how i taught my grandmother to read and other stories

SUDHAMURTY

HowITaughtMyGrandmothertoReadandOtherStories

PUFFINBOOKS

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

PUFFINBOOKS

HOWITAUGHTMYGRANDMOTHERTOREADANDOTHERSTORIES

SudhaMurtywasbornin1950inShiggaoninnorthKarnataka.AnM.Tech.inComputerScience,sheteachesComputerSciencetopostgraduatestudents.SheisalsotheChairpersonoftheInfosysFoundation.AprolificwriterinKannada,shehaswrittensevennovels,fourtechnicalbooks,threetraveloguesandtwocollectionsofshortstories.HerpreviousEnglishbookWiseandOtherwisehasbeentranslatedintothirteenIndianlanguages.Thisisherfirstbookforchildren.

Dedicatedtothecitizensoftomorrow

whowillbringchangesinourcountry

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

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?’

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

independent.Itismydutytorespectateacher.Isitnotwritteninourscripturesthatateachershouldberespected,irrespectiveofthegenderandage?’Ididreturnnamaskaratoherbytouchingherfeetandgavemygifttomyfirststudent.Sheopened

itandreadimmediatelythetitleKashiYatrebyTriveniandthepublisher ’sname.Iknewthenthatmystudenthadpassedwithflyingcolours.

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.’

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

beauty.Ihavecrossedtheagetowearjewelleries.Ifyourespectmywishes,buildasmanyfreeschoolsaspossibleinasmanyvillagesinSouthCanara.Mysonunderstoodmyfeelings.Hehimselfshiftedtothisvillageandhas,tilltoday,builttensuchschools.Heremainsverybusymanagingtheseschools.’NowIunderstoodthereasonbehindthehighliteracyrateofthearea.WomenlikeKuttammahad

notstudiedbuttheyhadunderstoodtheimportanceofgoodeducation.Theyhadinsistedtheirchildrengotoschool.Itiscertainlytruethatifonemanstudies,onlyonepersoniseducatedwhereasifoneladystudies,theentirefamilyiseducated.

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

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.

‘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.

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

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.’

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.

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.’

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.’

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

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.

‘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

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.

IamevergratefultoAkshataforhelpingbringthishappinessandsatisfactioninmyworkandlife.ItmeansmoretomethanthegoodranksIgotinschool,andmywealth.WhenIseehopeintheeyesofadestitute,seethewarmsmileonthefacesofoncehelplesspeople,

Ifeelsosatisfied.TheytellmethatIammakingadifference.IjoinedInfosysFoundationasaFounderTrustee.TheFoundationtookupanumberof

philanthropicprojectsforthebenefitofthepoorindifferentstatesofIndia.Ireceivedmanyawardsonvariousoccasions.OneofthemwastheEconomicTimesawardgivento

InfosysFoundation.AsatrusteeIwasinvitedtoreceivethisaward.AtthattimeIrememberedmyguru.NowshewasastudentinUSA.Itoldher,‘AtleastforonedayyoumustcomeforthisawardceremonyinBombay.Ifyouhadnotwokenmeupattherighttime,Iwouldnothavebeenreceivingittoday.Iwantyoutobepresent.’IwillremainindebtedtoAkshataforeverforthewayshemademechangemylifeandthelesson

shetaughtme.

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.

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.

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?’

‘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

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

sohugethathedecidedhewouldhuntacamelforhisafternoonmeal.Hespentthewholedaysearchingforacamelanddidnotpayattentiontothesmalleranimalshecouldhavecaught.Hedidnotfindonetilltheevening.Bythenhisshadowwasevensmallerthanhim.Sohestartedhuntingforamouse.‘Gopalwasthesame.Healwaystriedtodothingsbeyondhiscapacityandfailedmiserably.He

doesn’tevenwanttoworkwithme.Nowheisapeoninanoffice.’IwasdumbstrucktohearhowasmallstoryIhadtoldbroughtaboutsomuchofchange.Ihad

neverimaginedwhiletellingthemthatsuchathingwaspossible.Iamnoteventheoriginalwriterofthesestories.Icouldonlysilentlysalutethepersonwhothoughtofthesestoriesfirst.Didheorsherealizetheeffecttheywouldhaveontwochildrenaftersomanyyears?

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

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.

‘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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

tocomeandcryatmydoorsteps.AtthattimeIhelpedhimwithmysavings…’IcouldnotunderstandwhyGowrammahadwrittenthispersonalstorytome.Iwasawareofher

situation.Butwhyhadshewrittenitalltomenow?ButpatienceisonequalityIhaveacquiredalongwithmygreyhairs.Ittoldmetocompletereadingtheletter.‘Todaymyhusbandbroughtmethenewspaperandshowedme.Hesaidthatyoumentionedmy

nameinpublicandcontributedyoursuccesstomystorytelling.ForaminuteIwasfrozen.Iamnotyourbiologicalmotherbutyoubehavedasifyouaremychild.Peoplehavechildren,buttheyfightandbringdisgraceandshametotheirparents.Myhusbandfeltashamedabouthisownchildren,whereasIfeltproudaboutmychildwhomItaughtselflesslyandwholistenedwholeheartedly.Youmademeproud.NowIdon’thaveanycomplainttoGod.’Tearswelledupinmyeyesandfellontheletterminglingwiththeink.Iwasunabletoreadfurther.

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

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,

wheneveranyproblemarisesweshouldviewitfromdifferentangles.Thedecisionseachofusarriveatwillbedifferent.Wheneverweblamesomebody,foraminuteweshouldenterintothatperson’smindandtrytounderstandwhyhedidwhathedid.Onlythenshouldwetakeadecision.’Nowmyentireclassagreedwithme.

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

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.

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.

‘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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.’

‘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.

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.