouwhenIcomebackfrommyteacher ’shouse.Ialwayskeepmyword.”‘Thethiefwassurprisedandlethergo.Buthefollowedhersecretlytoknowwhathappenednext.
Rathnaprabhaknockedonthedooroftheteacher ’shouse.Heopenedthedoorandwassurprisedandsadtoseeher.‘“Ithoughtyouwouldtakeitasajoke.Itwasonlytodiscourageyou.Ineverthoughtyouwould
comehereagainstalltheodds.Pleasegobackhome.Iwillblessyoumychild.Youareawomanofyourword.”‘Rathnaprabhaturnedtogobackwhenthethiefappearedbeforeher.Shesaidtohim,“Ipromised
togiveyouallmyornaments.Pleasetakethem.”‘Thethiefsmiledandsaid,“Youareanunusualwoman.Idon’twantanythingfromyou.Itis
difficulttomeetpeoplelikeyou.”‘Rathnaprabhacamehome.Herfatherwaswaitingatthedoorsteps.Shedescribedeverythingto
him.Herfatherwasproudandhappy.Hesaid,“Youarecourageousandyoukeptyourword.Comeinsideandtakerest.Youhavetravelledalottoday.”’WhenIcompletedthestory,mystudentswerenotimpressed.Theysaid,‘Whatisgreatinthis
story?Thereisaheadstronggirl,afoolishteacher,animpracticalthiefandanirresponsiblefather.Whatdowehavetolearnfromthisstory?’Itoldthem,‘Thatishowyouviewthings.Iunderstandthestoryinadifferentway.Courageous
Rathnaprabha,kind-heartedteacher,generousthiefandaresponsiblefatherwhovalueshisdaughter ’swords.Whodoyouthinkwasthegreatestpersoninthestory?’Alotofnoisebrokeoutintheclassroom.Thestudentsstarteddebatingandarguingamongst
themselves.Iwassmilingandlookingatthem.Onegroupgotupandsaid,‘Madam,wethinkRathnaprabhawasgreatbecauseshewasawareofall
thedifficultiesandyetdidnotchangehermind.Shewasopposedbyherfather,scaredbythethief,worriedabouttheanimalsintheforest,butstillshebelievedthatgurudakshinashouldbegiventoherteacher.WeonlyhopeMadam,youwillnotasksuchagurudakshinafromus.’Thewholeclassburstintolaughter.Ididnotanswer.Anothergroupimmediatelygotupandargued,‘Wedon’tagree.Therewasnothinggreatabout
Rathnaprabha.Shewasaheadstronggirl.Thethiefwasthegreatestpersonbecauseathiefusuallyrobspeoplewithoutaskingtheirvictimsorworryingaboutwhathappenedtothemafterwards.ThereissomebondbetweentheteacherandRathnaprabhaandbetweenRathnaprabhaandherfather.Theyhadsomecommitmenttoeachotherwhereasthethiefwasnotapartofthesystem.Sowethinkthethiefwasthegreatestpersonality.’Beforetheycouldcomplete,anothergroupgotupandarguedfortheteacher.‘Theteacherwasthe
greatest.HetoldRathnaprabhanottoworryaboutthefees.Butwhenshewasadamant,heputforthadifficultcondition.Whenshecamehewassurprisedandworried.Hedidnotaskanythingelse.Heblessedherwholeheartedly.’Thelastgroupdidnotagree,becausetheybelievedthefatherwasthegreatest.Theyargued,‘The
fatherallowedRathnaprabhatotakeherowndecision.Howmanyfatherseventodayallowtheirdaughterstodothat?Madam,inthisclasshowmanygirlscantakeindependentdecisions?’Thingsbecametoonoisyafterthisbecausethedebatehadnowbecomepersonal.Irealizeditwas
timeformetointerfere.Isaid,‘Thereisnoonepersoninthisstorywhowasgreat.Itisthewaywelookatit.Similarly,
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wheneveranyproblemarisesweshouldviewitfromdifferentangles.Thedecisionseachofusarriveatwillbedifferent.Wheneverweblamesomebody,foraminuteweshouldenterintothatperson’smindandtrytounderstandwhyhedidwhathedid.Onlythenshouldwetakeadecision.’Nowmyentireclassagreedwithme.
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Balu’sStory
Baluismycousin.Innowayisheextraordinary,yetheisveryspecialtome.Thatisbecausehecanalwaysseethelightersideofanysituation,howeverdifficult.WhenItalktohimIfeellifeissosimple,andIhavebeencomplicatingitunnecessarily.Once,afriendofminewhowasworkinginabank,wastransferredtoasmallvillageinaforest
area.Hewasworriedabouthisfamily,children,theireducation,etc.Hecouldnotresign,ashewouldnothavegotanotherjobatthatage.Oneday,whilehehadcometomyhouseandwastellingmehisworries,Balucame.Heheardtheproblemandstartedlaughing.‘IfIwereyouIwouldhaveacceptedthishappily.Youcanleaveyourchildrenwithyourparents.
