Bestsellers Editors' Picks All audiobooks. Explore Magazines. Editors' Picks All magazines. Explore Podcasts All podcasts. Difficulty Beginner Intermediate Advanced. Explore Documents. Wise and Otherwise. Uploaded by Alekhya Vijjapu. Document Information click to expand document information Description: by sudha murthy.
Did you find this document useful? Is this content inappropriate? Report this Document. Description: by sudha murthy. Flag for inappropriate content. Download now. Related titles. Carousel Previous Carousel Next. Jump to Page. Search inside document. George, for having kindly consented to write the Foreword. J also thank Penguin India for their long-standing support, especially V.
Karthika, who showed keen interest in publishing a revised and updated edition of this book. But readers, ultimately ] thank you. You are the best judge and my source of inspiration. Without your support, I cease to be a writer. Few set out consciously to perform sattwik work. Fewer still deliberately desire a life of tarnas.
Some could even start out with tamas or rajas and elevate themselves to sattwa. All this would be attributed to the larger cosmic scheme of karma. Jamshedji Tata appears to have had only a sattwik view of life and work—laying an industrial foundation for his country, starting educational and research institutions, and setting up a network of charities when such ideas were unknown.
On the other hand, Alfred Nobel spent his genius inventing dynamite and smokeless gunpowder, which would all become agents of mass destruction. It was the day the Secondary School Leaving Certificate results had been published. While columns of roll numbers filled the inside pages, the list of rank holders and their photographs took up almost the entire front page. I have a great fascination for rank holders. I could not take my eyes off him. He was frail and pale, but there was an endearing sparkle in his eyes.
I wanted to know more about him. I read that his name was Hanumanthappa and that he had secured the eighth rank. Thar was all the information I could gather. The next day, to my surprise, his photograph was published again, this time with an interview. They belonged toa tribal group. I felt sorry for this bright boy. Most of us send our children to tuitions and to coaching classes, we buy them reference books and guides, and provide the best possible facilities for them without considering the cost, But it was different for Hanumanthappa of Rampura.
He had excelled in spite of being denied some of the basic necessities of life. It looked its best with fresh bark, tender green leaves glistening with dewdrops and mangoes that were about to ripen in a few days. Beyond the tree was a small potted plant that, I noticed, had remained almost the same ever since it had been potted. It was a calm morning. The air was cool and fresh. My thoughts were running free. The continuous whistle of our pressure cooker broke the silence, reminding me that half an hour had passed.
Without wasting much time, I took a postcard and wrote to him. I wrote only two lines, saying that was interested in meeting him and asking whether he could come to Bangalore. Just then my father, ever a practical man, returned from his morning walk. If you want him to come here, send some money for his bus fare plus a little extra to buy himself a decent set of clothes.
Within four days I received a similar postcard in reply. Two sentences: in the first he thanked me for the letter, in the second he expressed his willingness to come to Bangalore and meet me. Immediately, sent him some money and details of my office address. When he finally arrived in our office, he looked like a frightened calf that had lost its way.
It must have been his first trip to Bangalore. He was humble. He wore a clean shirt and trousers, and his hair was neatly parted and combed. The sparkle in his eyes was still there. I got straight to the point.
Do you want to study further? We would like to sponsor you. This means we will pay your fees for any course of study you wish to take up— wherever it may be. Let the boy understand what you are suggesting. He can give us his answer at the end of the day. That is the one nearest to my village. I was trying to make it clear to him that we would pay the fees for any course he might choose. Does the college have a hostel facility? He said he would get back to me after collecting the correct details.
Two days later, he wrote to us in his beautiful handwriting that he would require approximately Rs per month. He planned to take a room on rent and share it with a friend. The two boys would cook for themselves in order to keep their expenses down, I sent him Rs 1, to cover his expenses for six months.
He acknowledged my draft without delay and expressed his gratitude. Time passed. One day, 1 suddenly remembered that I had to pay Hanumanthappa for the next six months, so I sent him another draft for Rs 1, This too was duly acknowledged, but I was surprised to find some currency notes in the envelope along with his letter. But I was not in Bellary for the last two months. One month, our college was closed for holidays and during the next month, there was a strike.
