how i taught my grandmother to read and other stories
TRANSCRIPT
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.