Grandparentsalwayslookafterchildrenverywellandalsoteachthembetterlessons.Isitnottrue,Sudha?’Withoutwaitingformyanswer,hecontinued,‘Oflateyourhealthhasnotbeengood.Inthiscityitisdifficulttogoforawalk.Thecongestionandtrafficchokesyourthroat.Thebestcureforyourproblemsistogoforafive-kilometrewalkeveryday.Howwillyoudothathere?Thatiswhyavillageisthebestplaceforyou.Therearetreeseverywhereandtheairisfresh.Takeadvantageofthissituationandenjoyit.Yourwifecanvisityouonceamonthandyoucancomehereonce,thatmeansyouwillmeetyourfamilytwiceamonth.Sometimesitisbettertobeawayfromthefamilyforawhile,asyougetalotmorerespect.Thisismypersonalexperience.’Balufinishedinahushedtone.MyfriendcertainlylookedmoreateaseafterlisteningtoBalu’sspeech.ThatisthewayBalu
speaks.Ifsomebodyfailsintheexam,Baluhasareadymadeconsolation.‘Inlife,somefailuresareessential.Repeatedsuccessmakesapersonarrogant,whereasoccasional
failuresareessentialtobecomemature.Haveyounotheardthefamouswords,“Tryandtryandtryagain,youwillsucceedatlast.”Don’tfailnexttime.Startstudyingnow.’Parentsdon’talwayslikethisadviceofhisbutitgoesdownverywellwiththestudents.Anothercousinofmine,Prasad,isalwayscomplaining,‘Peoplecheatmealot.Iwanttohelp
everybody,butpeopletakeadvantageofme.’Baluwasreadywithacleveranswer,‘Therewasapersonwhousedtocomplainthewholeday,
frommorningtoevening,thathehadaheadache,astomachacheoralegpain.Iaskedhim,“Showmewhereyouareaching.”Hepointedalloverhisbodywithafinger.ThenItoldhim,“Youhaveapaininyourfingerandnotintheotherpartsofthebody.”Prasad,whenyousayeveryoneischeatingyouandtakingadvantageofyou,thenyouhaveaproblem,notothers.’Baluisagoodnarratorandoncehestartsdescribingsomethingheforgetsthetime.Thatisthe
reasonwhyheisverypopularwithchildren.Heexaggerateshisstories,isneverpunctual,butstillIenjoyhiscompany.Heisnotcunningand
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wouldneverhurtanyone.Hecanlivewithoutfoodbutnotwithouttalking.Hischildrenhaveallgrownupnowanddonewellinlife.Balujokesaboutthistoo.‘Theyhave
donewellbecauseIdidnothelptheminstudies.’Hecanlaughasmuchathimselfasatothers.Baluhastravelledtomanyplaces.Hehasastorytotellabouteveryplacehehasvisited,butI
usuallytakethemwithapinchofsalt.HissonworksintheUS.Whenhehadababy,heinvitedhisparentstotheUSforayear.BeforeBaluleft,thewholevillageknewhewasgoingabroad.Afterhecameback,hesummonedeveryoneinthevillageunderthebigbanyantreeandsaid,‘IwanttodescribemyexperiencesintheUS.’Today,goingabroadisnotanythinggreat.Butnottoomanypeoplefromourvillagehadgone.
Theoneswhohadgonedidnotdescribetheirstaythereintoomanydetails.Theyjustsaid,‘Thatisadifferentcountrywithadifferentvaluesystem.’ButBaluwasnotlikethat.Hestarteddescribinghisstayendlesslyfromthedayhearrived.Iknew
Balu’snature,sobeforehewenttotellallthevillagershisstoriesunderthebanyantree,Isaidtohim,‘Youdon’thavecontrolonyourtongue.Anybodycanmakeoutthatyouaretellingalie.Thereisamethodtodescribeandalimittoexaggeration.Ifyouwanttotellsomeboyistallyoucansayheisperhapssixfeetfourinchesinheight.Butyouwillsay,theboyistenfeettall,whichisnotpossible.Peoplemakefunofyou.Donotunderestimatevillagers.TheyknowaboutAmerica.TheyhaveseenitonTV.’Baludidnotargue.Hesaid,‘Iagree.ButwhenIstarttalkingIlosecontrolovermytongue.