So I stayed at home for those two months. My expenditure during these months was less than Rs per month. Therefore, I am sending you the Rs that I have not used for the last two months. Kindly accept this amount. Such poverty and yet such honesty. Unbelievable but true! Experience has taught me that honesty is not the mark of any particular class nor is it related to education or wealth. It cannot be taught at any university. In most people, it springs naturally from the heart.
I just prayed that God would continue to bestow the best on Hanumanthappa and his family. My work gave me more happiness than any celebration or outing. The next morning, I left for the small town where the project was based. By the time I reached the town it was already noon, but it looked as though the day had just begun there. The shops were just opening and folks were setting out to work. I was supposed to receive you at the bus stop. It was a small office. Though by no means modern, it was neatly furnished with some old but reconditioned furniture, everything in its right place.
They were all waiting for me and felt comfortable as I sat down. The cool buttermilk they offered me was most refreshing. Before beginning my work, I was introduced to a neatly dressed young man who was supposed to coordinate with me. He was quite well-mannered and seemed very confident and bright. I was pleasantly surprised to see the good quality of his work. It had a professional touch. I was told that he was the most well-read man in that town, He had documented his work very well and efficiently.
Because of this, our job was completed sooner than expected. On Human Foibles 9 become bright like this? Heredity and genes also play an important role. My son has taken after me. After all, I had an hour to spare before my bus departed. I knew Hubli. It was my college. By this time I was able to size him up quite clearly. And what I saw saddened me. Suddenly, the mood in the room changed. I did not give up. Everything was clear by now. Sudha Murty The rain, the glistening leaves and the strong smell of wild flowers made me feel as though I was ona different planet.
But I never felt like an intruder. Not even when I reached the school after a long walk and every villager stood by staring at me. Reaching the school was an adventure in itself. I saw a lady walking with rhythmic grace despite the three pots of water balanced on her head. He simply said something in his dialect and indicated directions with his hand.
The school was an old thatched building, probably built by the tribals themselves. It was a primary school. I could see a few children playing outside, while others were busy under a shed-like shelter doing something with leaves and straws.
I walked in and found a small room with two chairs, two tables, and a blackboard with a pot of water beside it. There were no electric lights or fans. Instead, a small shutterless opening served as the window. This was the only source of ventilation in the room. He was happy to see me. During the course of my work, I have listened to many such problems from many such people.
After acquiring a fair understanding of the people and their lives, I departed, not forgetting to thank them for their cooperation. When I went again, it was winter. The rains were over. Now the scene was transformed. It was paradise. There was no mud and no frogs croaking. Birds were cooing. The sky was clear. Many rare flowers had bloomed. I met the same Thandappa. He recognized me and greeted me with a smile. His eyes seemed to welcome me warmly. The Thandappa hesitated.
I wondered whether he was feeling embarrassed. I brought this myself. It will help the children during the rains. Please get the clothes stitched according to their size. When the Mop Count Did Not Tally 25 missing mop was not found, then there must have been an error in the initial count. But the sister was very confident of her count and was quite firm that she had not gone wrong. Give me the needle and catgut.
I am also responsible. Now, I order you to give me the needle and catgut. But she did not change her stance.
The surgeon was really angry by now. Now the nurse was worried. She was the eldest in her family and the only earning member. It would be terrible if she were to lose her job. She was fully aware of her precarious position, but still she stuck to what she thought was correct. He was so upset that he did not know what to do. He looked down in frustration. To his amazement, he saw the blood- soaked cotton mop lying on the OT floor like a wounded soldier on the battlefield. Yet, we seldom feel the impact of change because we live right in the middle of it.
Old ways have changed, our festivals have changed, our attitudes have changed, our norms, values and ideas have changed. Two festivals in which I participated recently brought this point home to me fairly dramatically.
In both cases, the extent of change that had taken place was conveyed to me through conversation. This added a personal touch and helped underline the fundamental nature of the changes through which we are living. The first event was a Diwali celebration.
The second was a music festival. Diwali is an occasion for great celebration in our country. Everybody buys gifts, prepares sweets and visits friends. Offices remain closed for days. Children buy crackers. Last Diwali, I saw an advertisement saying that some orphanages were selling sweets prepared by the orphans. I thought that buying these sweets would be the best way to help and encourage the orphanages.
I bought a few packets of sweets and went to the house of a close friend. I expected her to be in a joyous mood, celebrating this great festival with enthusiasm.