Exaggerationhasbecomeahabitwithme.Willyoudomeafavour?WhenIstartexaggeratingyoupullmyshirt.ThenIwillunderstandandIwillcorrectmyselfimmediately.’Weagreed.BalustarteddescribingNewYorkCitywithitstallbuildings.Butoneofthevillagers
gotupandsaid,‘WehaveseenthiscitymanytimesonTVafterSeptember11th.Don’texaggerate.Tellussomethingabouttheirmethodsofagriculture,theirfodder,grassetc.Thenwecancomparethemtoourways.’Balusaid,‘Oh,Isawtheirfieldsandthegrass.Thegrasswasalmostfivefeettall.’Ipulledhisshirt.Herealizedhewastalkingtoomuch.Immediatelyhesaid,‘No,no,thegrassisverythin.’Somebodyasked,‘Whatdoyoumeanverythin?’‘Itwasasthinasahair ’swidth.’AgainIpulledhisshirt.ButIwassoexasperatedthatIpulleditveryhardandittore.Balu,for
once,didnotknowwhattosay.ButIcouldhearpeopletalking,‘Afterall,itisBalu’sversionofAmerica.TherealAmericamustbedifferent.’Balu’swifeisveryquiet,whichisunderstandable.Iftwopeopletalktoomuchitcangetdifficultto
livetogether.Onceshewasunwellandhadaveryhighfever.Balutalksalot,butinsuchasituationhegetsscaredeasily.Hewasveryworriedandcalledmeup.‘Getadoctorimmediately.Mywifeisrunningaveryhightemperature.’‘Whatdoyoumeanbyveryhightemperature.Howmuchisit?’‘Oh,itmustbeaboutfivehundreddegrees.’‘Thenyoushouldnotcalladoctor,youbettercallafirefighter.Kindlycheckwiththe
thermometer.Itmustnotbemorethan106degrees.’Onceweweresittingandchattingwhenastrangerentered.ManypeopleareawarethatInfosys
Foundationhelpsstudentstostudyfurtheriftheydonothavethefunds.WithhelpfromtheFoundation,manychildrenhavegraduatedandstoodontheirownfeet.WheneverIaminvillages,parentsofsuchchildrencomeandseeme.Aftertalkingtothem,ifIfeelthecaseisgenuine,wehelpthem.Thisstrangercamewithasimilarrequest.Ihadadetailedtalkwithhimandwasconvincedhissonneededhelp.
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Itoldhim,‘AfterIgobacktomyofficeIwillsendyouthecheque.’Balucalledmeasideandsaid,‘Howcanyousaythat?Doyouknowwhatmayhappentomorrow?
Willyourememberyourpromise?Thereisagapbetweentodayeveningandtomorrowmorning.Lifeisuncertain;anythingcanhappen.Ifyouwanttogiveanything,youmustgivehimimmediately.Timeisneverinyourhands.Onthecontrary,allofusarelivingatthemercyoftime.’‘Balu,Idon’thaveachequebookwithme.’‘Thatisyourmistake.Youmustcarryachequebookandcashwhenyoutravelforthispurpose.
Manytimespoorpeoplemaynotevenhaveanaccountinthepostofficeorbank.’IalwaysthoughtBaluwasonlyanuneducated,hilarious,comicman.ButIwaswrong.Hetaught
meagreatlesson.Whendonatingdon’tthinktwice,orputitofffortheanotherday.Nobodyhasconqueredtime.Timeisnotinanybody’shand.
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‘A’forHonesty
TheAmericaneducationsystemattheuniversitylevelisdifferentfromours.There,thefinalmarksarebasedontheaveragemarksofthreeexaminationsheldearlierinthesemester.Asaresult,studentshavetostudyanddowellconsistently,andthereisnotmuchpressureduringthefinalexam.Thereisalsogreaterstudent-teacherinteractioninthatsystem.Asateacher,Ihaveseenthatsometimesevenabrightstudentmaynotdowellbecauseofthe
pressuresofthefinaltest.Thereareotherwaystoexaminethedepthofknowledgeofthestudent,likesurpriseexams,openbookexams,oralexamsetc.Theexaminationshouldnotscarethestudents,insteaditshouldmeasuretheirknowledgefairlyandgivemarksaccordingly.Thiskindofsystemrequiresmorenumberofteachersforstudents.However,thisisdifficulttoachieveinIndia,wheretherearelargenumbersofstudents.Thereisalsogreatpressureonstudentsfromtheparentsandsocietytoperformwell.MysonisstudyinginacollegeintheUS.HelovesComputerScienceimmenselyandalwaysputs
inalotofhardworkwhenhestudiesit.Oneday,hecalledmeafterhismid-termexams.Icouldmakeoutfromhisvoicethathewasverysad.Hetoldme,‘Ididnotdomyexamswell.ItisnotthatIdidnotknowtheanswers,butinsteadofdigiteightIassumedthedigitassixanddidtheentirecalculationbasedonthat.IpreparedsowellandnowIknowIwillnotdowell.I’mfeelingverydepressed.’Asateacher,Idon’tgivetoomuchofimportancetomarksbecauseIamawareofsuchsituations.
ManyatimeIhaveseenchildrenwhoarereallygoodinsubjectsunabletoanswerquestionsduetovariousfactors.SoIconsoledhim.‘Don’tworry.Sowhat?Youhavelostthebattlebutyouwillwinthewar.Examinationsarenotthe
onlyindexinlife.Keepcourage,facerealityanddon’tbenegligentwhilereadingthequestions.Goodluckfornexttime.’Hewasnotatallpleasedtohearmywords.‘Youtalklikeamoralscienceteacher,Amma.Itisvery
competitivehereanddifficulttoachieveanythinginsuchanatmosphere.Youareateacherandyouonlygivegrades.Youdon’tsitfortheexams.Soyoudonotknowthedifficultiesofstudents.’Iknewhewassad.Myconsolationdidnothelphim.ButhehadforgottenthatonceuponatimeI
wasalsoastudentandhadpassedthroughthesamepassage.Afterfewdays,Igotanothercallfromhim.Therewasjoyandgreatenthusiasminhisvoice.
Suddenlythedarkwinterdayshadturnedintobrightsunnydays.‘Amma,youknowIgotgrade“A”inthatsubject,whichIdidnotdowell.’‘Howcome?’Iwasverysurprised.‘Itisaveryfunnything.AftertheexamIwastalkingtotheprofessorandwewerediscussing
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varioustopics.WhenIgotmypapersIsawIhadgotgoodmarksforthequestionwhichIhadansweredwrongly.Myotherfriendssaidtheprofessormusthavemadeamistake,don’ttellhim,keepquiet.Gettingagoodgradeismoreimportantinthiscompetitiveworld.’‘Whatdidyoudo?’Iaskedanxiously.‘Ithoughtforawhile,thenIrealized,gradesareimportantbuthonestyisevenmoreimportant.
YoutaughtmethatwhenIwasalittleboy.Doyouremember,Amma?Oncetheshopkeepermistookfiftyrupeesasonehundredrupeesandgavethechangeforonehundred.Atthattimewedidnothavemuchmoney,butstillyousentmebacktotheshoptoreturntheextramoney.AtthatageIwassoreluctanttogoandreturnthechangebutyouwerestrictwithmeandsaidifIdidn’t,Iwouldhavetogowithoutdinner.SomehowIwasunabletokeepquietabouttheprofessor ’smistake.IwroteanemailtohimsayingIdidnotdeservethosemarks.Buthisreplywasmoresurprising.’‘Whatwasthat?’‘Hereplied,“Ihavenotgiventhemarksbymistake.Itwasdeliberate.AftertheexamsIwastalking
toyou,andmyconstantinteractionwithyouthroughoutthesemesterhadconvincedmeofthedepthofyourknowledgeandyourpassionforthesubject.Mistakesdohappenbyoversightorduetotension.ThatisthereasonIgaveyousomemarksforthatquestion.Afterall,examsshouldalsomeasurethedepthofyourknowledge.”’Myeyesfilledwithtearsonhearingthisstory.Iwashappynotbecausehehadgotan‘A’gradebut
becausehehadpractisedwhathebelievedin.Manyofmyownstudentshavebehavedinasimilarwayindifferentsituations,thoughtheymayhavelostalotintheprocess.Tosomepeopleitmayseemtobestupidity.ButIamsurethegoodvaluestheyhavelearntwillhelptheminanycrisis.
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ALessoninIngratitude
Iwasattendingaseminaronhowtoeliminatepoverty.Forsomereason,suchseminarsalwaysseemtobeheldinfive-starhotels.Ireallydonotknowwhytheyhavetobeorganizedinthemostexpensiveplaces.Afterattendingtheseminar,Iwasstandinginthelobbyofthehotel,whenIsawamiddle-aged
personinanArmanisuitwithapipeinhishand.Hisperfumewasexpensiveandverystrong.Icouldsmellitfromaconsiderabledistance.Hewastalkingonhismobileandwasprobablywaitingforhiscar.IlookedathimandfeltsureIhadseenhimsomewhereearlier.Hefinishedhiscallandstaredatme.Bothofusweretryingtoplaceeachother.SuddenlyIrealizedhewasmyclassmatefromthirtyyearsback.HisnamewasSuresh.Isaid,‘AreyouSuresh?Whowasmyclassmate…’Hesaid,‘Iwaswondering,areyouSudha?’Westartedlaughing.Itwasoverthirtyyearssincewehadlastmet.Bothofushadputonweightand
becomedifferenttolookatfromourcollegedays.SureshandIwenttothesamecollege,wherewekneweachotherfairlywellforfouryears.Weattendedmanylabclassestogetherwherehewasmylabpartner.Iaskedhim,‘Ihavenotmetyouforalongtime.ThelastIheardyouwereinBombay.Whatare
youdoinghere?’‘Yes,IliveinBombay.Ihavemyownbusinessthere.BythegraceofGodIamdoingverywell.
Whydon’twemeetupsometimeandtalkabouttheolddays?Bytheway,whereareyougoing?CanIdropyou?’Iagreedimmediatelybecausemydriverwasonleave.BythenhisMercedesBenzcarhadarrived
atthehoteldoorandwegotintothecar.Sureshstartedexplaining.‘IownafewcompaniesinBombayandBangalore.IamintoMedical
Transcription.Ialsotrainpeopleandsendthemabroadforsoftwarejobs.NowthereisadearthofteachersinUK.Iwanttotrainteachersandsendthem.Thisisaverylucrativejobastherearenotmanyoverheads…Iheardfrommanypeopleyouhavebecomeateacherandasocialworker.Ifeltsadforyou.Youwouldhavedonewellinbusiness.Youwereoneofthebrightestintheclass.’Helookedgenuinelysadatmychoiceofprofession.ToconsolehimIsaid,‘Don’tlooksosad.I
tookupthisprofessionoutofchoicenotcompulsion.DoyouknowSuresh,“Doingwhatyoulikeisfreedom,likingwhatyoudoishappiness.”Ifyoulookatitthatway,Iamveryhappy.’Bythenwehadreachedmyoffice.BeforeIgotoffthecar,Sureshgavemehisvisitingcardand
insistedIcometohishousefordinnerorbreakfast.