Living through Change 41 happy that nobody had noticed me. There were retired officers, middle-aged housewives and old ladies, but I could not see any youngsters in the hall. Two middle-aged housewives wearing Dharmavaram saris were sitting right in front of me. They looked elegant with fresh jasmine flowers in their silvery hair. They were discussing the problems of finding grooms for girls these days.
The other woman was also interested in the topic. Sometimes there's mere formality as in the case of inauguration function of new building of government hospital where it was the Health Minister who was honoured and praised like a hero without any contribution sidelining the real donor Infosys Foundation altogether.
However for writer it is not the felicitation or honours or publicity that is important. For her the most important thing is the love and affection of the common people like the old flower vendor who gives a string of jasmine flowers as a token of gratitude for building hospital Powerful Politicians and Unsung Donors and the return gift of purse by the handicraft vendor in Ahmedabad for the money writer had given to her vendor's son as blessings on his first birthday.
Treat Me As Human Sudha Murty is very much disturbed by the insensitive attitude of the well-to-do people in India who are more concerned about silk saries, silver wares, latest fashion jewellery, wedding menu and gossip than the hardships of their fellow human beings suffering from natural calamities and social injustice.
In particular Murty is more sensitive towards problems of women like prostitution, dowry deaths, unwed mothers, psychological degradation by patriarchy leading to mental disorder etc.
In reality women are subjected to male dominance in every sphere. Moreover it is the very people whom they love and trust that betray them. Tara is sold into prostitution by her own beloved brother A Bond Betrayed on Rakhi Day ; the young pregnant 'stove-burst' victim was deprived of education and forced into marriage by her parents and then burnt for dowry by her husband and in-laws Stove-burst or Dowry Deaths ; the bright intelligent friend of writer mini-computer Vinutha was put down by her equally bright but ever taunting husband Parth Idealist at 20, Realist at 40 ; Nalini a college professor and Ph.
She had to hand over her entire salary to her husband despite being it a love marriage and eve for ten rupees had to ask him Crisis of Confidence ; Kusuma had to commit suicide because her lover impregnated her but did not have the courage to marry against his parents' wish Unwed Mothers ; Maya suffered depression because she realized that whatever may she do to adjust with her in- laws, they will never stop torturing her and her husband would never take her side and provide emotional support Is Life Fair?
The list is unending. However there is the bright skirt to the dark cloud. We have Ratna as foil to Vinutha and Yellamma to Nalini. Ratna though a very ordinary girl, with her hard work, self confidence and support of her husband became a successful business woman. Yellamma though initially discouraged by her husband became assertive, experimented with gardening-the source of their livelihood-and became family decision maker. Murty is also impressed with the Scandinavian countries—Norway, Sweden and Denmark—where women enjoy full freedom economically, socially and politically.
There a woman can safely travel by taxi at a late hour that too at half of the actual fare and can also opt to have child without wedlock. Irrespective of gender children of both sexes have equal right to inheritance Truth about Women. Murty has special regard for those who despite the great difficulties of life think and act positively.
In contrast to Vasant an executive in a multinational company who complains about everything, Girija a poor cook has more sense when she says, "I have not learnt much in school but life has taught me one thing: always look at life in a positive way. You feel nice and so do the people around you.
Panch rupay me kuch bhi ho sakta hai!! We can buy chillies. If we sit idle we cannot buy even that. Nobody gives us money in hundreds and thousands. Every drop makes an ocean, every grain makes a granary. Murty's friend Meena learnt this lesson when she saw an old beggar and his little grand-daughter play happily in rain despite being hungry: 'They were laughing, clapping and screaming joyously, as if they were in paradise.
Hunger and rain did not matter. They were totally drenched and totally happy. I envied their zest for life…I felt ashamed of myself. I even started to make a list of what I had and what I did not have. I found I had more to be grateful than most people could imagine. That day I decided to change my attitude towards life using the beggar as my role model…once this realization dawned it took me almost two years to put the change in effect. Now nothing matters.
I am always happy. I find happiness in every small thing, in every situation and in every person. Through her narrative of janus-faced reality Wise and Otherwise she gives the same message: "…who say life is fair? Life is always unfair. If you want you can make it fair. Ltd , Seventh impression: September ISBN: Related Papers. Download PDF.
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