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OneSundayIwasfreeandIrememberedSuresh’sinvitation.IcalleduphishomeandhissecretarytoldmehewasinBombay.ShefixedupabreakfastforthenextSunday.Shealsosaidshewouldsendacartopickmeupasitwasdifficulttolocatethehouse.ThatSundaymorning,adrivercamewithaToyotacarandIleft.Istartedchattingwiththedriver
aftersometime.HewasverytalkativeasheknewIwashisboss’sclassmate.Suresh’shousewassixtykilometresawayfromBangalorecity.ItwasafarmhouseonthebanksoftheriverCauvery.Itwasinsideaforestandspreadovertwentyacresofland.Theretheygrewfruitsandvegetableswithoutusingchemicalfertilizers.Madam,thedrivertoldme,isveryconsciousabouthealthandhasgotaspecialgymandaswimmingpoolmade.SureshhadanotherhouseinIndiranagar,intheheartofBangalorecity.Theyvisitedthisfarmonlyonweekendsandinvitedspecialgueststhere.Iaskedhim,‘HowlonghaveyoubeenworkingforSuresh?’‘Oh,Ihavebeenwithhimforthelasttwentyyears.ActuallyIwashisfather-in-law’sdriver.Hewas
abusinessmaninBombay,andMadamhisonlydaughter.IcancallMadambyherfirstnameifIwantto,Ihaveknownthemforthatlong,butIdon’tdothat.’Icouldmakeoutasenseofbelongingandashadeofprideonthedriver ’sface.WhenIreachedthehouse,Irealizedthedriverhadnotexaggeratedinhisdescriptionoftheplace.
Itwaslikeenteringapalace.Therewerefiveorsixguestrooms,ahugehall,alargediningroom,spaciouscourtyards,allbuiltinthetraditionalIndianstyle.Thereweremanyservantsinuniform.NowIcouldunderstandhowzamindarsandpettykingslivedintheoldendays.Sureshcameintwominutes.Hewasdressedinsilk.Helookedverypleasedtoseeme.‘Welcome
tooursmallabode.Iamveryhappyyoucouldmakeit.Letusgotothelivingroom.’Hislivingroomwasfullofstatues,paintings,Persiancarpetsandchandeliers.Thereweresilk-
coveredsofasmadeoutofsandalwood.IfeltIhadenteredamuseumandnotsomeone’shome.‘TellmeSuresh,howyoumadeyourjourneyfromcollegetothisplace.’IrememberedSureshcamefromaverypoorfamily.Hisfatherwasacookandhadmanychildren.
Hewasunabletoeducatehisson.Akind-heartedgentlemanknewSuresh’sfather.HeofferedaroomandfoodforSureshinhisownhouse.Hissonwasalsostudyingwithus.OurcollegegaveSureshafullscholarship.Weallknewhisfinancialsituationandwewouldhelphiminasmanysmallwaysaspossible.Weusedtocontributemoneyforhimtobuybooks.Eventhelibrarianwentoutofhiswaytogivespecialconcessionstohim.Sureshwasafairlygoodstudent,hardworkingandveryshy.Hehardlyspokewithus.SoIwantedtoknowhowhehadbecomethisaffluenttalkativeSuresh.‘Youknow,aftercollegeIwenttoBombayinsearchofajob.Igotasmalljob.Iworkedveryhard
asIknewthenthattocomeupinlifeyourequiretalent,hardwork,aggressionandconnections.Ihadthefirsttwobuthadtobuildupthelattertwoqualities.LaterImetVeena,mywife,whosefatherhelpedmealotandwestartedadifferentbusiness.TodayIamwelloff.Ihelpedoutmyfamilyinvariousways.YouknowIcamefromapoorfamily.Iboughtlands,shops,builthouseswhichIgavetomyparents,brothersandsisters.Everyonenowownstwocarsandiswelloff.IamveryhappythatIhavedonemydutytowardsmyfamily.’‘Whataboutyourchildren?’‘Ihavetwodaughters.BothofthemarestudyinginEngland,oneisstudyingIndiancultureandthe
otheroneisdoingHomeScience.Doyouknowanygoodboyswhoarewelloffandhandsomeformydaughters?Buttheyshouldnotwanttostaywiththeirparents.Theymustbeeitherindependentorlivewithus.Youmustbeknowingsomeeligiblemen,youmeetsomanypeople.’‘Suresh,thepeopleImeetarepoor,helpless,destitute.OrImeetstudents.Idon’tknowthekindof
peopleyouaretalkingabout.’Bythattimehiswifecalledusforbreakfast.Thefoodwasservedinsilverplates.Veenalooked
verybeautifulandyoung.OnlywhenshecamenearmeIrealizedshewasasoldasIwas.Shehad
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hiddenheragewithalotofclevermake-up.SuddenlyIrememberedthegentlemanwithwhomSureshstayed,ourcollegelibrarian,andtherest
ofthestudentsinourcollege.‘Suresh,didyouevergotocollegeafteryouleft?Doyourememberourlibrarian,thePrincipal,
ourbatchmates?’WithagrimlookonhisfaceSureshreplied,‘No,Ineverwenttocollege,norhaveImetanyone
ofthem.SomeclassmatesIhavebumpedintoaccidentally.Ihaveinvitedthemhere.Ineverfeltlikegoingbacktothecollege.’‘WhataboutMr.Rao?Youstayedinhishouse,didyounotmeethimanytime?’‘No.Ifeeleveryoneincollegehelpedmebecausetheywantedtofeelbetteraboutthemselves.After
allIwasaverygoodstudent.Iamconvincedpeoplehelpothersonlywithaselfishmotive.Theywanttosay,“Ibroughtupaperson”.ThatisthereasonwhyIneverfeltlikemeetinganyoneofthem.’StillIpersisted,‘IheardMr.Rao’sfinancialconditionisnotgood.’Sureshrepliedemotionlessly,‘Yes,thatwasboundtohappen.Hefedsomanyunwantedstudents
whowerenotgoodinstudiesorhardworkers.Howlongcouldhecontinuelikethat?’Irememberedtheinstitutionwhichgavehimfreescholarship,thelibrarianwhohelpedhim,Mr.
Raowhowashishostforfiveyears.Theywereallgood,kindpeoplebutSureshrefusedtorecognizethat.Whatwasgreatabouthelpingyourownsistersandbrothers?Givingthemtwocarsandafewhousesisnotphilanthropy.Helpingsomebodywhoisneedyandwithoutexpectinganythingfromtheminreturnisrealphilanthropy.Inlife,youmusthelpotherssothattheycanliveindependently.Gratitudeisthehighestformofeducation,butSureshneverlearntthat.Withoutreceivinganyhelp
fromothershecouldnothavereachedthepositionhewasinthatday.Whenclimbingtheladderitisveryeasytokickthosebelow,butonemustnotforgetthatyoucannotstayatthetopforever.Thehigheryougo,thelongeristhefall.Ididnotfeellikeeatingbreakfastfromasilverplatethatday.
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MyBiggestMistake
InmyComputerScienceclass,onceIgaveaverytoughproblemtomystudents.Programmingisanarttosomeextent.Whenthesameproblemisgiven,differentstudentsusedifferentmethodologiestoarriveatthesameresult.Ineverinsistonasinglemethodandallowmystudentstheirfreedom.Thisproblemwasvery
difficultandImyselftookalmostaweektosolveit.WhenIbroughtmysolutiontoclass,mystudentswantedtocheckit.Igavemydiskettetooneofthem,Nalini,andsaid,‘Pleasecopythisprogramonyourdisketteandreturnmine.ThisistheonlycopyIhave,sobecareful.’Everyonegatheredaround.Naliniinsertedthedisketteinthecomputerdrive.Whileshewastalking
tome,bymistakesheformattedthefloppy.Formattingisnothingbutclearingalltheinformationonthediskette.Everybodywasstunned.Thentheylookedatme.Naliniwasintears.TheywereawarethatIhadspentonewholeweektryingtofindasolutiontothisproblem.ForawhileIwasveryupset.ButafterfiveminutesIcooleddownandsmiled.Asmilecanmake
tensiondisappearandisthebestmedicineinafriendship.Afterallmystudentsaremyyoungfriends.WhenIsmiled,thebubbleoftensionbroke.Igotupfrommychair.Naliniwassobbing‘Madam,Iamverysorry.Ididnotdoitpurposely.Pleaseforgiveme.’‘Iknowyoudidnotdoitonpurpose,Nalini.Noneofmystudentscandosuchathing.Accidentsdo
notrequireaninvitation.Anybodycancommitmistakes.Ifsomeonesayshehasneverevercommittedamistakethenhemustbearobot,notahumanbeing.Evenourgodsandourgreatrishiscommittedmistakes.Letusputourheadstogetherandseeifwecanredotheprogram.’Somebodyaskedme,‘Madam,howcanyoubesocool,whenyouhavespentsomuchoftimeon
that?’‘Yes,Iamawareofit.Iwillsomehowstealsometimeandtrytowritetheprogramagain.Iam
coolbecauseIalsocommittedasimilarmistakewhenIwasyoung.’MystudentsimmediatelyswitchedthetopicfromComputerSciencetostorytelling.Itoldthemmy
story.‘WhenIwasyoung,Iwasverysensitiveaboutwhatpeoplesaidaboutgirls.Iftheysaid“Girls
cannotdothat”immediatelyIusedtofeelIshoulddoitjusttoprovethemwrong.Iwantedtoshowtotheworldthatgirlscandoeverything.TodayIlaughatthislogic.Mencandocertainthingswellandwomenotherthings.Menandwomenarecomplementarytoeachother.Oneneednotproveone’sstrength.‘Thattime,Iwasworkinginacomputersoftwarefirmasasystemanalyst.Itwaswaybackwhen
computerhardwarewasnotadvanced.Todayyouhaveatinyfloppyofthreeandhalfinches.Atmy
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timeahugefifteenkgheavyTandonDiscDrivewasused.‘Casuallymybossmadeacommentoneday,“Thisdiscisveryheavy,onlymencancarryit.”‘Thatremarkupsetmealot.Itoldhim,“Iwillcarryitandshowyou.”‘Thediscwasabitlikeagramophonebutveryheavyandlarge.Itcontainedvitalinformationof
thecompanylikeitsfinances,employeedetails,etc.Itookthediscandwalkedtotheboss’sroom.ItwasreallyveryheavybutIdidnotshowitonmyface.Ibelievedstronglythatshowingemotionsonyourfaceisasignofweakness.TodayIfeeloneshouldbeastransparentaspossible.‘Seeingmewalkinwiththedisc,mybosswassurprised.“Howdidyoumanagetobringthis?”he
asked.‘Withoutthinking,inmyhappinessathavingprovedhimwrong,Iliftedmyhandandleftthedisc.‘Inafractionofaseconditfellandbrokeintopieces.Thenoisecouldbeheardthroughoutthe
office.Everyoneturnedtolookatme.Itwasthebiggestmistakeanyonehadevercommittedinthehistoryofthecompany.Itwasanunforgivableerror.Thecompany’sentirevitaldatawaswipedoutinaminute.‘Istoodtheredumbstruck.Becauseofmyfoolishbehaviourthewholecompanywasgoingto
suffer.Anemployeeshouldalwaysworkforthebettermentofthecompany.ButwhathadIdone?IwassonumbIcouldnotevencry.Iwentbacktomydeskandsatquietly.AfterthinkingforawhileIknewwhatIshoulddo.Itookablanksheetofpaperandwrotemyresignationonit.ThatwastheonlywayIfeltIcouldatoneformymistake.Iwenttomyboss’schamberandgavehimtheletter.ThenIstoodthere,myheadbowedinshame.‘Hereadthelettercarefully.Thenhetoreitup.Hesaid,“Everybodycommitsmistakes.Itooka
backupoftheinformationonthediscbeforeyouliftedit.Thedataisstillintactinthestoreroom.Youdon’thavetoworry.Repentanceitselfisapunishmentandyouhaverepentedenough.Youshouldnotbesosensitive.Sensitivepeoplesufferalotinlife.Goanddoyourwork.”‘Ididnothaveanywordstosaytohim.’NowIlookedatNaliniandtoldher,‘Itwasalsomymistake.Ishouldhavemadeacopyofsuchan
importantprogram.Pleasedonotworry.Iwillrewritetheprogram.Istillhavesomenotesathome.‘Thatincidenttaughtmethatwhenyoubecomealeaderyoushouldbekindandforgivingtoyour
subordinates.Itisnotfearthatbindsyoutoyourboss.Affection,opennessandtheappreciationofyourqualitiesbuildsalong-lastingrelationship.Wespendmostofourtimeatourworkplaces.Thistimeshouldbespentinhappiness,notinblamingeachother.’Mystudentsbrokeintoapplause.
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TheSecret
Inmyclass,aboutfortypercentofthestudentsaregirlsandsixtypercentboys.WhenIstudiedEngineeringthirty-fiveyearsback,Iwastheonlygirlinthecourse.Icouldonlyseeboysandmoreboyseverywhere.Todaythattrendhaschanged.PeopleoftenaskmehowImanaged.ButwhenIlookbackIfeelitwasnotverydifficult.Havingagirlintheclasswasunusualfortheboys,andinitiallyIwasthetargetforalotofteasing.Butoveraperiodoftimetheybecamemybestfriends.Oneday,intheclassIwasteaching,thestudentsgotintoanargument.ThishappensoftenandI
alwaysallowthemtospeak.Normallythishappensinthelastclassofthesemester.Icallitafreeday,andtherearenostudiesthatday.Anargumenthadbrokenoutbetweenthegirlsandtheboysaboutwhowasbetter.Thisisavery
juicytopicandthereisabsolutelynoendtothearguments.Suddenlytheclasswasdividedintotwogroupsandthedebatebecameemotionallycharged.Isatbackandenjoyedtheirarguments.Thegirlssaid,‘Itisultimatelythewomanwhomakestheman.Sheismorepowerful,hasgreat
enduranceforpainandabettermanagerthanaman.Allsuccessfulmenhavebeenbackedbysupportivewomen.Withoutherhelp,mancannotachieveanything.’Theboyslaughedatthis,‘Thewomanwillalwaysbebehind,neverinthefront.Howmanywomen
havegottheNobelPrize?Awoman’sbrainweighslessthanaman’s.’Ihadtointerfereheretosaythatthereisabsolutelynoco-relationbetweentheweightofthebrain
anditsfunctions.Theboyslookedquiteupsetatmycomment.‘Menstartwars.’‘Warshappenbecauseofwomen.LookatwhathappenedbecauseofHelenofTroy,Draupadior
Sita.’Thefoolishargumentscontinuedforalongtime.Neitherofthetwogroupswasreadytoacceptthe
reality.NowIrealizedIhadtostepin.Isaid,‘Iwilltellyouastory.Listentoitanddecidewhoisgreat.’Immediatelytherewaspindropsilence.Alongtimeagothereweretwokings.OneruledoverKashi,andtheotheroverKosala.Theydid
notlikeeachother.Oncebothkingsweretravellingandtheymet.Theywereontheirchariots.Theroadwassmallandonlyonechariotcouldpassatonetime.Unfortunately,bothchariotsreachedthatspotatthesametime.Theystoodfacingeachother.Whichchariotwouldpassfirst?Thekingsrefusedtotalktoeachother,sotheircharioteersstartedtalking.TheKashicharioteersaid,‘Mykinghastenthousandsoldiers.’TheKosalacharioteerreplied,‘Mykingalsohastenthousandsoldiers.’‘Mykinghastwohundredelephants.’‘Sodoesmyking.’
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‘Mykingownstenlakhacresoffertileland.’‘Sodoesmine.’Theargumentscarriedon.Itwasverysurprisingthatbothkingshadthesamethings.ThentheKosalacharioteersaid,‘Mykingpunishesbadpeople,dislikeslazypeopleanduseshis
moneyforthebettermentofthekingdom.’TheKashicharioteerreplied,‘Mykinghelpsbadpeoplebecomebetterhumanbeings,makesa
lazypersonworkhardanduseshismoneyforthebettermentofpoorpeople.’WhenthekingofKosalaheardthis,hetoldhischarioteer,‘Heisabetterhumanbeingthanme,I
mustbecomehisfriend.Givewaytotheirchariotfirst.’WhenthekingofKashiheardthis,hegotdownandembracedthekingofKosala.Thustheir
enmityendedandtheybecamefriends.Ilookedatmystudentsandsaid,‘TodayIwilltellyouasecret.Iusuallytellthisattheendofthe
courseinthelastclass.Inreallife,menandwomenarenotopponents,theyarethetwowheelsofachariot.Thereisnothinggoodaboutoneandbadaboutanother.Bothshouldpossessgoodqualities.‘Apersongetsknownbythequalitiesheorshepossesses,notbythegender.Thatisdecidedby
God.‘IamteachingyouComputerSciencetoday,butyouwilllearnmoreinreallife.Technology
changeseverydayandgoodbooksarealwaysthereinthemarket.WhatIamteachingisalsohowtobeagoodhumanbeing.Thesevalueshavenotbeenprescribedinanysyllabusnorwilltheyappearinanyexamination.Butthesearetheessentialqualitiesyouneed,todowellinlife.WhenyoubecomeolderyoushouldrememberthattherewasateacherwhotaughtyouthevaluesoflifealongwithyourfirstknowledgeofComputerScience.Youmustthenteachyourchildrenthesesamevalueswithasmuchloveandaffection.’Theclassendedthatdaywithmystudentsgatheredaroundmeandallofustryingtoholdbackour
tears.
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PUFFINBOOKSPublishedbythePenguinGroupPenguinBooksIndiaPvt.Ltd,11CommunityCentre,PanchsheelPark,NewDelhi110017,IndiaPenguinGroup(USA)Inc.,375HudsonStreet,NewYork,NewYork10014,USAPenguinGroup(Canada),90EglintonAvenueEast,Suite700,Toronto,Ontario,M4P2Y3,Canada(adivisionofPearsonPenguinCanadaInc.)PenguinBooksLtd,80Strand,LondonWC2R0RL,EnglandPenguinIreland,25StStephen’sGreen,Dublin2,Ireland(adivisionofPenguinBooksLtd)PenguinGroup(Australia),707CollinsStreet,Melbourne,Victoria3008,Australia(adivisionofPearsonAustraliaGroupPtyLtd)PenguinGroup(NZ),67ApolloDrive,Rosedale,Auckland0632,NewZealand(adivisionofPearsonNewZealandLtd)PenguinBooks(SouthAfrica)(Pty)Ltd,BlockD,RosebankOfficePark,181JanSmutsAvenue,ParktownNorth,Gauteng2193,SouthAfricaPenguinBooksLtd,RegisteredOffices:80Strand,LondonWC2R0RL,EnglandFirstpublishedinPuffinbyPenguinBooksIndia2004Copyright©SudhaMurty2004CoverillustrationbyAnithaBalachandranAllrightsreservedISBN:978-01-4333-598-6Thisdigitaleditionpublishedin2012.e-ISBN:978-81-8475-901-3Thisbookissoldsubjecttotheconditionthatitshallnot,bywayoftradeorotherwise,belent,resold,hiredout,orotherwisecirculatedwithoutthepublisher’spriorwrittenconsentinanyformofbindingorcoverotherthanthatinwhichitispublishedandwithoutasimilarconditionincludingthisconditionbeingimposedonthesubsequentpurchaserandwithoutlimitingtherightsundercopyrightreservedabove,nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,storedinorintroducedintoaretrievalsystem,ortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans(electronic,mechanical,photocopying,recordingorotherwise),withoutthepriorwrittenpermissionofboththecopyrightownerandtheabove-mentionedpublisherofthisbook.